boyutpedia Chapter 149 Kabuto the Pharmacist
Chapter 149 Kabuto the Pharmacist
Chapter 149 Kabuto the Pharmacist
On this vast land, the smoke of the Third Shinobi World War swallowed countless lives and left behind countless helpless orphans.
Kabuto Yakushi was one of them. Compared to those children who silently perished in the dust of war, he might still have a sliver of mercy from fate.
He was too young at the time, and his memories were so hazy that even the faces and names of his parents had vanished, and he had no idea what his own name was.
Alone and adrift, like a withered leaf drifting in the wind, he knew not when he would be crushed in a corner of a despairing battlefield, with no one left to collect his remains.
Just when the flame of life was about to burn out, a gentle figure named Yakushi Nonou became his only salvation in the abyss of despair.
It was this loving nun who found him amidst the carnage and took him back to the orphanage she had painstakingly built.
This simple yet warm place not only sheltered him from the wind and rain, but also bestowed upon him the "Yakushi Kabuto".
This name carries profound meaning.
His surname follows that of the pharmacist Nono, who gave him a new life; his given name carries her deep expectations and blessings, like those of a mother.
Life in the orphanage was poor, far from affluent; coarse food and simple environment were the norm for him and his companions.
However, for Kabuto Yakushi, who had experienced the bitter cold of wandering, this place was paradise.
More importantly, he was given an important gift: due to his congenital visual impairment, Pharmacist Nono took off the black round-framed glasses that had been with her for many years and put them on him herself.
At that moment, the blurry world suddenly became clear. This gift, full of compassion and care, was the first gift he had ever received in his life, and its weight was heavier than any treasure.
In order to maintain the operation of the orphanage as a sanctuary, the young children, under the tutelage of Pharmacist Nonou, learned the most basic medical ninjutsu at a young age, especially those with better aptitude.
They rushed to the perilous rear of the battlefield, carefully applying their skills in medical camps, just to earn a meager wage to sustain everyone's survival.
Although those days were often filled with exhaustion and the smoke of battle, they were the brightest and warmest time in Kabuto Yakushi's memory. The playful banter of his companions and the gentle gaze of Nono Yakushi were enough to dispel all the gloom.
However, fate took another turn one day after the Nine-Tails' rampage.
A group of uninvited guests arrive at the orphanage and have a private talk with Nono.
Driven by instinctive worry and curiosity, the young Kabuto hid outside the door to eavesdrop.
Little did he know that his presence was obvious from the very beginning to the experienced visitors, but it simply went unnoticed.
It was these overheard words that, like a cold thunderclap, mercilessly cleaved a corner of his world. He learned with horror the mysterious and heavy past identity that Yakushi Nonou carried, and the enormous threat that bound her like shackles.
To protect the only light in his heart, young Kabuto Yakushi made a heart-wrenching choice. He "betrayed" his orphanage companions with whom he had spent every day and resolutely stepped into Root, that deep and ruthless intelligence organization.
His only humble wish was to sacrifice himself so that Nono could break free from the shackles of fate as soon as possible.
As for his own safety and future, he had long since disregarded them.
Tragically, on the chessboard of the top echelons, he was nothing more than an insignificant pawn, easily discarded, and received no attention whatsoever.
His undercover career began hastily amidst indifference and exploitation.
Soon after, the war between Konoha and Kumogakure broke out.
Kabuto Yakushi felt little attachment to the village that had raised him but failed to offer him any warmth.
The only guiding light in his heart was always Yakushi Nonou.
Knowing full well that a nun's duty would prevent her from being pushed to the front lines of war, he remained indifferent to the course of the war, focusing solely on completing his own mission.
With the war over, communication gradually resumed smoothly.
However, a bombshell message from a foreign land plunged him into unprecedented confusion and turmoil: the Root organization he belonged to had been wiped out before the war even broke out!
He had previously attributed all the interruptions to the strict wartime communication blockade, but now it was due to the destruction of his roots! This was as if the very foundation of his existence had been removed.
Return to Konoha? Would there be a place for him there?
Root is a clandestine organization, and he might just be an unregistered individual whose existence would be completely unknown to the Konoha leadership.
A profound sense of loss and panic overwhelmed him.
Ultimately, he chose to return to the Land of Fire, not to go directly back to Konoha, but to search for accurate information about Yakushi Nonou on this land and to investigate the truth behind the Root's destruction.
However, the shadows of the Roots were too deep, and even the Land of Fire found it difficult to uncover the full details.
Or perhaps too few people know the roots of the business, and no one cares about their news at all!
During this aimless search, a shocking piece of news came his way: Yakushi Nonou, whom he had been longing for, had not returned to Konoha, but had instead been spotted in the distant and inconspicuous Yukigami Village!
Snow Village? Kabuto Yakushi felt a sense of absurd confusion and unease.
Given Konoha's formidable strength, it would never be so destitute as to need to send important Anbu elites to Yukigami Village on a mission. Such an undercover operation would be utterly devoid of strategic significance.
Moreover, how could the other party's message reach the Land of Fire? This illogical situation can only point to one thing: Yakushi Nonou is caught in some unimaginable trouble or danger.
Confusion and doubts arose, but after confirming the accuracy of the information, all hesitation was instantly replaced by determination.
Without hesitation, Kabuto Yakushi changed direction, his gaze fixed firmly on the snow-covered Land of Snow, and sped towards the Snow Village.
Even if it's a perilous situation, a life-or-death struggle, he will go without hesitation.
At this moment, he had only one belief in his heart.
Find her, find out the truth, and do everything in your power to rescue her from that unknown danger!
Snow Village, a village perpetually covered in ice and snow, appears exceptionally mysterious at this moment.
In the boundless white world, countless discordant black spots are quietly lurking in the shadows of the eaves of houses throughout the village, in the gaps between icy branches, and in the dead corners formed by icicles. These are the crows sent out by Gen Takuno.
Ever since he intentionally leaked information about Yakushi Nonou, these black eyes have been like moving shadows, silently monitoring every corner of Yukinin Village and capturing any subtle movements below.
Why not just entrust this task to Yukino? Minamoto Takuno had his own plans.
He didn't really trust the basic qualities of these Snow Ninjas; he trusted these almost silent birds he had tamed more than he trusted them.
However, reality is as clear as this biting cold wind.
In this absolutely dominant white world, the deep black of the crow, no matter how cleverly it hides, still stands out too much. For those who are interested, it is not difficult to detect its presence.
Yuan Tuoye was well aware of the situation, but he chose to take a gamble.
He was betting on the deep bond between Yakushi Kabuto and his adoptive mother, Yakushi Nonou, a bond strong enough to transcend life and death.
Even if there were mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, as long as there was even the slightest clue about Nono, this young man would definitely rush in, even if he discovered that the entire village was already filled with crows' spies.
Gen Takuno's judgment was absolutely correct; Yakushi Kabuto had indeed already spotted the crows that looked like black stains in the snow.
Their very existence was a silent warning, but he could not stop. In order to find news of Nono, he was willing to risk his life.
At this moment, a snow ninja who had just left the village became his replacement.
Kabuto Yakushi used his flawless transformation technique to impersonate the ninja and silently infiltrated the heart of the Snow Village.
His steps were cautious and precise, his eyes quickly scanning the familiar buildings, trying to pinpoint the location where Nono might be detained as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, the moment he took his first step, cold gazes were already focused on him, and he had fallen into the invisible net woven by the crows.
Yuan Tuoye's arrangements were meticulous; he had already strictly ordered all the Snow Ninja to report to their leader, Feng Hua Nutao, the moment they returned to the village.
The "Snow Ninja" in front of them, who was actually Kabuto Yakushi in disguise, not only returned with unusual speed, but also showed no intention of reporting for duty.
Most fatally, his eager, searching posture, looking around, contrasted sharply with the mechanical rigidity of a true Snow Ninja carrying out orders, like a firefly in the dark, impossible to hide.
Soon, one of the crows flapped its wings and flew away from its post.
Upon receiving the alert, Yuan Tuoye appeared unhurriedly. His figure appeared at a nearby high point, and his sharp gaze pierced through the wind and snow, landing on the figure below who was still anxiously searching.
He slightly raised his hand, his fingertips gently brushing the feathers of the crow standing still on his shoulder.
A silent command was issued, and the black messenger swooped down like an arrow, precisely targeting the imposter.
call!
A dark shadow flashed past! Kabuto's pupils contracted sharply, and his forehead instantly broke out in a fine layer of cold sweat.
The thought pierced my mind like an ice pick: "We've been exposed!"
In that moment of shock and horror, his eyes met those of the crow that was hovering with its wings flapping.
Those eyes belonging to the ninja crow were now glowing with a blood-red light that was chilling!
hum.
Without warning, the scene before Kabuto's eyes collapsed and then reassembled!
The frigid snow village has vanished, replaced by a warm, tranquil, and all-too-familiar corner of Konoha.
His adoptive mother, Yakushi Nonou, was smiling gently at him, as if she had never left.
Everything felt so real, fragments of the home I cherished deepest in my heart.
"It's an illusion!" Kabuto Yakushi was fully conscious. This wasn't a particularly sophisticated illusion, and he had the ability to break free instantly.
But the sudden warmth made his movements slightly hesitant.
"Do you like this kind of life?" A calm, unwavering voice suddenly rang in his ears.
The pharmacist was shocked and suddenly turned his head!
In this illusory world he had longed to create from the depths of his heart, a figure wearing a mysterious fox mask had quietly appeared beside him.
There was no answer; Yakushi Kabuto's eyes instantly filled with unprecedented vigilance and solemnity.
The arrival of the illusion is the strongest proof that I was exposed long ago! The other side used Nono as bait, but their real target was me!
Confusion clung to his thoughts like a poisonous vine. Why? He was just an insignificant intelligence officer in Konoha, a pawn who could be discarded at any time.
His insignificant intelligence-gathering abilities? His negligible medical ninjutsu? Or this awkward status as a discarded pawn? What could possibly be worth the elaborate schemes and traps employed to capture him?
His gaze was fixed on the fox mask. A series of fragmented pieces of information flashed through Kabuto's mind like lightning: the figure who had traversed the battlefields between Konoha and Kumogakure, the powerful figure who could face the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and gain the upper hand—
A name is about to emerge.
"You are—a collector?!" Kabuto Yakushi's voice was hoarse with a hint of uncertainty.
He recognized the other person, but he was even more confused.
A powerful figure like the "Collector," who seems to stand on the clouds, schemes and plots only to capture himself.
This is absolutely absurd!
What hidden value does he possess that even he himself is unaware of?
The ambiguous wanted poster issued by Kumogakure after the war hinted that the "Collector" was a hidden force in Konoha.
Kabuto Yakushi had also tended to believe this deduction, but now, the other party was clearly the supreme ruler of this Snow Country Village after its demise.
If he is from Konoha, why would he flee to this desolate and cold place to hide?
If not, then what earth-shattering secret is he plotting in this remote corner?
And what role do I play in this grand game of chess?
The layers of questions piled up, giving Pharmacist Kabuto an unprecedented feeling of suffocation and foreboding.
"Would you like to go see her?"
Yuan Tuoye asked, and as he did, the intricate illusion that enveloped the surroundings silently crumbled and dissipated, as if it had never existed, and the surrounding scenery instantly returned to its real texture.
A brief silence etched deep thoughts onto the face of the pharmacist.
But in the end, these chaotic thoughts were suppressed by a stronger idea: he wanted to see Yakushi Nonou and confirm her safety.
He took a deep breath, and when he spoke again, his voice carried an undeniable firmness as he nodded forcefully.
Even if there is an unknown abyss ahead, as long as he can see that she is safe and sound, this is his only and most important goal at this moment.
Takuno's sharp gaze caught every subtle change in Yakushi Kabuto's expression, from wariness to...
The struggle eventually solidified into a determination to protect.
A knowing glint flashed in his eyes. He didn't say anything, but simply turned around naturally and walked steadily toward the orphanage along the familiar path.
When Kabuto saw Takuno Minamoto's seemingly unguarded back, he froze for a moment.
"----Um."
He habitually assessed the possibility of escape or resistance, his fingertips even twitching unconsciously.
However, the unguarded yet powerful figure of Yuan Tuono, like an invisible mountain, quickly calmed him down.
He knew that in the face of such an overwhelming gap in strength, any attempt to hide anything would be a futile struggle, and might even backfire.
He forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart, choosing to conceal all his sharpness and vigilance, like the most obedient follower, following closely behind that unfathomable figure.
Yuan Tuoye, walking slowly ahead, didn't need to turn around to take in Yakushi Kabuto's momentary hesitation and final obedience.
A barely perceptible smile quietly curved the corners of his mouth.