After regaining her composure, Nono Yakushi looked at Nagi with a complicated expression.
"…What do you need me to do?"
"Yes," Nagi replied calmly. "I need you to live. But not under the identity of Nono Yakushi."
Understanding dawned in her eyes.
"This is for Kabuto, isn't it?"
"Yes. And don't worry—this is an official appointment letter from the Third Hokage."
Hiruzen truly understood how to win people over.
The moment she heard the Third Hokage's name, Nono's expression softened.
She accepted the letter and broke the ANBU seal using Konoha's authentication method.
After briefly scanning it, her expression shifted—then gradually relaxed.
"I understand."
The letter stated that following the Uchiha Clan Massacre, most survivors were children. Her mission was to relocate to the Uchiha Compound and assist ANBU personnel in caring for the orphaned Uchiha.
This assignment had been arranged by Tobirama after the ANBU completed their survivor census.
As long as the orphanage—and Kabuto—remained, Tobirama was not worried about her defecting.
The red screen faded.
[Kabuto Yakushi: Second Hokage-sama, Nagi—thank you! Thank you for saving Director Nono!!!]
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
[Orochimaru: Kabuto… their true target was you. You've been sold off and are still helping them count the profit.]
[Kabuto Yakushi: But Orochimaru-sama… Director Nono is alive. That's what matters.]
[Nono Yakushi: Kabuto… you've suffered all these years.]
[Kabuto Yakushi: sob]
[Orochimaru: Hmph. I cultivate him, and once he matures, you plan to reclaim him. What a clever scheme.]
For once, Orochimaru felt outmaneuvered.
Usually he was the one abducting talent—
Now someone had delivered talent to him.
[Madara Uchiha: Hmph. Tobirama, I fail to see why you care so much for a mere child.]
[Tobirama Senju: I have my reasons.]
The white screen lit up.
After the Uchiha Massacre —
Impure World Reincarnation & the Hokage —
Ninja Academy Graduation —
Team 7 —
Land of Waves Arc —
Chūnin Exams + Konoha Crush.
The white screen faded.
[Anko Mitarashi: What?! Orochimaru invades Konoha—and kills the Third Hokage?!]
[Kakashi Hatake: Konoha truly faces troubled times… I wonder how our world will unfold.]
[Rasa: Let me clarify—that is a parallel Sunagakure, not ours.]
His lack of confidence was obvious.
[Naruto Uzumaki: Haha! Did you see that?! That was me! I beat that giant tanuki while riding a huge toad!]
[Sasuke Uchiha: Idiot. That's the parallel world's you.]
[Naruto: I don't care! That's still me!]
[Kushina Uzumaki: That's right—our Naruto is the best.]
The red screen flickered on again.
[Hashirama Senju: Hahaha! Is it finally here? The future of our world—I'm excited.]
Nagi and Tobirama also wondered what lay ahead.
Uchiha Aftermath
Nono Yakushi settled within the Uchiha Compound, assisting ANBU in caring for the surviving children.
Sasuke looked around at the younger clan members—some were barely older than toddlers.
Some were infants.
All had lost their families.
His Sharingan activated unconsciously.
"Itachi Uchiha… I will kill you. I will have my revenge!"
Those around him could only sigh.
Years Later — Graduation Day
Time passed swiftly.
Under Tobirama's prolonged possession—what some jokingly called "Tobirama Mode"—Nagi's body had adapted to Tobirama's instincts.
He mastered most of Tobirama's techniques—including several forbidden jutsu—and even refined some.
Tobirama also observed that the mysterious energy within Nagi had steadily increased.
Now, Nagi could perform most techniques without hand seals—or with only minimal ones.
[Mei Terumī: No hand seals?]
[Hashirama Senju: Huh? Ninjutsu requires hand seals? Isn't it just clap and go?]
[Tobirama Senju: Brother, not everyone is you.]
Within the Akatsuki—
Kisame Hoshigaki stared at the screen.
"Sigh… if only I could use ninjutsu without hand seals."
The others looked at him sympathetically.
Kisame paused.
Right.
Itachi used the Sharingan.
Nagato wielded the Rinnegan.
Konan manipulated paper.
Kakuzu used his Earth Grudge Fear.
Hidan relied on ritual curses.
Deidara chewed explosive clay.
Sasori used puppets.
So…
He was the only one still forming seals the old-fashioned way.
Tobirama's Departure
Because Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation forcibly summoned Tobirama's soul in the parallel timeline, his spirit was pulled away from Nagi.
This explained the opening of Chapter 1.
Soon, graduation day arrived.
Iruka stepped forward and began reading the team assignments.
"Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha."
"Team 8: Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyūga, Shino Aburame."
"Team 9: Sai, Karin Uzumaki, Shin."
"Team 10: Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Chōji Akimichi."
"…That concludes the team assignments."
Naruto jumped up.
"Wait, Iruka-sensei! You forgot Nagi!"
Iruka smiled.
" Nagi has already been assigned a position directly by the Hokage. No need to worry."
"Oh… okay."
Afterward, Nagi left the classroom first.
The Rookie Nine remained seated, awaiting their jōnin instructors.
Root's New Leader
Nagi's assigned position was none other than head of Root, Danzō's former post.
Upon leaving the Academy, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Root headquarters.
With Danzō imprisoned, Tobirama had ordered the removal of the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal from Root operatives.
Control subordinates if necessary—
But not through such methods.
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: What?! Teacher—you've left?!]
[Koharu Utatane: Teacher…]
[Tobirama Senju: Enough. From now on, support your junior properly.]
[Hiruzen: I understand, Teacher. I will hold on until my junior matures.]
In rival villages, high-ranking officials quietly began considering assassination plans.
Nagi had mastered the Flying Thunder God.
If he matured—
He might become another Yellow Flash.
And if he inherited Tobirama's other techniques as well—
Would their villages survive?
Root Training Grounds
Wearing a fox mask, Nagi entered the training grounds.
With his teacher gone, he could not afford complacency.
"Leopard. Eagle. Terai. Wind… those named, remain. The rest, disperse."
Soon, only around thirty shinobi remained.
All were at least chūnin-level, some jōnin.
They shared one trait—
Ruthlessness.
Battle was one of the fastest paths to strength.
"As usual," Nagi said calmly, "attack me with the intent to kill."