"Kabuto Yakushi."
"That last name sounds a bit familiar."
Akihara Kagura said while waving his hand.
The large trees in this forest were all under the control of Akihara Kagura's Chakra. The branches that were binding the young man with glasses gradually loosened, gently placing him on the ground.
"...Thank you."
Kabuto Yakushi sincerely expressed his gratitude, then asked, "I remember that Root shouldn't allow the use of real names, only code names..."
"That is something only Lord Danzo can call me."
Akihara Kagura interrupted him, speaking indifferently, "I guess maybe it's because Lord Danzo is getting old and can't remember so many names..."
"Besides..."
"Aren't you using your own name too?"
"We're different."
Kabuto Yakushi slowly shook his head.
He had always served as a spy outside, with no need to forget his own name. Having a special code name might even be suspicious.
"Your name is Kabuto Yakushi, right?"
"I remember there's a Konoha Orphanage director named Yakushi Nonou..."
Akihara Kagura commanded a tree to create a swing for himself, sitting leisurely on it, and knowingly asked, "What is your relationship with Yakushi Nonou?"
"The Director..."
Kabuto Yakushi hesitated for a second, thinking there was no harm in Akihara Kagura knowing this, explained, "Yakushi Nonou was the director of the orphanage that took me in back then."
"That's quite a coincidence."
Akihara Kagura nodded, then started spouting nonsense: "I was also taken in by Director Yakushi Nonou, so you were taken in by her and raised by Lord Danzo too?"
"...Yes."
Kabuto Yakushi slowly lowered his head.
If being treated as a spy from a young age, ordered to drift across various countries to gather intelligence can be considered being raised...
This boy claiming to be Lord Kagura, was he also taken in by the director and forced by Danzo to be a tool? Has he almost forgotten the director who took him in?
True.
Not everyone remembers their childhood.
Especially in a cold, heartless organization like Root.
Kabuto Yakushi raised his hand, adjusting the glasses on his nose.
All this time, the fact that he could live on bravely was because of these glasses that always accompanied him, given by Director Yakushi Nonou.
For Kabuto Yakushi, the warmest time in life was at the Konoha Orphanage, where he met the warmest person, who treated him like a mother.
His name, his life...
Everything came from Director Yakushi Nonou.
"We were both taken in by Director Yakushi Nonou."
Akihara Kagura seemed quite satisfied with their meeting, after thinking for a while, he curiously said, "Even though we were both raised by Lord Danzo, we've never met before!"
"Because we have to carry out our respective missions."
After responding, Kabuto Yakushi continued, "This meeting is just a coincidence, maybe in the future...we won't have the chance to meet again."
"Right."
Akihara Kagura sighed as well, showing a bit of helplessness: "Lord Danzo will soon send me on a mission as well."
"Oh?"
Kabuto Yakushi instinctively showed a hint of surprise, seemingly unconcerned, he followed up, "Is there anything I can help with?"
As a spy, Kabuto Yakushi instinctively sought to gather intelligence, especially since the young Akihara Kagura didn't seem like an ordinary kid.
This boy...
If he didn't see wrong...
He can use Wood Release Bloodline Ninjutsu?
"First, I need to finish participating in the Chunin Exams."
Akihara Kagura seemed indifferent to potentially leaking intelligence, even voluntarily revealing more: "After passing the Chunin Exams, I'll have to carry out a dangerous mission. Since I have the power of Wood Release, Lord Danzo surely won't send me on ordinary missions. It's highly likely I'll die during a mission..."
"Perhaps in the future, we really won't meet again..."
After saying this, Akihara Kagura turned to Kabuto Yakushi, "If you're still alive and meet Director Nonou later, please tell her, in fact, the happiest day was when she took me back to the orphanage, I have never forgotten..."
"..."
Kabuto Yakushi was instantly silent.
The words this boy said were also what he wanted to say.
"I'm sorry."
Akihara Kagura looked at Kabuto Yakushi, with hints of nostalgia in his expression: "Since I was young, I've been taught to carry out the will of Root, not to think about the people of the past, nor to use my past name, not even to keep a photo of the director, I've almost forgotten what she looks like..."
"It's alright, the director won't blame you."
Kabuto Yakushi took out a photo from his pocket, offering consolation: "I happen to have a photo of the director here; you can take a look..."
It was a photo encased in a plastic cover.
Though the plastic was slightly worn, the photo within remained pristine, indicating the owner had taken great care to protect it.
The photo showed a blonde woman wearing glasses, smiling as if something delighted her, her smile curving her eyes almost shut.
"Thank you."
Akihara Kagura slowly lowered his head.
"You're welcome."
Kabuto Yakushi patted him on the shoulder lightly, "Unfortunately, I only have one. If you're not in a hurry, perhaps I can help make another copy for you."
"Thank you."
"At that time, I'll give you one of my photos too."
Akihara Kagura bowed his head, thanking Kabuto Yakushi, speaking softly, "If someday I die, and you're still alive, remember to give my photo to the director too..."
Akihara Kagura took a deep breath, continuing, "Let her see what I looked like grown up, help me tell the director, I joined Root voluntarily, at least so that everyone in the orphanage could have a better life, I never blamed her..."
"She won't blame you."
Kabuto Yakushi shook his head quickly, as if these were words he wanted to say himself, hurriedly defending the gentle, motherly director: "She definitely won't blame you, how could the director ever blame us?"
Kabuto Yakushi, as if recalling something, took out a photo of himself from his pocket, handing it to Akihara Kagura: "This is my photo, if someday I die during a mission, and you're still alive, please also convey my message to the director..."
"I understand what you mean!"
Akihara Kagura quickly accepted his photo.
"..."
Kabuto Yakushi felt something was odd.
"By the way."
Akihara Kagura, after putting away the photo, reminded, "Don't let others know about this, the will of Root doesn't allow us..."
"Jia!"
A voice suddenly interrupted their exchange.
A Root Ninja walked into the forest, glanced at Akihara Kagura on the swing, then at Kabuto Yakushi standing beside.
"Jia, Lord Danzo..."
"Who gave you permission to call me Jia!"
Akihara Kagura suddenly raised his finger, countless vines and roots shot up from the ground, binding the Root Ninja and hanging him from a tree!
"How many times have I said, what should you call me?"
"...Lord Kagura."
The Root Ninja called out somewhat humiliated, continuing, "Lord Danzo wants you and Kabuto to go see him in the office immediately."
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
Akihara Kagura sneered, then looked at the slightly stunned Kabuto Yakushi: "These guys always like to use Lord Danzo's name to issue orders, they must've forced you to accompany me for training too?"
"Don't be afraid."
"I'll go back and teach them a lesson for you."
"..."
Kabuto Yakushi felt uneasy.
He recalled how in the Root base, the Root Ninjas kept shirking and didn't want to train with this boy.
This boy didn't seem to have such a bad time in the Root Organization...