"Want to go out for a walk?"
Gua suddenly asked.
He hadn't left the house in days. While he could keep idling at home, he also wanted to hear what major events had happened outside lately.
His dad and mom didn't hide things from him, but there were plenty of things they wouldn't talk about unless Gua asked.
Gua figured his own ears were more reliable.
"Sure."
Kabuto nodded and followed Gua out.
He no longer acted quite so much like a walking corpse. Every now and then, he looked at the vendors, the pedestrians, and even a big yellow dog passing by.
Like a newborn child taking in a new world.
"How old are you?"
Gua asked.
The original story's timeline was a little messy. Besides, in a place like the ninja world, everyone really did age at their own pace. Sometimes people looked like they belonged to the same age group, when one of them might actually be old enough to be the other's grandfather...
For example, there was a little girl named Yeme in the Land of Wind. Everyone else grew up, but she stayed a little girl.
In the end, she eloped with Shira.
Even when she eloped, she still looked like a little girl.
Gua's verdict was that Shira deserved to be electrocuted!
"Um... nine."
Kabuto Yakushi thought for a moment and answered uncertainly.
"I think I'm nine."
Gua fell silent for a moment.
Clearly, nobody remembered how old this guy was. Most likely, when Yakushi Nonō picked him up, she decided how old he looked, and that became his age. Then they added a year for every year that passed...
Still, nine did fit the Kabuto standing before Gua now.
He really was a child who hadn't grown up yet.
Gua stopped talking.
Kabuto