Konoha Year 56, Summer.
Star Capital, Ninja Academy Training Ground.
The earth had been packed firm by countless footprints, and new wooden posts stood along the perimeter. Three figures moved through the morning light in basic taijutsu drills, sweat glistening on their brows.
"Too slow, Katsuhito!" A crisp female voice rang out with unquestionable severity.
Natsuhi, her red hair moving as gracefully as a hunting leopard, easily parried Katsuhito's full-strength kunai thrust. With a flick of her wrist, a clever surge of force traveled down his weapon.
Morishita Katsuhito grunted, his arm instantly going numb. He nearly dropped his weapon, stumbling back several paces before managing to stabilize himself.
He was tall and sturdily built, with thick brows and the stubbornness typical of a youth. He panted heavily, his eyes locked onto the training kunai in Natsuhi's hand, which seemed to carry the weight of a thousand catties.
"Fire Style: Flame Technique!"
Murahashi Hazuki stood at the edge of the training ground, her hands weaving signs. She exhaled a fierce plume of fire. Her frame was slender, and her light brownish hair fluttered in the morning breeze. Her nature as a sensory ninja made her exceptionally keen.
Natsuhi slid to the left-rear to dodge the flames, while simultaneously raising her training kunai to block a strike from behind.
Clink! A crisp sound echoed as she steadily parried a kunai coming from a treacherous angle. The one holding that kunai was Yakushi Kabuto.
Or rather, in the Star Capital, his name was "Kumamoto Kabuto."
He wore the uniform deep-blue shinobi outfit of the Land of Stars, with the Star Ninja forehead protector on his left arm. Behind his glasses, his eyes looked gentle and harmless, his face wearing a look of focus mixed with the perfect amount of "annoyance" at being easily thwarted by his teacher.
He quickly retracted his hand and retreated, his movements clean and efficient.
"Good coordination," Natsuhi said, lowering her guard and nodding in approval. Her gaze swept over her three subordinates.
"Kabuto, your timing for the surprise attack was spot on. Hazuki, your distraction was timely. Katsuhito, strength isn't everything; you must learn to control and redirect force." Her voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone clearly.
"Remember, you are a squad. Trust your comrades' judgment as you trust your own limbs. That's it for training today. Go pack your gear, have breakfast, and meet at the school gates at nine sharp for the mission briefing."
"Yes, Natsuhi-sensei!" the three responded in unison, carrying the excitement and slight tension of youths about to execute a mission.
Nine o'clock sharp, at the gates of the Star Capital Ninja Academy.
Squad Natsuhi appeared on time. Natsuhi had changed into a dark grey shinobi combat suit with a Star Ninja flak jacket, her expression composed. Standing before her were three fresh Genin.
"C-rank mission," Natsuhi said, unfurling a scroll.
"Logistics supply escort for the Seventh Prison Sector of the Star Capital."
"Mission details: Escort the logistics team carrying the ten-day prisoner rations to the Seventh Sector warehouse. Supervise the delivery and inventory count, and assist in distribution."
"Route: Depart from the West City logistics warehouse, travel via Central Avenue and Guard Road 3, and arrive at the Northern Seventh Prison Sector."
"Estimated time: Three hours. Mission focus: Ensuring supply security and maintaining order. Is that clear?"
"Clear!" Kabuto, Katsuhito, and Hazuki replied again.
This mission was routine for them by now.
As one of the first six "Elite Graduates," they had undergone a year of grueling training at the Ninja Academy to stand out among the crowd.
Kabuto still remembered the rankings. Kaguya Kimimaro was first, and Mizuneki Haku was second; their strength was so immense that Kabuto suspected they were already at Jonin level. The third was a girl named Yukimi, reportedly from a shinobi clan and possessing a special Kekkei Genkai.
By comparison, his current squad consisted of local orphans from the Land of Stars.
In Kabuto's view, while these two orphans had only reached Genin level and mastered a few simple jutsu, graduating after only one year of training was no small feat. It required immense sweat and effort.
In the two weeks since graduation, their lives had been defined by C-rank missions: logistics support, caravan escorts, clearing minor bandit outposts, or driving away wild beasts bothering villages.
Boring and safe, yet necessary for accumulating experience and building the village's trust.
The logistics team's two ox carts were waiting, piled high with thick burlap sacks containing grain, dried vegetables, and a small amount of cured meat. Natsuhi made a gesture, and the squad immediately fanned out in a diamond-shaped escort formation.
Kabuto and Hazuki flanked the carts, Katsuhito took the rear, and Natsuhi walked at the front, her sharp eyes scanning the bustling crowds and the buildings lining the streets.
The wheels rolled over the smooth stone road with a monotonous rhythmic sound.
The streets of the Star Capital were wide and busy. People in various styles of clothing hurried by. The shouts of vendors, the hammering of craftsmen, and the synchronized footsteps of patrol teams intertwined to form the unique, vibrant pulse of this newborn city.
Kabuto walked on the right side of the cart with steady steps. Behind his glasses, his gaze seemingly scanned the streetscape casually.
Guard Road 3 has added two hidden sentry posts: one on the roof of the ramen shop and one behind the window of the izakaya.
The Central Avenue patrol shift interval has been shortened by five minutes compared to last week. There are faint vibrations of heavy machinery from the north; combined with rumors from a few days ago, it's likely new defensive fortifications…
He was like a master actor, perfectly playing the role of "Kumamoto Kabuto"—the orphan from a border town of the Land of Bears who was luckily taken in by the Academy and graduated early as an "Elite" Genin thanks to hard work and a bit of talent in Medical Ninjutsu.
Humble, hardworking, friendly to comrades, and respectful to teachers. He displayed a simple gratitude toward the Land of Stars and that mysterious "Lord Shura."
Every expression, every response, and every calculated performance during missions was polished to perfection.
He knew who he really was.
He was Yakushi Kabuto, a spy for the Konoha Root—the nail that Lord Danzo had driven deep into the heart of the Land of Stars.
He collected intelligence, evaluating the military potential, political structure, economic lifelines, and the profiles of elite shinobi.
Most importantly, he gathered data on the enigmatic and unfathomably powerful "Shura" and the rumored powerhouses of the Uchiha clan.
He recorded Natsuhi's combat style and weaknesses. He noted the openings Katsuhito's reckless personality might provide. He analyzed the range and precision of Hazuki's sensory abilities.
Like a patient hunter, he used "Kumamoto Kabuto" as bait to carefully weave his own web of information within the massive network of the Star Capital.
And the ultimate goal of all this was for the one warm figure that had never faded from his memory—Yakushi Nono.
His dean, his only relative, and the only light in his dark childhood.
His… mother.