Kabuto Yakushi, Will You Come with Me?

The next day.

Undeterred, Yakushi Kabuto made his way to Konoha.

After secretly infiltrating Konoha, the young man did not go to see Shimura Danzo first, but quietly returned to the Orphanage where he grew up.

The Konoha Orphanage looks unchanged, and the number of orphans it takes in is decreasing. Only some of the caregivers in the Orphanage are getting older.

My childhood playmates have long since disappeared.

Yakushi Kabuto stood in a corner of the Orphanage, recalling when he joined the Orphanage. His playmates gave him a helmet, which also gave him the name Kabuto.

"Who are you?"

An elderly caregiver at Orphanage noticed Yakushi Kabuto's figure and stared at the gray-haired young ninja wearing glasses.

"Someone who wants to donate funds."

Yakushi Kabuto adjusted his glasses, concealing his disappointment at not being recognized, and continued softly, "I heard that this Orphanage has always been short of funds—"

That's right.

The elderly caregiver wiped the sweat from her face and said with some regret, "Because our previous director passed away, there has been no one to take charge for the past few years, and we haven't been able to secure enough funding—"

After saying that, the caregiver's face showed a complicated expression. "However, we may not need much funding today, because we have received a donation from the director's friend. This new funding should be enough to keep the Orphanage running for at least ten years."

"A friend of the dean?"

The Yakushi Kabuto glanced at the caregiver with a hint of unease.

When did the dean start having friends?

As a spy, Yakushi Nonou should have been living a life of constant fear. How could she have the opportunity to make such a wealthy friend?

"They must be a close friend of the dean."

The caregiver whispered some gossip, telling the story of the director's friend, "He brought a portrait of the director with him when he came. Judging from his demeanor, he's a very powerful person. He's inside treating the children right now."

Yakushi Kabuto became even more curious.

However, when Yakushi Kabuto went inside, he saw a familiar figure, which made his heart tighten instinctively.

"Emiya—"

Yakushi Kabuto suddenly felt uneasy.

Compared to when he first met Shirou Emiya, when he could unquestioningly assume that the other was a kind medical ninja, this time when he met him, he already knew that the other was the leader of the Akatsuki.

"Your medical skills are amazing!"

A little boy from the Orphanage patted his chest and loudly praised the doctor who treated him, "My chest really doesn't hurt anymore! The caregiver said our previous director was very skilled. I wonder who's more skilled, you or the director!"

"It should be me, right?"

Shirou Emiya gave the answer without hesitation, even providing a concrete example. "Because although your previous headmaster was also skilled in Medical Ninjutsu, he never dared to say he was a medical ninja in front of me."

"Really?"

"I am not a person who likes to lie."

"Wow!"

The little boy's eyes were full of admiration. He remembered a legend from Miyō Village: "So, who's stronger, you or our village's Lady Tsunade? I heard that Lady Tsunade is the strongest medical ninja in Konoha, no, in the entire Shinobi World. The caregiver said that as long as Lady Tsunade returns to the village, she will definitely be able to cure my illness!"

Shirou Emiya lowered his head and pondered for a while, seemingly reminiscing about hearing this long-lost name, or perhaps comparing his Medical Ninjutsu with Tsunade's.

"If she tries hard enough—"

"She might be the most powerful one right now."

Shirou Emiya did not deny Tsunade's talent, nor did he care whether the little guy could understand, and explained to himself, "Because of my medical skills, she should have already mastered them, but I have not yet seen her medical skills."

"But-"

When Shirou Emiya speaking, he added softly, "No matter how outstanding she is, she will definitely still be me in the future."

"Wow!"

The little boy was genuinely shocked and asked another question, "So, who's stronger, you or the legendary Emiya Tsuchihara-sama?"

"Just as good."

Shirou Emiya ruffled his hair and patted his forehead, saying, "Go play with your friends first. You can do whatever you want from now on."

"Yes!"

The little boy ran out happily.

After watching the little boy leave, Shirou Emiya waved to the thanking caregiver to leave before turning to look at Yakushi Kabuto was walking in.

"You're too late."

"Yes-"

Yakushi Kabuto's heart sank.

Other side..

As expected, I had come here.

However, what did this adult mean by coming to the Orphanage at this time? "I didn't think you would come."

Shirou Emiya stood up and glanced at the portrait of Yakushi Nonou on the wall. "After all, when I resolved Yakushi Nonou's obsession, I told her that her children would be safe and sound. Now that you're here, it seems I don't need to worry about these things anymore."

"Yes."

Yakushi Kabuto bowed respectfully to Shirou Emiya and said in a low voice, "I still have to thank you, Lord Shirou. I originally thought—"

Yakushi Kabuto originally thought that Emiya Tsuchihara, whose mindset had changed, would no longer care about them, these insignificant people.

Are you staying here?

Shirou Emiya asked Yakushi Kabuto, "This Orphanage must have been a home for you since you were little. Like Yakushi Nonou, you've given a lot to this family—"

"Home?"

Yakushi Kabuto murmured the unfamiliar word, then slowly shook his head. "I can't stay yet."

Even if he is able to stay...

Neither Orochimaru nor Shimura Danzo would ever let him go.

After all, Orochimaru had already planned ahead to recruit him as an assistant, Shimura Danzo also knew that Yakushi Kabuto, who had been a spy for Konoha, must have a lot of secrets, and might even use this Orphanage to threaten him into continuing to be a spy.

This kind of thing—

Shimura Danzo was definitely capable of doing it!

However··

Yakushi Kabuto couldn't imagine how he would solve the problem.

Although Yakushi Kabuto knew that joining forces with Emiya Tsuchihara would solve these problems, he didn't believe he had any value to Emiya Tsuchihara.

His own prized Medical Ninjutsu?

Standing before him was Shirou Emiya, the strongest medical ninja!

Intelligence spy?

The Akatsuki wouldn't need a spy like him, would it?

In this world, if you possess something, you must give something in return.

Even if you receive warmth and love from others for no reason, you should try to reciprocate that love instead of ignoring their efforts.

Yakushi Kabuto was already grateful to Shirou Emiya Yakushi Nonou's soul and returning it to the Netherworld Pure Land. He hadn't yet figured out how to repay this kindness, and then Nonō, started taking care of the Orphanage...

Constantly taking without giving back is not the kind of education Yakushi Kabuto received from childhood.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have willingly sacrificed himself to become a spy in the first place.

"It seems you haven't thought it through yet."

Shirou Emiya seemed unaware of Yakushi Kabuto's thoughts, simply assuming that Yakushi Kabuto hadn't figured it out yet, and casually remarked, "Time waits for no one—"

"No.."

Yakushi Kabuto shook his head, his eyes lowered, and said, "The ninjas of this world are always fighting. Even staying in the Orphanage wouldn't guarantee peace. With my status, staying here would only bring disaster to this family..."

"Oh."

Shirou Emiya, as if he understood something, and calmly continued, "Then let's change this world filled with strife first, and then return here."

A wry smile was no longer enough to describe Yakushi Kabuto's expression.

How can this world be changed so easily?

Even someone as powerful as the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, only ended the Warring States Period, but after his death, the even more brutal Shinobi World War began.

That's a bit too easy for you to say!

Even someone as great as Emiya Tsuchihara could only quell the First Shinobi World War; he could not truly change the nature of this world.

Even a smart person like Orochimaru thought such a grand ideal was really unreliable.

Orochimaru never took Akatsuki's so-called grand plan seriously. He never believed that Akatsuki had the ability to change the world of ninjas. Even when Shirou Emiya became the leader of Akatsuki, this concept naturally influenced Yakushi Kabuto.

"This idea—"

"Actually, I'm a bit naive—."

Yakushi Kabuto gritted his teeth, hoping to persuade Shirou Emiya: "As long as ninjas exist in this world..."

As long as humanity exists, there will always be struggles for interests, and there will always be hatred and suffering. No one can change this world.

This is the ultimate truth of humanity.

This is a truth that will never be forgotten.

Even if Shirou Emiya wanted to manipulate the Akatsuki to do something, his efforts would ultimately be forgotten in the dust of history and become futile.

Perhaps..

They will be ridiculed in the future.

Yakushi Kabuto even believed that Emiya Tsuchihara should not get involved in the troubles of Akatsuki, nor should he pay attention to any alternative path, but should instead focus on being an immaculate saint.

At least in the future, this saint will be free of stains.

At least Shirou Emiya's reputation will be forever respected, rather than choosing to go against the tide and become an enemy of the entire Shinobi World, ultimately being scorned by those who cannot understand him.

To be honest, Yakushi Kabuto was a little sad.

Especially since this person was someone he had admired since childhood, and who had even shown him immense kindness, was now inexplicably embarking on a path of no return. "I know what you're saying makes a lot of sense."

"However, I have my reasons for doing what I want to do."

Shirou Emiya didn't care about Yakushi Kabuto's negative emotions. His gaze fell on Yakushi Kabuto's conflicted and struggling face, while his expression remained calm and serene.

"Yakushi Kabuto."

"Do you want to come with me?"