Fanning the Butterfly's Wings

In the original story, Kabuto and Nonō both wore Iwagakure ninja attire, indicating they were spies in Iwagakure at the same time. Although the story became fragmented afterward, Kabuto killed Nonō, became mentally broken, and soon encountered Orochimaru. By then, Orochimaru had already defected from Konoha and was establishing his own Otogakure. While psychologically manipulating Kabuto to turn him dark, Orochimaru also recruited him as his spy embedded in Konoha.

At that time, Orochimaru explicitly told Kabuto to change his name to Yakushi Kabuto and go to Konoha.

Although the events that followed weren't explicitly stated in the story, it was obvious that Orochimaru and Danzo made a deal. Yakushi Kabuto's identity was cleared, and he was placed in the Konoha Ninja Academy.

In his previous life, when Xing Ran saw this part of the story, even as a two-hundred-pound man, his eyes welled up. Young Kabuto was so cute, and the walking shrine maiden was so kind.

Sometimes, even Xing Ran, a transmigrator, felt a strong aversion to this world full of tragedy. Cute children and kind mothers were forced into ugly forms by reality, and the final outcome was utterly tragic. Because of their excellent performance as spies, they aroused Danzo's suspicion.

Danzo arranged for Nonō and Kabuto to kill each other. In the middle of it, Danzo switched Kabuto's photo. As a result, Nonō, who only knew Kabuto through his photo, couldn't recognize her killer. Before dying, she asked Kabuto twice, "Who are you?" This was a major reason for Kabuto's descent into darkness.

Orochimaru exploited this very point. After telling Kabuto the truth, he gained Kabuto's loyalty.

Yakushi Kabuto is a talented individual, both now and in the future. He's a character with a significant role. If one could recruit such a person as their subordinate, it would be the best possible outcome.

For a moment, Xing Ran considered replacing Orochimaru and becoming that ultimate beneficiary. However, Xing Ran's mind quickly flashed back to the beautiful face with a smile he had seen through an Anbu mask that afternoon.

They are both fine now. What should I do? Should I perpetuate the tragedy of his previous life for Kabuto's talent? No, impossible!

Perhaps if this were half a month ago, before he gained his Superman abilities, Xing Ran might have shamelessly replaced Orochimaru and been the first to guide Yakushi Kabuto. But now, things were different.

He now possessed the ability and the means to become a god. Without strength, he had to cautiously follow the plot, barely surviving with the advantage of foresight, like someone poor who had to accept their fate. But now he had strength; specifically, he had the capital to become a strong person. He had barely entered the stage of being rich and willful. As time passed, he would definitely become stronger. Looking back at his past self then, he would surely despise himself for not preventing the tragedy.

Screw the advantage of plot foresight! He had Superman abilities, yet he still had to timidly accept fate like before? What was the point of gaining such a great ability then? Anyway, life was equally stifling. Indifferently watching tragedies unfold? He might as well not have strived, returned to Konoha, and become an ordinary person. Even an ordinary person from the Yamanaka Family lived more comfortably than a commoner. Why endure hardship and cultivate?

Become stronger, leave no regrets. Only then would he be worthy of this great power!

Xing Ran tossed and turned in his covers for a long time. Finally, he clenched his fists, his eyes becoming firm and deep. He decided to do his best to prevent tragedies from now on. As if a shackle had been unlocked, his entire body felt a surge of heat. Suddenly, his senses sharpened. He turned his head slightly to look out the window. His vision, which had barely exceeded 700 meters, could now easily see scenes 1000 meters away. Moreover, the sound of a moth flapping its wings as it flew into a streetlamp 50 meters away was as clear as if it were right beside his ear.

His abilities had been further digested and adapted!

Originally, after awakening, Xing Ran had a vague parameter based on comparing the growth rate of his strength and the speed of sun exposure. He estimated that in a month, the growth of this ability would cease its rapid increase after the energy was completely depleted.

However, after today's emotional journey, the process of complete absorption had greatly accelerated. Xing Ran could already feel that the power was infinitely close to depletion. To improve further, he would only be able to rely on accumulating sun exposure over time.

"Hehehe, hahahaha." A strange laugh suddenly erupted from under the covers. Xing Ran was desperately trying to suppress his laughter so as not to wake his two companions next door.

The remaining energy after awakening had been absorbed ahead of schedule. This wasn't a bad thing. But through this incident, Xing Ran thought of a plausible situation: his mental state could indeed affect the growth of his Superman abilities.

This emotional experience had given Xing Ran more confidence and a positive attitude toward changing the tragic plot. His entire mental outlook had undoubtedly grown. This growth had driven the remaining energy from when he awakened his Superman abilities. So, did this mean that when his mental state, or more precisely, his spiritual and soul state, grew stronger, his efficiency in absorbing or utilizing stellar energy would correspondingly increase?

This was a direction for thought. Although not yet proven, having a direction was better than having none at all.

Indeed, good deeds are rewarded. Today, he only thought about preventing the tragedies he had witnessed in his past life, without expecting any benefits. Yet, he unexpectedly discovered a way to become stronger. Xing Ran was overjoyed.

The next day, sparrows chirped merrily on the windowsill, signaling the start of a new day. Xing Ran had been unable to sleep all night and got up with dark circles under his eyes for the second time. If the environment here allowed, Xing Ran would have rushed out immediately to test his current strength, speed, and flight capabilities.

He had only been out on missions for two nights, and he hadn't rested well either night. It was only Xing Ran's superhuman physique that could handle it; an ordinary person would truly be unable to endure it now.

Early in the morning, Xing Ran went to the inn's main hall alone without calling his companions. Free breakfast was provided here. The dietary habits of the Land of Earth were slightly different from those of the Land of Fire. Everyone ate hearty meals in the morning: rice, thick flatbread, steamed potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Fortunately, Xing Ran found fried noodles in a corner, or he would have found the food quite unpalatable.

At this moment, Xing Ran sat alone at a dining table. The spacious hall was empty of other guests. While eating, Xing Ran beckoned to a staff member waiting by the door.

"Excuse me, is Mr. Ryuzan's assistant, Tama, here? I have something I need to discuss with him." Xing Ran had two sheets of letter paper in his pocket, which he had written overnight while unable to sleep.

One was to be given to Yakushi Nonō when the opportunity arose, and the other he intended to deliver to Kabuto as early as possible today.