In a remote village in the Land of Water.
Kabuto sat beside a tall mound of earth, treating the sick villagers. At first, to dispel their wariness of an outsider, he had invented an excuse.
"I heard this village was stricken by a plague. The Daimyo of the Land of Water sent me here to help. Those in critical condition, the elderly, children, and women will be treated first. Please line up for treatment..."
As Kabuto Yakushi treated an elderly woman, a disheveled little girl stared curiously at the snake behind him, innocence written across her little face. "Mister, mister, why is there a snake sticking out behind your bottom?"
Hiss, hiss, hiss!
The snake fixed its slit pupils on the little girl before it and flicked its tongue.
Kabuto Yakushi smiled. "Because I'm a bad man with a heart as venomous as snakes and scorpions. That's why a snake grew out behind my bottom..."
But the little girl said, "You're not a bad man! You're the nicest man in the whole world! You cured my little brother and Daddy, and now you can cure Grandma too!"
Kabuto smiled noncommittally and told the kindly old woman before him, "I'll prescribe some medicine for you. Take it for three days, starting tonight-no, starting tomorrow-and you'll recover..."
The consultations continued until evening. Kabuto warned them not to eat anything for the entire day.
Then, late that night, when everyone was asleep, Kabuto went to the village's only well and poured in the medicine he had prepared.
Sasuke, dressed in a black robe with his hair hidden beneath its hood, approached him from behind and asked in confusion, "Why are you doing this?"
Kabuto Yakushi adjusted his glasses. "The villagers fell ill because they drank contaminated water. Unless I purify the water supply,