Chinya arrived at the center of Otogakure. Before him stood the largest building in the village—the leader's headquarters.
This building also served as the base for members of the Xiao organization.
Entering an upstairs office, Chinya, Kushina Uzumaki, and Sonagi reunited with Uzumaki Miyuki, whom they hadn't seen in quite some time.
Uzumaki Miyuki was visibly delighted upon seeing Kushina. "Kushina Uzumaki, you've finally arrived!"
Kushina affectionately linked arms with Uzumaki Miyuki and smiled. "Yes."
Uzumaki Miyuki and Kushina Uzumaki seemed to have endless amounts to talk about.
Meanwhile, Yahiko and his group left the office. With their absence over these past few days, plenty of work had piled up in Otogakure, so they needed to handle it immediately.
Now only Chinya, Kushina Uzumaki, Sonagi, and Uzumaki Miyuki remained inside the office.
Uzumaki Miyuki noticed Sonagi, who had been watching her intently ever since they entered, and lovingly ruffled his head. "Little Sonagi has already grown so big!"
Sonagi obediently called her "Auntie Uzumaki Miyuki."
Kushina asked curiously, "Uzumaki Miyuki, when we just came in, you looked really focused. What were you doing earlier?"
Picking up a notebook from the table, Uzumaki Miyuki explained, "I'm keeping track of the villagers. Many citizens from Rice Country want to join Otogakure, but we don't have space to accommodate everyone. We can only select some of them."
Seeing the densely written notes in the book, Kushina nodded in understanding. "So that's what it is! Does it tire you out?"
Shaking her head, Uzumaki Miyuki replied, "Not at all. In fact, I really enjoy this kind of life. It makes me feel fulfilled."
After answering, Uzumaki Miyuki hesitated slightly before asking, "...By the way, Kushina Uzumaki, how is Naruto doing?"
Kushina looked toward Chinya. "Why don't you tell Uzumaki Miyuki about Naruto's situation, Chinya?"
Chinya explained, "Naruto now knows everything. He felt deep sorrow after learning the truth, but he understands you completely. He's a great kid—you don't need to worry about him anymore. He can take care of himself now."
Uzumaki Miyuki's voice quivered slightly. "Is that so? As his mother, I'm truly not worthy. I couldn't properly raise him. Now he's learned to be independent himself... and I missed his entire childhood."
Chinya reassured gently, "Don't worry, Uzumaki Miyuki. Naruto is growing fast. I believe he'll be able to stand on his own two feet in just a few years. Once the right time comes, I'll arrange a meeting between you two."
Nodding gratefully, Uzumaki Miyuki said, "Thank you, Chinya."
Waving his hand dismissively, Chinya added, "It's something I should do. Anyway, you girls continue talking. I need to go check on Orochimaru-sensei."
Chinya then exited the leader's headquarters in search of Yahiko.
When he found him, Yahiko happened to be surrounded by a group of young, pretty girls.
"Ah, Lord Daiki, are you free? Want to go out with me?"
"Lord Daiki should go out with me first—you wait your turn!"
"He's mine! No, he's with me!"
"Yahiko, you're so popular!" one girl giggled, pulling on his arm.
...
Yahiko's expression behind the mask was utterly unimpressed as these girls kept grabbing and tugging at him.
Finally, using the Shifting Body Technique, he managed to escape their grasp.
"Well now, you're quite the hit, Daiki-sama," a voice drawled sarcastically from behind.
Turning his head with a sigh, Yahiko replied, "What? Jealous of my popularity?"
Chinya smiled as he spoke, "Jealous? Not at all. I was just thinking that your popularity proves we made the right choice appointing you leader. After all, to everyone in Otogakure, I'm a stranger, but you're the one who helped build this village from nothing."
"Hmph," Yahiko scoffed, "Stop rubbing it in. What, are you going to take me to meet Orochimaru or not?"
Chinya nodded, "That's right."
Without turning around, Yahiko said, "Then follow me. Orochimaru's hideout is located at the edge of Otogakure, well hidden. I'll show you the way."
Yahiko led Chinya to the outskirts of Otogakure. Amidst a cluster of giant boulders stood one strange-looking stone, clearly marked with visible cursed seals.
After forming hand seals with both hands, Yahiko pressed his palm against the stone.
[Release!]
The cursed seals vanished from the stone, and it slid aside on its own, revealing a passageway leading underground.
Yahiko and Chinya entered through the opening, walking along a lengthy corridor.
"While the entrance to the hideout is at the village's edge," Yahiko explained to Chinya, "the actual base lies within Otogakure itself."
Chinya glanced around, saying, "Definitely sounds like my teacher's style."
They continued walking for a while until finally reaching the base.
Unlike the dim corridor, the base's interior was brightly lit and filled with advanced, high-tech equipment.
Before even seeing Orochimaru, Chinya encountered someone completely unexpected.
Kabuto.
"Kabuto?"
Kabuto was also visibly surprised when he saw Chinya, even more shocked that Chinya knew his name. "Chinya-sama, you know me?"
Chinya asked curiously, "Yes. I've seen your file in Root before. Weren't you sent as a spy under Danzo's orders?"
Chinya had assumed that Kabuto would no longer be connected to Orochimaru, but there they were—working together.
Adjusting his glasses, Kabuto responded, "I've left Konoha. While I was still operating as a spy under Danzo's command, Lord Orochimaru revealed some truths to me, and he also saved someone very important to me. That's why I chose to follow Lord Orochimaru."
Now thoroughly intrigued, Chinya asked, "Someone very important to you?"
Kabuto elaborated, "Yes. Lord Orochimaru saved the director of the orphanage where I grew up. Initially, I left the orphanage and joined Root because the orphanage needed funds. Since Konoha refused to provide financial support, the director always struggled with funding issues. To ease the pressure on both the director and the orphanage, I volunteered to join Root.
But when the director found out, he pleaded with Danzo to let me go. Danzo proposed that if I could kill a certain person, he would set me free. And the person he wanted me to kill... was myself."
Danzo made sure from the outset that I and the Headmistress were sent on separate missions to keep us apart, so she could only get to know me through photographs. However, those photos had been secretly swapped with someone else's, leading the unsuspecting Headmistress to try and kill me—believing me to be a double agent—even as she also tried to save me.
But Orochimaru-sama stopped all of this. He revealed the entire truth to both me and the Headmistress, then invited us to join Otogakure. Both the Headmistress and I had lost all faith in Konoha, so we accepted Orochimaru-sama's invitation and joined Otogakure."
After hearing Yakushi Kabuto's explanation, Chinya felt his mind spinning.
He has changed Orochimaru, and in doing so, altered the future relationships that were once linked to the original Orochimaru—including Kabuto himself?
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