I feel like Tayuya is making this way more difficult then it needs to be. In fact, Tayuya returning to save Kiro that day screwed all my future plans up. I even remember mentioning my hope for Tayuya to just leave Kiro.
He never planned on betraying the Sound. Zaku and Kiro had to buy time for the other members carrying Orochimaru to escape. They were both outnumbered and it was clear they were going to lose. Kiro couldn’t even escape cuz he was knocked out by Mori.
By the time he woke up, Kai was already there. His brainwashing plan would’ve worked if Tayuya just kept her mouth shut, didn’t show up, or take the opportunity to escape. Before Kai bitch slapped her, Kiro was gonna explain his plan to Tayuya. Let her know that she should go herself since there was no way Kai would let Kiro leave.
He would’ve chased Kiro down. The rest of the genin would most likely follow as well. In order to prevent them from learning the location of the Sound, Kiro had to stay since he was too weakened to actually fight.
Without Tayuya, there’s no concrete evidence that could be used against him. Kai has difficulty believing it as it was. Jin even stated that Tayuya’s words were what convinced him. We even discussed that the other genin’s words wouldn’t really be considered by higher ups.
Since Kiro couldn’t explain his plan in time and since Sagisō got to Tayuya first, there was nothing he could do. (Plus the fact no one gave me a chance to post) Kiro being a traitor to the Sound means he’s also technically a traitor to the Mist by default. No matter what, Tayuya could’ve said anything and they would’ve believed her since she was an actual Sound member. After that, it was too late.
What could’ve happened was Kiro let’s Tayuya know to escape and explains why it’s best for him to stay. The genin try to explain Kiro’s a traitor but their words aren’t believed by Kai. Actually if Tayuya doesn’t even show up, Kai would just take Kiro and leave to the Mist. From there, Kiro could get his Kiba blades, some development time in the Mist as well as with Kai and then we could’ve had a proper betrayal.
Now we have ‘who will Kiro betray next?’ It’s still funny but not what I had in mind for his character.