Naruto: Assistant to the Hokage

Akihara Kagura was speaking nothing but the truth.

From the memories of his past life, Akihara Kagura had a distinct impression of Kabuto Yakushi.

In the future, Kabuto Yakushi would prove to be an exceptionally valuable talent. Just his skills as a spy alone would surpass most, likely second only to Akihara Kagura himself.

Beyond that, Kabuto's intelligence was remarkable. He was highly adept at learning and mastering new knowledge. In the future, he might even assist in conducting human experiments, improving various forbidden techniques, and possibly helping Akihara Kagura master the most mysterious sage techniques in the ninja world.

In short, this man was a treasure.

What is the ninja world most in need of? Talent.

To strengthen his connection with Kabuto Yakushi, Akihara Kagura fabricated a story at Training Ground No. 9, claiming he too had grown up in an orphanage. This story barely managed to earn Kabuto's goodwill but fell far short of gaining his genuine trust.

The best approach...

Was to forge a solid bond.

What is the most important thing in the ninja world? Bonds.

If he could establish a meaningful bond with Kabuto Yakushi, Kabuto would remember his existence. That would pave the way for him to eventually recruit Kabuto to his side.

However...

There was no real connection between the two of them.

So, Akihara Kagura began by recounting how he, too, came from the Konoha Orphanage, how he missed life there, and how he missed the matron, Nonō Yakushi.

All of this...

Was a lie.

Yet these lies reflected Kabuto Yakushi's true feelings.

The one who genuinely grew up in an orphanage was Kabuto. The one who truly missed his days there was Kabuto. The one who deeply longed for Nonō Yakushi was still Kabuto. And the one who wanted to show her photos of his grown-up self was Kabuto again.

Akihara Kagura spun these lies as a warm prelude, making Kabuto believe they shared similarities.

Now, Akihara Kagura needed a tragic story to shatter the warm prelude, convincing Kabuto that a genuine bond existed between them.

Once a bond was established...

There would be a chance to make Kabuto help him in the future.

After all, Akihara Kagura lacked any mind-control techniques like Kotoamatsukami to alter someone's will. He had no system abilities to monitor loyalty, nor would he resort to the crude and dangerous method of embedding curse seals into others.

Akihara Kagura was just a working man.

And for a working man to achieve more, he could only rely on simple strategies and strive to make capable friends.

"Kabuto Yakushi."

Akihara Kagura gazed at Kabuto, who was brimming with wariness, and smiled playfully. "What do you think I want from you?"

"I don't know yet..."

Kabuto frowned, pondering for a moment before responding, "But I do know one thing. When you approached me, it wasn't because you were delighted to meet someone from the same orphanage, as you claimed..."

"When you first mentioned Matron Nonō's name, your face didn't show longing. It seemed more like you were mentioning someone you hadn't seen in a long time..."

"But."

"Today, I'm still happy."

"It's been a long time since anyone brought up the past."

"What you said at the training ground—everything you said—were all the things I've wanted to express."

"Maybe I've been suppressing these thoughts for too long in this organization..."

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, speaking softly, "I find myself increasingly nostalgic for my days at the orphanage and missing that person who treated me like a mother..."

At this point, Kabuto suddenly changed his tone. "However... you don't miss the orphanage, nor do you miss Matron Nonō."

"Is that so?"

"Lord Kagura of Root."

Kabuto's eyes grew resolute as he trusted his intuition and years of experience as a spy. "You hate me... and you hate Matron Nonō."

"You say you want to care for me, yet you've led me to offend others in Root—the combat ninjas I can't afford to cross."

"You don't want me to stay in Root..."

"Perhaps... you even intend to use the organization to kill me..."

Kabuto felt as though he had uncovered part of the truth and asked softly, "Am I right, Lord Kagura?"

"..."

Clap, clap, clap.

The young man couldn't help but clap his hands, the smile on his face widening. "Well said. You've guessed it all."

Guessed it all, my ass!

Kabuto got everything wrong!

Did Kabuto not question the authenticity of his story? Or did Kabuto think he wasn't worth deceiving? Was this Kabuto truly smart?

Fine.

Everything had been fabricated anyway.

Kabuto could only make guesses based on false premises, and it was already impressive that he deduced part of the tragic narrative Kagura had just outlined.

"I don't quite understand."

Kabuto looked at the young man with confusion. "You were also adopted by Matron Nonō and lived in the village orphanage. There shouldn't be hatred between us."

"Why not?"

Kagura couldn't help but laugh heartily.

The young man slowly spread his hands, enunciating every word: "Many profound hatreds often stem from something trivial, a fleeting thought in someone's mind..."

"What do you mean?"

Kabuto seemed perplexed.

"Jealousy."

"One of the world's original sins."

Kagura slowly approached Kabuto, his smile turning cold. "If there were no comparisons in this world, there would be no harm. Nor would jealousy arise..."

"Jealousy?"

"Yes, jealousy like never before..."

Kagura closed in on Kabuto, his gaze growing sharp. "Why do you get to share the same surname as Matron Nonō? Why does she constantly think about you? We were both adopted children, and I came first..."

"Because..."

Kabuto hesitated before answering, "When Matron Nonō took me in, I had lost all my memories, including my name and my parents. So she gave me her surname..."

As Kabuto recalled that warm, motherly figure, he continued, "Was Matron Nonō... always thinking about me?"

"Yes..."

"She always thought about you..."

"She even forgot about another child who was sent to Root's base."

Kagura slowly turned his back and walked toward the covered corridor. "I didn't want to hate her. I didn't want to hate you. I didn't even want you to join Root..."

"But..."

"I saw what she did for you. I saw how she kept inquiring about you within Root. But she never remembered me or cared about the hardships I endured here as a child, the bullying I faced!"

"Maybe... she had already forgotten me."

"I gradually began to resent her and detest you, the one she cared for. I realized something—the Root ideology I upheld gave rise to jealousy within me..."

"We both ended up in Root..."

"We're the same kind of people..."

"Kabuto Yakushi..."

"This is such an unfair world..."

*************

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