Investigating Yor

Yor heard Kabuto Yakushi's "heartfelt confession." The "confusion" on Anya's little face and the "guilt" on Kabuto's struck a tender, maternal chord in her.

She gently drew Anya close, her voice catching. "Poor Miss Anya. It's all right. It's over now."

Anya watched her father's masterful performance and immediately caught on. She reached out and patted the back of Kabuto's hand, comforting him in a childish yet remarkably understanding voice:

"Father, it's okay. Anya had the Bondman cartoon to keep her company. Anya wasn't lonely."

Yuri watched this display of "father-daughter devotion" and "mutual comfort," then saw how deeply it had moved his sister, leaving her eyes slightly red. The warmth of the moment dulled his professional suspicions.

His tense expression softened, and he waved a hand.

"All right, all right. I was only asking. If you don't remember, you don't remember. It's no big deal."

Trying to lighten the mood, he gave Anya a reasonably friendly smile. "Little miss, now that you're in Kumogakure, make a good start on your new life here."

Seeing how late it was, Yor spoke up. "Yuri, it's getting late. You have work tomorrow. Go home and get some rest."

Yuri was reluctant to leave, but he had found nothing suspicious. He stood. "All right, sis. I'll head home, then. I'll come see you again."

Before leaving, he gave Kabuto another long look, a faint trace of scrutiny in his eyes.

Once Yuri was gone and the door had closed, all three people in the living room quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

They had made it through the unexpected "family inspection"—for now.

Late that night, only the sound of steady breathing filled the apartment.

Kabuto, however, felt no urge to sleep. He sat back on the living room sofa, the lenses of his