Naruto: Manipulation-Chapter 83: The Turned Yakushi Kabuto

Konan felt uneasy.

Something about this didn't seem safe.

She had never trusted Zetsu, and she feared it might be leading them into an ambush to harm Nagato. It wouldn't be the first time such a thing had happened.

If not for the joint ambush by Konoha's Danzo Shimura and Hanzo of the Salamander, Yahiko wouldn't have died, and Nagato wouldn't have lost his legs.

"Rest assured."

Black Zetsu's voice was always eerie and hoarse, naturally breeding mistrust. Yet, it still tried to persuade Konan and Nagato.

"You are about to meet the most trustworthy person in the world."

"Aside from Yahiko and Nagato,"

Konan's gaze was icy as she stared at Black Zetsu. Her eyes, shaded with a soft purple hue, made her seem even more distant—matching her hair color perfectly.

"There is no one in this world I trust absolutely."

"What a narrow view..."

Black Zetsu smirked, as if mocking Konan's skepticism.

"When you meet him, you'll realize just how arrogant your words were."

"Is it far?"

Nagato frowned at his wheelchair.

Due to his crippled legs and the black rods embedded in his back, his mobility was severely limited. His wheelchair was far more complex than a normal one, and every journey was a grueling ordeal.

"He's in the Land of Rivers."

White Zetsu revealed the location before quickly adding,

"With your condition, it would make sense for him to come to you. But given his status and reputation, I'd suggest you visit him instead."

"A powerful medical ninja and a man of great renown."

Nagato locked eyes with them, his gaze widening as something clicked in his mind.

All this time...

The masked man had claimed to be Uchiha Madara.

Black Zetsu had claimed to be the will left behind by Emiya Shigen.

And Madara's last recorded appearance had been alongside a reincarnated Shigen, helping him quell the First Shinobi War.

"It's him."

Black Zetsu was satisfied to see the shock on Nagato's face.

"I recall..."

Sweat beaded on Nagato's forehead as he recalled the legend.

"That great man... disappeared long ago. You told me yourselves... that after the First Shinobi War, he returned to the Pure Land."

"Are you lying to us?"

Konan raised her hand, paper strips floating from her palm, ready to strike.

"Thank Orochimaru for that."

White Zetsu quickly raised its hands in a placating gesture, explaining,

"Orochimaru was a spy sent by Konoha to infiltrate the Akatsuki. In order to defeat the Deva Path and destroy the organization, he used a forbidden Konoha jutsu to bring that man back to life."

"Orochimaru is a Konoha spy?"

Konan wasn't particularly surprised, quickly glancing at Nagato.

"We should never have let him join the Akatsuki in the first place..."

"But Orochimaru is dangerous."

Nagato remained silent, while the Deva Path, Pain, spoke instead.

"I wasn't confident I could kill him at the time. So I kept him close to monitor him. I never expected this dangerous man to be a spy from Konoha."

"Danzo must have sent him."

White Zetsu stroked its chin, voicing its earlier suspicion.

"!!!"

Konan, Nagato, and Pain all turned their gazes toward it, their eyes gleaming with dangerous intent.

"Let's meet him first."

Black Zetsu urged them.

Compared to Shigen...

No one else in the world mattered.

Of course...

Shigen would never think that way.

He had never considered others insignificant.

He had always believed that every person had value—even Yakushi Kabuto, whom Orochimaru had assigned to monitor him.

—

For the past few days...

Kabuto had felt an odd sense of happiness.

From Shigen, he learned vast amounts of medical knowledge and gained new philosophical insights.

Most unexpectedly, he found himself discussing his late mentor, Yakushi Nono, with Shigen.

In doing so, he began seeking guidance on the purpose of life from this wise man of the ancient world.

There was no one in the world better suited for such conversations than Shigen.

Simply talking to him felt like receiving enlightenment.

"When the director died..."

"I didn't know who I was."

"I didn't know why I existed."

"I never had anything I particularly liked or hated... I had no idea why I was even alive."

Kabuto reflected on his past confusion, recalling Orochimaru's words.

"Orochimaru told me to collect all the world's knowledge. He said that once I knew everything, I'd find the answer to my existence."

"And before that?"

Shigen fiddled with his medical instruments while guiding Kabuto's thoughts.

"I recall Danzo exploiting your orphanage's funds, forcing you into espionage as a child. Did you enjoy that life?"

"I hated it."

Kabuto frowned instinctively, recalling those times.

"Sometimes, I was terrified I'd be caught and killed... but I had to do it to keep the orphanage funded."

"..."

Shigen paused momentarily before resuming his experiment. Then, almost offhandedly, he remarked,

"When a man understands why he lives, he can endure any how."

"!!!"

Kabuto tightened his grip on his test tube.

"You are an exceptional medical ninja."

"In some aspects of medical jutsu, you may even surpass Tsunade. I assumed you pursued the path of a medical ninja because that was your calling..."

"But now, I see..."

Shigen sighed, piercing through Kabuto's soul with a single sentence.

"Being a medical ninja, a spy, a shinobi—none of these were what you truly wanted. Keeping that orphanage alive... was your real purpose."

"!!!"

Kabuto's arms went limp.

It was true.

To keep the orphanage and its director alive, he had endured countless hardships, living in fear for their sake.

He had become a medical ninja under Nono's guidance to help with battlefield medicine and finance the orphanage.

He had stepped forward as a spy to secure funding, ensuring the orphanage's survival.

That...

That was his true purpose.

Tears streamed from beneath his glasses.

He remembered the moment he had first received them—how the director had given them to him, recognizing his poor vision.

For the first time in his life, he had felt loved.

And for that...

He had been willing to endure anything.

"Hand me the test tube."

Shigen returned to his work as if he had said nothing profound.

He casually asked,

"Was the orphanage always struggling for funds? Back in my time, Konoha had no orphanages. But an old friend, Kakuzu, was always working hard to fund them..."

"Kakuzu-sama?"

Kabuto gritted his teeth at the name, his expression darkening with resentment.

"Director Nono once met Kakuzu-sama. Despite his hatred for Konoha, he donated generously to the orphanage."

"But then Danzo forced her to reject his donations, claiming she was forbidden from associating with rogue ninjas."

Kabuto clenched his fists.

"And then... Danzo not only forbade outside donations but also cut the orphanage's funding as Fire Shadow Assistant."

In that moment...

Kabuto could no longer hide his rage.

Danzo had trapped them.

Refusing their external support while slowly starving them of funds, forcing Nono and the children into his web as spies.

"...This era is truly rotten."

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Shigen's voice turned heavy.

Then he asked,

"Was Orochimaru truly sent by Danzo to destroy the Akatsuki?"

"..."

Kabuto hesitated.

He didn't want to deceive Shigen any longer.

This man had freed Nono's soul.

This man had unraveled the pain in his heart.

Kabuto felt ashamed to have spied on and misled him for so long.

Yet...

If he told the truth, he would betray Orochimaru's trust.

"I don't know."

Kabuto lowered his head, pausing before deciding,

"I am merely Orochimaru-sama's subordinate. I don't know the full truth."

"But Orochimaru-sama has sent word. He will soon slip past the Akatsuki's watch and come to this base."

"Then you can ask him yourself."

"In a few days?"

Shigen sighed.

If it was in a few days, they likely wouldn't meet here.

"Is something wrong?"

Kabuto, noticing Shigen's disappointment, wiped his tears and asked anxiously.

"No, it's fine."

Shigen waved it off.

"I just wanted to see how much darkness still festers in this era..."

"And whether I can change it."

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