At this moment, both Kabuto and Nonou knelt before Shimoku, their hearts filled with complex emotions.
Orochimaru told them everything on the way back.
Including how Danzo had manipulated them—to collect intelligence from enemy villages, isolate their communication, deceive Nonou using fake photographs...
In the end, he even went as far as forcing the two of them to turn on each other—to eliminate the threat!
If not for Shimoku stepping in at the last moment,
Kabuto might have mistakenly slain his most beloved dean—and then collapsed in despair...
That's why
both were stunned beyond belief, struggling to accept the truth!
But when they thought carefully about it,
this truly aligned more with Root's dark nature.
Moreover, all other evidence also supported the fact that this was not mere speculation—it was a genuine and horrifying truth!
Knowing the truth now, both nearly broke down.
They had sacrificed so much—for each other, and for the orphanage.
Risking their lives infiltrating enemy villages, continuously extracting intelligence.
Only to discover they had lived within a conspiracy—a deception and betrayal.
They had been pawns all along, destined for abandonment. How could one not feel despair?
"I... I..."
Recalling everything, Kabuto clenched his fists in rage but couldn't utter a word.
Compared to the young Kabuto,
Nonou, with her richer life experience, remained calmer.
Yet pain filled her heart as she closed her eyes tightly, filled with regret:
"It was my mistake! I should have realized it all along—Root has always been a dark, cold, ruthless place that stops at nothing!"
"I shouldn't have held any hope for it, nor for Danzo!"
"I ruined you, Kabuto..."
The Wandering Miko blamed herself while accusing bitterly.
Tears spilled from the corners of her eyes.
It was hard to imagine how such a cruel Ninja World could bring a strong and compassionate miko to tears like this.
What a monstrous crime!
"Don't blame yourself, Dean—we were all deceived!"
"You were innocent too, Dean—it was Root bastards who deserved death!"
Kabuto quickly defended.
He gritted his teeth in rage.
"Do you really think Root's darkness ends here?" Shimoku spoke again.
"???"
Both Nonou and Kabuto suddenly looked up, an ominous feeling rising in their hearts.
Let me tell you—
Even the orphanage—the very one you gave your lives to protect—hasn't escaped Danzo's clutches...
All young children in the orphanage showing potential for ninjutsu are secretly kidnapped by him for secret training!
Have you heard of Kiri's [Blood Mist Policy]?
Danzo is imitating that exact system—forcing these abducted ninja orphans to slaughter each other as they grow up, gradually erasing their humanity, turning them into the coldest, sharpest blades in his hands!
At that moment,
the even grimmer truth spoken by Shimoku struck them like twin sledgehammers, pounding into their hearts.
Their hearts trembled intensely—they felt like vomiting blood!
They never imagined Danzo's clutches could reach the orphanage too.
To subject other children to such inhumane training!
"How could this be? Lord Danzo didn't promise this. He..."
Nonou covered her eyes, muttering almost on the verge of collapse.
As for Kabuto, who had already been furious, he suddenly stood up and roared in anger:
"Beasts! How could they do this?"
"Why attack the [Orphanage] as well!"
"Those bastards—I will kill them all!"
Clearly, the absurd violation of treasured individuals and cherished values being secretly trampled upon was truly maddening!
"What? What do you intend to do then?"
"Go back alone? Fight against Root directly? Confront [Konoha], one of the Five Great Hidden Villages, head-on?"
"Do you seriously think your [Scalpel] is enough for that?"
"How many Jonin can you fight? One? Or maybe just half?"
Shimoku loudly questioned him.
Kabuto trembled violently, frozen in place, his face flushed red.
What the other said was correct.
With his current strength, fighting even a single Jonin would be extremely difficult.
Let alone challenging the entire Konoha.
It'd be like cracking a stone with an egg — pure suicide.
"Kabuto! Sit down! Don't be rude!"
Slightly calmer now, Nonou quickly snapped lightly, stopping Kabuto just in time.
This was still within another village, after all, and their very lives were still in the hands of this Young Master.
"I... I can't accept this..."
Kabuto helplessly sank to his knees, hands limp, his eyes full of despair.
...
Thus, the room remained silent for a full ten minutes.
Shimoku slowly sipped his way through an entire pot of tea.
He gave both of them enough time to calm down.
After a long pause, Nonou finally whispered,
"Sh-Shimoku-sama. What you've said… is all true?"
"Konoha is right there. And you yourself came from Root. If you went back to investigate, it wouldn't be hard to confirm the truth."
Nonou fell silent again briefly before speaking.
"But then why did you save us? Why tell us all this information? What exactly do you want?"
Looking at the golden-haired miko before him, Shimoku felt slightly impressed.
When she gets serious, this experienced [Wandering Miko] really shows her caliber!
Therefore, Shimoku straightforwardly spoke plainly:
"Join me."
"I don't need you infiltrating any hidden villages or becoming dangerous spies."
"I only need you to utilize your strengths, properly applying your Medical Ninjutsu to heal people from the [Homura Hidden Village]."
"How about it?"
"I..."
Kabuto hesitated, somewhat tempted.
These years of constant fear and tension have nearly driven me insane.
Yet he still glanced quickly at Nonou beside him and decided to follow her lead—whatever choice Nonou made, he would stand by it.
And Nonou remained silent too.
She had to admit—the proposal from Shimoku was indeed very tempting.
Wasn't every ordinary ninja unwilling to live forever under the threat of spy life?
Much less, they no longer had anywhere else to go.
Once they returned to Konoha,
Danzo, knowing the two of them were still alive, would certainly not let them off!
Also, when it comes down to it, working for the Homura Hidden Village should be somewhat better than serving under Konoha's Bloodthirsty Root Division, right?
"Fine! But I have one condition..."
Nonou gathered her courage, preparing to propose another condition.
"It's about the orphanage, isn't it?"
"I'll make sure a new orphanage is built in the village."
"And I'll also find a way to bring over the remaining orphans from Konoha's orphanage!"
"Now are you satisfied?"
Shimoku practically exhausted himself trying to secure these two.
He kept offering more generous terms, leaving this wandering miko Nonou with absolutely no reason to refuse.
In fact, she couldn't help but doubt slightly.
Could it be that he had ulterior motives behind such a generous offer?
Perhaps... setting his sights on herself...
"Tsk! What am I even thinking now?"
"The child isn't even that old yet!"
"He seems younger than Kabuto; surely he wouldn't have those kinds of wicked thoughts."
Even if he did,
offering herself up in exchange for a better future for Kabuto and all those orphans would still be a worthy sacrifice!
With this thought, Nonou happily agreed.
"Thank you, my lord. I'm willing to stay!"
"I-I'm willing too!"
"Good."
Shimoku gave a satisfied nod.
"We're still doing some major upgrades around here, so finding places to stay is tricky for now. You two can stay here for now; there are separate rooms available later."
"When the new orphanage is completed, you can move there."
"Thank you, thank you so much!"
Kabuto and Nonou bowed respectfully again.
She and Kabuto had never encountered such a kind and considerate leader before.
And he was only around ten years old—a truly amazing person from the Homura Hidden Village!
...
Since they'd been traveling nonstop for more than a day,
Nonou and Kabuto were both extremely hungry and exhausted.
Shimoku didn't want to press the two valuable medical ninjas he worked so hard to recruit.
He immediately had several clan members lead them away to prepare some food and change their clothes.
Other matters could wait until tomorrow.
The Uchiha clan members, having also endured Konoha's cruelty before, warmly welcomed these two—an unspoken mutual sympathy blossoming between them.
Their overwhelming kindness made Nonou and Kabuto feel a bit self-conscious.
...
Meanwhile,
Right after Shimoku saw them off to rest and returned to his room,
Orochimaru, that ever-unpredictable figure whose laughter reeked of malice,
twisted through the wall and suddenly reappearing in the living room.
"If you don't use the front door next time, I swear I'll cut you into nine pieces and roast them for Mooncake to eat!"
Shimoku shot Orochimaru a glare as he gave a sharp warning.
"My lord Shimoku, don't be angry."
"It seems you've successfully recruited those two?"
"What business is that of yours?"
"Tsk tsk tsk. Such excellent candidates! Wonderful test subjects—what a waste!" Orochimaru narrowed his eyes with sinister delight.
"Pah! If you have something to say, spit it out. Otherwise, get lost!"
"Don't get so excited! Actually, I came here to deliver good news to you."
"What kind of news?"
"Hashirama's cells are ready. We can start the transplantation anytime!"
Upon hearing this, Shimoku's eyes lit up with sudden excitement.
Transplanting Hashirama's cells and obtaining the Mangekyō Sharingan with near-eternal vision.
This was the moment he'd waited for far too long!
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