Kabuto Yakushi kept surveying everything around him.
The layout here was both similar to and different from the orphanage in his memories. What was similar were the bright windows and warm decorations.
What was different was that not a trace remained of the darkness hidden in the cracks.
Children's laughter rang out from every corner, clear and genuine.
"Has it changed much?" Naraku asked quietly as they walked.
"A great deal." Kabuto nodded. "It's very much like the place I remember."
"But it also feels like two different places."
"Still... it really is much better than before."
After the brief tour, Noguchi Maki tactfully gave the two of them some space and left first.
"What do you think?"
"It's far better than I expected."
Kabuto Yakushi fell silent for a moment before speaking. "Before coming here, I still had my doubts. Now I'm certain that the orphanage is actually doing very well."
"Even... even without me, there won't be any problems if it carries on like this."
Clearly, after touring the orphanage, Kabuto Yakushi had begun to question whether returning here was still the right choice.
He wanted to become the orphanage's director so he could care for and nurture children who had lost their families, just as Director Yakushi Nonō once had.
Now that he saw how much better Konoha's orphanage was doing than before, there was no need for him to bring these children trouble.
After all, Kabuto Yakushi himself knew just how serious the problems surrounding him were.
"Since you've made up your mind, don't waver so easily." Naraku frowned at him.
He didn't care what Kabuto Yakushi thought, but the stage had already been set, and now the person meant to take it was having second thoughts. How could that do?
Kabuto immediately picked up on