Chapter 105: Playing with Danzō
Of course, Yakushi Kabuto had only just been adopted into Konoha, so Sasori didn't expect immediate results. Even he, impatient as he was, understood that intelligence-gathering was never instant. It had taken him years of planning to capture the Third Kazekage alive.
This visit was simply to reinforce his control over Kabuto. With Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand Technique, Sasori could drive a needle-thin filament into the target's memory center, sealing away their recollections. More than that, he could steer their subconscious—nudging them to act in line with his designs.
He could even allow fragments of memory to surface: enough to make the victim believe the orders they carried out were their own ideas, undertaken willingly. In this way, his puppets were always efficient, always loyal.
This time, Sasori's plan was simple: implant the impression in Kabuto's mind that he was destined to grow into a Konoha shinobi—while quietly collecting intelligence on Uchiha Han and the village as he matured.
But Sasori didn't know one crucial fact: Kabuto was no longer the same person he had once controlled.
---
While Sasori prepared his scheme, Nan was wandering through the village, having just bought supplies to practice the Rasengan. On the street, he unexpectedly crossed paths with Danzō Shimura, flanked by two Root operatives.
The moment Danzō's eyes flicked toward him, Nan turned his head quickly, trying not to be noticed. He had already been pestered enough. Their last encounter had ended poorly, but Danzō clearly wasn't ready to let things go. He had sent men to harass Nan repeatedly.
Annoying old man… Doesn't he have better things to do?
Danzō, meanwhile, had been on his way to meet Hiruzen, planning to discuss the upcoming peace talks with Sunagakure. But then he spotted a familiar figure disappearing into the crowd.
"After him!" he barked.
Nan, feeling Danzō's pursuit closing in, smirked bitterly.
So you really won't leave me in peace, will you? Fine. If you're that desperate, I'll give you something to keep you busy. I've just developed a new jutsu—perfect time to test it.
He created a shadow clone to draw Danzō's attention, while his true body circled around behind. Forming a ring with his thumbs and forefingers, he aimed the gap directly at Danzō's back.
The old warhawk, already frustrated from chasing shadows, suddenly froze as his body went numb—and then burst into flames.
"What—?!" Danzō's composure shattered as he flailed, desperately slapping at the fire consuming his robes. His Root escorts scrambled, unleashing Water Release techniques to douse the blaze.
When the flames finally sputtered out, Danzō stood blackened and half-bald. His hair, eyebrows, and much of his clothing were gone. His skin was scorched in several places, leaving him an almost comical sight.
Hidden nearby, Nan covered his mouth, stifling laughter. That should keep the old vulture cooped up for a while.
---
Elsewhere, the Third Hokage was idly watching through his Crystal Ball. He and Danzō had agreed to meet, so out of curiosity Hiruzen checked in on his old comrade's movements.
What he saw instead was Danzō's entire chase—right up to his humiliating immolation.
The old Hokage nearly laughed aloud. That fool has caused me grief for years. Finally, someone gave him the lesson he deserves.
But then his amusement gave way to curiosity. That jutsu Nan used… I've never seen anything like it. Did he develop it himself?
Moments later, a Root agent arrived at the Hokage's office, bowing deeply.
"Forgive us, Lord Third. Lord Danzō is unwell and unable to attend the peace talks. He regrets to inform you he must withdraw from the proceedings."
Hiruzen forced a solemn nod, hiding his grin.
"Of course. Danzō is one of Konoha's pillars. He mustn't overwork himself. Please ensure he rests and takes care of his health."
Inside, though, he was delighted. He hadn't wanted Danzō interfering with negotiations anyway—this little mishap had solved the problem neatly.
Nan's prank did me a great favor. Perhaps I should thank him… and learn more about that jutsu.
---
Later, while Nan was beginning his Rasengan training, Hiruzen appeared.
Nan's heart sank slightly. So he was watching earlier… He had sensed someone's chakra probing during his little prank—no doubt it had been the Hokage.
The Third approached, his expression grave, though Nan caught the faint amusement in his eyes.
"Nan," he said sternly, "when Danzō suddenly caught fire earlier… you were nearby, weren't you? Was that your doing?"
Nan scratched his head, embarrassed.
"Ah—so you saw that, Grandpa Third. Yes, it was me. I couldn't help it! That old man's been hounding me nonstop, sending his dogs to bother me every day. I was exhausted from training, and when he started chasing me through the streets again, I snapped. I only meant to tease him with my new jutsu. You're… not angry, are you?"
Hiruzen's face hardened.
"You know where you went wrong, don't you?"
Nan blinked. "…No?"
"You were careless. You let me catch you in the act."
The Hokage's sternness melted into laughter.
"Danzō really is insufferable. Well done—but next time, make sure no one sees you."
Nan laughed along with him, relieved.
Afterward, Hiruzen pressed him about the technique. Nan gave his prepared explanation: he had studied the Tailed Beast Ball up close, drawing inspiration to create a new jutsu.
The Hokage seemed satisfied with that answer.
When he left, Nan resumed his Rasengan training, using balloons, balls, and water globes. This exercise didn't require Kabuto's brain to assist—so while his main body worked, he also set Kabuto's body to practice chakra control.
Kabuto's chakra was still weak, untrained, and ill-suited for Wind Release transformation. But the boy's potential was solid—and with Nan's immense spiritual energy guiding him, there was plenty of room to grow.
Though Kabuto had been cultivating chakra for only a few days, his progress was remarkable—slowly inching toward the level of a proper genin.
Nan was guiding Kabuto's training as usual when, without warning, a strange thought intruded into the boy's mind:
"Go to the village's back mountain."
Nan frowned. Why would I go there for no reason?
He shook off the notion, refocusing on chakra control. Yet the thought returned again and again, persistent and insistent.
Most people often experience stray thoughts like this, never questioning them. They'd simply think it was their own idea and follow through without suspicion.
But Nan was different. With two synchronized minds, every thought always appeared in both brains simultaneously. If an idea arose, it arose in both—never in one alone.
This time, however, the urge to visit the back mountain existed only in Kabuto's brain, not his own. Alarm bells rang immediately.
Genjutsu?
"Release!" Nan formed a seal, attempting to dispel the illusion with his Sharingan. But nothing changed. The thought lingered.
Not genjutsu, then. What is it?
Unable to solve the mystery, Nan decided to investigate.
He wasn't overly worried about Kabuto's safety. Weak as this body was, it still possessed Sharingan. And if danger struck, his main body was ready—Flying Thunder God prepared, marked on Kabuto, able to teleport instantly to his side.
Slipping quietly from the orphanage, Kabuto avoided crowded streets, making his way into the forest behind Konoha. The moment he entered the trees, the compulsion vanished.
Nan's suspicion deepened. Nothing about the area seemed unusual. He scanned the surroundings carefully.
Then—
"Long time no see… Zero."
The deep voice came from behind.
Nan whirled around. His pupils contracted sharply.
The masked figure before him was all too familiar.
Hiruko… the puppet husk of Sasori of the Red Sand!
Sasori was no ordinary shinobi. He was the man who had once defeated a Kazekage—a monster already standing at the shadow level.
Nan's wariness sharpened to its peak.
Sasori, however, took delight in the boy's reaction. The look of caution confirmed his Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand Technique had worked flawlessly. Kabuto's memories were still sealed tight.
But to assign new orders, the jutsu would need to be undone. Sasori formed hand signs, voice cold:
"Memory-Concealing Manipulative Sand Technique: Release."
Nan's body tensed. His true self had already awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, Flying Thunder God primed. If Sasori so much as twitched toward aggression, Nan would descend instantly—Susanoo's palm ready to crush.
Yet no attack came.
Instead, searing agony exploded in Kabuto's skull. Nan recognized the pain at once—it was identical to when he had first entered this world and absorbed Uchiha Nan's memories.
Sure enough, with the pain came fragments of memory flooding into Kabuto's mind.
Gradually, the torment ebbed, leaving Nan with clarity.
So that's it…
He had always found Kabuto's past peculiar. If the boy's amnesia were merely the result of injury, then when Nan rebuilt Kabuto's neural pathways with Formless Reincarnation, the memories should have returned.
And yet, after all this time, nothing of Kabuto's life before capture by Konoha had surfaced.
Now he understood why.
Those memories had never been lost—they had been sealed.