Hiruzen persuaded me to die

Konoha Village at night.

Yakushi Kabuto was heading toward the Konoha Orphanage.

Just now, an Anbu had suddenly approached him, saying that the Hokage wanted to see him.

And strangely enough—

The meeting location wasn't the Hokage building.

It was an orphanage on the outskirts of Konoha.

Yakushi Kabuto was confused.

He didn't understand why Hyuga Naraku, the Fifth Hokage, wanted to meet him.

He also didn't understand—why here of all places?

Until recently, he had been working with Orochimaru to help build Otogakure.

He had returned to Konoha on Orochimaru's orders.

To act as Orochimaru's eyes and ears.

With such intentions, it was hard to say whether falling into the Hokage's radar was a blessing or a disaster.

Soon, Yakushi Kabuto arrived near the orphanage.

"It was rebuilt a few years ago. It's probably different from what you remember."

A calm voice cut through the night.

Yakushi Kabuto turned toward the sound.

He saw Hyuga Naraku standing beneath a tree across from the orphanage.

Leaning against the trunk.

"Lord Hokage."

Yakushi Kabuto bowed respectfully.

His round, black-rimmed glasses reflected the moonlight.

His eyes, utterly unreadable.

"Impressive—"

Hyuga Naraku nodded slightly.

"At just twelve, you've already mastered how to suppress every emotion."

"A true veteran spy."

"Lord Hokage flatters me."

Yakushi Kabuto said with humility, his head still lowered.

"I wonder, what business might Lord Hokage have with someone like me?"

"You can ask Orochimaru something for me," said Naraku.

"Did the Akatsuki ever attempt to recruit a man named Shinno?"

In Sunagakure, Uchiha Obito had recently attempted to abduct the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa.

But Hyuga Naraku had doubts.

Would the Akatsuki really bother recruiting Rasa for his title alone?

Unlikely.

What interested them wasn't the role of Kazekage…

…but his Magnet Release—a rare Kekkei Genkai.

And with Akatsuki's known interest in unique bloodlines…

Naraku's thoughts turned toward Shinno and his Body Modification technique.

He was also curious about Kinjutsu: Chimera Technique—once used by Hiruko.

Still, it might also be Sasori seeking puppet material…

…or Kakuzu hunting Rasa's heart.

Yakushi Kabuto's heart trembled.

But his body showed nothing.

Had he been exposed?

How could the Fifth Hokage know he could contact Orochimaru?

No—wait!

Now wasn't the time to panic!

He had to respond first!

After a moment's pause, Kabuto responded:

"Orochimaru~?"

He raised his brows, as if confused.

"I heard rumors that Orochimaru defected from Konoha..."

"But how would I contact him?"

A natural reply.

Like a subordinate puzzling over how to carry out a strange order from the top.

As if he had only "heard" of Orochimaru's defection in passing.

Which made sense—he'd been away for years.

"Heh~"

Hyuga Naraku gave a short laugh and shook his head.

"No need to pretend."

"I don't know if Orochimaru ever told you, but my relationship with him is… let's say, cordial."

"At the very least, as long as he doesn't go too far, I've no plans to hunt him down."

Still—

Kabuto's heart tightened.

Was this a trap?

Had Naraku truly confirmed he was working with Orochimaru?

Or was this a ploy to draw a confession?

"The subordinate doesn't understand what Lord Hokage means," Kabuto replied.

Hyuga Naraku observed him calmly and said:

"You should be grateful. I value your talent."

"That's the only reason I'm showing this much patience."

Indeed, Yakushi Kabuto's talent was astounding—

Even among non-Ōtsutsuki, his potential ranked at the top.

By the time of the Fourth Great Ninja War, Kabuto in Sage Mode was considered the third strongest behind Naruto and Sasuke.

Might Guy may surpass him when opening the Eighth Gate, but that wasn't consistent combat power.

Rock Lee's Eight Gates potential remained uncertain.

By comparison—

Sage Kabuto from Ryuchi Cave had surpassed even most Kage.

He had even fought and overwhelmed Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Sasuke simultaneously.

If not for Izanami, Itachi might never have beaten him.

Even the Totsuka Blade might not have landed on him in Sage Mode.

His vision, hearing, and touch were all blurred by the White Rage Technique.

His Inorganic Reincarnation warped entire landscapes.

Stacked with medical ninjutsu, Karin's Uzumaki bloodline, Suigetsu's hydration jutsu, and Orochimaru's snake techniques—

His vitality even surpassed Orochimaru's.

As Kabuto once admitted—he didn't even know how to lose.

But that was the future.

Before him now stood the 12-year-old Kabuto.

Naraku pulled out a file and began to read aloud:

"Yakushi Kabuto. An orphan from the Battle of Kikyo Pass. Taken in by then-medical unit captain Yakushi Nonou."

"At five, he 'volunteered' to join Root to become a ninja."

"Later, he was dispatched as a spy to multiple nations..."

"Currently using the name Yakushi Kabuto, after his adoptive mother Yakushi Nonou."

Naraku handed the document to Kabuto.

It was a file originally compiled by Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"The truth is—Danzo came to the orphanage looking for recruits."

"You, only five at the time, stepped forward and left with him."

"Not out of a desire to be a ninja."

Kabuto looked down at the file that claimed he 'eagerly joined Root.'

His fingers clenched the pages tightly.

His whole life—

Twisted like a grotesque drawing.

Smeared by Danzo's ink.

Now unrecognizable.

"Orochimaru must've told you some of this."

Naraku continued:

"Danzo cut the orphanage's funding to pressure Yakushi Nonou."

"You left, thinking you were helping."

"But shortly after, Danzo told Nonou the 'real' reason for your departure."

"She, too, had to continue working for Root. For the orphanage's survival."

"And in the 51st year of Konoha—just two years ago—she was given an order to kill you."

"She didn't know it was you."

Under the pale moonlight, Hyuga Naraku's voice was clear and steady.

He had once used Tenseigan to read Danzo's memories.

And what he saw—

Was outrageous.

In the 51st year of Konoha, Kabuto had been assigned to infiltrate Iwagakure.

Danzo then sent Nonou—his adoptive mother—into Iwagakure too.

Both held highly classified intel.

Danzo saw them as loose ends.

Still, even that was understandable.

What wasn't?

The way he arranged their deaths.

Through psychological manipulation and altered intel, he tricked Nonou into believing Kabuto was someone else.

He made her kill her own child—

Without knowing it.

She died asking him—

"Who are you?"

Kabuto was broken.

And then, at his weakest—

Orochimaru appeared.

The greatest trafficker of talent in the ninja world.

And he took him.

Naraku couldn't help but sigh.

Danzo… didn't treat people like people.

Yakushi Kabuto's life—

Ruined by Danzo.

And he wasn't the only one.

Nagato's tragic spiral?

Also Danzo's pot.

A youth who once believed in peace and understanding…

Now a bitter warlord muttering about "pain and retribution."

At least half that blame sat squarely on Danzo's shoulders.

Funny thing was—

Danzo was dead.

But every single pot he stirred?

Still bubbling.