"I am not a bloodthirsty person, so I will spare you this time."
"However..."
As Yuzuru's tone shifted, the momentary relief on Kabuto and Nonō's faces vanished, tension snapping back into place.
Then they heard Yuzuru speak in a low voice: "But from now on, the two of you probably won't be able to continue doing anything related to espionage."
Kabuto had always been competent in gathering intelligence, but Yuzuru valued something else far more—Kabuto's abilities in scientific research.
After all, this was the man who would shed his old self and rise like a dragon after Orochimaru's death.
Letting him continue as Orochimaru's assistant would be far more useful.
As for Nonō…
Kumogakure also had orphanages and similar welfare institutions. Letting her remain as the orphanage director would be perfectly fine.
Once bonds were established, there was no need to worry about betrayal.
Kabuto asked carefully, "Lord Yuzuru, do you already have plans for us?"
Yuzuru nodded. "Orochimaru's research base happens to be short one assistant. You'll go help him with scientific work."
"As for Nonō… you'll serve as director of the Kumogakure orphanage."
Hearing Yuzuru's decision, both Kabuto and Nonō stared wide-eyed in shock.
They had thought that even if Yuzuru accepted them, he would squeeze them for every last drop of value.
Yet he made arrangements like these.
One goes to a laboratory as an assistant; the other becomes an orphanage director…
Two positions with practically zero risk—just handed to them so easily?
Having lived as tools under the Root organization all their lives, Kabuto and Nonō felt this was almost dreamlike.
"What? You're dissatisfied?"
"No, no! We'll do our best and will never disappoint you!"
Yuzuru nodded in satisfaction, then bent down and lifted Nonō into his arms.
Nonō flinched in shock. "L-Lord Yuzuru, I—I can walk on my own. There's no need for you to lower yourself like this."
Kabuto quickly added, "Lord Yuzuru, I can carry Director Nonō."
Yuzuru frowned. "One of you is seriously injured. The other has a broken arm. Stop showing off in front of me."
At his words, Kabuto and Nonō exchanged a glance, and a strange feeling rose in their chests—one they had never experienced.
Under Shimura Danzō, they had always been expected to see themselves as tools. Even showing emotion brought harsh punishment.
Being treated with special care like this… it had never happened before.
Neither suspected Yuzuru of bribing them deliberately.
They weren't time-travelers; they knew nothing of what the future held.
In their eyes, they were merely two discarded ninja whose skills were average at best.
With Yuzuru's status and position, he had no need to pretend in front of them.
Yuzuru held Nonō while Kabuto followed behind, the three of them heading toward Kumogakure.
Passing a small hill, Kabuto and Nonō saw three dried corpses wearing Konoha headbands.
"They were observing the battle in secret. Danzō must have sent them. I happened to be passing by, so I disposed of them."
Hearing his explanation, a cold fear crept into Kabuto and Nonō's hearts.
If not for Yuzuru, they would likely have died there today.
Sensing their emotions, Yuzuru said casually, "Don't worry. One day, I'll lead all of you back to Konoha."
"Danzō will pay for what he's done."
Hearing him mention this again, Kabuto grew curious. "Lord Yuzuru… were you also forced out of Konoha by Shimura Danzō?"
"Strictly speaking, it was Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, Mitokado Homura, and Utatane Koharu—all four of them."
"Under their rule, Konoha was swallowed by darkness. That's why I took my clan and left."
Yuzuru intended to deepen their connection, so he continued.
"Later, it wasn't just the Uchiha—Hatake Sakumo, Might Duy, Orochimaru, Tsunade…"
"Their joining only made my resolve stronger. Reclaiming Konoha became the natural course."
"Konoha was built by the Senju and Uchiha clans. We will never let it be destroyed by others."
Kabuto nodded with genuine respect. "I believe you'll succeed, Lord Yuzuru!"
"Director Nonō, what's Konoha like now?"
Although the Tongue Eradication Seal prevented them from speaking on confidential matters, general information was fine.
Nonō sighed. "After Orochimaru defected, Sarutobi Hiruzen claimed poor health and stepped down. Now Danzō is the one effectively running Konoha."
Yuzuru raised a brow. "Danzō? Did he become the Hokage?"
He hadn't paid much attention to Konoha's affairs since the Third Great Ninja War.
So Nonō's words surprised him.
Had his butterfly effect actually let Danzō realize his dream?
"He's not the Hokage," Nonō clarified slowly. "After the Allied Shinobi Forces were defeated by you, to calm public outrage, the Third staged a performance—he publicly executed Danzō."
"So even when Sarutobi Hiruzen retired citing illness, Danzō continued wielding power from the shadows."
"He has the power of a Hokage, but not the title."
"Interesting," Yuzuru said with a faint laugh.
Even after taking power from Hiruzen, Danzō still hid like a rat in the gutter.
Perhaps that was simply his fate—forever a worm that could not appear under the sun.
Still, amusement aside, Yuzuru was genuinely curious now.
Looking down at Nonō in his arms, he asked, "Since Danzō took over, what's changed in Konoha?"
"I've been living at the orphanage, so I don't know everything. I only know that after taking power, Danzō has been rapidly expanding Root's influence. And the requirements to become a ninja have been loosened a lot."
"Also, the village now enforces a nighttime curfew. After nine o'clock, no one is allowed to go out."
"Prices have risen sharply. Supplies are rationed. Every winter, you can see villagers frozen or starved to death on the streets."
"That's all I know."
After hearing her description, Yuzuru shook his head.
Hiruzen, Danzō… these men truly had a talent for ruining things. This wasn't an era ruled by daimyo anymore—on fertile Land of Fire soil, they still managed to let villagers in a ninja village freeze and starve…
Unbelievable.
He asked, "With Konoha in this state, didn't anyone revolt?"
"At first, yes. But everyone who protested was killed by Root. That day, the streets of Konoha ran red…"
Nonō had witnessed it with her own eyes.
Root operatives, emotionless and mechanical, slaughtering unarmed civilians.
Even now, recalling it made her sick.
"Seems the villagers of Konoha really are suffering."
Yuzuru shook his head, feeling an odd sense of satisfaction.
Back then, they had ostracized the Uchiha as though they were unforgivable criminals.
Nothing better to do all day than exclude and point fingers.
Well, now they had a true hawk in power.
Without the Uchiha clan to restrain him, they had been reduced to pigs and sheep kept in a pen. He wondered what they were thinking now...