Yakushi Nonō

While Kazashiro burned the midnight oil and trained hard, Obito knelt uneasily at home, stealing glances at Fugaku in the distance.

The moment Obito, who had been "escorted" home, stepped inside, he saw Fugaku chatting cheerfully with his grandmother while quite a few clan members busied themselves arranging things around the house.

After confirming that the clan members he had brought had fully stocked the household necessities, Fugaku sat down for dinner with Obito and the others. That led to the scene at the beginning.

"Lord Fugaku, I heard that Obito did something to Yaowan—" Obito's grandmother spoke worriedly after dinner, only to be interrupted by Fugaku.

"Please rest assured. Yashiro has already investigated the matter thoroughly. Yaowan and the others brought it entirely upon themselves. Obito had nothing to do with it."

"Obito's parents were warriors who died for the Uchiha Clan. How could I possibly let the families of our warriors shed blood and tears?"

Fugaku looked thoroughly righteous.

But Obito's grandmother was old and had seen much in her life. She had her own understanding of what kind of man Fugaku truly was.

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

Whenever Uchiha Wada repeatedly stirred up trouble, this Clan Head always made one compromise after another.

For him to change like this, something must have happened. The key likely lay with Obito.

Casting a complicated glance at little Obito beside her, his grandmother did not know whether this was a good thing or a bad thing.

Thinking of that, she sighed and patted Obito's shoulder. "Hurry up and thank Lord Fugaku, Obito."

Reminded by his grandmother, Obito hurriedly stammered, "Th-thank you, Uncle Fugaku—no, Lord Fugaku."

"This is simply my duty. By the way, Obito, when did you meet Kazashiro?" Having polished his own reputation a little, Fugaku smiled and waved his hand, finally getting to the point.

"Uh, I think... I think it was today?" Obito answered uncertainly.

He should never have met that somewhat cute-looking guy before, so why had he appeared out of nowhere to help him?

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

"Oh, is that so? Then what about Kakashi?" Fugaku continued asking, having formed an idea.

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

"Hmm..." Fugaku pondered, linking the clues he had gathered one by one.

Danzo's never-publicly-acknowledged son had appeared today, and he seemed to have a close relationship with Sakumo and his son. Today, he had even taken the initiative to help Obito when he was being bullied...

Had Danzo already joined forces with Sakumo?

But why bring Obito into it?

Did this mean Danzo was trying to show him goodwill?

After all, how could it be such a coincidence that he had beaten up the grandson of a hawk?

Stringing all the clues together, Fugaku reached a somewhat absurd conclusion.

Danzo was trying to recruit him?

Recalling Danzo's attitude today, Fugaku became increasingly certain of his guess.

In the past, Danzo had always been aggressive whenever he met Fugaku, yet today, he had spoken to him calmly.

If he was not trying to recruit him, why would he put on such an attitude?

Rumors had long circulated in the village that Danzo and the Third Hokage were at odds. It seemed that speculation was true. This Hokage Assistant was likely gathering power to launch an assault on the Third Hokage's regime.

Then, would following Danzo lead anywhere?

Fugaku began agonizing again.

Compared to Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was still in his prime, this Hokage Assistant was not only disabled, but far inferior in strength. After all, Hiruzen was the "Professor of the Ninja World," and had fought the Ninja World's only Kekkei Tōta, Ōnoki of Both Scales, many times without falling behind.

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

It would be better not to take a position yet. He would keep things ambiguous between both sides and use this opportunity to suppress the hawks within the clan.

Having made up his mind, Fugaku raised his head beneath the uneasy gazes of Obito and his grandmother. "Is that so? Then Obito, you must maintain your relationship with them well. In the Ninja World, having a close friend is an extremely fortunate thing."

"Y-yes, I understand, Lord Fugaku." Obito nodded forcefully.

Although Kazashiro looked like a sneaky bastard, and Kakashi looked like an annoying, repressed show-off, Obito had already decided in his heart that they were his friends. Fugaku did not need to tell him that.

Only after receiving the answer he wanted did Fugaku stand up. After saying goodbye to Obito's grandmother, he left their home.

Since he had achieved his purpose, it was time to go home and handle his own affairs.

Wasn't it just having sons? Hmph, as if he did not have any! Not only would he have children, he would have two!

Thinking of Mikoto waiting for him at home, Fugaku felt his entire body fill with strength.

Danzo? Sakumo? Neither could compare to him!

The next day.

Pweh!

Early in the morning, Kazashiro was skillfully smashed into the wall, then dug out by Yakushi Nonō, who treated his injuries.

Meanwhile, Yamanaka Zen turned into a whip-wielding Jinchuriki, lashing Kazashiro whenever he tried to slack off.

Since Yamanaka Zen was not particularly skilled in Medical Ninjutsu, Danzo, who felt the training time was being wasted, thought of the "Wandering Miko" who had long since left Root. He led people to find her overnight.

At first, Yakushi Nonō had not wanted to come out and help Danzo. Though she was shocked that Danzo actually had a son, she knew all too well how dangerous he was.

But Danzo offered a condition she could not refuse.

Money. Lots and lots of money. Money that would be regularly supplied to the orphanage.

Unable to do otherwise, Yakushi Nonō agreed to Danzo's request for the children's sake. She became his subordinate once more and helped train Kazashiro.

Danzo was very satisfied with this. Compared to the funds he supplied for Orochimaru's research, this amount was barely a drizzle. By that logic, he was still making a profit.

"Done." After efficiently tending to Kazashiro's injuries, Yakushi Nonō stepped aside.

"Hurry, Kazashiro. Keep going." Seeing Kazashiro still lying on the ground, unwilling to move, Yamanaka Zen cracked his whip at him.

"Fuck, did I transmigrate into a nigger? I get whipped every day! Even cotton picking would not work people as hard as you do!" Kazashiro was lashed to his feet and forced to charge at Aburame Ryoma, only to be sent crashing into the wall again.

Mm, this job is actually pretty good. I even get to watch Danzo's son get beaten up.

Yakushi Nonō dug Kazashiro out of the wall again. She no longer found this job as objectionable as she had at first.