Kabuto's eyes widened as he looked up at Uchiha Yu, standing atop the massive summoning serpent, alongside the nun-like woman with the Byakugan.
His expression turned serious as he stepped out of the formation.
"Kid, you're seriously lucky. A mere genin being chosen by Lord Yu—make sure you perform well under these adults. Who knows, maybe someday we'll hear of your legend across the shinobi world!"
The middle-aged Iwa-nin captain offered a few polite words.
With a genial smile, he patted Kabuto on the shoulder and nudged him toward the giant snake.
Back in the Iwa-nin unit, the tense expressions on the remaining shinobi eased. The metaphorical boulder in their hearts had finally dropped.
Like the civilians, they had no desire to risk their lives serving a band of rogue ninja.
Kabuto's expression was complicated.
He had gathered intelligence on Uchiha's defection group through various channels.
But more than anything, he wanted to know if the blonde nun with Byakugan—who followed the Uchiha defectors—was actually his Director, his foster mother.
So, he was willing to take the risk of joining this rebel group, even if temporarily.
As Kabuto walked forward, his figure jumped up onto the summoning serpent's body. The Iwa-nin captain respectfully bid farewell to Uchiha Yu and led his squad away.
With its tongue flicking, the enormous snake summoned by Orochimaru began rapidly slithering again, racing across the grassy plains toward the grassy plains.
At the head of the serpent, a system prompt appeared in Yu's mind:
[Side Quest]: Tribute
[Objective]: Accept Iwagakure's "gift."
[Reward]: +100 cubic meters to storage space.
The system had tried to slap him in the face with its quest.
But he glitched the system.
By trading the civilian group for Konoha's undercover agent Kabuto, he technically still accepted Iwagakure's gift.
Focusing, Yu watched as the storage space expanded by another 100 cubic meters. It was a perfect cube, now at 300 cubic meters in total—more than enough for storing numerous corpses.
After confirming the reward, Yu turned around to observe Kabuto as he slowly approached.
At the rear of the serpent's body, Kabuto walked forward cautiously.
He wore his signature round glasses, with an Iwa-nin forehead protector and scarf wrapped around his head. His gear included brown armor and a red underlayer.
His youthful face was still slightly childish.
The Iwa armor on him was clearly too loose—obviously not custom-fitted.
Such was the cruelty of the shinobi world. Even as a boy, once you became a ninja, you could be thrown into battle at any moment.
The other Uchiha didn't understand why Yu specifically chose this Iwa-nin youth.
Orochimaru's expression was complex.
When Yu had taken Karin, Orochimaru hadn't known who she was. But Kabuto—this time—was someone Orochimaru had been eyeing for a long time.
Yu was stealing someone from right under his nose!
Nonō's lips trembled. Her face showed both concern and emotion as she softly called his name and stepped forward.
Hearing someone say his name, Kabuto's pupils shrank. He froze on the spot, staring in disbelief at the golden-haired nun with Byakugan.
"Even her voice… it's so familiar. Who are you?"
Kabuto instinctively took two steps back.
"I'm Yakushi Nonō—your Director, your foster mother," she quickly explained, pulling out a pair of round glasses identical to his from her tool pouch.
Kabuto gasped. His gaze was instantly drawn to the glasses.
A person's appearance could be faked—but the tiny details on the frame couldn't be so easily copied.
This nun with the Byakugan…
Was really his Director!
Tears slipped down Nonō's cheeks as she handed the glasses to Kabuto.
She gently tugged on the hem of his cloak and brought him before Yu. Together, they knelt on the serpent's head, as she explained:
"Kabuto, this is Captain Yu. From now on, address him as 'milord.' He is the leader we will follow from this day on."
"Director… why? Aren't we Konoha shinobi?" Kabuto asked, frightened and confused.
Hearing the word "Konoha", Tsunade raised her head from Shizune's embrace and fixed her gaze on the pair—Nonō and Kabuto.
Nonō wore a sorrowful expression. After recalling everything, she carefully organized her thoughts and detailed the full extent of Danzo's scheme against both her and Kabuto.
The truth shattered Kabuto's worldview.
Tsunade's face turned ashen as she listened in silence. This was exactly the kind of thing Danzo would do.
Bite the hand that feeds you.
That damned old bastard had completely twisted her grandfather's original dream in creating Konoha. From the shadows, he had manufactured enemy after enemy—people who should have been valuable assets to the village.
And beyond that, it was Danzo who encouraged the elders to annihilate the Uchiha clan.
Looking at Konoha's historical trajectory, that was a political blunder worthy of eternal scorn.
Tsunade let out a long breath and slumped into Shizune's arms. She didn't want to face the shattered reality around her anymore. Right now, she just wanted to drink—drink until she passed out.
"Konoha… wanted you to kill me?"
Kabuto muttered in a daze.
He raised his head toward the distant direction of Konoha. A soft breeze ruffled his hair, knocking his loose Iwa headband to the ground.
In his original plan…
He was supposed to finish his three-year mission as an undercover agent in Iwagakure, then return to Konoha with intel—go back to the orphanage, and help his foster mother run it.
But he never expected—
That Konoha would suddenly order him to transmit intel back, and that behind this order was a betrayal. His so-called home had used him… and now wanted to discard both him and his foster mother.
A mother and son, forced to kill one another.
What a cruel and tragic fate.
Kabuto snapped back to reality, and without emotion, bowed his head to the ground before Yu.
Nonō did the same, tears in her voice as she bowed low.
"Captain… from now on, I'll do anything you ask of me!"
Yu nodded lightly, motioning for them to rise from the cold serpent scales. He didn't like others kneeling before him.
When Nonō saw Kabuto among the Iwa-nin, she was completely convinced of the conspiracy Yu had mentioned earlier about Danzo.
She had already been generously rewarded by Yu.
She couldn't shamelessly ask the Uchiha to take Kabuto too—but Yu had willingly traded away the Iwa "laborers" just to reunite mother and son.
That act of kindness…
Was enough to make both Nonō and Kabuto willing to give their lives for Uchiha in times of crisis.
Orochimaru furrowed his brow.
At this rate, Kabuto was going to become an external member of the Uchiha.
"Yu-kun, there's something I'd like to discuss with you," Orochimaru said, his golden slit pupils looking toward Yu.
Yu turned and calmly replied, "Good timing—I have something to discuss with you, too."
Orochimaru fell silent.
Yu was the first to speak:
"Kabuto is Nonō's foster son, and now technically part of the Uchiha. Based on his record, he's clearly a promising young ninja."
"There's not much we can teach him within the Uchiha, so I'd like him to study under you."
"That way, he can serve as a bridge between our two factions. What do you think?"
A strange expression crossed Orochimaru's pale, androgynous face—like he had just swallowed something unspeakably bitter.
Yu had stolen the person he wanted, then handed him back with a smile, wrapped as a symbol of cooperation.
Orochimaru racked his brain, trying to find a way to justify this.
He wanted Kabuto for his talent and utility, and whether Kabuto was his or Yu's ultimately made no difference.
Kabuto could serve as a link between the two sides.
With that perspective, Orochimaru calmed down. His expression relaxed, and he smiled:
After all, what choice did he have?
This was the same man who had once annihilated both Jiraiya and Gamabunta with a single slash.
Yu had somehow gained control of Itachi's Susanoo and the Totsuka Blade, giving him a clear advantage over Orochimaru.
Of course Orochimaru would keep a good attitude.
Yu suddenly asked, "Oh right, what was it you wanted to talk to me about just now?"
Orochimaru's face froze. After a moment of awkward silence, he muttered:
"It's nothing… I figured it out on my own."
He had wanted to request custody of Kabuto.
But Yu had already seen through him.
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