"Could she be a legendary tycoon? Or a member of one of Konoha's prestigious clans? There were so many zeroes on that check. Could this kid have taken a liking to the matron and decided to keep her?"
"Hua Yue, what's this?"
Nonō looked puzzled. What did this enormous check mean?
"Think of it as a personal commission. I want to learn Medical Ninjutsu, and you, as the captain of Konoha's Medical Team, are the perfect teacher."
"Besides, raising all these children on your own must be difficult with only the pay from the Medical Team and your intelligence work, so..."
Tilting his head slightly, the child crouched outside the window held his breath as much as he could, not wanting anyone to discover him.
Before Hua Yue could finish, Nonō pushed the check back. Her gentle smile held a quiet resolve that made the auntie beside her ache with sympathy.
"I can't accept this money. You earned it on your own, at great risk. If you want to learn Medical Ninjutsu, I'll teach you everything I know, Hua Yue."
"Then consider it a personal donation to the Orphanage. We can't let these brats become malnourished. You're a medical ninja, so you know how serious the consequences of malnutrition can be."
As he spoke, Hua Yue smiled at the auntie, who was already sorely tempted, and said, "Also, could you take the little brat listening outside the door away? What I'm about to say involves a shinobi from the village, and I really don't want to get dragged to the Anbu for a cup of tea. Would you mind?"
The fat auntie hurried outside and found Yakushi Kabuto, who hadn't had time to escape.
"Kabuto, what are you doing here?"
The voices faded into the distance. Only then did Hua Yue turn back and say, "If you're waiting for Danzo to allocate funds to the Orphanage, don't waste your time. You know what kind of person he is."
"He'll bleed anyone with value to him dry. Then, to keep his secrets, he'll arrange a cruel little performance and eliminate anyone who knows Konoha's secrets."
At that, the gentle, loving smile gradually disappeared from Nonō's face. She had once been an elite of Root. How could she not know Danzo and Root's ways?
"Thank you. Truly, thank you. Thank you for your kindness. Ever since I left Root and became the matron of this Orphanage, I've known a day like this would come."
"But I still can't bring myself to abandon those children. You really are a kind child."
The familiar scent of herbs and her reassuringly gentle presence eased the tension in Hua Yue's nerves for a moment, but he soon grew wary again.
"As expected, Nonō is a wonderful woman!"
"All right, all right. You mustn't forget the Three Shinobi Taboo, Hua Yue! If you're interested in women, at least wait until you're an adult. By then, I'll probably be an old lady. Hehehe."
After chuckling softly, Nonō led him aside and said in a low voice, "When I have some free time, I'll teach you Medical Ninjutsu at Konoha Hospital. I hope you'll keep that kindness and use it to save as many people as you can."
"Ah, you're so kind, Nonō. Good things are bound to come your way. Be sure to keep that kunai close to you."
"I will. Thank you, Hua Yue."
When Hua Yue left the Orphanage, he instinctively glanced back. Reflected in his clear black-and-white eyes was the young Yakushi Kabuto.
"Oh, my. If I stay here any longer, I'll attract the attention of those Anbu. What a bunch of annoying flies."
His figure flickered. On the soft, comfortable sofa, the Shadow Clone sat motionless at home, just as Hua Yue had been doing lately.
The white mist dispersed. Letting himself sink into the sofa, he returned once more to the lush inner world.
"So you finally decided to come in? Hurry up and transform for me! Days with no snacks, when all I can do is sleep, are unbearable. I'm going to die of boredom!"
He angrily turned the entire forest upside down. It quickly returned to normal as chakra flowed through it.
"If you're so bored, then go train. You've lived all these years and still can't sense even a speck of Natural Energy? You Orange Pig!"
"Shut up. Chakra is all I need. I don't need any Natural Energy. Is there anyone who can withstand my Tailed Beast Bomb?"
Black Nine-Tails looked utterly confident, making Hua Yue wonder whether, in the world on the other side of the limited month, Black Nine-Tails had never been beaten up by Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama.
"Hey, Kurama, have you ever fought Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, the founders of Konoha over there?"
"Of course I have! How else would I recognize your eyes as the Mangekyō Sharingan? Damn Uchiha Madara! How dare he control me? If I ever see him again, I'll make him pay!"
His sharp claws sent waves rippling across the water. When their eyes met, he saw the pity and mockery in Hua Yue's gaze.
"Uchiha brat, what's with that look? You think I'm no match for Uchiha Madara?"
"That's right. You alone could never beat him."
The decisive answer plunged Black Nine-Tails into gloom, and he couldn't help recalling the humiliation of that battle.
If he could have beaten Madara, he wouldn't have been passed down from one generation of Konoha to the next over there, until he eventually ended up with Uzumaki Menma.
"Tch! That was then, and this is now! With my current abilities, I'd never be controlled by a mere Sharingan genjutsu. That bastard Madara—one day, I'll catch him and beat him to a pulp!"
Seeing Black Nine-Tails so confident only made Hua Yue more suspicious. His gaze settled on the Nine-Tails' stomach. There was something about the aura he'd been sensing there that felt familiar.
"You... what exactly are you hiding?"
"Want to know, brat? Then become my servant starting today. If I'm in a good mood, I might let you in on a little of the secret."
His tails swished wildly, and his black-and-orange fox ears twitched smugly.
--Smug fox.jpg.
"I think there's a simpler way. As it happens..."
He hadn't checked in today. He'd use the Sign-in System to see what the Nine-Tails was hiding.
[This month's check-ins are complete. Daily Sign-in successful. Moon Sign activating...] [Character Sign-in: Black Nine-Tails] [Abilities: Tailed Beast Bomb, Chakra Transfer, Malice Detection, ???] [Random draw in progress... Check-in successful. Today's reward: Chakra Transfer!]
?
What the heck? The Sign-in System couldn't see it? What was this Orange Pig, who did nothing but eat and sleep, hiding?
"Not a chance. This is my hope of getting back, so how could I let you detect it with some weird technique? More importantly, you have a visitor."
He instantly left the inner world and peeked out the window. The purple hair and red eyes that came into view made him freeze for a moment.
"How did they find this place?"