Chapter 249 — I Lied to You
Back then, Naruto had been playing so happily that he didn't even realize Mikoto had used a storage scroll to carry everything.
Now, curious and excited, Naruto stepped forward.
"Hey, hey—can I try using this?"
Kabuto was just about to seal the remaining items into his scroll. Seeing Naruto approach so openly, he hesitated only for a moment before handing it over with surprising generosity.
"Here. Try it."
He knew exactly who this blond boy was—Uzumaki Naruto, the child currently living with Hokage-sama and a guest personally invited by Director Kaa-san.
Naruto's eyes sparkled as he held the scroll, turning it over in his hands.
"So how do you use it? Show me!"
Kabuto smiled patiently and explained the basic hand-seals and chakra flow.
Following the instructions, Naruto pressed the scroll to the pile of items…and with a soft poof, a portion vanished into the seal.
Naruto jumped up in triumph.
"Haha! I did it!"
The novelty instantly hooked him. He continued sealing the rest of the items one after another until nothing was left on the ground.
Still brimming with excitement, he handed the scroll back to Kabuto.
Seeing the eagerness still on Naruto's face, Kabuto asked with a small smile,
"Want to do it again?"
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Can I!?"
Kabuto unsealed the items in a neat heap.
"Of course."
Naruto grabbed the scroll again, staring at the mountain of items with renewed enthusiasm.
"Heheh…"
Just as Naruto was happily repeating the sealing process, Sasuke came running out of the room. He'd gone out only because Naruto had been gone for too long.
What he saw made him freeze.
Naruto was mindlessly putting things in and taking them out of a storage scroll—over and over—while all the orphanage children watched him with curiosity.
Sasuke felt second-hand embarrassment flare inside him.
"Naruto. Kaa-san is calling you," he lied instantly.
Naruto froze. "Oh! Okay!"
He returned the scroll gratefully to Kabuto and sprinted toward Sasuke.
"What does Mikoto-kaa-san want?"
"You'll know when you go inside," Sasuke said, exasperated.
Naruto dashed into the room—and almost collided with Nonou, who was carrying a tray of hot tea. He twisted aside at the last moment.
"Slow down, Naruto. Why are you running like that?" Itachi chided gently.
Naruto scratched his head. "Sorry, Kaa-san."
Nonou chuckled and waved it off. She placed the tea before Mikoto, Fugaku, and Itachi.
"And you must be Naruto, right? Do you want tea or a drink?"
She'd bought juice earlier, knowing Mikoto's family had two young children.
"A drink, thank you, Kaa-san!" Naruto said, then turned to Mikoto.
"Kaa-san, what did you call me for?"
Mikoto blinked in confusion.
"I didn't call you."
"Huh? But Sasuke—mmph!"
Sasuke hurried forward and clamped a hand over Naruto's mouth.
"It's nothing, Kaa-san," he said quickly. "I'll take Naruto over there."
Leading him aside, Sasuke whispered,
"Kaa-san didn't call you. I lied."
Naruto stared at him. "Why did you lie to me?"
Sasuke shrugged. "No reason."
Naruto rolled his eyes but didn't run back out. Instead, he began looking around the orphanage interior.
The room was simple—just tables, old chairs, and at the back, a doorway leading to rows of bunk beds.
So this is where all the kids sleep…
Seeing it reminded Naruto of the lonely days when he'd lived alone.
Meanwhile, Nonou turned to Itachi with a soft laugh.
"Mr. Itachi, you've gotten even more handsome since I last saw you."
She had begun calling him "Mr. Itachi" because that's what Kisame used to say.
Itachi smiled faintly.
"You look nicer too when you're dressed like this instead of wearing your shinobi gear."
He still didn't call her "Kaa-san" like Sasuke and Naruto did. They had worked as peers on missions, and he had even been her squad captain. Changing that dynamic now would feel unnatural.
Nonou didn't mind. Mikoto and Fugaku also understood the situation well enough not to comment.
"Alright, Nonou," Mikoto said gently, "you don't need to stay with us the whole time. Go check on the children. Make sure they don't cut themselves."
"It's fine—Kabuto is helping watch them," Nonou replied, though she still left after a moment. Dinner preparation required her attention.
But when she returned to the kitchen area, everything was running smoothly.
Kabuto stood at the center of it all, calmly giving instructions, organizing each step like a miniature chef captain. The children followed him in orderly fashion.
Nonou's worries melted away. Watching Kabuto, she felt a mix of relief and heartache.
He must have suffered a lot under Danzō… to become this steady, this disciplined.
"Director Kaa-san."
Kabuto sensed her presence immediately—reflexive vigilance from years as a spy.
He turned quickly, then relaxed when he saw it was her. Sometimes he forgot he wasn't in danger anymore. He had returned to the place he longed for… surrounded by children he considered his little siblings… and with Director Kaa-san here to guide him.
For all of it, Kabuto knew he owed a deep debt to Hokage-sama.
After he returned, Nonou had told him that Hokage-sama himself had ordered his transfer back from Iwagakure.
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