Time passed bit by bit.
Yakushi Kabuto sank into thought again. Was he really going to defect to Uehara Naraku?
Was he really going to side with Uehara Naraku just for a White Zetsu corpse and an experimental idea with huge uncertainties?
No, the White Zetsu corpse and the experiment idea were meant for Orochimaru!
Damn it, he actually gained nothing!
If not for the psychological resilience of a spy, Yakushi Kabuto would have already cursed Uehara Naraku to high heavens. This guy wanted to manipulate Orochimaru secretly, so just go trouble Orochimaru directly; why come to him!
"Time's up."
Uehara Naraku's voice interrupted Yakushi Kabuto's train of thought. Just as Uehara was about to fling over a golden Chakura light spin, Yakushi Kabuto hurriedly stopped him.
"Lord Naraku!"
Yakushi Kabuto lifted his head and stared fixedly at Uehara Naraku, speaking in a deep voice: "When Lord Orochimaru recruited me, he offered me some truths and a chance to see the world's truths; if I defect to you, what can you offer me?"
"What do you want?"
Uehara Naraku asked in response, then added, "I'm asking what you truly want in your heart, not what others make you desire."
"Of course."
Yakushi Kabuto smiled, adjusted his glasses, feeling he finally grasped a bit of initiative, he voiced his request: "I want... I want something—"
Yakushi Kabuto was stuck.
Yakushi Kabuto suddenly plunged into silence.
Up to this day, it seemed he had been striving hard, but surprisingly, he didn't know what he truly wanted!
"How about this, let me help you recall?"
Uehara Naraku extended his palm, blue Chakura slowly entered Yakushi Kabuto's brain: "My Genjutsu can show you the thing you fear most in your heart; perhaps you can find the answer there."
Silent Fear.
Able to let a person experience the most dreadful nightmare of their life within a second.
A second later, Yakushi Kabuto jolted awake from the nightmare!
His body uncontrollably knelt on the ground, tears wetting his glasses, his voice suppressed his pain: "Dean... don't die, I will save you... I will surely revive you... Dean... I am... Yakushi Kabuto! Danzo deceived you, Dean!"
Uehara Naraku looked down at the wretched Yakushi Kabuto, speaking with a somewhat authoritative tone: "Now do you know what you want?"
"... Can... can..."
Yakushi Kabuto's face exhibited a rare excitement: "Can you truly resurrect the Dean? Lord Naraku, I just revived, you must be able to do it!"
Yakushi Kabuto's voice grew louder and his throat roared: "Lord Naraku, you must be able to do it! You must be able to, Lord Naraku!"
"..."
Uehara Naraku felt like he'd shot himself in the foot, the time reversal resurrection was merely to avoid death.
Uehara Naraku knew that the Dean Yakushi Kabuto spoke of was Yakushi Nono, but that orphanage director had been dead for many years, to resurrect Yakushi Nono, would require Reanimation first, then Rinne Tensei resurrection...
This was indeed not impossible.
It just was a bit troublesome.
Uehara Naraku sighed, looked at Yakushi Kabuto and said: "Then you will have to wait for a while, you can find her corpse, use Reanimation to resurrect that person in advance, anyway we will resurrect her eventually, don't worry about desecrating the soul..."
"..."
Yakushi Kabuto's body suddenly became rigid.
The next second, Yakushi Kabuto took a few steps back, slumped onto the ground: "The Dean's corpse was secretly handled by Danzo's agents..."
Yakushi Nono was Konoha's most successful spy.
How could Shimura Danzo possibly let Yakushi Nono's body leak outside when it could potentially expose Konoha's secrets!
All hope was extinguished in an instant.
Uehara Naraku looked at the despondent Yakushi Kabuto and couldn't help but ask: "Then would you consider killing Danzo, avenging her or fulfilling her last wish?"
"..."
A spark of brightness flashed in Yakushi Kabuto's eyes!
At that moment, it was as if he regained hope in life!
Yakushi Kabuto clenched his fist, striking it against a tree with force: "I will definitely kill Danzo and return to the village's orphanage to inherit the Dean's will!"
Uehara Naraku narrowed his eyes, pretending helplessly to spread his hands: "...If you don't defect to me, then both of your plans won't be realized."
"..."
Yakushi Kabuto glanced at Uehara Naraku silently, speaking in a deep voice: "If I defect to Lord Naraku, will you help me kill Danzo?"
"It's possible..."
Uehara Naraku patted his forehead: "But lots of people want to kill Danzo because of his numerous sins, you'll have to wait for a while."
Konan and Nagato are still waiting for his collected information on Danzo!
"I can wait."
Yakushi Kabuto continued in a deep voice: "Once I complete your tasks, can I leave Lord Orochimaru and return to Konoha's orphanage? I want to peacefully take in orphans displaced by the ninja world wars..."
"Why not consider opening an orphanage in The Hidden Rain Village?"
Uehara Naraku pressed his forehead with his finger, somewhat awkwardly: "I believe your Dean surely had the same deep love for all orphans in the ninja world. Can such a dark village really accommodate such a great-hearted person like her?"
By the end, Uehara Naraku found himself unable to continue: "Alright, to tell you the truth, Konoha is not safe."
"..."
Yakushi Kabuto nodded speechlessly: "In the future, I can go to The Hidden Rain Village to establish an orphanage, but I will accept all war-displaced children, whether from the Land of Fire, Land of Wind, or Land of Earth... this may require a large sum of money."
After all, Yakushi Kabuto himself was a youth from the Land of Wind.
It seems Yakushi Nono truly had a kind heart, having the same love for all children.
"Money is not an issue."
Uehara Naraku replied softly: "My teacher also established an orphanage in The Hidden Rain Village, trying to welcome Rain Country's war orphans, just so you can help her in the future."
"I have no other objections."
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Uehara Naraku, appearing resigned: "If you trust me, I will handle everything, guiding Lord Orochimaru to research White Zetsu, but I hope the experiment is real..."
"Don't worry, White Zetsu is definitely the most suitable Immortal Reanimation vessel."
Uehara Naraku glanced at the system panel, a task long stagnant had finally been completed, even with some side tasks.
Side quest: Have three subordinates (3/3), task completed, reward: 1000 points Life Energy, 1000 points Chakura Energy, 1000 points Natural Energy.
This reward wasn't so shabby, Uehara Naraku's Life Energy, Chakura Energy, and Natural Energy had all surpassed ten thousand points.
Hidden quest: Help Yakushi Kabuto recognize himself (1/1), task completed, reward: Passive Skill Transcendent.
Transcendent: Gain a 10% skill cooldown reduction.
This was barely useful, but it interrupted Uehara Naraku's equipment purchasing plans; in case there was further skill cooldown reduction, wouldn't it waste gold coins?
Now Uehara's cooldown reduction is 60%, soon all his skills will need no cooldown time, just unsure if the system will restrict it...
Side quest: Bring Yakushi Kabuto into your fold as a spy (1/1), task completed, reward: Skill Kyoka Suigetsu.
Kyoka Suigetsu: After one second of invisibility, can create an identical clone at the original spot, making it impossible to discern the real from the fake.
Uehara Naraku was a bit baffled. Wasn't this just an advanced clone jutsu!
What a lousy thing!
But Uehara Naraku didn't mind any longer; after all, he had just reaped some benefits from Ino-Shika-Cho and the Eighth Class, and half of Konoha's Twelve Little Strong were yet to be harvested.
From these Konoha little ones, he had already gained a lot.
Yakushi Kabuto's side was trivial now.
"Alright, I have work to do."
Uehara Naraku glanced at Yakushi Kabuto and spoke softly: "Zetsu is Akatsuki's intelligence chief, all the White Zetsu in the ninja world are under their command, you don't need me to guide you on how to mention this to Orochimaru, right?"
"Of course."
Yakushi Kabuto chuckled lightly: "Lord Naraku needn't worry about this, I will resolve it, what will you do now?"
"I'm going to bully newcomers."
Uehara Naraku's face had a hint of a happy smile: "Let me tell you, bullying newcomers is fun!"
Yakushi Kabuto: "..."
Was this new boss an idiot?
The imposing manner that forced him earlier was now gone? Turning around just to bully a newcomer?
Yakushi Kabuto was somewhat doubtful if he had boarded the wrong ship.