Kabuto Yakushi's emotions churned.
Because he had never imagined that he would receive such gentle love.
From the youngster whose face was full of hatred and jealousy, Kabuto Yakushi had already learned far too much. He missed Dean Yakushi Nonō even more—the woman who had cared for him like a mother and would spare no effort for his sake.
However...
Now was not the time to be overwhelmed by emotion.
The most important thing now was to uncover the youngster's plan for revenge.
Only by learning Akihara Kagura's revenge plan could he hope to resolve the crisis that he and Dean Yakushi Nonō were about to face.
Based on the information Kabuto Yakushi possessed, Shimura Danzō was certainly planning to kill Dean Nonō. This youngster, Akihara Kagura, was merely involved in it.
If he could persuade this youngster to abandon his revenge plans and protect the dean with him, that would be even better.
Kabuto Yakushi frowned as he thought, then cautiously probed Akihara Kagura. "You've never seen Dean Nonō either, have you? Maybe it's because you left the orphanage too long ago?"
Kabuto Yakushi seemed to have found a direction. "There's another possibility. Shimura Danzō secretly deceived Dean Nonō and told her that you had died long ago."
"Kagura, we're both children from the orphanage. We both know how Dean Nonō cared for us. Dean Nonō would never abandon a child for no reason."
"..."
This guy had a point!
If Akihara Kagura really had been from Konoha Orphanage, he would have felt that Kabuto Yakushi was right. A few more words, and Kabuto Yakushi might have turned him against Root Organization...
Unfortunately.
Akihara Kagura did not want to play the role of a villain who could be persuaded.
Akihara Kagura only wanted to play a child who had gone down the wrong path and could never turn back!
"Shut up!"
Akihara Kagura's hand shot out and seized Kabuto Yakushi by the throat!
The youngster's gaze abruptly turned fierce as he pinned Kabuto Yakushi against the wall and said in a low voice, "Kabuto Yakushi, do not disrespect Lord Danzō, or I'll kill you right now!"
The youngster looked contemptuously at Kabuto Yakushi, who could not resist in his grasp, before slowly releasing him. "Hmph. I should have killed you back at the training ground..."
"Cough, cough... Cough cough cough..."
Kabuto Yakushi lowered his head and coughed hard a few times. His eyes flickered slightly. "Then why didn't you kill me? Danzo probably wouldn't blame you."
"That would be letting you off too easily."
A photograph flashed between Akihara Kagura's fingertips. It showed Kabuto Yakushi—it was the very photo Akihara Kagura had taken from him at the training ground.
"Want to guess what I'm going to do?"
"This is your photograph. The real you."
"Unfortunately, Dean Yakushi Nonō doesn't know who the person in the photograph is. She only believes that fake is Kabuto Yakushi, so she'll see you as nothing but a stranger."
Akihara Kagura spun the photograph around his fingers and casually explained his plan. "All I need to do is send this photograph to Dean Yakushi Nonō and, in Lord Danzō's name, order her to kill the person in it. Then I'll agree to let you leave Root Organization..."
"..."
Kabuto Yakushi's expression changed.
Seeing Kabuto Yakushi's expression, Akihara Kagura's smile widened. "Once our most respected Dean Yakushi Nonō kills you, she'll learn the whole truth..."
"She'll learn that the person she killed with her own hands was the real Kabuto Yakushi—the Kabuto Yakushi she had always worried about!"
"..."
Kabuto Yakushi's face turned deathly pale.
Anyone knew how devastating this would be to Yakushi Nonō if it happened. Perhaps after Yakushi Nonō killed Kabuto Yakushi, she might even take her own life.
It was a cruel conspiracy.
From memories of his past life, Akihara Kagura remembered that Shimura Danzō had personally devised this case of mutual slaughter. Shimura Danzō had wanted Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonō to perish together.
Unfortunately, the plan had gone wrong.
Yakushi Nonō had not recognized Kabuto Yakushi. When she desperately tried to kill him, Kabuto Yakushi countered with a single blow and gravely wounded her. Kabuto Yakushi's learning ability was extraordinary, making him far stronger in combat than an ordinary medical ninja like Yakushi Nonō.
However...
Kabuto Yakushi recognized his dean.
Just as Kabuto Yakushi desperately tried to save her, the dean failed to recognize him because of the fake photograph and merely saw him as a stranger. Kabuto Yakushi immediately suffered a tremendous blow and believed his life had no meaning.
Now...
Akihara Kagura had revealed the truth behind this mutual slaughter to Kabuto Yakushi in advance. He had even woven a tiny bit of his own role into it, creating an important new bond between himself, Kabuto Yakushi, and Yakushi Nonō.
This way...
He would have a chance to make use of Kabuto Yakushi in the future.
Even if these lies were exposed, it did not matter. If he simply came clean, Akihara Kagura would still have saved Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonō... According to memories of his past life, Kabuto Yakushi was not someone who forgot kindness!
"I've told you my plan."
Akihara Kagura patted Kabuto Yakushi's shoulder and continued with a smile, "Making someone kill the person they care about most would surely let her feel pain, wouldn't it?"
"You told me..."
Kabuto Yakushi clenched his teeth and glared furiously at the youngster before him. "You told me all this—aren't you afraid your plan will fail? I can explain the truth to the dean..."
"It doesn't matter."
Akihara Kagura spread his hands, looking completely certain of victory. "If you successfully reunite with Dean Yakushi Nonō, she'll definitely be happy to see you, right?"
"Then, after you tell her the whole truth, I'll kill you with my own hands at the moment she's happiest. I only want her to taste pain, after all."
Akihara Kagura truly did not care about any of that. Rarely, he spoke the truth. "I only need the result I want. It doesn't matter how I get there."
"Kabuto Yakushi."
"The moment I learned of you, your fate was already decided."
"..."
Kabuto Yakushi slowly lowered his head.
He had to admit that Akihara Kagura truly had reason for such confidence.
From Kabuto Yakushi's observations, every member of Root Organization had been cowed into silence by Akihara Kagura's threats, proving that Akihara Kagura's strength could not be underestimated.
Not to mention...
The unfathomable Wood Style Kekkei Genkai.
Yet if the youngster before him was confident he could kill him, then he and Dean Yakushi Nonō might not be without a chance of survival!
"Let's go."
"We'll go see Lord Danzō first."
Akihara Kagura took the lead toward the depths of the Root Organization Base and issued a seemingly casual warning. "You'd better not say too much in front of Lord Danzō. And don't show even the slightest disrespect before him, or Lord Danzō may order me to kill you on the spot..."
"..."
Kabuto Yakushi lowered his head without speaking.
Of course, Kabuto Yakushi would not do anything unnecessary.
He now understood clearly that he needed to keep a low profile and find a way to see Dean Nonō as soon as possible, so he could tell her Akihara Kagura's story.
If possible, Kabuto Yakushi hoped Dean Nonō and Akihara Kagura, this abandoned child, could clear up their misunderstanding and increase their chances of surviving in the future as much as possible.
Second update!
The groundwork had been laid. All that remained was to wait for the truth to be exposed!
Thanks to the big shot Qing Zhi Dong San Fen for the reward! The ranking actually climbed so much!
Before you continue