Box Cat

"Mhm, mhm!"

One person nodded in agreement, then said, "I'll submit a proposal to the higher-ups later to have this kid assigned there!"

"What are you guys talking about?" Qi Shuang asked groggily, lying on a chair.

Having just woken up, his head was still a bit fuzzy, so he hadn't fully heard what these people were discussing.

He had only vaguely caught words like "Demon" and "squad."

Hearing this, one person replied playfully, "We're discussing where to assign you!"

"Huh?"

Qi Shuang was a bit confused.

One person gave him a complex look and continued, "Kid, we've thoroughly verified the process of your entire squad's annihilation!"

"While Kamiya Ki Chunin's death wasn't entirely your fault, your actions were still hard to accept!"

As he spoke, he seemed to recall something and let out a self-deprecating laugh, adding, "Actually, us guys who graduated by killing classmates aren't in any position to judge you!"

"It's just that I hope you remember, this is a battlefield after all. Those who casually abandon their comrades will one day be abandoned by their comrades!"

"No one will trust you or entrust their backs to you again!"

"The only result of that is becoming a lone wolf, without the support of comrades. That's incredibly dangerous on the battlefield!"

"I hope you'll take care of yourself! And also..."

Changing his tone, the person continued, "Given what you did to Kamiya Ki, we've decided to propose to the higher-ups that you be assigned to the squad led by 'Demon Zabuza'."

"Cruel and heartless individuals like yourselves are more suited to be together!"

"Oh!"

Qi Shuang replied softly, seeming a bit dejected by the accusations.

In reality, however, he was secretly delighted.

It seems the Intelligence Interrogation Department only asked about the circumstances of our squad's annihilation and nothing more. I'm lucky! he thought to himself.

However, on second thought, he felt it was only natural they hadn't asked about anything else.

After all, who would suspect that a ten-year-old boy like him possessed a soul from another world?

As for directly delving into his mind to probe his memories, that would be too much trouble.

It would take a deliberate effort to find someone to sift through his memories just to verify their combat situation, unless the Kirigakure Intelligence Interrogation Department had nothing better to do!

Furthermore, this body didn't possess memories from another world; only his soul held that thing which shouldn't be here.

If someone put in a great deal of effort to directly examine his memories, they would only see the original memories of this body. The things that shouldn't be seen by others would remain unseen.

He guessed that only extremely profound hypnosis or the power of the Rinnegan's Human Path could extract that forbidden information from him.

However, speaking of which, as long as he kept his mouth shut and revealed nothing.

The things hidden within him would appear as if they didn't exist to others, because no one would know such a thing existed.

Therefore, no one would deliberately try to investigate.

It was like "Schrödinger's cat." Initially, people had no clues about the cat's existence, so they wouldn't deliberately investigate what was inside the box.

And the cat inside the box, in the eyes of others, simply didn't exist.

Right now, the memories of another world he possessed were that cat in the box.

He just needed to keep his mouth shut, and everything would be fine.

His earlier worries were somewhat excessive!

Seeing him "scared stiff" on the chair, one person unceremoniously dismissed him. "Alright, Qi Shuang Genin, you can leave now!"

Finally, the person added a reminder.

"Remember our advice!"

"Oh!"

Qi Shuang slowly stood up from the chair and "dejectedly" left the camp area of the Intelligence Interrogation Department.

As for the battle to capture Uchiha Tai, he was unaware and had no interest in inquiring.

He only knew that on the afternoon of his return to the camp, a piece of news spread like wildfire through the camp.

Kirigakure had captured a Konoha Jonin alive, and furthermore, a Jonin from the Uchiha clan.

Although he hadn't met the Konoha captive, he had recently severely injured a Jonin from the Uchiha clan. It was too much of a coincidence that Kirigakure had then captured a Jonin captive, and one from the Uchiha clan at that.

If he were to say the person they captured wasn't Uchiha Tai, it would be too coincidental. Thus, Qi Shuang was almost certain that the captured Konoha Jonin was Uchiha Tai.

Immediately, the defense and security throughout the entire Kirigakure front-line camp were raised to the highest level, adopting a posture of being fully prepared.

Just as the Konoha Jonin captive was being escorted into the Intelligence Interrogation Department, a proposal from the Intelligence Interrogation Department was placed on the commander-in-chief's desk.

One person opened the document and read softly, "Kirigakure Genin Qi Shuang, using a dying comrade as bait, employed a mutually destructive method with Explosive Tags to severely injure a Jonin..."

"The Intelligence Interrogation Department now proposes to assign him to the squad of 'Demon Zabuza'!"

After finishing his speech, the person glanced at the others in the tent and said softly, "What do you all think?"

One person put down the document in his hand and said solemnly, "A cold-blooded and ruthless fellow like that would be a perfect match for that 'Demon'. I have no objections!"

"Seconded!"

"Seconded!"

The rest of them nodded in agreement.

They still had a lot of official business to handle and didn't have the energy to waste on a child around ten years old, so they didn't want to dwell on it any further.

Such a proposal, which didn't affect the bigger picture, could be approved directly.

Afterward, the person holding the proposal immediately stamped it with a seal, handed it to a subordinate beside him, and said, "Have the Personnel Coordination Department make the arrangements!"

"Yes!"

Taking the document, the person immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to leave the large tent.

Soon, a ninja holding a transfer order arrived with Qi Shuang outside a tent.

"Is Chunin Ao here?" the person shouted loudly into the tent.

The target of his shout was named "Ao," a Kirigakure Chunin and a squad leader.

"Who is it? So annoying, can't I even rest after just returning from a mission!"

Along with a string of curses, a young ninja in blue emerged from the tent.

It was the person he was looking for – Ao.

"What are you doing here, kid?" he noticed a small boy outside the tent at a glance.

This child was the lucky one they had rescued earlier. It was precisely because of the child's reminder that they were able to share in the merit of capturing a Konoha Jonin alive.

Immediately after, a boy and a girl, both around ten years old, also emerged from the tent.

Seeing the boy outside the tent, the girl excitedly tugged at her companion beside her and teased, "Zabuza, look! Your 'lucky' classmate is here!"

"Hmph!"

The boy who came out of the tent let out a cold snort and turned his head away. However, his dark, glistening eyes were secretly appraising his old classmate.

It was clear that he was not as indifferent and uncaring as he appeared.