Upon hearing Orochimaru mention Kabuto, Chinya frowned deeply.
"Eh? Kabuto?"
Orochimaru explained to Chinya, "Sasori joined Konoha as a war orphan. Originally, Kabuto was actually a spy for Sasori of the Red Sand, but his memories were sealed by a jutsu called Subconscious Control using Sand—a technique that inserts extremely tiny needles into the brain's memory center to suppress one's memories.
War orphans wishing to join Konoha undergo strict memory investigations to ensure they pose no threat before being accepted. Kabuto managed to pass because this jutsu suppressed his memories.
Later, after Kabuto pledged loyalty to me, I discovered these needles in his brain and helped remove them. Once the needle disappeared, so too did the sealing technique, restoring his memories.
But you don't need to worry, Chinya. Now that Kabuto's memories have returned, he has no intention of resuming loyalty to Sasori. So if you're trying to contact members of Akatsuki, he may be able to help."
Actually, halfway through Orochimaru's explanation, Chinya had already figured everything out.
Chinya nodded. "Then let's get Kabuto to help."
Orochimaru asked curiously, "Come to think of it, why do you urgently need to contact Akatsuki members? Can't you reach Obito Uchiha and Zetsu? Besides, you already know where their headquarters are, right?"
Chinya replied, "It's not urgent. But I really can't get in touch with either Obito or Zetsu. After all, we don't even qualify as collaborators—they'd avoid me altogether and wouldn't give me any way to contact them.
I do know the Akatsuki Base is located in Amegakure, but now isn't the time to make contact. That guy Zetsu especially fears me. If I suddenly showed up in Amegakure looking for them, no one can predict how extreme his reaction might be.
I just need to investigate someone within the Akatsuki. That's why personally traveling to Amegakure can wait—we shouldn't risk a conflict just yet.
The person I'm interested in is a newly inducted official member named Jigen. About him, I know absolutely nothing, which makes me rather curious. I want to look into his background thoroughly."
"I see. Then I'll call Kabuto over."
Orochimaru summoned Kabuto Yakushi, who had been conducting research in another laboratory.
Chinya told Kabuto how he hoped for Kabuto to contact Sasori and arrange a meeting.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses and responded, "Lord Chinya, I cannot guarantee success—after all, many years have passed, and I currently lack direct means to contact Sasori. The best I can do is mark a trail, hoping he'll reach out first.
Therefore, if Lord Chinya is willing to wait, I can try placing certain signals outdoors to await Sasori's initiative."
Chinya thought for a moment—the Destruction Plan for Konoha was about to begin soon. Even if he could meet Sasori immediately now, he wouldn't have time to go. This matter wasn't particularly urgent anyway.
"Alright then," Chinya agreed. "I'll leave this matter to you, Dou."
Orochimaru said to Chinya, "Chinya, we'll depart for Sunagakure Village day after tomorrow to assassinate Rasa. Kabuto, you'll come with us too. That way, you can leave markers along the way."
Yakushi Kabuto felt surprised—was he really about to participate in assassinating Sunagakure's Kazekage?
He accepted, "Alright."
"Then see you day after tomorrow, Orochimaru-sensei, Kabuto."
Chinya left the base and went home.
Uzumaki Kushina had already returned home and Uzumaki Sōnagi was watching TV.
Seeing Chinya came back, Uzumaki Sōnagi turned off the television immediately and ran up to him enthusiastically: "Dad, welcome back!"
Chinya raised an eyebrow and glanced at Kushina. "Kushina, did you already beat him up? We were supposed to team up on this when I got back!"
Uzumaki Sōnagi's expression instantly stiffened.
Why did it sound like his dad was planning a double teaming session with his mom?
While preparing the ingredients for dinner, Kushina denied, "No, but Sōnagi probably did something wrong—I sensed it because he was unusually enthusiastic when I came home too."
Stroking his chin, Chinya looked at Uzumaki Sōnagi. "That doesn't make sense—you've been with me these days. You wouldn't have had time to get into trouble. Did you mess up just during this short time?"
"No way! Actually, there's something important I want to ask both Dad and Mom to agree on."
Sōnagi pulled Chinya and Kushina onto the sofa.
Looking serious, Uzumaki Sōnagi declared: "Mom, Dad, since the Shinobi World is so big, I'd like to go explore it!"
Chinya and Kushina opened their mouths slightly, staring at Uzumaki Sōnagi in shock.
After a moment of silence, Kushina asked suspiciously, "Sōnagi, what triggered this sudden urge to explore the Shinobi World?"
Chinya suddenly realized something and guessed, "Is it because of Naruto?"
Uzumaki Sōnagi answered earnestly, "Yes. I want to venture out there myself. I don't want to remain inside this comfort zone anymore. I aim to make a name for myself in the Shinobi World through my own strength. I don't want others greeting me by saying 'You're Chinya's son.' It's like they only respect me because of who my dad is.
When people talk about me, I want them doing so simply because I'm Uzumaki Sōnagi!
I no longer want to stay under Dad's protective wings or rely on him. It's time I face my own future independently!"
Kushina immediately rejected him: "Absolutely not! The real world out there is a jungle. What if you run into danger alone? You should start exploring within Rice Country first. When you grow older, maybe you can consider going beyond."
Sōnagi grabbed Kushina's arm with puppy eyes and begged: "Please, Mommy!"
Unmoved, Kushina resisted his pleas. Seeing that his mom remained unmoved, Sōnagi shifted his attention toward Chinya.
After a brief silence, Chinya spoke to Kushina: "Kushina, perhaps we could give this kid an opportunity."
Uzumaki Sōnagi looked at Chinya joyfully.
Kushina Uzumaki frowned and asked, "Chinya..."
Chinya explained, "Just hear me out, Kushina. Uzumaki Sōnagi is just someone who can't sit still. If we say no now, he'll just sneak out of the Rice Country on his own anyway. Happened before.
Better we say yes now than let him run off without telling us. Besides, he'll have to go out and make his own way someday—might as well be now rather than later. Since he's made up his mind, we should support him. It's only a matter of time, early or late.
Plus, Kimimaro and the others will be with him too. Given how strong they are now, they're more than ready to face the real world."
"Dad, you're the best!"
Uzumaki Sōnagi, overjoyed upon hearing Chinya approve his ninja journey, happily threw his arms around Chinya.
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