Inside the dormitory of the Ninja Academy in the Capital of Strs.
After the dorm mother blew the lights-out whistle, the room, which had been boisterous all day, gradually fell silent.
Eleven-year-old Yakushi Kabuto sat on his bed. Guided by the faint moonlight filtering through the window, he flipped through a basic medical ninjutsu textbook. He wore round-framed glasses, and the calm, restrained look in his eyes behind the lenses stood in stark contrast to the other children nearby, who were still whispering, too excited to sleep.
Kabuto glanced at the clock on the dormitory wall: 'By this time, everyone at the orphanage should be fast asleep.'
"Kabuto, aren't you going to sleep yet? We have to wake up early for training tomorrow!" a child of the same age whispered a reminder.
"Yeah, I'm going to sleep right now," Kabuto replied softly, closing his book.
He took off his glasses, carefully placed them and the book by his pillow, then lay down and closed his eyes. However, his mind was far from at rest. He was still thinking of his companions at the orphanage and his adoptive mother, Yakushi Nonō.
A little over a month ago, he had just finished an undercover mission in the Land of Wind. He had narrowly escaped back to Konoha with his life while being hunted by Sand ninjas. Yet, he received no rest; he was immediately handed a new set of mission orders.
Infiltrate the newly established Land of Stars as an orphan, enter the Ninja Academy, and gather intelligence.
Danzo had personally delivered the instructions: pay special attention to the powerful Uchiha clan member with the Mangekyō Sharingan and the mysterious "Shura." No piece of information was to be overlooked.
A Prodigy of Espionage
In the year and a half since he became a spy, Kabuto had developed a deep understanding of Konoha and had gathered significant data on the Hidden Sand. Despite his young age, his grasp of the shinobi world surpassed that of most average ninjas.
He knew exactly how formidable the Uchiha clan of Konoha was—a force feared by every hidden village. During his year in the Hidden Sand, he had never heard of any bloodline limit clan as powerful; even the successive Kazekages came from civilian backgrounds. Therefore, the appearance of an Uchiha powerhouse outside of Konoha made Kabuto sense a looming danger, even if he didn't yet fully grasp the severity of the situation.
"Uchiha... I haven't heard a single mention of an Uchiha since entering the Capital of Stars..." Kabuto sorted through his findings mentally.
He knew the lack of information was simply because he was currently just "a war orphan from Kumamoto Castle." He had already planned his next move: display some talent at the Academy to gain the trust of the higher-ups and find a way to access deeper secrets. He was used to this life—playing different roles and hiding his true self.
Just as he was about to drift off, a dark shadow flashed past the window, making his nerves snap tight instantly.
The figure was incredibly fast, almost blending into the night, but Kabuto's keen perception and spy instincts allowed him to catch a fleeting glimpse.
Was that... Menma?
Kabuto snapped his eyes open and sat up instinctively. He grabbed his glasses, put them on, and crept to the window to see where the figure went. However, there was only pale moonlight and swaying shadows of trees. Everything was peaceful, as if the shadow had been a hallucination.
"Impossible... Did I see it wrong? No... that's not right..." Kabuto's mind was full of doubt. But the caution bred from his life as a spy wouldn't let him ignore any detail. Any clue could be the key to his exposure or his success.
The Shadow Above
Kabuto glanced back. The other children in the dormitory were sound asleep, their breathing rhythmic, occasionally punctuated by sleep-talking or light snoring. He quietly opened the window and slipped out like a ghost.
He navigated the newly built Ninja Academy complex, his eyes behind his glasses scanning every corner and shadow. But he found nothing. The night was deep and silent.
"Am I really just too tense?" Kabuto wondered. Eventually, he gave up the search and slipped back into his bed. Yet, the image of that figure—and the memory of parting with everyone at the orphanage gate over a year ago—remained vivid.
Outside the dormitory, Menma in his original form floated in the air, hidden beneath a patch of dark clouds, looking down at everything. His Kagura Shingan perceived the fluctuations in Kabuto's chakra. He rested his chin on his right hand, deep in thought.
Kabuto's presence here meant that Danzo, that old bastard, had already turned his gaze toward the Land of Stars. He likely heard from his old friend, Hiruzen Sarutobi, that there was a powerful Uchiha here—perhaps even about the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Given Danzo's greed, he would certainly fixate on an Uchiha outside his control. He might even try to pull a scheme similar to what he did to Nagato years ago.
"Heh, that old man Danzo." If Danzo personally led a team to ambush Uchiha Hikari, Menma wouldn't be like Nagato, who hadn't fully mastered the Rinnegan back then. He would ensure Danzo never returned!
"However, since Kabuto's infiltration plot has changed, I can't let Yakushi Nonō remain undercover in the Hidden Stone," Menma's eyes darkened.
Nonō was effectively Menma's adoptive mother, and Kabuto had once made a promise to him. If he could rescue Nonō from Danzo's clutches and bring her under his wing, she would be an incredible asset for managing the Ninja Academy and training medical ninjas—or even spies.
"And Kabuto himself..." Menma mused. Kabuto's talent was undeniable. To let him remain a multi-faceted spy for others was a waste. His innate talent for ninjutsu was high, eventually reaching Kage-level strength after inheriting Orochimaru's legacy and mastering the Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave.
With the Reanimation Jutsu (Edo Tensei) in his future arsenal, Kabuto alone could be a force capable of challenging the Five Great Nations.