Naruto: Assistant to the Hokage

"Yakushi Kabuto."

"That surname sounds familiar."

As Kagura spoke, he waved his hand. The forest trees, controlled by Kagura's chakra, loosened their hold on the bespectacled young man, gently lowering him to the ground.

"...Thank you," Kabuto said sincerely, "I thought the Root organization didn't allow us to use our real names, only code names..."

"Only Lord Danzo can call me that," Kagura interrupted, speaking nonchalantly. "I guess it's because Lord Danzo is getting older and can't remember so many names... Besides, didn't you also use your real name?"

"We're not the same," Kabuto replied, shaking his head slowly.

Unlike others, Kabuto had spent much of his time outside as a spy, where maintaining his real name—and not using a special codename—was crucial to avoid suspicion.

"Your name is Yakushi Kabuto, right? I seem to recall someone named Yakushi Nonō, the director of an orphanage," Kagura said as he lazily settled onto a swing fashioned from the forest trees. Pretending to be curious, he asked, "What's your relationship with her?"

"The director..." Kabuto hesitated briefly but decided it was harmless to explain. "Yakushi Nonō was the orphanage director who took me in."

"What a coincidence," Kagura nodded and lied smoothly: "I was also taken in by Director Nonō. Were you adopted by her and raised by Lord Danzo as well?"

"...Yes," Kabuto answered, lowering his head.

If being trained as a spy since childhood, forced to wander the nations to gather intelligence, could be called "raised," then perhaps the boy before him had also endured similar hardships. Was this self-proclaimed "Lord Kagura" another orphan taken by Director Nonō and later shaped into a tool by Danzo? Had he, too, nearly forgotten the director who once cared for him?

It made sense.

Not everyone clings to memories of their childhood, especially in a cold and heartless organization like Root.

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his thoughts drifting.

For him, his strongest connection to Yakushi Nonō was the pair of glasses she gave him—a small but constant source of comfort in his harsh life. Those days at the orphanage were the warmest of his life, and Yakushi Nonō had been the kindest figure he had ever known.

"My name, my life," Kabuto thought. "Everything I am came from her."

"We were both adopted by Director Yakushi Nonō," Kagura said, seemingly satisfied with this shared connection. After a moment's pause, he mused, "Yet we've never met, even though we were both raised by Lord Danzo."

"That's because we've been assigned different missions," Kabuto replied. "Meeting like this is pure coincidence. Perhaps... we won't have another chance to meet again in the future."

"True," Kagura sighed, looking genuinely disappointed. "Lord Danzo is already planning to send me on missions soon."

"Oh?" Kabuto's expression flickered with curiosity as he asked, "Is there anything I can assist you with?"

As a spy, Kabuto instinctively sought to gather information, and the boy before him didn't seem ordinary. If Kabuto wasn't mistaken, Kagura appeared to wield the rare Wood Release kekkei genkai.

"First, I need to complete the Chūnin Exams," Kagura revealed casually, seemingly unconcerned about sharing sensitive details. "After that, I'll be sent on a dangerous mission. Considering my abilities with Wood Release, Lord Danzo isn't likely to give me anything simple. I'll probably die during the mission..."

"So, if we never meet again..." Kagura's voice softened, and he turned to Kabuto. "If you survive and meet Director Nonō someday, please tell her that my happiest memory was the day she brought me to the orphanage. I've never forgotten."

Kabuto fell silent.

Those words were exactly what he wanted to say himself.

"I'm sorry," Kagura murmured, his tone tinged with melancholy. "Since I was little, I've been taught to embody the will of Root, to forget about the people in my past. I'm not even allowed to keep a photo of the director. I can barely remember what she looks like anymore..."

"It's okay. She would never blame you," Kabuto said gently, pulling out a photo from his pocket. "I happen to have a photo of the director. You can take a look."

The photo, protected by a worn plastic cover, was surprisingly well-preserved, a testament to how much Kabuto cherished it. The image depicted a bespectacled woman with golden hair, smiling brightly as if something delightful had amused her.

"Thank you," Kagura said quietly, lowering his head.

"You're welcome," Kabuto replied, patting Kagura on the shoulder. "Unfortunately, this is my only copy. But if you're not in a hurry, I can help you make another one."

"Thanks," Kagura said again, his voice subdued. "When it's ready, I'll give you a photo of me in return. If I die someday, and you're still alive, please pass it on to the director..."

Kagura took a deep breath before continuing, "Let her see what I looked like when I grew up. Tell her I joined Root willingly, that I wanted to help the orphanage kids live better lives. I never blamed her..."

"She won't blame you," Kabuto assured him, shaking his head. These words, too, mirrored his own thoughts.

Kabuto reached into his pocket and took out a picture of himself, handing it to Kagura. "This is my photo. If I die during a mission and you survive, please deliver this to her for me."

"I understand!" Kagura said, quickly taking the photo.

"...Something feels off," Kabuto thought, a vague unease prickling at him.

"By the way," Kagura added, slipping Kabuto's photo into his pocket, "don't let anyone else find out about this. Root's will doesn't allow us to..."

"Kou!"

A voice suddenly interrupted their conversation.

A Root ninja entered the forest, his gaze sweeping over Kagura, who was seated on his swing, before turning to Kabuto.

"Kou, Lord Danzo..."

"Who gave you permission to call me by that name?" Kagura snapped, raising a finger.

Vines and roots surged up from the ground, ensnaring the Root ninja and suspending him in the air.

"How many times have I told you? What do you call me?"

"...Kagura-sama," the restrained ninja said reluctantly before continuing, "Lord Danzo has summoned you and Kabuto to his office immediately."

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Kagura snorted before turning to Kabuto, his expression softening. "These guys always like to issue fake orders in Lord Danzo's name. They probably forced you to come train with me too, right?"

"Don't worry," he added. "I'll go back and punish them for you."

"...This boy," Kabuto thought uneasily.

Now Kabuto understood why no one in Root wanted to train with this child.

It seemed Kagura's life in Root wasn't so bad after all...

***************

+15 chapter on my pàtreon/opiumcloud if you want !

Have a great day !