A few days had passed since Kuro and Kaito made the decision to take in the orphans. The children were kept in the shadows, unaware of the true purpose behind their adoption. Kaito and Kuro had agreed to keep the Swords of Faith hidden—for now. They had not yet revealed the depth of their ambitions or their organization.
Kaito walked through the small, makeshift living quarters where the orphans were settled in. Their faces were a mixture of curiosity and wariness, still adjusting to the new environment. He felt a twinge of guilt, but it passed quickly. The truth was, Kaito was doing this for their future, as much as for his own.
Kaito:
"They're settling in well," he murmured, watching the children play quietly in the corner of the room.
Kuro nodded from where he stood by the window, his eyes scanning the horizon. His mind was always working, always thinking of the next move.
Kuro:
"They'll need to be trained. There's no telling when the world will turn against us. We need to make sure they're ready."
Kaito gave a short chuckle, shaking his head slightly as he turned to face Kuro.
Kaito:
"Yeah, you're right. We can't afford weakness. I've already started to prepare something for them."
Kaito handed Kuro a small stack of training manuals, all meticulously written by skilled masters from various villages. These manuals contained detailed instructions on ninjutsu, taijutsu, and even survival tactics. They would serve as a foundation for the orphans' training.
Kaito:
"I've got everything covered. When the time comes, I'll make sure they're ready."
Kuro took the manuals with a cold, appreciative nod, his eyes scanning the pages briefly before setting them down on the table.
Kuro:
"You're thinking ahead, Kaito. But we can't just teach them basic skills. They'll need to be formidable, ready for anything."
Kaito smiled slightly, leaning back against the table.
Kaito:
"Speaking of which... we're going to need more resources. We'll need funds and influence if we want to build something strong. I'll take up bounty hunting again. There's always work out there, and it will help us get the funds we need."
Kuro's gaze hardened slightly, but he remained quiet. He knew this was part of Kaito's nature—he would never sit idle. Bounty hunting was a means to an end, and Kaito was adept at it. Kuro could see the practicality of the decision.
Kuro:
"Bounty hunting will work for now. But we need more than just money. We need power, we need strength. We need recruits."
Kaito nodded, standing up and walking over to the wooden table where the bingo book lay open. He flipped through the pages, scanning through the names and descriptions of dangerous rogue shinobi, missing-nin, and mercenaries.
Kaito:
"We'll need the right people. Strong people."
Kuro leaned in, his eyes narrowing as he looked through the book. He began pointing out names.
Kuro:
"Rokuro Ishida—Earth and Water Release. He's at least jounin-level. He'd be valuable in combat."
Kaito marked the page, flipping to the next.
Kaito:
"Atsushi Kurozawa—Fire and Wind. His combination of elements makes him a devastating force in battle. He'd make a good addition."
Kuro nodded, his mind already running through possible strategies and the advantages of each recruit.
Kuro:
"Both of them would serve us well. We need them."
Kaito looked up from the bingo book, eyes thoughtful.
Kaito:
"We're looking for those who have at least one elemental affinity, maybe even more, and who are at least jounin-level in strength. I've got a few names in mind, but we should be careful. We can't just recruit anyone. We need loyalty."
Kuro looked up from the book, his cold eyes locking with Kaito's.
Kuro:
"Loyalty will come with strength. Once they realize what we offer—strength, power, a place to belong—they'll follow. We don't need to make promises to them. We'll show them the power we hold."
The two men exchanged a silent understanding before Kaito stood up again, his eyes gleaming with determination.
Kaito:
"I'll head out tomorrow. Start with bounty hunting, then work on bringing in some of the people we've discussed. But we should be careful who we recruit. If we take in the wrong person, it could cause problems."
Kuro gave a small, approving nod, standing as well.
Kuro:
"I'll continue working with the children. I'll start their training. But I want them ready for more than just the basics. When you bring those recruits in, we'll need them to be strong, capable, and willing to serve."
Kaito smiled, but there was something cold in his expression.
Kaito:
"You'll get them ready, I know it."
The conversation was cut short as one of the orphans—an older boy with messy brown hair—approached them, his face curious.
Orphan:
"Are you really going to train us?"
Kuro gave the boy a long, thoughtful look, before nodding slowly.
Kuro:
"Yes. You'll learn how to survive. How to fight. And most importantly... how to become strong."
The boy seemed reassured by Kuro's words, but the others were still hesitant. Kaito stepped forward, his voice calm and inviting.
Kaito:
"You've already got a place here. No one will hurt you. You'll be part of something bigger. We're a family."
The words seemed to calm the children, though some of them still seemed uncertain. Kaito could see the doubt in their eyes. But he knew that would fade with time.