In the Star City, inside the Ninja Academy's dormitory.
After the dormitory manager blew the lights-out whistle, the noise of the day gradually quieted down.
Eleven-year-old Yakushi Kabuto sat on his bed, flipping through a basic book on Medical Ninjutsu under the faint moonlight streaming through the window.
He wore round-framed glasses, his gaze behind the lenses calm and introspective, a stark contrast to the other children around him who were still whispering excitedly, unable to sleep.
Kabuto glanced at the clock hanging on the dormitory wall, 'By this time, everyone at the orphanage should be asleep already.'
"Kabuto, aren't you going to sleep yet? We have early training tomorrow!" A boy his age whispered to him.
"Yeah, I'll sleep soon." Kabuto replied softly, closing the book.
He took off his glasses and carefully placed them, along with the book, beside his pillow before lying down and closing his eyes.
However, his thoughts were far from settling. His mind lingered on the children at the orphanage and his foster mother, Yakushi Nono.
Just over a month ago, he had barely completed an undercover mission in Sunagakure, narrowly escaping pursuit by Sunagakure's Ninjas and returning to Konoha Village alive.
Yet, without a moment's rest, he was given new orders.
Infiltrate the newly established Land of Stars, posing as an orphan to enter the Ninja Academy and gather intelligence… especially on the Uchiha Clan's member with the Mangekyo Sharingan and the mysterious Shura.
No piece of information was to be overlooked.
During the more than one year that Kabuto became a spy, he not only had a deep understanding of the situation in Konoha, but also did a lot of research on the situation in Sunagakure. At such a young age, his understanding of the Ninja World surpassed that of most ordinary Ninjas.
He knew full well how formidable Konoha's Uchiha Clan was… a force feared by every Ninja Villages.
During his year undercover in Sunagakure, Kabuto had never heard of any powerful Kekkei Genkai Clans there. Even the past Kazekages had all come from civilian backgrounds.
Therefore, when a powerful Uchiha appeared outside Konoha Village, although Kabuto didn't yet grasp the full gravity of the situation, he already has a faint sense of danger.
'Since I arrived in the Star Capital, I haven't heard any information about the Uchiha-' Kabuto silently sorted through the information in his mind.
Though he hadn't uncovered anything about that powerful Uchiha, Kabuto knew it was because he was merely a 'war orphan from Kumamoto City'.
He had already planned to demonstrate some talent after entering the Ninja Academy, gradually earning the trust of the higher-ups to gain access to more intelligence.
This kind of life was nothing new to Kabuto. He was used to playing different roles, used to hiding his true self.
Just as he was about to drift off to sleep, a shadow flashed past the window, instantly putting his nerves on high alert.
The figure moved incredibly fast, almost blending into the night, but Kabuto's sharp perception and his instincts as a spy allowed him to catch the fleeting glimpse.
'That familiar silhouette… was that… Menma?'
Kabuto's eyes snapped open. Almost instinctively, he sat up, grabbed his glasses, and cautiously pressed against the window, trying to track the figure's movement.
But outside, there was only the serene moonlight and swaying tree shadows. Everything had returned to stillness, as if what he had seen was just an illusion.
'No way… Did I missee? No… That can't be-'
Kabuto's heart was filled with doubt, but the caution ingrained in him from his life as a spy made him unwilling to overlook even the slightest possible oversight.
Any tiny clue could be the key to his exposure!
He turned his head to glance back into the dormitory and saw that the other children were already fast asleep, their breathing steady and rhythmic, occasionally punctuated by soft snores or murmurs in their dreams.
Carefully, he approached the window, gently pushed it open, and slipped out without a sound.
Like a ghost, Kabuto moved through the newly constructed buildings of the Ninja Academy, his eyes behind his glasses scanning every corner, every shadow with vigilance.
But he found nothing.
The night was deep, and aside from the chirping of insects and the rustling of the wind, everything was eerily still.
'Was I really just too tense?' A flicker of self-doubt crossed Kabuto's mind.
In the end, he had no choice but to give up his search and quietly return to the dormitory, slipping back into his bed.
Yet, the fleeting figure he had glimpsed earlier, and the memory of parting with everyone at the orphanage's entrance over a year ago, remained vivid in his mind.
…
Outside the Ninja Academy's dormitory.
Menma, in his true form, floated in the air, hidden beneath a patch of dark clouds, overlooking everything below.
His Mind's Eye of the Kagura sensed Kabuto's Chakra, and he rested his right hand on his chin, deep in thought.
'Kabuto appearing here means that old bastard Danzo has already set his sights on the Land of Stars. He probably learned from his 'good friend', the other old bastard Hiruzen that there is a powerful Uchiha Clan's Ninja in the Land of Stars.'
'He might even tell Danzo that Hikari possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan.'
'Given that old bastard's greed, he would undoubtedly take an interest in an Uchiha operating outside Konoha Village. He might even try to ambush them, just as he had once done to Nagato.'
'Hmph… That old fool Danzo.'
If Danzo personally led a squad to ambush Hikari, then Menma wouldn't be like Nagato, who hadn't fully mastered the Rinnegan back then!
'However… since Kabuto's undercover mission has changed, I can't let Nono continue her infiltration in Iwagakure.' Menma's gaze deepened.
Nono was, in a way, Menma's foster mother, and Kabuto had once made a promise with him.
If he could rescue Nono from Danzo's grasp and bring her under his wing, she would be an invaluable asset… whether in managing the Ninja Academy, training Medical-Nin, or even nurturing spies.
"And as for that Kabuto…"
Thinking of Kabuto's abilities, Menma was still quite concerned.
'It would be a waste if Kabuto didn't become a multi-faceted spy. Besides, his talent in Ninjutsu is not low.'
When Kabuto took part in the Chunin Exam in Year 63 of Konoha Calendar, he was only about 19 years old, but had already possessed the strength of an Elite Jonin.
It's just because he is Orochimaru's spy that he's registered as Genin in Konoha's records.
This was evident from his battle against Tsunade and Shizune.
Though Tsunade had been out of combat for years, suffering from hemophobia and not even summoning Katsuyu, her skills had still been at least Elite Jonin-level. Shizune was also a Jonin, albeit one specialized in Medical Ninjutsu.
After Orochimaru's death, Kabuto, as his most capable subordinate, inherited most of Orochimaru's research. Through cellular transplants and other means, he gained Orochimaru's powers and even mastered the Sage Mode of Ryuchi Cave.
In terms of pure combat ability, he was easily Kage-level.
And when combined with the Impure World Reincarnation, one could argue that he alone had the power to challenge the Five Great Nations.