While the other orphans where sleeping. Kabuto laid awake staring at the object that gave Nonō the idea of to name. Thinking back on what happened today, and Urushi's words about him not even thanking Nonō for her kindness. He decided that he would look for her and rectify that problem. He got up and walked to a hallway, to get away from the other sleeping orphans. hearing a conversation behind a door his curiosity got the better of him and he decided to listen.
"hmm…what should I do?" Kabuto heard a male voice ask from behind the door.
"We can't get by with just Subsistence aid from the village or nation anymore" this he heard a female voice reply.
"We have to talk to them once more!" Exclaimed the male voice
"Neither the village nor the nation will give us a cent more." The same female voice argued.
"But we're barely scraping by." The male said in a tired voice. "And we just took in another one."
Kabuto's eyes went wide. 'Am I burdening them? Making others work harder for my sake.' He questioned himself as he looked down sadly.
"I understand. I'll do something about it." Kabuto heard a voice that sound like Nonō, causing him to slowly back away but his foot slipped making him trip.
"Oww..." Kabuto turned to see the door open and saw a chubby lady exit it. When she turned to Kabuto, her face turned into a angry expiration. "What are you doing at this hour?!" she demanded "You should be in bed!" She informed.
The boy started shaking nervously, at the negative attention. But Nonō came to his defense "He just got here and doesn't know about our curfews and rules! Please give him another chance." She pleaded.
The pudgy woman's face softens and replies "You're too indulgent Mother." She commented.
The three adults walked with Kabuto to the end of the hallway, were they found a door way. And on top of the door way is a clock. The pudgy woman pointed at the clock. "Come here and look at the clock" she ordered. "It's already 20 minutes past lights-out time." She commented. "Which makes lights-out what time?" she asked. "Let's learn it right now." She insisted.
"Well what time is it? You must learn it yourself" The woman said impatiently.
'I can't see it, it's to blurry.' Kabuto tried to focus all but everything was blurry. The boy could hear from the old man 'he's still young', but he chose to ignore the rest of what he was saying. 'Wait I see clearly now, why?' Kabuto thought as his vision spontaneously cleared, but when he glanced at Nonō, He noticed she didn't have her glasses. 'Nonō put her glasses on me' Kabuto thought with amazement before he focused back on the clock.
"Nine o'clock." Kabuto answered finally being able to see the clock.
"That's correct." Nonō said kindly, causing Kabuto to smile.
"It seems it was just bad vision." The old man said amusingly. "He's smart for his age" he complemented. "But we must get him glasses." He informed.
"Huh? And where are we going to get money for that?" the pudgy woman argued. "Goodness! If you can't see, you should just speak up."
Kabuto reached up to take off the glasses of only for Nonō to stop him, and put them back on. That action really surprised him. "From now, you'll able to be on time." Nonō told him happily. "I just hope the lenses are right for you." She finished still smiling kindly. 'She really wants me to have her glasses.' Kabuto thought as his eye's started to tear up.
"Thank..you" "Thank you" "Thank you" "Thank you" repeat the ash-haired boy, over and over again.' I'm so grateful for everything.' Kabuto thought as could only cry and say his thanks over and over to the one woman being kind to him. He didn't know, but he could feel that this was the first time someone's been so kind.
"That's enough." He heard Nonō softly, say before she hugged him. In that Moment Kabuto realized he wanted to be like her and help people.
-Years later-
After a major shinobi battle, Kabuto was helping his mother heal some of the injured Konoha Shinobi. So they could get funds for the orphanage.
"Kabuto, are you able to keep going?" Nonō asked with obvious concern.
"Yes mother." Kabuto quick replied, as he narrowed his eyes in focus as he continued to heal some of the Shinobi.
"I know it's for the sake of the orphanage, but why do we have to help shinobi like them?" Urushi asked from behind him.
"Doing nothing doesn't bring money…Urushi, could you get more bandages?" Kabuto asked
"Yeah sure." Was Urushi's reply.
Kabuto looked up at his newest patent, and noticed something off about him. He was man abnormally pale skin, snake-like eyes and long black hair. "You're not a Shinobi, yet you're quiet skilled in Medical Ninjutsu." He commented curiously.
"My Mother taught me." Kabuto replied smiling slightly
"You said your name was Kabuto, right? Why don't you become a Shinobi? You'd make a good one…I'm sure of it" The pale man questioned, with a smirk.
"I'm not interested in that, I just want to help to raise money for the orphanage and help mother there. She's done so much for me but, I've only been able to repay her with a pair of eyeglasses" Kabuto answered truthfully. He'd only been able to gather enough money to buy her a new pair of glasses, to replace the ones that she gave him.
"Really? What a shame." The pale man replied.
-Later That Evening—
The Ash-haired boy heard several loud voices arguing, waking him up. 'What is going on?' Kabuto thought to himself, before he went to investigate. He moved through the shadows, as he pushed himself up against a window and tried to eavesdrop.
"You were once known as the Wandering Nun, but now you're just a babysitter. It's been a while since I last saw you. But I have to say, you're looking a little tired, Nonō" Danzo said calmly.
"I cast aside that name long age. The talks with the Leaf were for monetary aid only, and they are concluded. So why are you here now?" Nonō asked with narrowed eyes.
"It would seem the Root's former top spy stopped knowing things after she left the foundation, hmm. We didn't come here in regard to financial aid." Danzo replied.
"In this time of war, we have obtained Intel that the Hidden Stone is plotting some sort of large-scale operation. We want you to infiltrate the Hidden stone and verify the validity of this Intel. And if it does turn out to be true, you are to investigate what this operation entails and where it will occur and report back to us. This will likely be a long-term mission." Debriefed one of the Root Members.
"Then you have come the wrong person, I'm no longer..." Nonō began but the old man interrupted her.
"You people don't understand just how essential Nonō is to this orphanage and to the children!" he exclaimed. "She has done her utmost to protect this orphanage." He informed.
"The Wandering Nun is the only one we can entrust this long-term mission to. There is currently no one in the Root that has her espionage skills. Most would likely break or end up switching allegiances. I know that she's a Kunoichi who would never sell out the Hidden Leaf." Danzo proclaimed, causing Nonō to scowl. "From your expression I can tell you've already guessed it, Nonō. That if you refuse, this clinic will stop receiving funding." He informed calmly.
"You can't do this, we already have an agreement with the Third Hokage!" the Pudgy woman exclaimed.
"This orphanage looks easy to break into and rob. You should hire bodyguards to prevent robbers from stealing your money. That is, if you can afford any." Said the Root guard in a monotone voice.
"While you're at it, Make sure that your children don't get snatched either. Children with no past or family are worth something." Orochimaru commented in a disturbing voice.
"You're all Rotten!" the old man yelled. "How dare you call yourselves shinobi?!"
"You're the ones who don't understand!" Danzo yelled. "It's a small price to pay to protect the Hidden Leaf!" he finished.
"I understand" Nonō replied, as she looked down.
"It's come to this because you couldn't kill your emotions. You weren't suited for the Root, after all." Danzo claimed, before he looked out of the corner of his eyes only to see a shadow listening by the window. "Also, I've already lost a subordinate obtaining this Intel. I'll be taking one of the children here to take his place" He informed.
"How far will you go?" Nonō demanded. "I said I'd accept the mission!" She informed.
"This is a separate matter. Your mission shall cover subsequent Payment. But this current one is in exchange for the child." The Root member explained.
"Some children actually wish to become leaf shinobi, after all. You should ask them to choose for themselves." Danzo said. Kabuto looked down as he scowled slightly, before he looked determined. "There may just be one such child here." Danzo commented, Kabuto took a deep breath, before he decided his fate.
-A few Hours Later-
"Why, Kabuto?" Nonō asked sadly, as she looked at the ash-haired teen.
Kabuto turned to face her and replied "I think I'm suited to be a ninja. Besides, I want to hone my Medical Ninjutsu." He replied evenly, as he stood by Danzo and Orochimaru.
-Years Later-
For the Next several years, Kabuto spent his days living as a spy. Constantly moving from one village to another. From the Hidden Cloud, to the Hidden Mist, then to the Hidden Sand, and Hidden Rock Gathering as much Intel as he could for the Root. Believing he was helping his family.
A teen with ash colored hair and black circular rimmed glasses, hid in a rock crevasse. He looked up and watched several Rock Nin pass by. Kabuto scowled, he thought he was going to be spotted. He looked around the corner and saw several shadows moving around him. 'It's no use. I'm surrounded.' Kabuto thought, as he checked his watch. "If i hadn't messed up, I'd be in bed by now." He muttered to himself, before he put the watch back in his pocket. "It's been five years since I left everyone...I wish i could've seen mother one last time." Kabuto admitted to himself.
The Ash-haired tee heard the air shift and looked up, only to see a shadow move, before a Kunai knife flew towards him. Kabuto evade the blade that would have killed him. He ran at the attacker, as he formed a Chakra Scalpel. The teen ducked under another attack, before he thrust his Chakra Scalpel into the assailant's stomach. The clouds moved and allowed the Moon to illuminate his attacker.
It was a woman with light brown hair, green eyes and glasses. While wearing the Rock Nin's signature attire. But Kabuto recognized her. 'M-Mother' He thought with wide eyes. 'W-what, this can't be...' He horrified.
"Mother! NO! W-why are you here?" Kabuto announced, as he knelt down and started using the Mystical Palm on the wound he created. 'Don't tell me…you were still on that last mission?!' He thought with disbelief.
"Why are you healing my wound?" Nonō asked genuinely confused "who are you?" She questioned.
"It's me. Mother!" Kabuto said in a hoarse voice. He took off his glasses of and put on her to try and help her see. "Its Kabuto! Don't worry, I'll save you." He informed as he continued to use the Mystical Palm Technique to heal her.
"Who…are you..?" She questions again, getting woozy from the blood loss.
Kabuto's eyes wide. 'S-she doesn't know me?' He thought. The Ash haired teen stopped the healing technique as he looked at the woman he thought of as a mother. Before she eventually died, not knowing who he was.
Kabuto quickly ran off until found a river to wash his hands. He rinsed off the remnants of her blood. He furious scrubbed, over and over trying get rid of the memory. The teen looked at his reflection. 'Mother didn't know me?...Why?...Why didn't she remember me, why?...If she doesn't remember me, then who was I all this time? What were all those things I received from Mother? My name, that I got as one of Mother's children...even...even these glasses.' Kabuto thought as he took off glasses and stared into the reflection. "Who…Are you? This isn't me…This isn't the real me…" He muttered, unsure about his existence.
"It seems you no longer see yourself clearly." Orochimaru said as surfaced from the water, casing Kabuto to stumble back as he stared into Orochimaru's yellow serpent-like eyes. "You've turned into a fine shinobi, I remember you…Kabuto." He informed.
"A-Aren't you…?" Kabuto managed to stutter out.
"I've been watching you this whole time. Along with Nono, come with me. Then I'll tell you everything you want to know." Orochimaru bargained
"What I want to know? What does that mean?" Kabuto demanded angrily.
"Why your Mother targeted you, and why she didn't remember you at all. Don't you want to know all that?" Orochimaru questioned. Kabuto looked down before he nodded. Orochimaru lead Kabuto to an unknown location. That was small factory near the edge of the ocean, one of his original bases.
"This is my hideout. No one knows about it. Which means you are my very first visitor." Orochimaru said with a glee in his voice.
Kabuto looked around to see a table full of scalpels. "Why did you bring my here?! What are you going to do with me?" Kabuto asked feeling an ominous energy linger about the area.
"You are becoming more and more curious, that's a good thing. People can never escape their curiosity. Which is why you followed me here." Orochimaru said all mysteriously.
"Then tell me quickly!" Kabuto demanded obviously pissed at the evasive answers he got from Orochimaru. "You know what I want to know. Don't you?" He said with a glare.
"To be frank, the Root had decided to dispose of both you and Mother" The pale snake-like man informed.
"What do you mean?!" Kabuto demanded.
Orochimaru smirked. "You both were brilliant as spies. You ended up knowing too much" He commented uncaring.
"What?" Kabuto asked flabbergasted, the Root just through him away just like that. "We risked our lives for so long, gathering Intel for the sake of the village and this is what we get?" Kabuto finished angrily.
"At times Intel becomes even more powerful than the mightiest jutsu or weapon. You were seen as a very dangerous person right now, well, your fate had been decided from the very beginning it was the scenario for you to kill each other in a mutual strike. Right after you left the orphanage, Danzo revealed to your Mother the real reason why you had left. That you sacrificed your life and joined the Foundation for money for the orphanage, your Mother wished to liberate you from the Foundation. As a condition of accepting her wish, Danzo ordered the assassination of a certain person several years ago, the target of the assassination was you." Orochimaru explained.
"I thought it was the condition for my release! Why didn't mother realize it was me?!" Kabuto argued trying to wrap his head around the explanation.
"I told you…The Root intended for the two of you to take each other out and there was other trickery afoot." Orochimaru informed.
"Trickery?" Kabuto asked.
Orochimaru drew several different photographs of Kabuto but some were slightly different. "You and Mother were sent into separate enemy territories so that you two never meet, and Mother was kept informed of your well-being and progress through photos. The photos of you were skillfully replaces with those of another without her noticing it. Over time Mother was made to think someone else was you. Gradual brainwashing" Orochimaru Explained.
"A common practice used by the Root. That's the other Kabuto." Kabuto looked at the lookalike "And, so when Nonō tried to kill you. Never in her wildest dreams would she think that you were Kabuto. She thought you were a double agent who betrayed the village." Orochimaru continued.
Kabuto scowled dangeriously, as he clenched his fists. He looked up to Orochimaru and glared at him. "And the Root dispatched you to deal with whoever was left… Is that it?" He asked.
"For someone who knows nothing about himself, you're very perceptive" Orochimaru commented with a smirk.
Kabuto went though several hand seals, as he activated his Chakra Scalpel and jumped at Sannin. The ash-haired teen tacked Orochimaru down and held the scalped to his throat and cut it. "I always wanted… an explanation about who I was! And I thought I had finally found it! But thanks to you Root Bastards, I've lost myself again!" Kabuto stabbed Orochimaru's body twice "These glasses were what linked me to Mother!" Kabuto continued slashing and stabbing "The name she gave me was mine and mine alone!" As he continued to mutilate the man. "Mother was supposed to be the parent that didn't forget me no matter what! But everything's wrong! THEN WHO IN THIS WORLD…am I?!" Kabuto was breathing heavily. And his chakra scalpel wore down. He looked up to only to see Orochimaru's mouth open wide as other of him came out.
"You merely lack sufficient Intel with which to define yourself. It's just that neither glasses, your name, nor the fact that you're her child were things that denote who you really are…and that's fine. If you're not satisfied with what you've had so far... Just find other things and add them onto yourself, one by one" Orochimaru preached
"If you plan on killing me, why are you telling me this?" Kabuto asked as he took a step back from the Sannin.
"I also want to know who or what I am. And I've been collecting all sorts of things." Orochimaru answered. Kabuto looked around to see blood in some jars.
"I repeatedly experiment on and inspect these many things. I've collected a little at a time and store the gained knowledge and abilities within myself. And then, I undergo a rebirth, ever evolving toward a more perfect me. Afterward, I again obtain even newer items. This time…it's you. There's no way you couldn't derive who you are, or what you are. But by gathering all the Intel and things in this world...you can." Orochimaru said
"Why, am I one of those things to you?" Kabuto asked with a scowl.
"Because I recognize your talent more than anyone else in this world, it would be a waste to kill you, besides, this medical research facility was prepared just for you." Orochimaru answered seriously.
"What are you plotting?" Kabuto questioned.
"Instead of the Root which erases individuality. I will create an organization that guides individuality. I will create a village. The Village of the Hidden Sound…that does not belong to any nation. From this moment, you and I will desert the Hidden Leaf's Root. Fallowing this moment I shall be your Superior, Your Brother and Your Parent. I will protect you. From this moment, this will be your new personal history: When you were very young you were found and raised by the medical Corps Captain following the Battle at Kikyo Pass. After returning to work under Danzo. Nono Yakushi kept her cover as captain of the Medical Unit, and you shall be reborn today as her son, Kabuto Yakushi" Orochimaru finished.
"I am Orochimaru if you want to know who and what you are come be by my side." Orochimaru offered.
Kabuto slowly stood up and slowly walked over and stood in front of him. 'I will find out who i am.' He thought with determination.