In the original story, Kabuto and Nonō both wore Iwagakure uniforms, so it could be inferred that they had been spying in Iwagakure at the same time. Though the plot that followed was somewhat disjointed, after Kabuto killed Nonō, he was completely broken. He soon encountered Orochimaru, who had already defected from Konoha and was building his own Otogakure. While verbally leading Kabuto down a dark path, Orochimaru also recruited him as a spy planted in Konoha.
At the time, Orochimaru clearly told Kabuto to change his name to Yakushi Kabuto and go to Konoha.
What happened afterward was never explicitly stated in the story, but anyone could guess that Orochimaru and Danzo had made an under-the-table deal. Yakushi Kabuto's identity was cleared, and he was sent into the Konoha Ninja Academy.
When Xing Ran had read this part of the story in his previous life, even a two-hundred-pound man like him had teared up. Young Kabuto had been so adorable, and the Wandering Miko had been so kind.
Sometimes, even Xing Ran, a transmigrator, felt a fierce disgust toward this tragedy-filled world. An adorable child and a kind mother had been forced by reality into ugly forms, and their ending had been utterly tragic as well. Because of their outstanding performance as spies, they had drawn Danzo's suspicion.
Danzo arranged for Nonō and Kabuto to kill each other. He switched Kabuto's photograph midway through, leaving Nonō, who could only learn of Kabuto's growth through photos, unable to recognize that the person killing her was Kabuto. Before dying, she asked Kabuto twice in succession, "Who are you?" This was also an important reason Kabuto fell into darkness.
Orochimaru took advantage of that very point. After telling Kabuto the truth, he gained Kabuto's loyalty.
Yakushi Kabuto was a talent. Whether now or in the future, he was someone with a great deal of importance in the story. It would be best if Xing Ran could recruit someone like him as his subordinate.
For a moment, Xing Ran considered replacing Orochimaru and becoming the one who ultimately benefited. But then the beautiful, smiling face he had seen through an Anbu mask that afternoon flashed through his mind.
They're all still safe and sound. What should I do? Continue the tragedy from my previous life just for Kabuto's talent? No, impossible!
Perhaps half a month ago, before gaining Superman's abilities, Xing Ran would have shamelessly and coldheartedly replaced Orochimaru, becoming the first person to guide Yakushi Kabuto. But things were different now.
I already have the power and the means to become a god. When I lacked strength, I had to cautiously follow the plot's development, barely surviving through the advantage of foresight. That was the position of accepting one's fate because one had no money. But now that I have strength—or rather, the foundation to become strong—I've barely entered the stage of being able to do as I please because I have money. As time passes, I'll definitely grow stronger and stronger. When I look back at my former self, I'll surely despise that version of myself for failing to stop these tragedies.
To hell with the advantage of knowing the plot. I have Superman's abilities, yet I'm still supposed to meekly accept fate like before? Then what's the point of gaining such incredible power? If I'm going to live just as miserably anyway, coldly watching tragedies unfold, then I might as well stop striving and return to Konoha to live as an ordinary person. Even an ordinary member of the Yamanaka Family lives far more comfortably than a civilian. Why bother suffering through training?
Growing stronger and leaving no regrets—that's the only way not to waste the power I've been given!
Xing Ran tossed and turned beneath the covers for a long time. In the end, he clasped his hands tightly, his gaze becoming firm and profound. After deciding that he would do everything in his power to stop tragedies from happening in the future, it felt as though some shackle within him had been released. His entire body suddenly heated up, and he abruptly felt his hearing and vision sharpen. Turning slightly toward the window, he found that while his eyesight had previously only barely exceeded seven hundred meters, he could now easily make out scenes a thousand meters away. Even the sound of a moth fluttering its wings fifty meters away as it flew into a streetlamp sounded as if it were right beside his ear.
His abilities had further completed their absorption and adaptation!
After Xing Ran first awakened, he had formed a vague estimate by comparing the sunlight he absorbed with the rate at which his strength grew. He had expected that, after one month, the growth of these abilities would end completely as the remaining energy was fully absorbed. At that point, his strength, speed, and other abilities would cease their rapid growth.
However, after today's emotional journey, the process of fully absorbing that energy had accelerated dramatically. Xing Ran could already sense that the remaining power was nearly gone. From now on, if he wished to continue improving, he could only accumulate progress day by day through sunbathing.
"Hehehe, hahahaha." A strange burst of laughter suddenly came from beneath the covers. Xing Ran was desperately trying to keep himself from laughing too loudly and waking the two companions next door.
Finishing the absorption of the energy remaining after his awakening ahead of schedule was not inherently a bad thing. But through this, Xing Ran thought of a very real possibility: his mental state truly could affect the growth of his Superman abilities.
This emotional journey had made Xing Ran more confident in himself and more positive about changing the tragedies in the plot. His entire mental outlook had clearly improved, and that growth had driven the remaining energy from his Superman awakening. Did that mean that when his mental state—or more precisely, his spiritual and soul state—grew stronger, his efficiency in absorbing stellar energy or using stellar energy would rise accordingly?
It was a direction worth considering. Though it had yet to be proven, having a direction was still better than being completely clueless.
Sure enough, good people were rewarded. Today, he had merely wanted to stop a tragedy he had seen in his previous life, never expecting any benefit, yet he had unexpectedly discovered a way to become stronger. Xing Ran was beside himself with joy.
The next day, sparrows chirped merrily on the windowsill, reminding everyone that another day had begun. Xing Ran had suffered from insomnia all night and got up for the second time with dark circles under his eyes. If the environment had allowed it, he would have immediately tested his current strength, speed, and flight.
They had only spent two nights away on this mission, yet he had slept poorly both nights. Only someone with Xing Ran's Superman physique could endure it; an ordinary person would truly be unable to bear it by now.
Early in the morning, Xing Ran did not call his companions. He came alone to the inn's main hall, where a complimentary breakfast was provided. The Land of Earth's eating habits differed slightly from those of the Land of Fire. People here ate very hearty breakfasts: rice, thick flatbreads, steamed potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Fortunately, Xing Ran found stir-fried rice noodles in a corner, or he really would not have been used to the food.
At that moment, Xing Ran sat alone at a dining table. No other guests could be seen in the spacious hall. As he ate, he called over a staff member waiting by the entrance.
"Excuse me, is Tama, Mr. Ryuzan's assistant, here? I have something I'd like to discuss with him." Xing Ran had two sheets of letter paper in his pocket, which he had sorted out overnight when he could not sleep.
One was to find a chance to give to Yakushi Nonō, while the other was to be handed to Kabuto as early as possible today.
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