"Could he be some legendary tycoon? Or a scion of one of Konoha's great clans? There were so many zeroes on that check. Could this kid have taken a fancy to the matron and wanted to keep her?"
"Hua Yue, what's this?"
Nonō looked puzzled. What could this enormous check possibly mean?
"Just think of it as a private commission. I want to learn Medical Ninjutsu, and you, as the head of Konoha's Medical Team, would be the perfect teacher."
"Besides, raising all these children on your own must be difficult with only your Medical Team and intelligence-gathering pay, so..."
Tilting his head slightly, the child crouched outside the window tried to suppress his breathing, not wanting anyone to notice him.
Before Hua Yue could finish, Nonō pushed the check back across the table. Her gentle smile held an inexplicable resolve, making 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 just 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 said this, Hua Yue smiled at the auntie, who had clearly been tempted by the offer, and added:
"Also, could you take the little brat eavesdropping outside the door away? What I'm about to say concerns the village's ninjas, and I really don't want to get dragged to the Anbu for a chat. Would you?"
The chubby auntie hurried to the door and found Yakushi Kabuto, who hadn't managed to get away in time.
"Kabuto, what are you doing here?"
The voices gradually faded into the distance. Only then did Hua Yue turn back and speak.
"If you're waiting for Danzo to allocate funds to the orphanage, you can stop wasting your time. You should know what kind of person he is."
"He'll bleed anyone with value to him dry, then, to keep his secrets, arrange a cruel little act to eliminate anyone who knows Konoha's secrets."
At his words, Nonō's gentle, loving smile gradually faded. She had once been one of Root's elite. How could she not know how Danzo and Root operated?
"Thank you. Truly, thank you for your kindness. Ever since I left Root and became the director of this orphanage, I knew this day would come."
"But I still can't turn my back on those children. You really are a kind boy."
The familiar scent of herbs and her soothing, gentle presence eased the nerves Hua Yue had kept taut, if only for a moment, before he grew wary again.
"As expected, Nonō is a wonderful woman!"
"Now, now. You mustn't forget the Three Ninja Prohibitions, Hua Yue! If you're interested in women, you'll have to wait until you're an adult. By then, I'll probably be an old lady. Hehehe."
After chuckling, Nonō drew him aside and spoke softly.
"When I have some free time, I'll teach you Medical Ninjutsu at Konoha Hospital. I hope you'll always hold on to your kindness and use it to save as many people as you can."
"Ah, someone as kind as you is sure to have good things come your way, Nonō. Be sure to keep that Kunai close to you."
"I will. Thank you, Hua Yue."
As Hua Yue left the orphanage, he turned his head almost without thinking. Reflected in his clear black-and-white eyes was the young Yakushi Kabuto.
"Oh my, if I stay here any longer, those Anbu will notice me. What a bunch of pesky flies."
His figure flickered away. In the soft, comfortable sofa, his Shadow Clone stayed home, just as Hua Yue had been doing lately, without moving an inch.
The white mist dispersed. Letting himself sink into the sofa, he returned once more to the lush inner world.
"You finally decided to come in? Hurry up and transform, old man! Life with no snacks, just sleeping all day, is unbearable. I'm bored to death!"
The Black Nine-Tails angrily overturned the entire forest, which soon returned to normal as chakra flowed through it.
"If you're so bored, go train. You've lived all these years and still can't sense even a bit of Natural Energy? You orange pig!"
"Quit nagging. Chakra is all I need. I don't need Natural Energy. Is there anyone who could withstand my Tailed Beast Bomb?"
The Black Nine-Tails looked utterly confident. Hua Yue couldn't help wondering whether, in the world on the other side of the limited month, the Black Nine-Tails had somehow escaped getting beaten to a pulp by Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama.
"Hey, Kurama, have you ever fought Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, the founders of Konoha over there?"
"Obviously! If I hadn't fought them, how would I recognize your Mangekyō Sharingan? Damn Uchiha Madara. How dare he control me? If I ever see him again, I'll make him pay!"
Sharp claws sent waves surging. When their eyes met, Hua Yue's gaze showed both pity and mockery.
"Uchiha brat, what's with that look? Do you think I'm no match for Uchiha Madara?"
"Yes. You alone definitely can't beat him."
His unwavering answer plunged the Black Nine-Tails into dejection, bringing back the humiliation of that battle.
If he could've beaten Madara, he wouldn't have been passed down from generation to generation in that Konoha, eventually ending up with Uzumaki Menma.
"Tch, that was then, and this is now! With my current abilities, I won't be controlled by some puny Sharingan genjutsu. That bastard Madara—one day, I'll catch him and beat him to a pulp!"
Seeing how confident the Black Nine-Tails was, Hua Yue grew even more suspicious. His gaze fell on the Nine-Tails' belly. He was very curious about the familiar presence he kept sensing from inside it.
"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 some of the secret."
Its tails swished wildly, and a pair of black-and-orange fox ears twitched smugly.
--Smug Fox.jpg.
"I think there's a simpler way. As it happens..."
He hadn't signed in today. He could just use the Sign-in System to see what the Nine-Tails was hiding.
[Monthly sign-in complete. Daily sign-in successful. Monthly sign-in opening...] [Character sign-in: Black Nine-Tails] [Abilities: Tailed Beast Bomb, Chakra Transfer, Malice Detection, ???] [Random draw in progress... Sign-in successful. Today's reward: Chakra Transfer!]
?
What the hell? The Sign-in System couldn't tell? What was that orange pig, who did nothing but eat and sleep, hiding?
"It's no use. This is my hope of getting back. There's no way you'll uncover it with some weird technique. Besides, you have a visitor."
He instantly sprang out of the inner world and peered 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?"
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