Hearing Kabuto Yakushi's words, Shin Uchiha naturally recalled what he would achieve in the future. He no longer tried to stop him, but nodded in understanding and said:
"Kabuto, you're a smart man. You know what you want.
I promise you here and now: as long as you never betray me, there will always be a place for you at my side."
Kabuto Yakushi had never expected Shin Uchiha to make such a promise. He understood all too well how much a promise like that meant coming from Lord Shin.
It meant that no matter how much trouble he caused out in the world, as long as he returned to Lord Shin, he would still be willing to shelter him.
And so, once he understood that, even the deeply calculating Kabuto Yakushi could not help being moved.
Just as Kabuto Yakushi was about to say something, he spotted Yakushi Nonō approaching from a distance with tea and refreshments. He swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and finally said in a low, husky voice:
"After the kindness you've shown me, Lord Shin, how could I ever betray you? Besides, there are things here with you that matter more than my life. They're also what keeps me from losing my way."
As he spoke, Kabuto Yakushi went to meet Yakushi Nonō. Smiling broadly, he took the tray from her hands and set it in front of Shin Uchiha.
A hint of a smile crossed Shin Uchiha's face at the sight. He said no more to Kabuto Yakushi about it, instead chatting about amusing incidents from the chunin ninja exams as he enjoyed the tea and refreshments.
Just then, as though something had occurred to him, Shin Uchiha picked up a snack and said to Nonō:
"Nonō, these chunin ninja