Seeing a man and woman—a tall woman and shorter man—the ANBU operative in the distance hesitated before approaching.
Kyohiko stood up.
"Come over. We're done here."
"Yes, Rin-sama."
"Ryūzō, any results?"
Kyohiko asked.
The implication was clear—
No need for secrecy.
"Rin-sama, we probed three of their memories, but all we found were traces suggesting they were Danzo's operatives. Beyond that, their memories were… unnaturally blank."
Yamanaka Ryūzō reported.
"I recall your clan can delve deeper into memories?"
"We can, but given the state of their minds, it's risky. Lord Inoichi sent me to ask—should we proceed?"
Kyohiko fell silent.
True…
Memory-altering techniques were dangerous even for the Yamanaka. One misstep, and the interrogator could be lost in the target's psyche.
Mental damage was no trivial matter.
After a moment, he said, "Better safe than sorry. Tell Inoichi to stand down."
"Yes, sir!"
As Ryūzō left, Kyohiko smirked. "Interesting. They look like Danzo's men, they sound like Danzo's men…"
He turned to Nonō.
"Based on your experience, are they?"
"No. That man isn't so foolish. If this were truly his doing, these men wouldn't have been able to speak of him at all."
Nonō extended her tongue.
The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal.
Any attempt to reveal Danzo's secrets would trigger its backlash.
"Besides, Root doesn't operate this way."
"Exactly. So these aren't Danzo's people. Someone went to great lengths to create a batch of shinobi designed to frame him."
Kyohiko's tone was icy.
In the entire shinobi world, the number of individuals capable of such a scheme could be counted on one hand.
Just then, a panicked voice cut through the air.
"Rin-sama!"
"What now?"
Kyohiko turned.
"The five prisoners—they committed suicide! Inoichi-san and the others are injured!"
"Suicide?"
Kyohiko's brow furrowed.
A second later, he vanished.
---
Intelligence Division
Yamanaka Inoichi massaged his temples, eyes clouded with confusion.
When a figure flickered into existence before him, he didn't need to look up to know who it was.
"Senpai, what happened? I explicitly advised against taking risks."
Kyohiko took in their drained expressions. Clearly, they'd suffered severe mental recoil.
"I was withdrawing when we triggered some kind of memory seal."
Inoichi glanced at his clansmen. "Same for everyone?"
"Yes, Clan Head."
Their nods were sluggish.
Inoichi's voice turned grave. "These men were implanted with a technique targeting memory retrieval—almost as if designed specifically to counter our clan."
"Possible."
Kyohiko's frown deepened.
A mental jutsu tailored against the Yamanaka?
Nothing like this existed in the future he knew.
Had the butterfly effect already altered things so drastically?
Given the circumstances, his suspicions pointed squarely at Madara—or at least, someone under his influence.
Of course, without evidence, voicing such theories was pointless.
Kyohiko exhaled. "Rest and recover. Did the corpses yield anything? Any fragments of memory?"
"Scattered pieces. They were maritime shinobi—likely Mist-nin, but without definitive markers, we can't confirm."
Given that Konoha and Kirigakure were still technically at war, retaliation was feasible—but launching an assault into Water Country's hostile terrain would be unwise.
Kyohiko nodded. "Understood."
Kirigakure.
Madara's involvement grows more plausible.
Not that he could do anything about it. Even an aged Madara could likely crush him in his current state.
Discretion is the better part of valor.
He gestured to the bodies. "I'll have cleanup handled. Focus on recuperating."
"Understood."
---
Hokage's Office
"A memory-targeting technique?"
"More accurately, a mental trap. Unclear if it's a fuinjutsu or something else."
Kyohiko's expression was grim.
Tsunade drummed her fingers on the desk, then shot a sidelong glance at the old man beside her, her lip twitching.
Finally, she asked, "Sensei, any thoughts?"
"Never heard of such a jutsu. The Mist's secret techniques include nothing like this, though the Third Mizukage excelled in genjutsu and cursed seals. Could be an offshoot."
Hiruzen's brow creased as he shared his insights.
Kyohiko's eyes narrowed. "An experiment?"
"Possibly."
"If it was an experiment, how would the orchestrator verify its success?"
"He'd need to be observing in real-time."
Hiruzen caught on immediately—then stiffened. "But I detected no observers!"
"Could be an unknown stealth technique."
After a long pause, Tsunade interjected, "ANBU's stance?"
"Root's restructuring gutted our manpower. Rebuilding the intelligence network takes priority. No strikes against Kiri until then."
"Then fortify the eastern defenses. Prevent incursions while you reconstruct your network."
Her tone softened. "I trust your judgment."
Then she turned to Hiruzen, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "And you, old man—you and Danzo swore up and down the east was handled. Yet in the end, yours was the only front that didn't deliver?"
"…"
Hiruzen's face burned.
Truthfully, the eastern campaign had been grueling. Every day, he'd strategized how to turn the tide.
Yet the Mist had struck once and vanished, refusing prolonged engagement.
And the Third Kazekage's death at the frontlines?
That had upended all their plans.
No excuses, though. Results spoke for themselves.
Still…
One question gnawed at him.
"How did you awaken Wood Release?"
"His latent Senju lineage manifested, likely triggering the kekkei genkai. And it happened right before my eyes, so save your suspicions."
Tsunade's defense was razor-sharp.
Hiruzen's shock was palpable.
Senju traits awakening spontaneously?
Unprecedented. This was the first documented case.
But with Tsunade's endorsement, skepticism was futile—
The Wood Release experiments had yielded only one viable subject: Yamato. A fluke, impossible to replicate.
"Astonishing…"
He shook his head in awe.
Senju power, resurfacing generations later in Kyohiko.
Tsunade shrugged. "Not unheard of. Kekkei genkai sometimes skip generations, especially in mixed-blood descendants."
"Fair point."
Hiruzen conceded.
He turned to Kyohiko, sincerity bleeding into his tone. "You've spared Konoha immense losses. For that, you have my gratitude."
"Unnecessary. I acted for Konoha—not your thanks."
The dismissal was cold.
Hiruzen floundered for a response.
Tsunade cleared her throat.
"On another note—Nonō intends to return to her orphanage. I propose maintaining its current funding while appointing her as ANBU Intelligence Consultant."
"Your call. As for the orphanage…"
Tsunade tapped her chin. "Increase their stipend. She's taken in many additional children."
"I disagree."
Kyohiko's rebuttal was firm.
Tsunade blinked, caught off guard by Kyohiko's unexpected response.
"Why not?"
Hiruzen also turned to him with a questioning gaze.
From what he knew of Kyohiko, the boy didn't seem like the type to pinch pennies.
Kyohiko explained, "Funding follows standards—it shouldn't be swayed by personal biases. But we can offer them more opportunities. For example, those with medical ninjutsu basics could work at Konoha Hospital in support roles..."
His stance was clear:
Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
Handouts wouldn't sustain the orphanage long-term.
Tsunade fell into thought before nodding. "Go on."
Kyohiko continued, "We have many elderly and retired war veterans in the village. Extra, less-skilled medical-nin could be assigned to care for them—our honored heroes."
"I see your point now."
A smile spread across Tsunade's face. "We'll teach them while providing aid. Subtly instill Konoha's Will of Fire, turn them into one of us!"
Most orphans there weren't Konoha-born—
Konoha's own orphans were supported by the village until graduation.
These were war-displaced children with no known origins, no homes, often unaware of their parents. Normally, Konoha wouldn't take them in.
But…
If they grew up with a sense of belonging to Konoha…
Tsunade grinned. "Kyohiko, you've got a real knack for this!"
"A village's strength lies in its people."
Hiruzen's eyes gleamed with admiration.
This boy…
So young, yet already thinking like a Hokage.
Remarkable!
Still, concerns remained.
Suppressing his excitement, Hiruzen raised an objection.
"Your plan sounds idealistic. What if spies slip in? Or if their parents—foreign shinobi—come looking?"
"First-generation orphans undergo observation and screening. Their children, however, can enroll in the Academy."
Hiruzen countered, "That still indirectly increases village expenses. And unknown orphans could destabilize—"
"Enough! Sensei, need I remind you—I am the Hokage now?"
Tsunade's palm struck the desk as she rose, her expression stormy.
Hiruzen froze.
That line…
It took him a full three seconds to realize—
I used to say that to Danzo all the time.
His hand reflexively twitched toward his pipe before he caught himself. "If you believe it's viable, we can trial it. A few dozen orphans won't tip the scales."
"Exactly! Adaptability, sensei. Besides, we're short on medical staff, and that orphanage has been nurturing potential medics..."
Tsunade prattled on.
The headmistress—a former medic-nin surnamed Yakushi—had indeed been teaching basics there.
For Konoha, the risk was minimal. Just offering jobs.
Those children would never access classified intel.
Once approved, Kyohiko excused himself to resume intelligence network work.
---
ANBU Base
"The Fourth Hokage approved."
"Thank you, sir!"
Nonō's face lit up as she bowed repeatedly.
Kyohiko steadied her. "One more benefit. Your choice whether to accept."
"Please elaborate."
"You took the headmistress's surname, correct?"
"Yes."
"From now on, you may teach promising orphans medical basics. In return, they'll assist with elderly care and wounded veterans in Konoha..."
At first, Nonō was merely pleased.
Then, slowly, she grew moved.
"Captain… Did you propose this?"
"Having been an orphan myself, I understand war's cruelties. Perhaps children and elders can heal each other."
Kyohiko sighed—
Setting aside calculations, this was partly sincere.
Nonō bowed deeply. "On behalf of all the children—thank you!"
"Someday, they might become Konoha shinobi. Their children could enter the Academy… I hope they honor Headmistress Yakushi's efforts."
Trembling, eyes red but tearless, she whispered, "Sir… May I visit the orphanage first? I wish to share this news!"
"Of course. Need an escort?"
"No, it's nearby."
"Then let's use Flying Thunder God. Faster."
A few seconds of spatial stabilization later, they vanished.
---
After seeing Nonō off, Kyohiko exhaled.
Will this timeline still have a Yakushi Kabuto?
If so… May his childhood be happy, not tragic.
"Your interest in that woman seems… particular."
Orochimaru's voice slithered into his thoughts.
"She's a rare intel specialist. And those children are innocent."
Orochimaru smirked. "I've procured monkeys, apes, and those rats you mentioned. Lend me some personnel."
"Understood. Though it may take time—"
Kyohiko massaged his temples.
Research required medics—precisely what they lacked.
Orochimaru's brow furrowed. "Shortage?"
"Skilled medic-researchers are priceless. Hence why we must nurture more!"
Just then—
[System: For improving Konoha's orphan/welfare systems, social stability increased.]
[Reward: Yin Healing Wound Destruction (Beginner)]