Are you Master?

"Why on earth is this happening?"

"If even the headmistress's memories don't contain my existence?! Then what am I supposed to be right now?!"

"I received everything from the headmistress... My name was given by her, it was thanks to her that I was taken in by the orphanage, and even these glasses I'm wearing are hers..."

"So... who... exactly am I...?"

Tap! Tap! Tap! The sound of footsteps rang out.

Shadow strode over, holding a long samurai sword, and pressed it against the white-haired boy's neck, saying indifferently, "Are you Kabuto?"

If you are, just make a sound, I'm going to kill you.

Kabuto raised his head, his face dazed, and muttered, "Kabuto? Is that me? If it is, then why doesn't the headmistress recognize me...? Then who am I? What is the real me? I seem to... be unable to see the real me clearly anymore..."

"Stop the nonsense, you only need to answer yes or no."

Shadow was slightly displeased; she applied a little force, and the blade sliced through his skin, leaving a cut on Kabuto's neck.

"...Who is it? Who am I, really? My lady, do you know who I am? Can you tell me..."

Looking at Kabuto, who was acting like a madman, Shadow lowered her sword.

She disdained killing someone who had no power to resist.

"What is the deal with that woman? Why won't she leave already..."

Orochimaru, hidden in the shadows, watched Shadow, who had sat down cross-legged on the spot, and was in a very foul mood.

He had been eyeing Kabuto for several years, always wanting to take this boy with potential as his subordinate.

After all of Danzo's meddling, he was on the verge of success, waiting only for him to step out and persuade—oh no, step out and enlighten Kabuto—so he could take him under his wing.

Then that woman, dressed in luxurious clothing, with stunning beauty and a cold, aloof temperament, appeared!

She looked like a noble lady, yet Orochimaru's years of battle experience and the intuition he had honed told him one thing.

Danger!!

Extreme danger!!!

That feeling... was something Orochimaru had only ever felt from Pain before.

Naturally, Orochimaru became interested in Shadow.

However, having learned his lesson once, he didn't rush to act, merely secretly memorizing Shadow's appearance to investigate later.

Right now, the most important thing was to recruit Kabuto.

So...

"Why on earth won't that woman leave?"

Orochimaru was secretly anxious.

Time was limited; if he didn't strike while Kabuto's mind was shattered, it wouldn't be easy to fully win him over later.

Ending her connection with Naruto Uzumaki, Shadow stood up, looked at Kabuto lying on the ground, motionless as a corpse, and said faintly, "I have a way to resurrect your foster mother."

Kabuto didn't react, because what had plunged him into despair wasn't the headmistress's death, but the fact that she didn't remember him.

If even the headmistress had forgotten him, then what meaning did his life have left?

Shadow didn't continue to persuade him; she wasn't the type to comfort people anyway, and being able to say that much was already quite a lot. She would leave the rest for Naruto Uzumaki to handle.

Two minutes after the agreed time, Shadow performed the Reverse Summoning Technique.

The next second, an arrogant voice rang out.

"Are you the motherf***er who is my master?"

Gilgamesh, wearing a large gold chain on his chest, made his entrance.

Inside the Sealing Space, Kushina and Minato were stunned.

Motherf***er?

My master?

Was this foul-mouthed person their son?

The couple expressed that they could not accept this.

"Naruto!!! What are you doing?!"

Kushina roared, making Naruto Uzumaki's head ache.

"Mom, I'm just building a persona, can you not..."

"No!!!"

"Then don't blame me for taking drastic measures. Kurama, help me block her out."

"No problem, Naruto."

Soon, the voices of his parents faded away.

Naruto sighed inwardly.

As expected, a normal family isn't just filled with warmth; it also comes with arguments.

He could already foresee that he would have to call out "Mom" many times tonight to coax Kushina back into a good mood.

"Are you, by any chance, my master?"

Naruto repeated the line to the stunned Shadow.

Shadow snapped back to reality, thinking that Naruto actually liked this sort of thing—he really was a pervert.

She put on a solemn expression and said, "That's right, I am your master."

"???"

Naruto tilted his head. "You want to be my master?"

Shadow sensed that something was wrong and probed, "Isn't this what you initiated?"

Master, in English, can mean owner or employer.

So, in a sense, Shadow wasn't technically wrong.

Naruto looked at Shadow and remained silent for a moment. "I initiated it, and you just accepted?"

Shadow felt a bit aggrieved. "Isn't this the style you like?"

You like it, so I'm playing along—how can you blame me for that?

Naruto fell silent again; he truly couldn't understand why he had become a masochist in Shadow's eyes.

"My lord, do you really have a way to resurrect the Director?"

Kabuto's arrival broke the silence.

He climbed up, cradled Nonō's corpse, and knelt before Shadow, begging for help to resurrect the Director.

Kabuto wanted to ask the Director in person why she had forgotten him, and then commit suicide to leave this world filled with despair.

"I cannot resurrect her, but the one who can is him."

Shadow gestured toward Naruto, indicating that he was the one in charge.

"My lord, please save the Director. I am willing to pay any price."

Kabuto kowtowed heavily toward Naruto, leaving a pool of blood on the ground.

I was just waiting for those words... Naruto laughed arrogantly, his tone filled with disdain. "This King possesses the world; what treasures are not in my vault? ...Boy, tell me, what do you have that is worth me taking action?"

Kabuto remained prostrate on the ground. "King, all I have to offer is my life."

King?

What the hell is this?

Why is this kid shouting nonsense... but it doesn't matter, as long as the goal is achieved.

"Your life is cheap; it is not worth this King's collection."

Kabuto's face instantly turned dim and lusterless.

"But, in light of your sincere heart to save your foster mother, your life... this King accepts."

"Who exactly is that man? How is it another powerhouse I've never heard of? Does he really have the ability to resurrect the dead? Is he here for Kabuto as well..."

Hidden in the shadows, having had his plans intercepted, Orochimaru's expression was grim, his mind filled with chaotic thoughts.

The Rinnegan possesses two types of resurrection abilities.

One type can resurrect anyone directly, ignoring any conditions:

--Outer Path: Samsara Heavenly Life Technique.

The other type is:

--Naraka Path: King of Hell Resurrection.

However, this technique requires that the deceased has not been dead for long, that the soul has not yet entered the Pure Land, and that both the body and soul are present.

And Nonō perfectly met all those conditions.

Having been dead for only a few minutes, her soul had detached from her body and was gradually drifting upward.

"So... that child was Kabuto..."

Looking at the white-haired youth kneeling on the ground, Nonō finally recognized his identity, and her eyes could not help but fill with regret.