Naruto: Konoha’s Trickster, Starting as the Seven-Tails Jinchūriki Chapter 420: Nonō Yakushi

"Kids, when soone gives you a gift, what do you say?"

Nonō didn't respond to Kazuyama Gekkō directly. Instead, she smiled softly at the children crowding around the bag of snacks.

The kids quickly turned to him and called out together:

"Thank you, uncle!"

"Thanks for the gifts, uncle!"

Kazuyama's mouth twitched. Uncle?

He was only in his twenties—how the hell did he beco an uncle already?

"Uh... go ahead and enjoy your snacks. I need to talk with your headmistress for a bit."

"Can we have so privacy?"

The kids, thrilled with their haul, happily scattered and left the living room.

Now only Nonō Yakushi and Kazuyama remained.

"The children are gone. So let's get to the real reason you're here."

"I'm not with Root, and I'm not here on Danzō's behalf."

"So there's no need to be on guard. You know who I am—I'm not one of those who lurk in the shadows to threaten people."

Right off the bat, Kazuyama tried to ease her nerves. He needed her to work with Orochimaru willingly, not like so lifeless puppet.

"Then why are you looking for ?"

"You should know I've left the village. I'm just a headmistress now, nothing more."

Nonō was every bit the elite spy she once was—her tone remained calm, her expression unreadable, but her guard was up.

Kazuyama spoke slowly.

"I'm here because I need your help. You may have left the village, but your skills haven't left you. I want you to leave the Land of Fire with , head to the Land of Waterfalls."

"My sensei, Orochimaru, is there now. He ntioned you. Said you're an outstanding dical-nin—and he hopes you'll beco his assistant."

Nonō's brows furrowed.

"Orochimaru? His research has always danced on the edge of the forbidden. I don't want any part of that."

Her response made Kazuyama pause for a mont.

She adjusted her glasses and continued,

"I may have left the village, but gathering intel is still second nature to ."

"Orochimaru betrayed Konoha for the sake of those experints. I don't believe following him will lead anywhere good."

"Soone willing to conduct that kind of research... heh."

Her cold laughter made Kazuyama scratch his head awkwardly.

He hadn't expected her to be this inford.

Still, a mission from Orochimaru was a mission he wasn't planning to fail.

"You really think that old bastard Danzō is going to just leave you alone?"

"The war might look calm on the surface, but that's all it is—surface."

"At the last council eting, Danzō was pushing hard to keep attacking Iwa and Kiri."

"Do you really think he's going to ignore soone like you—a forr intelligence asset?"

"And when that ti cos... what do you think will happen to this orphanage?"

Was it a threat? Maybe. But Kazuyama was just telling it like it was.

After all, that's exactly how Danzō operated in the original story—everyone was just a tool to him.

Nonō's face darkened instantly.

Others might not know Danzō, but she did.

As a forr mber of Root, she knew full well how dark that place was—and how ruthless that man could be.

If he ca after her again... these children wouldn't be safe.

"I really like these kids. I'm sure my sensei will too."

"He's been alone in Takigakure all this ti. I'm afraid he might die of loneliness. You'd be his assistant, and the children—his students."

"Don't worry, the Orochimaru you know isn't the sa Orochimaru anymore."

"I can guarantee that."

Kazuyama leaned back comfortably in his chair, waiting for Nonō Yakushi's reply.

She stayed quiet for a long ti, her eyes flickering across Kazuyama as if trying to gauge the truth behind his words.

Finally, she let out a quiet sigh.

"And how am I supposed to believe that Orochimaru has really changed?"

"You do realize your sensei used to be part of Root, right? He might've defected, but he walked the sa darkness I did. Why should I trust soone like that?"

Kazuyama straightened up, energized by her response. He needed to clear his teacher's na.

"Orochimaru-sensei is focused on legitimate ninjutsu developnt now. He's building his own school of thought—sothing entirely his own. These kids would thrive under his guidance."

"Well, the aesthetics of his techniques might be... a little creepy, haha."

"But as for the forbidden stuff—that's his own business. What I can promise is that you and these children will be safe. That much, I can guarantee."

Kazuyama had already scoped out the room earlier—there was no sign of Kabuto Yakushi among the children.

It seed his interference had already set events on a new, unpredictable path.

Nonō took off her glasses and rubbed her temples.

"Takigakure, huh... Never thought Orochimaru would choose there. I figured it'd be sowhere more neutral—like the Land of Rice Fields."

Kazuyama chuckled.

"For soone like Orochimaru, the country doesn't really matter."

"So? What do you say, Director? Will you accept my invitation and take these kids away from the chaos of the Land of Fire?"

To be honest, his words had struck a chord with her.

Leaving the Land of Fire might be the only way to truly escape Root and Danzō.

But what about the kids? They were so young—how could she move them safely across such a vast country?

Seeing the hesitation in her eyes, Kazuyama cut straight to the point.

"I know what you're worried about. But we're not sneaking out. There are towns nearby—we'll just hire a caravan."

"I'm sure my sensei will cover the expenses."

"As for departure, that's up to you. Of course, the sooner the better. I've got other missions to take care of."

Nonō gave a nod to show she understood.

"I'll speak to the children now. It'll take a little ti to pack. Let's leave first thing tomorrow morning."

"We'll head out at dawn, but the caravan's on you."

Kazuyama was pleased with the result. After leaving behind a marked kunai, he headed back into town to handle the transportation.

...

The next day, Nonō Yakushi arrived in town with the children.

Seeing their wide-eyed curiosity, Kazuyama opened his wallet again and bought them a heap of snacks for the road.

And so, with a hired convoy, Kazuyama set off escorting Nonō and the children toward the Land of Waterfalls.

...

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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