Yakushi Kabuto, Turned

Konan felt uneasy.

Because this really doesn't seem very safe.

Because of her continued distrust of Zetsu, Konan was worried that he might try to ambush and harm Nagato, something that had happened before.

If it weren't for the ambush by Shimura Danzo Salamander Hanzo Konoha Hidden Rain Village, Yahiko wouldn't have died, and Nagato wouldn't have been crippled.

"Don't worry."

Black Zetsu's voice was always somber and hoarse, instantly inspiring a deep sense of distrust in listeners. Yet, it still tried its best to persuade Konan and Nagato: "What you are about to meet is the most trustworthy person in the world."

"Except for Yahiko and Nagato."

Konan stared coldly at Black Zetsu. Her eyes were covered in light purple eyeshadow, which made her look somewhat aloof, but it complemented her hair color perfectly.

There is no one in this world whom I can absolutely trust.

"What a narrow-minded view—"

Black Zetsu couldn't help but smile, as if mocking Konan's narrow-mindedness. "When you actually meet him, you'll understand how presumptuous your words were."

"Is it a long way to go?"

Nagato frowned as he looked at his Wheelchair.

Because of his disability in both legs, coupled with the Yin Yang Release Black Rod inserted into his back, his Wheelchair is more cumbersome than a normal Wheelchair, making it difficult for his body to support long journeys. Every long journey is a torment for him.

"He is in the Land of Rivers."

After mentioning a place name, White Zetsu couldn't help but explain, "Although given your physical condition, it would actually be more appropriate for him to come and see you; however, given his status and reputation, I still suggest that you visit him in person."

"A powerful medical ninja, and also a very renowned person."

Nagato stared intently at them, pondering the words they spoke. His eyes widened involuntarily, as if he had suddenly realized something.

All along.

The Mysterious Masked Man claimed to be Madara Uchiha.

Black Zetsu claims to be the will left behind by Shirou Emiya.

It just so happens that Madara Uchiha's last appearance was when he helped Shirou Emiya, who was Impure World Reincarnation in Ancient Era, quell the First Shinobi World War.

"That's the person."

Black Zetsu was very pleased to see the shock on Nagato's face.

"I remember"

Nagato's forehead suddenly began to sweat as he recalled the old legend, "That lord should have disappeared many years ago—you also told me—he returned to the Underworld after the First Shinobi World War."

"Are they deceiving us?"

Konan immediately raised her hand, and sheets of white paper fell from her palm, as if she were about to launch an attack on Jue at any moment!

"We have Orochimaru to thank for this."

White Zetsu quickly spread his hands and explained earnestly, "Orochimaru is a spy sent by Konoha to Akatsuki."

In order to defeat Deva Path Pain Akatsuki, he used a forbidden Konoha technique to bring that person back to the human world.

"Is Orochimaru a spy for Konoha?"

Konan wasn't surprised at all, and even quickly turned to Nagato, saying, "We shouldn't have let Orochimaru join Akatsuki in the first place."

"But Orochimaru is a dangerous person."

Nagato Noboru ( )

"I wanted to kill him, so I thought of keeping Orochimaru by my side to keep an eye on him. I didn't expect this dangerous person to be a spy sent by Konoha?"

"They must have been sent by Danzo, right?"

White Zetsu stroked his chin and shared his previous speculation.

"!!!"

Konan, Nagato, and Deva Path Pain all turned their attention to this, and a dangerous glint flashed in their eyes at the same time.

"Let's go see him first."

Black Zetsu wanted them to go see Shirou Emiya first.

Compared to Shirou Emiya, he seemed insignificant to anyone else in the world.

Certainly·

Shirou Emiya would definitely not think that way.

Shirou Emiya never considered others to be insignificant. He always believed that everyone in the world had considerable value, even Yakushi Kabuto Orochimaru secretly monitor him.

These days, Yakushi Kabuto feels that his life is somewhat happy.

Because he was always able to learn a lot from Shirou Emiya hear a lot of philosophy from him.

In particular, Yakushi Kabuto can talk to Shirou Emiya about the headmaster Yakushi Nonou, whom he has started to think about again, so sometimes he can't help but want to seek answers about life from Shirou Emiya, this Ancient Era sage.

There is certainly no one more suitable than Shirou Emiya in this world.

Anyone who chats with Shirou Emiya seems to receive guidance from his words; even just talking to him is a relaxing experience.

"When the dean died"

"I don't know who I really am—"

"I don't even know what the meaning of my life is."

"I don't seem to have anything I particularly like or dislike, and I don't even know why I'm alive in this world."

Yakushi Kabuto recalled his confusion during that time, and also remembered Orochimaru's teachings to him. "Orochimaru told me that by collecting all the information in the world and knowing all the knowledge in this world, I could find the final answer from it."

"And before that?"

While fiddling with the experimental equipment in his hands, Shirou Emiya guided Yakushi Kabuto's thoughts. "I remember Danzo used your Orphanage's funds to force you to become a spy when you were still a child."

Is that the kind of life you like?

"I find it disgusting."

Yakushi Kabuto frowned subconsciously as he recalled his feelings during that time, "Sometimes I was afraid that I would be killed if I was discovered, but in order for the Orphanage to get funding to survive, I had to do it."

Shirou Emiya paused for a moment before resuming the experiment, seemingly uttering unintentionally, "When a person knows why they live, they will also find that they can endure any kind of life."

"!!!"

Yakushi Kabuto gripped his test tube tightly.

"You are an excellent medical ninja."

"Even in the study of Medical Ninjutsu, Tsunade might not be as good as you in some aspects."

I thought you were following the Ninja Way of a medical ninja—

"Now it seems..."

Shirou Emiya sighed, and his words pierced through Yakushi Kabuto's heart. "Whether you're a medical ninja, a spy, or a ninja, none of that is what you truly want. The Orphanage's continued existence is the home you've always longed for."

"!!!"

Yakushi Kabuto's arm involuntarily drooped down.

It really seems like that.

In order to keep the director and the Orphanage alive, I am willing to endure all the terrible things in life, even if it means living a life worse than death.

Under the guidance of the director, he became a medical ninja, able to participate in battlefield medical care alongside the director, thus helping to cover some of the Orphanage's expenses.

I volunteered to become a spy so that the Orphanage could receive more funding and continue to exist.

Yes·

Those were the true meanings of his life Yakushi Kabuto recalled his past life, and two lines of tears slowly streamed down his face behind his glasses, reminding him of the first time he received those glasses.

The kind-hearted headmistress who treated him like her own son discovered that his eyesight was failing him and he couldn't see anything clearly.

Giving him these glasses allowed him to truly feel valued and loved for the first time, and this was the meaning of his life.

To this end·

He was willing to endure anything.

"Give me the test tube."

Shirou Emiya as if he hadn't said anything, continuing to concentrate intently on his experiments.

He casually asked, "Is that Orphanage always short of funds? I don't think there was Orphanage in Konoha when I was there, but an old friend of mine Kakuzu was always working hard to earn money to support some Orphanage."

"Kakuzu?"

:

When Yakushi Kabuto thought of this, he couldn't help but grit his teeth and bring up something. He even felt a little wronged and resentful when he thought of it.

"In fact, the Dean had met Kakuzu before and received donations from Kakuzu, who disliked Miyō, for a period of time. Later, Danzo forced the Dean to refuse Kakuzu's donations, on the grounds that he was forbidding the Dean from colluding with outside missing-nin."

"But-""

Yakushi Kabuto clenched his fists again, recalling some things he had secretly investigated since becoming a spy. "Danzo forbade the orphanage from accepting donations from outside the village, and, in his capacity as the Hokage Assistant, reduced the funds allocated by the village to the Orphanage."

At this moment...

Yakushi Kabuto could no longer hide his anger!

If Danzo's refusal to allow them to contact Kakuzu is understandable, then cutting the Orphanage's funding is even more problematic.

It was all to force Yakushi Nonou and the children of the Orphanage to become spies in his hands, and to drive them to their ultimate demise!

"What a terrible time—"

Shirou Emiya's voice grew somewhat somber. He suddenly asked, "Was Orochimaru also sent by Danzo to carry out the mission of destroying the Akatsuki?"

:

?

Yakushi Kabuto didn't know how to start the conversation.

Kabuto Yakushi was starting to have second thoughts about deceiving Emiya Shihara.

Whether it was Shirou Emiya saving Yakushi Nonou's soul in the Underworld or Shirou Emiya resolving his inner conflict, both made Yakushi Kabuto realize the greatness of this man.

Yakushi Kabuto felt ashamed that he had been monitoring and even helping Orochimaru deceive Shirou Emiya; he was even ashamed to face him.

But Yakushi Kabuto didn't know what to do either.

If I were to tell the truth, I would inevitably betray Orochimaru's trust.

"I have no idea."

Yakushi Kabuto his head and pondered for a moment, then chose to give up. "I am merely Lord Orochimaru's subordinate and do not know the specifics. However, Lord Orochimaru has sent intelligence, and in a few days Lord Orochimaru should be able to find an opportunity to come to this base from the Akatsuki's surveillance. Lord Shirou should be able to get the answer from Lord Orochimaru."

"In a few days?"

Shirou Emiya couldn't help but feel a little regretful.

If Orochimaru doesn't have a chance for a few days, then the two of them might not meet in this bunker.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing that Shirou Emiya seemed somewhat disappointed, Yakushi Kabuto quickly wiped away his tears and asked earnestly and nervously, "If there is anything you need, Lord Shirou, I will go see Lord Orochimaru immediately."

"It doesn't matter."

Shirou Emiya waved his hand, seemingly unintentionally saying, "I just want to see how much darkness is still hidden in this era forty years from now, and I also want to see if I can still change this dark era."

"Yes."

Yakushi Kabuto nodded, his feelings somewhat complicated.

As expected.

Perhaps the moon can hold back a great man like Shirou Emiya.

But·

Does this person want to change this era?

Yakushi Kabuto couldn't help but sigh. He could sense Shirou Emiya's dissatisfaction with this era, because he himself was also dissatisfied with this dark world!

But·

How can we change this era?

Yakushi Kabuto always thought Orochimaru was smart enough, but he couldn't think of a way to change this era. He was also aware of his own weakness and didn't think he was capable of changing this era.

To put it bluntly...

I don't even have the right to think about such things.

But if it were Lord Shirou, he would definitely be able to do it, right?

"I'm going to see Lord Orochimaru."

Yakushi Kabuto bowed respectfully to Shirou Emiya. He wanted to report Orochimaru Tsuchihara's thoughts to Orochimaru and also wanted to think about his own future.

If possible, Yakushi Kabuto hopes to see the day when this era changes.

At that time, perhaps he could return to the director's Orphanage and learn to Amaterasu like the gentle director.

Shirou Emiya calmly fiddled with the experimental equipment, seemingly unaware that the person who had been watching him had already left.

Perhaps that person is no longer the one monitoring him.

After a long while.

Shirou Emiya gazed at the Hashirama Cells being cultured inside the experimental apparatus, then calmly and indifferently shut it down, as if talking to himself, or perhaps to someone leaving. "It's better that you're leaving, after all, my guest is almost here—"

"When we meet again—"

"Let me invite you to join me in changing this world."