Nagi looked at the newcomer and asked calmly,
"How have these past few days been, living with your director?"
"Thanks to you, I've been very happy."
The visitor was none other than Kabuto Yakushi.
After returning from Otogakure, Nagi had summoned Kabuto and brought him to the former Uchiha Compound.
At first, Kabuto assumed Nagi and Orochimaru intended to conduct experiments related to the Uchiha.
But then he saw her.
A woman caring for Uchiha children.
Though her appearance and chakra signature were different, something deep within his bones recognized a familiar warmth.
The frozen layers around his heart began to melt.
The woman noticed him as well—and when her eyes fell on Kabuto, she visibly froze.
Nagi directly asked her to lead Kabuto to her residence.
Along the way, they quietly studied one another.
Kabuto wondered who this woman was.
Nono Yakushi wondered how Kabuto had lived these past years.
Once inside, Nagi asked Nono to remove her disguise.
The face Kabuto had dreamed of countless times appeared before him—and her chakra returned to its natural signature.
"Th-this… Dir—Direc—Director?!"
Kabuto trembled uncontrollably, hardly daring to believe it was real.
Years of espionage had forced him to wear a thick mask.
Nono's presence shattered it completely.
Nagi spoke gently.
"The Wandering Shrine Maiden—today you resume your identity as Nono Yakushi. You may care for the children of the Uchiha Compound and the orphanage openly."
"Yes. Thank you, my lord."
"I'll leave you two to talk."
"Please take care."
With that, Nagi departed.
He headed toward the Uchiha clan hall to see how the children had grown these past few months.
Later, after an emotional reunion, Kabuto sought out Nagi.
He nearly dropped to his knees, but Nagi quickly stopped him.
"My hope is that people won't kneel so easily. Stand."
Kabuto rose and gave a deep bow instead.
Nagi continued,
"Orochimaru and I are sailing upon a ship called 'science.' The future will not be easy.
Kabuto, I value your talent. I hope you will board this ship with us and walk toward the future together."
He extended his right hand.
Kabuto froze.
Years of pretending had almost made him forget who he was.
Seeing the director reminded him—he was Kabuto Yakushi. Her child.
Now, Nagi's acknowledgment filled something hollow inside him.
Perhaps this was what it felt like to be recognized.
For someone who had long searched for his own identity, recognition was everything.
Kabuto's gaze steadied. He grasped Nagi's hand.
"It would be my honor. I will not fail your expectations, Nagi-sama."
At that moment, the "snake skin" around Kabuto began to shed.
Kabuto then presented a scroll.
Nagi broke the seal and read it.
Rasa had agreed to cooperate with Otogakure to invade Konohagakure during the final stage of the Chūnin Exams, scheduled a little over a month later.
Operational details could be coordinated through the Sunagakure jōnin, Baki.
After reading, Nagi incinerated the scroll with Fire Release.
Kabuto added,
"The Fourth Kazekage will personally attend the finals."
"In that case…" Nagi said calmly, "Fourth Kazekage Rasa—cherish this last month of your life."
He then disappeared into the alley's shadows.
Rasa: Damn it! Why am I being killed again?!
Ōnoki: Hmph. Nagi said it clearly—if you agree to invade Konoha with Otogakure, you die.
Tobirama Senju: Kazekage, once you make a decision, do not regret it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: My teacher is right. If you dare invade Konoha, we will show no mercy.
Even if his teacher was gone, Konoha still had Nagi—and the younger generation. Hiruzen would not bend his back again.
Kakashi Hatake: Exactly. If Sunagakure chooses invasion, then you must accept the consequences.
Chiyo: The White Fang's son! Give me back my son and daughter-in-law's lives!
Rasa: Y-you people—! Pfft—!
Gaara, meanwhile, remained indifferent.
As long as Temari—and Kankurō by extension—were safe, he didn't care much about Rasa's fate.
Events proceeded largely as in canon.
However, this time Orochimaru had no interest in Sasuke's body, so Sasuke was not branded with the Cursed Seal of Heaven.
The former Sound Team—Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, and Kin Tsuchi—did not target Team 7.
Soon, the Chūnin Exams Preliminaries began.
Kabuto forfeited early this time.
The preliminary matches commenced.
Sasuke Uchiha vs. Yoroi Akadō
Without the interference of the Cursed Seal, Sasuke won cleanly and decisively.
Zaku Abumi vs. Shino Aburame
Shino, the undefeated tactician, delivered another steady victory.
Kankurō vs. Karin Uzumaki
Karin's powerful sensory ability immediately detected Kankurō's puppet substitution trick.
Kankurō was formidable in the early stages. Karin, who had studied medical ninjutsu alongside her mother at Konoha Hospital, had learned some offensive techniques—but most of her combat style remained close-range.
Though blessed with the Uzumaki clan's vitality and self-healing ability, she found that Kankurō had laced his puppet weapons with poison.
She was forced to detoxify herself while searching for opportunities to close the distance.
Temari watched from the stands, thinking that if this continued, the Leaf kunoichi would soon collapse from chakra exhaustion.
But half an hour passed…
Karin remained brimming with fighting spirit.
Kankurō, on the other hand, was visibly fatigued.
He had planned to use range and poison to wear her down. Yet after nearly an hour, she seemed unaffected—while his own chakra was nearly depleted.
He couldn't reveal Karasu or his Black Secret Techniques too early.
Left with no choice, he raised his hand in surrender.
Karin ran toward Sasuke immediately after her victory.
"Karin was that strong?!"
"Uh… wasn't she always this strong?"
Sakura Haruno and Ino Yamanaka stared in disbelief.
At the Academy, Karin had often ended spars with a single punch.
Even Sasuke had nearly lost to her a few times.
(Karin: I just couldn't bring myself to hit him too hard.)
It was just that no one had seen her fight a prolonged battle before.
"Awesome! That was amazing, Karin!"
Before Sasuke could speak, Naruto rushed forward with congratulations.
"Hehe, thanks, Naruto-kun! You do your best too!"
Both from the Uzumaki clan, Naruto and Karin had grown close at the Academy. Being older, Karin affectionately called him "little brother."
Naruto was delighted to have an older sister figure.
Because of her bond with Naruto, Sasuke was less distant toward her.
"…Congratulations."
"Hehe."
Karin blushed faintly.
Sakura & Ino: Danger.
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