Making Trouble on the Grand Tutor's Head!

One week later.

Thanks to Shiraha's superb Medical Ninjutsu and the powerful medicine from the Pharmaceutical Company, Yakushi Kabuto's injuries have basically recovered, but he still insists on his decision to return to Konoha.

"Goodbye, Dean!"

Yakushi Kabuto looked at Nonō with a reluctant expression. This parting might mean not knowing when they would meet again.

Nonō opened his mouth, but hesitated. She knew that Kabuto had grown up and had his own opinions, so she didn't try to persuade him anymore. She just told him, "Be careful."

"Dean, I will!" Yakushi Kabuto nodded heavily, carefully taking out a glasses case from his pocket. Inside were the round-framed glasses that Nonō had given him.

Just as Yakushi Kabuto was about to take out his glasses and put them on, Nonō reached out and took them from him. "Let me help you."

"Hmm." Yakushi Kabuto nodded, remaining standing still.

Nonō helped him put on the glasses, just like the first time she brought Kabuto to the Konoha Orphanage and gave him these glasses.

Seeing the two's reluctant expressions, Shiraha said, "After you've settled your younger siblings, if you feel tired, you can come to the Land of Whirlpools. This place can be your final resting place!"

"Thank you!" Yakushi Kabuto bowed deeply to Shiraha, then turned to Nonō and bowed again. "Goodbye, Dean!"

After saying that, he turned around and ran quickly out of the cave, without lingering for even a moment longer.

Perhaps she was afraid that if she saw Nonō's expression again, her heart would waver.

Nonō stared blankly at Yakushi Kabuto's rapidly disappearing figure, and tears finally streamed down her face.

"This is the path Kabuto chose himself, you should support him, and I will help him from behind, don't worry." Shiraha patted Nonō's shoulder and asked softly.

"Thank you, Shiraha." Nonō was saddened for a moment, then wiped away her tears forcefully and said with a straight face, "Kabuto took on the responsibility that should have been mine, and I can't let myself give up like this. From today onwards, I will continue to do my best as the director of the Land of Whirlpools Hospital!"

Shiraha smiled and extended his hand to Nonō: "On behalf of the Land of Whirlpools and the Uzumaki Clan, I welcome you to join us! Nonō."

"Yes!" Nonō nodded heavily and reached out to shake hands with Shiraha.

After leaving the cave, Yakushi Kabuto quickly headed to Root's secret base in the Earth Country.

To return to Konoha, he first needs to make contact with the Root Anbu who is responsible for communicating with him, and then continue to pretend that he killed the headmaster but is completely unaware of it.

They swiftly traversed the Yakushi Kabuto Forest, getting closer and closer to the Land of Fire as they traveled south, where the vegetation coverage increased.

The base of the Root is located deep in the dense forest, and it changes locations every so often.

The closer they got to the base, the slower Yakushi Kabuto's pace became.

Because most ninjas from Root don't care about their so-called comrades. Even if they are their own people, they might be attacked if they barge in. If someone is injured during a mission, they will most likely be dealt with by Root members first. People who haven't been brainwashed can't stay in Root.

As for Kabuto, he stayed in Root for several years and underwent brutal training, yet he remained normal because he always cared about Nonō.

Danzo praised his abilities and talents more than once, wanting him to stay in Root forever. However, Yakushi Kabuto only wanted to leave Root as soon as possible and go to find the headmaster.

Because Nonō gave him a name and a home, and gave him a reason to exist.

He is his light!

Now Danzo is actually trying to extinguish his light and erase the meaning of his existence by his own hands. This is unforgivable!

But everything has to be done step by step.

Yakushi Kabuto quickly arrived outside the base, then rapidly Hand Seals, and black Cursed Seal in his hands before disappearing into the ground. The next second, the underground barrier opened, revealing a dark, gaping hole.

Whoosh!

A sharp, piercing sound rang out.

Yakushi Kabuto's hair stood on end, and he retreated hastily, quickly taking out Kunai from his Ninja Tool Pouch to parry.

"Shin! What are you doing?" Yakushi Kabuto stared at the ninja who attacked him with a grim face. Although the other party was wearing a mask, he could still tell that it was the Root Ninja who was responsible for contacting him, codenamed 'Shin'.

"So it was you! Kabuto, I didn't expect you to come back alive." Shin looked at Yakushi Kabuto with icy eyes before stopping his attack, but the killing intent on his body did not diminish in the slightest.

The Yakushi Kabuto frowned slightly.

The Root ninjas don't have names, only code names. They usually only call a fallen ninja by his name. Clearly, in 'Shin's' eyes, he was already a dead man.

Upon closer reflection, that's indeed the case.

If it weren't for Senior Shiraha, he would be dead by now.

Yakushi Kabuto's strength has improved by leaps and bounds in recent years, but in a direct confrontation, he is indeed no match for Nonō. Therefore, the person 'Shin' was originally planning to ambush was Nonō, who had already killed him.

"The mission is complete. Can I return to the village now?!" Yakushi Kabuto said coldly. The ninjas of Root didn't have much friendship to begin with, let alone the fact that 'Shin' had come to ambush Nonō. Even with his disguise skills honed over the years, he couldn't suppress the killing intent in his heart.

However, the thought of facing Danzo directly upon returning to Konoha quickly calmed Yakushi Kabuto down.

"Oh? You didn't see the ' Wandering Priestess '?" Xin's tone was tinged with mockery. He had no good feelings towards Nonō, this 'traitor' of Root. Knowing the inside story of this mission, he couldn't wait to see Kabuto's expression after he found out that he had killed his foster mother with his own hands.

"I've already taken down the target, but before I could take the body, I was discovered by the Iwagakure ninjas, so I used Exploding Tag to destroy the body." Yakushi Kabuto said expressionlessly, "As a fellow Root ninja, you should know that I don't lie about missions."

"You've completed your mission. Now come back to the village with me."

"Um."

After Xin hid the stronghold again, he left the place with Yakushi Kabuto.

However, they had only gone halfway when Shin launched another surprise attack on Yakushi Kabuto.

Boom!

As the Exploding Tag burned out, a violent explosion rang out, and Firelight shot into the sky.

Yakushi Kabuto onto the tree trunk, looking at Shin with an indifferent expression, seemingly unsurprised by Shin's renewed attack. "Shin, what are you doing?"

"Of course, I'll kill you!" Xin said slowly. "Whether you succeed in killing the Wandering Priestess or not, my mission is to eliminate you. However, if you can successfully kill me in return, Danzo might continue to value you."

"I see, then I'm relieved," Yakushi Kabuto said calmly.

"So you knew all along." Xin's tone changed slightly.

"Go to hell!"

Yakushi Kabuto gathered Chakra in his palm and activated the Rank A Medical Ninjutsu, Chakra Scalpel.

This Medical Ninjutsu can cut any part of the body for further medical treatment, transplant any organ, break the opponent's muscles and meridians in battle, and even be used as a weapon to cut the opponent, with tremendous power.

The two figures moved nimbly through the forest, and even as Jōnin, Shin couldn't defeat Yakushi Kabuto for a while.

"You really were hiding your strength. No wonder you were valued by Lord Danzo." Shin praised Yakushi Kabuto even during the battle, but his hands moved without hesitation, each strike a deadly move.

Yakushi Kabuto, having just recovered from serious injuries, was weakened and gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.

Boom--!

With a loud crash, a large number of trees in the forest were snapped in half, and a giant, yellowish-brown snake suddenly appeared, opening its blood-red maw towards Xin.

"What?!"

Xin was shocked and immediately abandoned his attack on Yakushi Kabuto, retreating quickly.

However, just as he dodged the giant snake's attack, he suddenly felt a chilling aura fill his entire body.

Turning around, I saw a man wearing an earth-yellow kimono and with long, black, flowing hair walking towards me. His skin was somewhat pale, his face was thin, his eyes were narrow and long, and he wore black eyeliner and purple eyeshadow. His pupils were strange, vertical golden pupils, and he wore blue and green Magatama-shaped Earrings.

It was none other than Orochimaru, who was listed as S-Rank Missing-nin Orochimaru Konoha!

"Orochimaru?!" Shin's expression changed drastically, and he immediately said, "This is an internal matter of our Root. Please do not interfere."

As Danzo's Danzo, Shin naturally knew about the relationship between Orochimaru and Danzo. Even though Orochimaru had become missing-nin, he still maintained close ties with Danzo. This was also the reason why Root ninjas never participated in missions to hunt down Orochimaru.

Of course, they were aware that if they dared to attack Orochimaru, they would be committing suicide.

' Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!'

Orochimaru didn't waste any words. He raised his right hand, and his arm quickly transformed into a large number of pythons, attacking Xin. Another direction was blocked by the Summoning Beast summoned by Orochimaru, leaving Xin with no choice but to fight to the First Shinobi World War.

"Ah!"

Unfortunately, the difference in strength was too great. With a scream from Shin, he was swallowed whole by the giant Orochimaru and became its lunch.

Meeting Orochimaru's gaze, Yakushi Kabuto tensed up, looking at him warily.

Orochimaru's magnetic, husky voice rang out as he smiled slightly at Yakushi Kabuto: "I just admire you."

"Admire me?!" Yakushi Kabuto was taken aback.

"Your mission this time is to kill Nonō, and Nonō's target is also you. However, the photos of you growing up over the years have been switched by Danzo's people." Orochimaru continued, "As for me, in order to show my sincerity in continuing to cooperate, Danzo asked me to finish the job. If either you Nonō survives, I will do it myself."

"Danzo really values me!" Yakushi Kabuto chuckled self-deprecatingly. Not only Shin, but also Orochimaru.

"It seems you already know the truth," Orochimaru said calmly. "Now I've changed my mind. Do you want to come here? If you go back to Root, Danzo will still try to harm you. But if you return to Konoha as my subordinate, Danzo won't be able to do anything to you."

"Why didn't you kill me? Aren't you afraid it will affect your cooperation with Danzo? You spared me just because you admired me?"

Yakushi Kabuto wouldn't believe Orochimaru just because of his few words, after all, Orochimaru was one of the people who forced the headmaster to go to Iwagakure to carry out a spy mission.

"I have no ill intentions toward you," Orochimaru said. "You are someone that Shiraha values, and no matter what, I would never want to stand against him. As for Danzo and me, as long as we share common interests, we never need to trust each other. Besides, trust is a fragile thing that can collapse at any time."

Upon hearing Yakushi Kabuto fell silent.

Orochimaru just watched him quietly, without urging him.

"If I were to take revenge on Danzo and Konoha, would you stop me?" Yakushi Kabuto stared directly at Orochimaru.

"I will help you."

Orochimaru said in a deep voice.

The Land of Whirlpools, the Uzumaki Clan grounds.

The clan chief's office.

Shiraha looked at the latest intelligence report and couldn't help but feel both annoyed and amused.

Kirigakure has unilaterally launched an attack on the Land of the Sea.

Although the Land of the Sea does not have a ninja village, its commerce is very developed, and Land of the Sea merchants are found throughout the Shinobi World.

If the Pharmaceutical Company located in the Demon Country wants to expand further and accumulate more funds for future nation-building, it must cooperate with the Land of the Sea.

It should be noted that the Land of the Sea had only recently established diplomatic relations with the Uzumaki Clan, Kirigakure immediately dispatched troops to garrison the area, and had already begun sending warships to patrol the waters off the Uzumaki Clan grounds to the west.

"They're really courting death!"

Shiraha narrowed his eyes.

If the Third Shinobi World War had just ended, Uzumaki Clan had just been established, and Kirigakure had attacked the Uzumaki Clan, it would have been quite troublesome.

Now, after several years of development, not to mention that he and Kushina have made considerable progress in their strength, the overall strength of the Uzumaki Clan alone has improved by a large margin.

Many of the former inhabitants of the Land of Whirlpools had been wandering abroad have returned one after another.

Everything is on track and has entered a relatively stable phase.

If the Uzumaki Clan were to attack other villages, Shiraha would still have many reservations, but Kirigakure dared to provoke them, it would be tantamount to offering their face to be beaten.

"I was just worried about not finding someone to establish my authority!"

Shiraha sneered.

As the Five Great Shinobi Villages gradually recovered, the other villages were no longer as friendly towards the Uzumaki Clan.

Although they still feared the strength of Shiraha and Kushina, they had begun to test the bottom line of the Uzumaki Clan in various ways.

After all, the Uzumaki Clan does not currently have the strength to initiate a war against the Five Great Shinobi Villages.

Of course, the main reason is that it's unnecessary.

Now that Kirigakure is taking the initiative to provoke them, the Uzumaki Clan is fighting a self-defense counterattack, so the nature of their actions is completely different.

"The Kirigakure has been persecuting Bloodline Clan on a large scale within the Land of Water, and this time they have taken the initiative to provoke us, which has given us an opportunity to accelerate our rise!"

Looking at the thick stack of intelligence about Kirigakure on the table, Shiraha already had a plan in mind.

Bang!

The office door was suddenly pushed open.

Whoosh—!

With a sharp whooshing sound, a Mini Nine-Tails Fox appeared on Shiraha's desk, obediently crouching down.

"Kurama, what are you doing?" Shiraha asked.

"Shiraha, I heard there's a fight?!" Kurama Fox asked excitedly, "Can I go?"

"You?" Shiraha was taken aback. "We're here to teach Kirigakure a lesson, not to launch a war to wipe out the village. What are you going to do? You should just stay with Taichi and Hikari."

Kurama: "Your two kids are inhuman! They have terrifying energy. I think you should leave the fighting to me. You go and take care of the kids."

"Fine, you're saying Taichi and Hikari aren't human?! I'll tell Kushina right now!" Shiraha teased, "Who volunteered to take care of the kids in the first place?!"

Kurama: (┬┬┬┬)