Master Danzo promised that as long as he completes his mission here, he can free the dean from the shackles of his roots, and they can start their lives again in a safe place.
This belief is like a beacon in the darkness, supporting him every day while wearing a mask, allowing him to swallow all the bitterness caused by loneliness and disguise.
The bullock cart passed through the last inner city gate made of thick rocks, and the hustle and bustle was instantly cut off.
7th Detention District The air suddenly became cold and stagnant, mixed with the moisture from the stone walls, disinfectant and a vague, dull atmosphere of despair.
The tall gray stone walls seemed to cut off the sunlight and cast cold shadows.
The guard Hoshinin was wearing a dark uniform, his face was expressionless, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and his saber and armor shone coldly in the darkness.
The heavy iron door slowly opened with the harsh sound of metal friction, revealing the darker passage inside.
The logistics team began to unload and move heavy materials into the warehouse.
Natsuhi talked in a low voice with the guard captain in the prison area and checked the list.
Kabuto, Junren, and Hazuki followed the instructions and were responsible for carrying the packed food baskets to the prison area, where they were distributed to the prisoners in each cell by specialized guards.
"Hey, this damn place is so depressing." Morishita Shun-jin couldn't help but complain in a low voice while holding a basket full of black bread, wrinkled his nose, as if to dispel the lingering cold smell.
His voice caused a slight echo in the empty stone corridor.
"Concentrate, Junren." Murahashi Hazuki hugged the vegetable basket and reminded in a low voice. Her perception was particularly sensitive in this place full of negative emotions and chakra chaos, and her face showed a slight expression.
Kabuto didn't speak, just silently pushing a small cart containing several food baskets.
He lowered his head slightly, his lenses reflecting in the dim light, covering the emotions deep in his eyes.
He behaved like an ordinary Genin who was entering such a strict environment for the first time and felt a little nervous and uncomfortable.
The wheels of the cart made a monotonous rolling sound on the uneven stone ground.
The distribution point is in a long and dark corridor deep in the prison area.
There are rows of heavy iron doors on both sides of the corridor, with only palm-sized observation openings on the doors.
They need to go to these iron gates in turn and distribute a piece of food to the prisoners through the window.
The air was filled with the smell of sweat, musty and bland food.
Kabuto is responsible for the window on the right side of the passage.
He put the brown bread, a handful of dried vegetables and a ladle of bland bean soup in the basket into a worn wooden bowl or tin plate that was stretched under the window.
Move mechanically, keep your eyes downcast, and avoid direct contact with numb or malicious eyes.
"Hurry up." The guard's hoarse voice sounded.
Kabuto picked up a piece of brown bread and put it into the bowl by the window as usual.
His eyes casually passed through the window and glanced at the face peeking out from the shadow of the iron door.
Time seemed to be frozen at that moment.
The rolling sound of the carts, the scolding of the guards, the coughs of the prisoners in the distance, and the muffled sound of Junren moving boxes. All the sounds quickly receded like the tide, leaving only the sound of his own heart beating crazily in his chest, as dull as if it was about to explode.
That was an extremely familiar eye.
Those brown eyes, which were once as gentle as the warm spring sun and tolerated the grievances and fears of all Orphanage children, now seemed to be covered with a thick layer of dust that could not be wiped off.
His eyes were empty and distracted, losing all focus and energy.
He stared blankly in the direction of Kabuto, but seemed to penetrate him, looking at a point in the void.
There was no recognition, no doubt, not even the slightest bit of numb vigilance that one should have when facing a strange food distributor.
There is only a dead blankness, like two deep dry wells.
It's the dean!
Yakushi Nonō!
His-. Mom!
Kabuto's mind went blank.
The blood in the whole body seemed to rush to the top of the head in an instant, and then flow back coldly to the soles of the feet in the next second.
The black bread held between his fingertips was almost crushed by his unconscious strength.
Yakushi Kabuto stared at that face, the face that was engraved in the deepest part of his soul and supported him through countless dark years.
There is no way he could mistake his mother!
Even though those eyes had lost all the familiar sparkle but that was her!
It was the one who picked him up Orphanage during the war, wiped the mud off his face with warm hands, and gave his glasses to him who was short-sighted.
The dean hummed soft songs to lull him to sleep!
Kabuto's throat seemed to be strangled tightly by an invisible hand, making him unable to make any sound.
He wanted to shout, wanted to shout that name desperately.
But his remaining sanity was like the last tight string, reminding him of his identity and situation at the moment.
He is Land of Stars orphan "Kumamoto Kabuto", a Genin of Land of Stars, and it is impossible to know Konoha Root's spy "Wandering Shrine Maiden".
The huge shock and subsequent panic like a tsunami overwhelmed him.
Why? Why is the dean here?
Why does the director appear in Land of Stars's prison?! Shouldn't she be on a mission in another country or in Konoha Orphanage?
And she can't recognize me?
How could you not recognize it?!
How long have I been away from Orphanage?
But that's the dean!
It was the dean who loved him as his own son!
His mother!
How could she look at him with such empty eyes, like those of a stranger?
Kabuto forced himself to lower his head, hiding the turbulent waves and tearing pain in his eyes that were about to burst out.
He used all his strength to control his trembling fingers, and gently put the black bread that was slightly deformed by him into the broken bowl held by the skinny hand.
His movements were as stiff as a rusty machine.
"Thank you - thank you." An extremely dry and hoarse voice sounded.
Weak, blurry, with a sense of unfamiliarity after a long period of silence.
This "thank you" was like a red-hot knife that stabbed into the heart of Kabuto, and then stirred cruelly.
There was no familiar warmth, no fluctuation, only an almost instinctive numb response.
This is not the sound he remembers!
Not the voice that would call him gently!
An icy chill quickly ran through the body from the spine, colder than the deepest stone wall of 7th Detention District.
The world he carefully built and lived on made a cracking sound on the verge of collapse in this hollow "thank you".
The pillar of faith is shaking violently, as if it will collapse completely in the next second.
Danzo-sama's promise, Dean's freedom, their promise to start their lives again.-. Is it just that?
"Kabuto! Why are you dazed! Move faster!" His companion's voice sounded like thunder in his ears, suddenly waking him up.