After regaining her composure, Nono Yakushi looked at Nagi with a complicated expression and slowly asked,
"Is there something you need me to do?"
"Yes. What I need is for you to live on—but not as Nono Yakushi."
At that moment, Nono seemed to realize something.
"This is for Kabuto, isn't it?"
"That's right. And don't worry—this is an official appointment letter from the Third Hokage."
It had to be said, Hiruzen Sarutobi truly understood how to win people's trust.
When she heard the Third Hokage's name, Nono's expression eased noticeably.
She accepted the letter and used a special ANBU seal of Konohagakure to undo the sealing technique placed upon it.
After skimming through it, her face changed the moment she read the opening lines.
Once she finished the document, she finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
"I understand."
The contents of the appointment were simple: following the Night of the Uchiha Clan Massacre, most of the surviving Uchiha were children. Her mission was to reside within the Uchiha Clan Compound and, alongside several others, take on the role of caretaker for the surviving children.
This appointment had been arranged by Tobirama Senju after ANBU completed their count of the survivors, and formally issued by the Third Hokage.
As long as the orphanage and Kabuto remained safe, Tobirama had no fear that she would defect.
The red screen faded out.
[Kabuto Yakushi: Lord Second Hokage, Nagi—thank you for saving the Director! Thank you so much!!!]
Seeing Kabuto like this, Orochimaru quickly interjected.
[Orochimaru: Kabuto, their target was you from the very beginning. You've been sold off and are still helping them count the money.]
[Kabuto Yakushi: But Lord Orochimaru, the Director is really alive! That's all that matters!!]
[Nono Yakushi: Kabuto… you've worked hard all these years.]
[Kabuto Yakushi: sobsob]
[Orochimaru: Tch! I raise him carefully, and once he's grown, you simply lure him away. What a calculation.]
A transparent scheme indeed. Orochimaru thought bitterly: I'm usually the one luring others away—how did it end up with someone luring from me this time?
[Madara Uchiha: Hmph. I truly don't understand why you care so much about a mere brat, Tobirama.]
[Tobirama Senju: Hmph. I have my reasons.]
At the same time, the white screen lit up.
[After the Uchiha Clan Massacre — Edo Tensei — Academy Graduation — Team Seven — Land of Waves Arc — Chūnin Exams + Konoha Crush Arc]
The white screen dimmed.
[Anko Mitarashi: What?! Orochimaru invades Konoha—and even kills the Third Hokage?!]
[Kakashi Hatake: Sigh… Konoha truly faces troubled times. I wonder what the future of our world will be like.]
[Rasa (Fourth Kazekage): Let me clarify—that is the Sunagakure of a parallel world. Not ours.]
Unfortunately, Rasa himself did not sound particularly confident.
[Naruto Uzumaki: Hahaha! Did you see that?! That's me! The one riding a giant toad and defeating that huge tanuki—that's me!]
[Sasuke Uchiha: Idiot. That's the you from a parallel world, not this one.]
[Naruto Uzumaki: I don't care! That's still me!]
[Kushina Uzumaki: That's right. Our Naruto is the best.]
The red screen lit up again.
[Hashirama Senju: Hahaha! Is it finally here? The future of our world—how exciting!]
Nagi and Tobirama were equally curious about what lay ahead.
After settling into the Uchiha Clan Compound, Nono Yakushi worked alongside ANBU personnel to care for the Uchiha children.
Sasuke saw that many of the children in the compound were younger than he was—some were merely infants. All of them had lost their families.
Thinking of this, his Sharingan surfaced unconsciously.
"Itachi Uchiha!!! I will kill you!!! I will have my revenge!!!"
Those around him could only sigh.
Time passed quickly, and before long, it was time for graduation from the Ninja Academy.
Over the past few years, due to Tobirama's unique spiritual state, Nagi's body had gradually internalized Tobirama's instincts and battle awareness.
As a result, Nagi quickly mastered most of Tobirama's ninjutsu—even certain forbidden techniques—and even refined several formulae himself.
Tobirama also noticed that, with time, the mysterious energy within Nagi's body continued to accumulate.
Now, Nagi could perform most ninjutsu without hand seals—or with only the simplest of seals.
[Mei Terumi: Without hand seals?]
[Hashirama Senju: Huh? Don't ninjutsu just come out with a clap?]
[Tobirama Senju: Brother, not everyone is as monstrously strong as you.]
Within the Akatsuki hideout—
Watching Nagi perform ninjutsu without seals on the screen, Kisame Hoshigaki sighed enviously.
"Man… if only I could use ninjutsu without forming hand seals."
The others looked at him with faint sympathy.
Kisame froze, then realized—
Itachi relied on the Sharingan.
The leader used the Rinnegan.
Konan manipulated paper.
Kakuzu used his Earth Grudge Fear threads.
Hidan performed sacrificial rituals.
Deidara molded explosive clay with the mouths in his palms.
Sasori controlled puppets.
So in the entire Akatsuki… he was the only one still forming hand seals.
Because Orochimaru's Impure World Reincarnation forcibly summoned souls, Tobirama was ultimately pulled away.
Thus came the opening scene of Chapter One.
Soon, it was time for graduation team assignments.
Iruka Umino stepped onto the podium and began reading from the list.
"Team Seven: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno, Sasuke Uchiha."
"Team Eight: Kiba Inuzuka, Hinata Hyūga, Shino Aburame."
"Team Nine: Sai, Karin Uzumaki, Shin."
"Team Ten: Shikamaru Nara, Ino Yamanaka, Choji Akimichi."
"…That concludes all team assignments."
Naruto suddenly panicked.
"Wait, Iruka-sensei! Didn't you forget someone? Nagi hasn't been assigned yet!"
Iruka smiled.
"Shiranui Nagi's position has already been arranged by the Hokage. So there's no need to worry, Naruto."
"Oh… I see."
After the assignments, Nagi left first, while the rest of the Rookie Nine Class sat quietly waiting for their jōnin instructors.
Nagi's new position was none other than the leader of Root (Ne), formerly commanded by Danzō Shimura.
The moment he left the Academy, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Root headquarters.
Danzō had already been imprisoned, and under Tobirama's orders, he was forced to remove the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal placed upon Root members.
One could enforce discipline upon subordinates—but not through such methods.
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: What?! Sensei… you… you've departed?!]
[Koharu Utatane: Sensei, you…]
[Tobirama Senju: Enough. Say no more. From now on, properly assist your junior.]
[Hiruzen Sarutobi: Yes… I understand, Sensei. I will endure until my junior fully matures.]
Meanwhile, the leaders of rival villages—such as Onoki—were already considering ways to assassinate Nagi.
After all, if he mastered even the Flying Thunder God Technique alone, once he matured, he could become another "Yellow Flash."
Not to mention the rest of Tobirama's arsenal.
If he were allowed to grow unchecked… would their villages even have a chance?
Wearing a fox-faced mask, Nagi stepped into the training grounds.
Now that his teacher had departed, he could not afford to slack off. Tobirama was right—he would turn grief into strength.
"Leopard. Hawk. Terai. Kaze… the rest of you are dismissed."
Soon, about thirty shinobi remained in the field. All of them ranged from chūnin to jōnin in strength—and they shared one trait in common:
They struck without hesitation.
Battle was one of the fastest paths to strength.
"As always," Nagi said calmly, "attack me with the intent to kill."