Chapter 175 : Yakushi Nonou and Yakushi Kabuto
Yakushi Nonou's words pierced Kabuto Yakushi's heart like steel needles.
He stumbled back a few steps, his voice turning hoarse.
"How could this be? Look closely! I send you photos every once in a while!"
Hearing this, Yakushi Nonou's mind, muddled by severe injuries, finally realized something.
Her bloodless, pale lips trembled as she asked, "So, you are the real Kabuto..."
"Director, you finally recognize me?"
Kabuto Yakushi rushed back excitedly, kneeling beside Yakushi Nonou and asking.
Yakushi Nonou shook her head. "No, I merely guessed the truth of the matter."
After speaking, Yakushi Nonou reached into the Ninja tool pouch she carried and pulled out dozens of photos.
"Look at these."
Kabuto Yakushi took the photos in his hand and flipped through them one by one.
The first few were indeed him, but the later photos gradually had nothing to do with him.
Kabuto Yakushi finally understood why Yakushi Nonou said she did not recognize him.
Because, apart from the first few photos, the person in the subsequent photos had been swapped out.
"So that's how it is. In the end, have I lost even my only identity?"
Kabuto Yakushi sat down on the ground, feeling somewhat disheartened.
What he cared about most was his identity, and what he had always sought was the meaning of his existence.
But now, he was like a clown, his only identity stolen by someone else.
What is the point of living?
"Kabuto, don't be like this. I recognize you now. No one can replace you."
Hearing Yakushi Nonou's words, Kabuto Yakushi snapped back to reality.
That's right. Director Nonou was still alive, and he was still Kabuto Yakushi.
No one could usurp his identity!
"How interesting. To hear such a bizarre story."
"That old bastard Shimura Danzo is truly as sinister as ever."
Seeing Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou recognize each other, Uchiha Yuzuru smiled and clapped.
Only then did the two return to reality from the joy of their reunion.
Looking at Uchiha Yuzuru, Yakushi Nonou spoke in a deep voice, "Regardless of everything, thank you for saving me."
Kabuto Yakushi immediately knelt on the ground and said sincerely, "Lord Yuzuru, I owe you two lives."
One was his own, and the other was Yakushi Nonou's.
If Uchiha Yuzuru hadn't appeared in time to pull Yakushi Nonou back from the gates of hell, Kabuto Yakushi didn't know how desperate he would be right now.
Just thinking about personally killing the Director, who was like a mother and whom he had always wanted to protect, made him feel like going mad.
Uchiha Yuzuru said calmly, "Don't thank me yet, because you two are not guaranteed to survive me."
"Now tell me your choice: Do you choose death, or do you choose to become a member of my subordinates and avenge what happened to you in the future?"
Just as Kabuto Yakushi was about to answer, Yakushi Nonou spoke, "Whether I survive in the end or not, I am already satisfied that I was able to recognize Kabuto."
"Please kill me. I will not betray Konoha."
Hearing this, Kabuto Yakushi urgently pleaded, "Director Nonou, why are you making such a decision?"
"If you submit to Lord Yuzuru with me now, the two of us can leave Root."
"After everything that happened today, do you still intend to pledge allegiance to a bastard like Shimura Danzo?"
Yakushi Nonou smiled bitterly and shook her head. "If I betray Konoha, Shimura Danzo definitely won't spare the children at the Orphanage."
"Kabuto, they are the people I care about most, just like you."
"In the future, you must follow Lord Yuzuru well and make sure you survive."
After hearing Yakushi Nonou's explanation, Kabuto Yakushi fell silent for a moment.
He knew Yakushi Nonou's personality; she would absolutely not sacrifice the children of the Orphanage just to save her own life.
"I never thought Yakushi Nonou, the one known as the 'Walking Miko,' would be such a naive woman."
Yakushi Nonou was startled and looked at Uchiha Yuzuru in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
Uchiha Yuzuru looked at Yakushi Nonou and asked, "Do you think that even if you die here, Shimura Danzo will spare the children of the Orphanage?"
"I was once a Konoha Ninja, and I understand the likes of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo more deeply than you Root Ninja do."
"To Shimura Danzo, the Orphanage's purpose is to provide him with disposable soldiers he can select."
"As long as those orphans still hold that value, Shimura Danzo will not move against them."
"Conversely, if they lose that value, Shimura Danzo will absolutely not waste time or money continuing to support the Orphanage."
"Whether you betray him or not, it actually changes nothing."
After Uchiha Yuzuru finished speaking, Yakushi Nonou couldn't help but retort, "Perhaps Danzo hasn't reached that level of madness. As long as I don't betray Konoha, he won't resort to harming those children."
"Then what about your mission this time?"
Uchiha Yuzuru's single sentence left Yakushi Nonou speechless.
This time, Shimura Danzo had told her the mission was to eliminate a spy who had betrayed the Village, promising her that if she eliminated the target, Kabuto would be allowed to leave Root and become a Ninja living openly in the sunlight.
Yet, in the end, the Ninja Shimura Danzo wanted her to eliminate was the real "Kabuto Yakushi."
Would a cold-blooded and malicious person like that truly possess even a shred of compassion?
Seeing Yakushi Nonou waver, Uchiha Yuzuru continued, "Nonou, if both you and Kabuto are alive, that will be beneficial for the Orphanage."
"You can threaten Shimura Danzo that if he dares to harm the children of the Orphanage, you will reveal all his intelligence."
Kabuto Yakushi immediately agreed, "Exactly, Director Nonou. Only if we are alive will Shimura Danzo not dare to recklessly attack the Orphanage."
Yakushi Nonou worriedly asked, "Will Shimura Danzo believe us?"
"Don't worry. Since Shimura Danzo has the Orphanage as leverage, he certainly knows you would never leak secrets."
Seeing the expectant look in Kabuto Yakushi's eyes, Yakushi Nonou finally nodded.
"Alright. I just don't know if Lord Yuzuru will agree."
After all, if they couldn't provide intelligence, they would lose their value.
Even if they chose to submit, they weren't guaranteed to receive clemency.
Kabuto Yakushi realized this point and immediately guaranteed Uchiha Yuzuru, "Lord Yuzuru, Director Nonou and I are both the most excellent intelligence personnel. Even if we cannot provide Konoha's intelligence, we can still help you with many things."
Seeing Kabuto Yakushi's anxious appearance, Uchiha Yuzuru curled the corner of his mouth.
It seemed that as long as Yakushi Nonou was in his hands, he wouldn't have to worry about Kabuto Yakushi's loyalty at all.