When the Konoha meeting once again ended on a sour note, it had no effect on the team that had infiltrated the Land of Earth.
With the Byakugan's excellent observational abilities and Kabuto's extremely superb stealth techniques, even with Yuuki's dramatic clone, the five still silently infiltrated the Land of Earth.
Inside Iwagakure's largest hospital, Yakushi Nonou was asking a child to open his mouth wide.
"Ah~ let me see."
Yakushi Nonou skillfully looked at the child's throat, and in a moment, she knew the cause.
Then she wrote a prescription and handed it to the parent nearby.
"It's nothing serious, just take the medicine on time, and he'll be fine soon."
"Thank you, Doctor Noe!"
Yakushi Nonou smiled and replied, "You're welcome, it's my job."
Noe was Yakushi Nonou's alias, this legendary spy known throughout the Ninja World as the 'Walking Witch'.
People knew her title, and they knew she was a woman.
As for anything else, no one knew.
After the person left with the child, Yakushi Nonou quietly gazed out the window, lost in thought.
Yakushi Nonou was not subjected to Danzo's Tongue-Confining Curse Seal; Danzo trusted the integrity of this legendary spy.
Moreover, Danzo held leverage, and he believed Yakushi Nonou would make the correct choice.
Danzo's death caused a stir throughout the Ninja World, with Obito instigating, Iwagakure observing, and now Kumogakure proactively attacking.
Continuing like this might trigger a new Ninja World War.
News originally known only to the high-ranking officials gradually began to spread, and Yakushi Nonou had already learned of Danzo's death not long ago.
After learning that Danzo had died, Yakushi Nonou planned to escape Iwagakure.
Unfortunately, while Yakushi Nonou was a legendary spy, it didn't mean she was a legendary Ninja.
Yakushi Nonou's combat ability was only between elite Chunin and Jonin.
Now, with the tense situation in the Ninja World, Iwagakure's vigilance had naturally increased by several levels.
After all, planting spies in other countries' Ninja villages was something all great nations did.
In the current situation, the difficulty for Yakushi Nonou to escape had greatly increased.
"Sister Noe, hurry and go see Brother Deidara, he blew himself up again!"
A little girl, who looked about five or six years old, appeared before Yakushi Nonou's eyes.
It was the Third Tsuchikage's granddaughter, the future Fourth Tsuchikage, Kurotsuchi.
During her years of undercover work in Iwagakure, Yakushi Nonou was also very popular with the children.
This wasn't due to her superb disguise skills, but because Yakushi Nonou genuinely liked children.
Children were carefree, without schemes, their joys and sorrows all displayed on their faces.
When she was with children, Yakushi Nonou could feel a long-lost peace.
Although Yakushi Nonou's combat ability was not strong, her excellent intelligence gathering capabilities had led Konoha to victory multiple times.
And Konoha's victories meant the defeat of other Ninja villages, and defeat brought immense casualties.
Yakushi Nonou felt like a sinner; although she hadn't killed many people, she still felt her hands were stained with blood, a dazzling red!
Yakushi Nonou wouldn't have any prejudice against Kurotsuchi for being a child of Iwagakure or the granddaughter of the Tsuchikage.
Adults might talk about positions, but children only talk about love and hate.
Looking at the lively Kurotsuchi in front of her, and the words she had just spoken.
Yakushi Nonou, of course, understood what had happened, as it wasn't the first time.
Just then, another female Ninja ran in from outside the door; despite her young age, she was a true Jonin of Iwagakure.
The female Ninja ran to Kurotsuchi's side and held her.
"Miss Kurotsuchi, it's time for your class now; Doctor Noe will treat Deidara."
"Teacher Yegan, but Brother Deidara is injured! I want to watch Brother Deidara get better before I go to class."
Immediately, Kurotsuchi hugged Yegan's leg.
"Teacher Yegan, just this once, I promise it's the last time!"
Then she looked at Yegan with pleading eyes.
Every time it was the last time, but every time Kurotsuchi looked at her with pleading eyes, Yegan couldn't refuse, and finally just nodded.
"Alright, this is the last time, Miss Kurotsuchi."
Kurotsuchi quickly let go and jumped up happily, then tugged at Yakushi Nonou's sleeve.
"Sister Noe, let's go quickly."
Yegan looked at Yakushi Nonou, who was being pulled forward by Kurotsuchi, with an apologetic expression.
"I'm troubling you again, Doctor Noe."
Yakushi Nonou smiled and shook her head.
"It's my job."
Then the three came to a training ground.
The 9-year-old Deidara at this time clearly didn't have the same strength as he would three years later.
His Explosive Clay was also still under development.
At this moment, his arm was covered in blood from the out-of-control clay, but Deidara seemed to feel no pain.
He sat blankly on the ground, muttering something incessantly.
When the three approached, they heard Deidara's soliloquy.
"Why? It was already perfect, why did my art fail!"
"Baka! It must be the poor quality clay the old man gave me!"
"Brother Deidara, Brother Deidara!"
Kurotsuchi dragged Yakushi Nonou all the way to Deidara.
As for Kurotsuchi, this little shadow who had followed him since childhood, Deidara was almost immune to her voice, until Yakushi Nonou and the others came closer.
Feeling the darkening light, Deidara finally realized someone had arrived.
Deidara looked up and saw Yakushi Nonou, as for Kurotsuchi, he ignored her.
At this time, Deidara was actually very polite, of course, he was also quite polite after joining Akatsuki, he just liked to shout a lot.
As for his teacher, Ōnoki, he never showed him a good face.
It was simply because Ōnoki had been training Deidara to be the next Tsuchikage since he was a child.
Don't do this, don't do that.
Deidara thought Ōnoki was very un-artistic!
Recognizing Yakushi Nonou, Deidara naturally knew what Yakushi Nonou was there for.
"Doctor Noe, I'm sorry, I'm troubling you again."
Yakushi Nonou didn't speak, she just smiled and began to use medical Ninjutsu on Deidara's arm.
Not long after, Deidara's arm, which had been bleeding profusely from the out-of-control clay, had almost fully recovered.
Then Yakushi Nonou took out gauze from her medical kit and carefully bandaged Deidara's arm.
She also began to admonish Deidara.
"It's still best not to continue trying to develop such dangerous Ninjutsu within three days, otherwise, getting injured again will be very troublesome."
"Hmm, I understand, thank you, Doctor Noe."
Deidara said he would be obedient, although it was very un-artistic, but for a greater art, he could only endure it for now.
After seeing Deidara treated, Kurotsuchi quickly pulled Deidara's arm.
"Brother Deidara, come to class with me!"
Deidara, however, impatiently pulled his arm away.
"No, I already know those childish tricks, I'm a genius!"
"Wow! Brother Deidara is amazing."
Kurotsuchi's previously somewhat disappointed expression at Deidara's refusal instantly turned to admiration.
Deidara looked at Kurotsuchi's silly appearance beside him.
Sure enough, just like the old man, not artistic at all!
"Never mind, I have to rest for a while anyway, so I'll just listen from the side, and let you see what a genius is."
Deidara finally agreed to Kurotsuchi.
Yakushi Nonou looked at Kurotsuchi and Deidara.
My chance might lie with these two children.
I'm sorry, Kurotsuchi, Deidara, I am ultimately just a passerby in Iwagakure, I am a Konoha Ninja!!!