Nagi looked at the person before him and asked calmly,
"How have the past few days been with your director?"
"Thanks to you, I've been very happy."
The visitor was none other than Kabuto Ya Kūshi.
After returning from Otoga Kūre, Nagi had taken the initiative to summon him—and then brought him to the Uchiha Clan Compound.
At first, Kabuto assumed Nagi and Orochimaru intended to conduct some kind of experiment involving the Uchiha.
Until he saw her.
A woman was tending to a group of Uchiha children.
Though her appearance and chakra signature were different, something deep in his bones felt an unmistakable warmth.
The ice sealing his heart for years began to melt.
The woman noticed them as well. When she saw Kabuto, her body visibly stiffened.
Without delay, Nagi instructed her to bring Kabuto to her residence.
On the way, the two quietly observed one another.
Kabuto wondered who this woman truly was.
Nono, meanwhile, wanted to know how Kabuto had lived all these years.
Once inside, Nagi asked her to remove her disguise.
A face Kabuto had longed for in his dreams appeared before him. Her chakra signature returned to its original state.
"Th-this… D-Director?!"
Kabuto trembled with emotion, hardly daring to believe his eyes.
Years of espionage had forced him to wear countless masks—but Nono's presence shattered them all.
Nagi spoke gently.
"'Wandering Shrine Maiden'—today, you resume your identity as Nono Ya Kūshi. You may care for the orphanage and the children of the Uchiha Clan freely."
"Thank you, my lord."
"I'll leave you two alone."
After Nagi departed, the long-separated "mother and son" spoke at length.
Later, Kabuto sought Nagi out. He was about to kneel in gratitude, but Nagi stopped him.
"My hope is that people don't kneel so easily. Stand."
Kabuto rose and instead bowed deeply.
Nagi continued,
"Orochimaru and I are currently aboard a vessel called 'Science.' The future ahead is difficult.
Kabuto YaKūshi, I admire your talent. I hope you'll board this ship as well—let us advance toward the future together."
He extended his right hand.
Kabuto froze.
Years of life as a spy had nearly made him forget who he was. Only upon seeing the Director again had he remembered—he was Kabuto YaKūshi, one of her children.
Now, Nagi's words of recognition filled something hollow within him.
Perhaps this was what it meant to be acknowledged.
For someone who had always searched for his identity, recognition was the greatest salvation.
Kabuto's gaze hardened with resolve. He reached out and clasped Nagi's hand.
"It would be my honor. I will not disappoint you, Nagi-sama."
At that moment, Kabuto's "shed skin" began to fall away.
…
Kabuto presented a scroll. Nagi broke the seal and read its contents.
Rasa had agreed to cooperate with OtogaKūre in launching an invasion of Konohaga Kūre. They planned to act during the Chūnin Exams Finals, just over a month away.
Specific arrangements were to be coordinated with the Kūre jōnin, Baki.
After reading, Nagi incinerated the scroll with Fire Release.
Kabuto added, "The Fourth Kazekage himself will attend the Finals as a guest."
"In that case… Fourth Kazekage Rasa, cherish this final month of your life."
With that, Nagi left the alleyway.
[Rasa: What?! Why am I being killed again?!]
[Onoki: Hah. Nagi already said it—if you agree to invade Konoha alongside Otoga Kūre, he'll eliminate you.]
[Tobirama Senju: Kazekage, once you've made your decision, do not regret its consequences.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: My teacher is right. If you dare invade Konoha, we will show no mercy.]
Even without his teacher alive, Konoha still had Nagi and its next generation. Hiruzen would not bend his back again.
[Kakashi Hatake: Indeed. Since Kūre has chosen invasion, you must also choose to bear the price.]
[Chiyo: Son of the White Fang of Konoha! Return my son and daughter-in-law's lives!]
[Rasa: Y-You people—! coughs blood]
Gaara, however, remained indifferent. As long as Temari—and incidentally KanKūrō—were safe, nothing else mattered.
Events unfolded largely as they had originally—except this time, Orochimaru had no interest in Sasuke's body. Thus, Sasuke was not branded with the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
The former Otoga Kūre trio—ZaKū Abumi, Dosu Kinuta, and Kin Tsuchi—did not target Team Seven.
Soon, the Chūnin Exams Preliminaries began. Kabuto also withdrew from the competition this time.
The matches commenced.
Sasuke Uchiha vs. Yoroi AGato
Without the interference of the Cursed Seal, Sasuke ended the match swiftly and cleanly.
Shino Aburame vs. ZaKū Abumi
The undefeated warrior Shino delivered as steadily as ever.
KanKūrō vs. Karin Uzumaki
Thanks to her powerful sensory abilities, Karin quickly detected the switch between Kan Kūrō's puppet and his real body.
However, Kan Kūrō's early-game tactics were formidable. Karin, having studied at Konoha Hospital alongside her mother, had learned some offensive techniques—but most were close-combat oriented.
Though she possessed the Uzumaki Clan's strong life force and healing abilities, KanKūrō had laced his puppet weapons with poison.
Karin was forced to detoxify and heal herself while searching for opportunities to close the distance.
From the stands, Temari observed carefully. At this rate, she thought, the Konoha girl would soon lose due to chakra exhaustion.
But half an hour passed…
Karin remained full of fighting spirit. In contrast, KanKūrō was visibly fatigued, nearing his limit.
Originally, he had intended to wear her down from a distance using poison and his puppet.
Yet nearly an hour had passed, and she appeared unaffected—while his own chakra reserves were almost depleted.
He couldn't afford to reveal the Black Secret Technique or his Salamander puppet this early.
Reluctantly, Kan Kūrō raised his hand in surrender.
After her victory, Karin energetically ran toward Sasuke.
"Karin is that strong?"
"…Wasn't she always that strong?"
Kūra Haruno and Ino Yamanaka stared blankly at the spirited redhead.
They recalled the Academy sparring sessions—Karin usually knocked opponents out with a single punch.
Even Sasuke had nearly lost to her at times.
(Karin: I just couldn't bring myself to hit him properly.)
They had simply never seen her fight a prolonged battle before.
"Yeah! Amazing job, Karin!"
Before Sasuke could respond, Naruto had already rushed to congratulate her.
"Hehe, thanks, Naruto- Kūn! You do your best too!"
As fellow members of the Uzumaki Clan, Karin and Naruto had been close since their Academy days. Being older, she affectionately called him "little brother."
Naruto was more than happy to have an older sister figure.
Because of her relationship with Naruto, Sasuke wasn't as cold toward her as usual.
"…Congratulations."
"Hehehe…"
Karin blushed.
Kūra & Ino: Danger.
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