Public Interrogation

At Konoha's entrance.

The Third Hokage stepped forward, surrounded by a group of Anbu.

On the other side, surrounded by the Sound Four, the Sound Shadow's palanquin was set down.

A figure stepped out from within.

He wore a Kage hat, purple and white, with the character for "Sound" emblazoned upon it.

He reached up and removed the hat, revealing an exceptionally young face beneath.

He did not look to be even twenty years old.

The onlookers erupted in an uproar. The Sound Shadow was actually so young.

"Third Hokage-sama, I trust you have been well."

Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses, looking utterly familiar with him.

"You are?" The Third Hokage found Kabuto's appearance somewhat familiar, yet he could not remember who he was.

"Yakushi Kabuto!?" Anko, who had been searching unsuccessfully for Orochimaru nearby, was shocked when she saw Kabuto.

Hm? The Third Hokage was startled.

The boy brought back from the Battle of Kikyō Mountain, who had been adopted by a medical team jonin?

The Third Hokage vaguely remembered him.

"You became the leader of the Hidden Sound Village?" Anko asked in astonishment.

Kabuto smiled faintly and spread his hands. "The genuine article."

"It seems quite a lot has happened over the years." The Third Hokage recalled Kabuto's file at that moment.

When had Yakushi Kabuto defected to Orochimaru?

Kabuto pushed up his glasses. "Thanks to Danzo-sama, who made me an undercover agent. I diligently gathered countless pieces of intelligence for Konoha. In the end, because he no longer trusted me, he arranged for my adoptive mother and me to kill each other."

"By luck, I survived. Now, at least, I have achieved something."

"So, Third Hokage-sama, what explanation will you give me for this?"

Everyone behind Kabuto, including Shisui and the Uchiha clansmen, took half a step