(Kabuto's POV)
Kabuto was somewhat surprised to be summoned by Jugo, knowing that the Chunin Exams were taking place at that moment. Kabuto knew that this was probably a clone of the man, but he didn't care about it.
Instead, they passed through the stone corridors of Orochimaru's base.
Finally, Jugo led him to a room containing only a coffin.
Kabuto grew increasingly confused, but like a werewolf, he didn't ask anything.
Jugo, on the other hand, turned to Kabuto and spoke. -You've been with me for a while now, how's life in the Sound Hidden Village?
-Everything's fine, Jugo-sama, I really like it here, I can do research as much as I like and the environment is peaceful.- Kabuto said quickly.
Jugo simply stared at him for a long moment, then approached and placed his hand on Kabuto's shoulder.
Kabuto, confused, wanted to open his mouth to ask, but the next moment his eyes widened, he groaned in pain, but he didn't move away, letting Jugo do as he pleased, even if he died now, he wouldn't care.
From Kabuto's body, a foul-smelling, black pus-like liquid slowly began to ooze from his pores near where Jugo's hand had touched.
Jugo continued to absorb the liquid for a while, until there was no liquid left at all.
Kabuto's eyes slowly widened, that fervent desire to serve and die for Jugo was slowly giving way to a long-lost reason.
Kabuto adjusted for a long moment, before a sad smile slowly formed on his face.
-You relinquished control, does that mean I'm no longer useful?- Kabuto asked with a sigh.
Jugo looked at him, not caring about the man's assumption, Kabuto was the first one he wanted to remove the curse from, because he knew that among his subordinates, Kabuto was the easiest to control.
Jugo didn't answer, instead he let go of Kabuto and approached the coffin. Kabuto didn't dare move, he hadn't lost the memories of that time, so he knew how strong Jugo really was. Running away was stupid.
Judging by Jugo's appearance, he didn't want to kill him, so he would see what Jugo was doing.
The coffin lid was soon opened, Jugo waved his hand, causing Kabuto to approach.
Upon seeing what was inside, Kabuto's eyes widened and his body trembled, his expression shifting from thoughtful to livid.
There, with the body severely decomposed, lay a corpse he would recognize even if it turned to ashes.
Yakushi Nono.
Kabuto's body trembled, almost collapsing, but Jugo didn't help him, instead, he placed his hand on the corpse.
Slowly, a black liquid began to drip from Jugo's hand, covering the corpse. Jugo's chakra took on a green hue, enveloping the entire body.
Kabuto didn't blink, sensing what Jugo would do. An excitement quickly grew within him. Soon, all the black liquid was absorbed by the corpse, and the chakra also stopped being emitted. But looking at the body, Kabuto saw that Nono's body had returned to its perfect form, exactly as it was when he last saw her.
Jugo didn't stop, his eyes gleamed as he raised his hand and pulled something out. Space seemed to tear open for a moment, floating before returning to normal, but now in Jugo's hand, invisible to ordinary eyes, a sphere of bright light landed there.
Jugo lowered his hand and pressed it against the body. Nono, lying down, took a deep breath, still asleep.
Jugo glanced briefly at the body, then turned and began to leave, he didn't speak to Kabuto from beginning to end.
Kabuto didn't stop him, when Jugo left him alone in the room, Kabuto's eyes were completely focused on Nono, staring at the female body in nun's robes, breathing heavily. He wanted to touch her, but he didn't dare.
He was afraid it was a lie, but when the woman's eyes opened slightly unfocused, Kabuto's breath caught in his throat, he forgot how to breathe, and he stared at her with wide eyes.
The woman blinked, taking a moment to adjust, she lifted her torso, supporting herself with one hand and bringing the other to her head, dazed and confused.
She turned slowly, looking at Kabuto, tilting her head slightly, confused. -Who are you?
Kabuto froze, yes, he had forgotten, Danzo had slowly altered Kabuto's appearance in Nono's mind through photos, she didn't even know it was him.
A tear escaped Kabuto's eye at that moment, but he still smiled. - It's me, Haha-ue.
Nono tilted her head, slightly confused. She didn't remember this boy, she had a very good memory for the orphans she cared for.
Kabuto smiled, still crying, not caring what the woman was thinking, he opened his mouth and slowly began to explain everything.
How she had found him, the things that had happened at the orphanage, what Danzo had done to them, he told it all until his throat hurt, until his swollen eyes watered with pain, but he barely blinked, afraid of losing the woman in front of him in the blink of an eye.
Nono's eyes slowly widened, initially in disbelief, but the more she listened, the more she recognized, finally, her eyes also filled with tears. - K-Kabuto?
Kabuto merely smiled, still not daring to touch her, still staring at her in fear that she would disappear.
For a moment, Kabuto forgot everything he had gone through over the years, all the bad things he had done, it ceased to matter. In that moment, he reverted to being the little boy with amnesia who had seen Nono for the first time.
Nono leaped forward in one swift motion and embraced Kabuto tightly, her tears soaking Kabuto's clothes. Kabuto froze, his eyes still wide and red. He thought he had no more tears, but he was wrong. He slowly embraced the woman with unprecedented tenderness, slow, incredibly slow.
Until his arms were around her, holding her tightly, she was shorter, he was taller than her, but it was her... his mother.
[A/N: Honestly, I had the idea for this chapter and it was supposed to come later, not in the middle of the Chunin Exams, but honestly I felt that if I didn't write it now, I would end up losing inspiration, so I wrote it. Sorry for constantly changing my point of view, I'll focus more on the Chunin Exams from now on.]