Hero Water and Earth Grudge Fear

This long process, like slowly boiling a frog in warm water, was lethally effective. It carried out a silent "replacement surgery" on Yakushi Nonō's memories and perceptions.

Bit by bit, the image of the child she had once known so well, named "Kabuto Yakushi," was covered over and distorted layer by layer.

In the end, the false image implanted by Shimura Danzō became the only appearance of "Kabuto Yakushi" that Yakushi Nonō recognized in her heart.

Thus, when the real Kabuto Yakushi appeared before her with complicated feelings and called to her with deep affection, Yakushi Nonō could only respond with confusion and bewilderment.

Her gaze swept across the face before her, one that felt familiar yet whose features did not align. She searched her memories in vain, only to arrive at a cold, cruel conclusion.

Among the image files of the many orphans she had protected, there was not a single face that matched the "attacker" before her!

It had to be said that Shimura Danzō's method of manipulating memories and toying with human nature was chillingly cold and precise.

It exploited and twisted the deepest love and longing, transforming them into murderous intent and estrangement.

Perhaps the only ironic "accident" was Danzo's final miscalculation as a flawless conspirator: the despairing trap he had meticulously arranged to create an emotionless mission machine.

Not only had it failed, but it had ultimately created a despairing "mad scientist."

Kabuto Yakushi's figure ultimately lingered in the warm Orphanage for only two or three short days.

Though he knew perfectly well that, given Minamoto Takuya's current attitude, he would likely tolerate Kabuto staying a few more days with Yakushi Nonō.

However, Kabuto Yakushi understood the meaning of boundaries better than anyone.

Testing another's tolerance was itself a foolish gamble.

Therefore, after merely two