Yakushi Nonō

While Kazashiro was burning the midnight oil, training diligently, Obito sat restlessly at home, stealing glances at Fugaku nearby.

Upon arriving home under "escort," Obito immediately saw Fugaku chatting and laughing with his grandmother. Many clan members were also busy tidying up.

After confirming that the clan members he brought had all their daily necessities, Fugaku and Obito sat down together for dinner, which led to the scene at the beginning.

"Lord Fugaku, I heard that Obito... gave Yaowan--" Obito's grandmother began to say worriedly after dinner, but Fugaku interrupted her.

"Please rest assured, Yashiro has already investigated this matter thoroughly. It was entirely Yaowan's fault, and Obito has nothing to do with it."

"Obito's parents were warriors who sacrificed themselves for the Uchiha clan. How could I possibly let warriors shed blood and tears?"

Fugaku put on a righteous expression.

However, Obito's grandmother was old and had seen a lot. She had her own ideas about what kind of person Fugaku truly was.

At least until today, Fugaku had been a conservative who only knew how to smooth things over.

Faced with multiple provocations from Uchiha Wada, the clan head had always compromised in various ways.

His transformation today must be due to some problem, and the key likely lay with Obito.

Looking at little Obito beside him with complicated eyes, his grandmother didn't know if this was a good or bad thing.

With that thought, she sighed, patted Obito's shoulder, and said, "Hurry up and thank Lord Fugaku, Obito."

Reminded by his grandmother, Obito quickly stammered, "Thank you, thank you, Uncle Fugaku, oh no, Lord Fugaku."

"This is all within my duties. By the way, Obito, when did you meet Kazashiro?" Fugaku, having boosted his own image, waved his hand with a smile and finally got to the point.

"Uh, I think, I think it was today," Obito replied uncertainly.

He shouldn't have met that somewhat cute-looking guy before, so why did he actively appear to help him?

Obito desperately wracked his not-so-sharp brain, trying to find an answer.

"Oh, really? Then what about Kakashi?" Fugaku, having a plan in mind, continued to inquire.

"I ran into him before and played together for a few days." Obito remembered Kakashi.

"Hmm..." Fugaku mused, connecting the clues he had gathered one by one.

Danzo's never-publicized son appeared today, and he seemed to have a good relationship with Sakumo's father and son. Today, he even actively helped Obito, who was being bullied...

Had Danzo already colluded with Sakumo?

But why involve Obito?

Did this mean Danzo was extending an olive branch to him?

After all, how could it be such a coincidence that he beat up the hawk faction's grandson?

Connecting a series of clues, Fugaku arrived at a somewhat absurd answer.

Was Danzo trying to win him over?

Recalling Danzo's attitude today, Fugaku became even more convinced of his guess.

After all, in the past, Danzo had always been aggressive when he saw him, but today he spoke with him calmly.

If he wasn't trying to win him over, why would he adopt such a stance?

There were already rumors in the village that Danzo and the Third Hokage were at odds. It seemed this speculation was true. This Hokage Assistant was likely trying to gather strength to launch an assault on the Third Hokage's regime.

So, would following Danzo lead to a way out?

Fugaku began to struggle again.

Compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was in his prime, this Hokage Assistant was not only crippled but also far inferior in strength. After all, he was the "Professor of the Ninja World" and had fought multiple times against the only Kekkei Tōta in the ninja world, Two-Tailed Ōnoki, without being at a disadvantage.

Compared to him, Danzo was truly... pathetic.

It was better not to declare his stance for now. Let them maintain this ambiguous state and use this opportunity to suppress the hawk faction within the clan.

Having made up his mind, Fugaku looked up under the anxious gazes of Obito and his grandmother. "Is that so? Then Obito, you must maintain your relationship with them well. After all, in the ninja world, having a close friend is very fortunate."

"Yes, yes, I understand, Lord Fugaku," Obito nodded vigorously.

Although Kazashiro seemed like a sly old fox, and Kakashi seemed like an annoying tsundere, Obito had already decided in his heart that they were his friends, and Fugaku didn't need to say anything more.

Fugaku, having received a satisfactory answer, got up. After greeting Obito's grandmother, he left their home.

Since his objective had been achieved, it was time for him to go home and attend to his own matters.

It's just a son, hmph, as if he was the only one who could have one. He not only wanted to have one, but two!

Thinking of Mikoto waiting for him at home, Fugaku felt a surge of strength.

What Danzo, what Sakumo, they couldn't compare to him!

The next day.

"Pweh!"

Early in the morning, Kazashiro, as usual, crashed into the wall. Yakushi Nonō, who was beside him, dug him out and treated him.

Yamanaka Zen, on the other hand, transformed into a whip-wielding Jinchuriki and lashed out at Kazashiro when he was slacking off.

Since Yamanaka Zen wasn't very proficient in Medical Ninjutsu, Danzo, feeling his training time was being wasted, thought of the "walking witch" who had long since left Root. He took people with him and went to find her that very night.

At first, Yakushi Nonō didn't want to come out of seclusion to help Danzo. Although she was shocked that Danzo had a son, she, who knew Danzo's true nature extremely well, understood his dangerousness.

But Danzo proposed a condition she couldn't refuse.

That was money, lots and lots of money, money that would be regularly supplied to the orphanage.

There was no other way. For the sake of the children's lives, Yakushi Nonō agreed to Danzo's request, becoming his subordinate once again to help train Kazashiro.

Danzo was very satisfied with this. Compared to the funds supplied for Orochimaru's research, this amount of money was just a drizzle. After rounding it up, it was as if he had earned it himself.

"Alright." After swiftly treating Kazashiro's injuries, Yakushi Nonō stepped aside.

"Quick, Kazashiro, continue!" Seeing Kazashiro still lying on the ground unwilling to move, Yamanaka Zen whipped him directly.

"Damn it, did I transmigrate into a nigger? Getting whipped every day, even picking cotton wouldn't be this demanding!" Kazashiro, whipped to his feet, was forced to charge at Aburame Ryoma, only to be sent flying into the wall again.

Hmm, actually, this job isn't too bad. I get to see Danzo's son get beaten.

Yakushi Nonō pried Kazashiro off the wall again, and her feelings about this job were no longer as resistant as they were at the beginning.