As the first ninja village, Konoha had undergone multiple planning adjustments over the years, yet its districts remained quite complex.
Especially in the northern area, where many residential buildings dated back to the village's founding. Many of these structures held historical significance, and later generations were reluctant to alter them. As a result, the streets in this area were particularly intricate.
Kabuto wandered out of an alley and headed toward the commercial district.
Upon entering the shopping street, he first stopped by a pharmacy to buy some medicine.
On the surface, as a genin of Konoha, everything he did in the daylight aligned with this identity.
Of course, to make things easier for his work, he had crafted a persona—a standout among genin, someone eligible to participate in the joint Chunin Exams.
He had already taken the Chunin Exams multiple times.
Orochimaru's orders had arrived. This time, he was to participate again.
As a seasoned spy, he knew this was probably his last attempt.
It was normal for a genin to fail the Chunin Exams. However, failing multiple times while managing to stay alive was suspicious. And if he always chose to forfeit before the individual matches, fear alone would no longer be a reasonable excuse.
Kabuto knew he was already on Konoha's watchlist.
But he was confident he would be able to participate in this exam. Currently, the authority to capture spies within the village lay in the hands of the Police Force.
In recent years, he could clearly feel that he was being watched—but only watched.
That didn't quite match the Police Force's usual style.
That group of red-eyed enforcers had clashed with the ANBU frequently since the Third Hokage's time. If they suspected him, why would they only observe?
Several times, he had prepared for an escape, yet nothing ever came of it.
Clearly, this was the Uchiha clan sending him a warning.
Thus, during his time in Konoha, he had always avoided sensitive areas related to the Police Force.
But this time was different. Orochimaru had given an order, and he would execute it without fail.
Kabuto didn't know why Orochimaru, who had been engrossed in his research and had maintained a relatively smooth relationship with the Uchiha clan, suddenly took on such a mission. But for the person who had given his life meaning, Kabuto would carry out his orders without question.
Even though, from his perspective, the plan didn't seem particularly worthwhile.
Oto would lose its current secrecy, and Orochimaru's true role as its leader would be exposed. The alliance with Konoha would be completely severed.
That wasn't the main concern—just that future operations would inevitably face more obstacles.
When he defected, he instantly became a hot commodity in the ninja world. Various nations extended olive branches, hoping to recruit the formidable rogue ninja.
In the end, he ignored them all and chose to act on his own.
Those nations didn't make a fuss about it, but given the chance, they would certainly try to trip him up.
But all of that was trivial. Since Orochimaru had already decided, Kabuto would follow through.
It was a pity, though—he truly had to leave this village.
He had secretly returned to the orphanage he once belonged to a few times. But upon realizing that its caretakers were now his childhood playmates, he had never gone back again.
He was indeed uncertain about his own identity, but that had nothing to do with them. He was a dangerous person, and he could only associate with those who were equally dangerous.
Thinking about what was in the base, Kabuto felt that Orochimaru was about to make some big waves.
But… could that thing really succeed?
The sacrifices had already been chosen. They would participate in the exam as Oto's candidates.
Kabuto wasn't particularly worried—just hoped that things wouldn't backfire.
Upon returning to his rented apartment, Kabuto placed his newly bought supplies on the table, then walked over to the window, opening it to let the breeze in.
Looking out, he could see the outline of the Hokage Rock in the distance.
His gaze settled on one particularly distinct face.
That was his highest-priority target.
Knock, knock.
A knock came from the door.
Kabuto retracted his gaze from the window, turned around, and walked to the door, opening it.
"Hello."
Standing at the door was a cheerful young man holding a food box. "Are you Kabuto?"
"Yes, that's me."
"Alright, here's your ramen."
After settling the bill with the delivery man, Kabuto gave him a warm, friendly smile and watched him leave before closing the door.
He then walked into the kitchen and opened the food box.
The ramen was still steaming hot. It even came with complimentary snacks and utensils. No doubt, all of it had been inspected.
He carried the ramen to the dining table and began eating at a leisurely pace.
Once he finished, he cleaned up, packed the used dishes back into the food box, and placed it by the door.
The delivery person would come back later to retrieve it.
The message had been delivered.
Their allies were bold, indeed.
But this was likely spurred by the news that Masashi had returned to the village.
The graves of past Hokage were one of the few places in Konoha still guarded by the ANBU.
There, alongside the former Hokage, lay the remains of the Senju clan members. That place had originally been the Senju family's cemetery.
Some were buried for real, while others only had memorial cenotaphs.
The most famous cenotaph belonged to Muzo—though its fame was limited to only the highest-ranking individuals.
For ordinary ninjas, knowing the names of the past Hokage was already impressive enough.
The history of the shinobi world was something only clan-born ninjas typically bothered to learn.
Kabuto had nothing to do with any ninja clan, but Orochimaru was well-versed in both ancient and modern matters. So whatever Kabuto needed to know, he had learned.
He was well aware of the dangers surrounding the Senju burial grounds.
But in the end, a thief from within is the hardest to guard against. Although the ANBU had undergone many personnel changes, Orochimaru still had informants among them.
And the time was set for tonight.
The allies would demonstrate their sincerity by drawing the attention of the security forces.
However, in Kabuto's view, those so-called allies probably wouldn't be of much use. The moment they acted, they would be swiftly dealt with by the security forces, who were now far superior in both scale and quality compared to the past.
Ultimately, he had to handle things himself.
Kabuto closed the door to his apartment and headed downstairs.
Walking through the streets, he exchanged greetings with his neighbors—not overly enthusiastic, yet not distant either. By all appearances, he was just an ordinary genin in active duty.
However, his every move was being monitored.
Across the street, a Hyūga ninja was using the Byakugan to keep a close watch on him.
He didn't even miss the moment Kabuto slurped his ramen in his apartment.
This guy… his life is seriously boring…
The Hyūga ninja was watching intently, but that didn't stop him from mentally complaining.
Still, despite his complaints, he remained vigilant.
The Byakugan was said to see through everything, but it couldn't truly reveal all secrets.
For instance, chakra.
As long as it was actively refined, the Byakugan could see it clearly. But if someone simply didn't refine any chakra, then there was nothing to see.
Kabuto had always displayed the chakra level of a mid-tier chunin while in Konoha.
As he left the neighborhood, the Hyūga ninja followed.
Two hours later, another security force ninja arrived to take over the watch, allowing the Hyūga ninja to take a break.
Meanwhile, Kabuto continued presenting the same dull, uneventful life of a genin to his new observer.
By evening, he even completed a D-rank mission—visiting an orphanage to help take care of the children.
His watcher almost felt embarrassed.
After all, this guy had lived like this for years. The worst things he had ever done were minor acts of opportunism, while the good deeds he had performed were numerous. And it didn't even seem like he was putting on a show—he simply did them.
Any random genin could have the same kind of life.
As the current observer's shift ended, he patted his stomach and went off to eat, leaving the surveillance to the next shift.
At this time, Kabuto also returned to his apartment.
As the sun set, artificial lights illuminated Konoha. Kabuto's room was also brightly lit. He exercised, then read a book. Later, he went downstairs for a jog around the neighborhood. When he returned home, he took a bath and then sat in an adjacent room to practice chakra control.
At this point, his observer grew more focused.
What they didn't know was that the real Kabuto was no longer there.
---
The burial site was located in the northern district.
Initially, only the Senju clan and the Uchiha had relocated to this area, both clans believing it would be their eternal home.
Where the living settled, the dead would follow.
However, their relationship was never warm enough to warrant "love each other even after death," so the Senju and Uchiha graves were separate from the beginning.
The Senju burial grounds were built along the mountainside, facing south. A ceremonial platform was set up for ancestral offerings.
After the Senju clan withdrew from the scene, the burial site became recognized as the final resting place for past Hokage. The ANBU, assigned by the Hokage's office, took over its management.
Their primary concern was grave robbing.
The bodies of past Hokage contained too many secrets.
That was also why Danzō had been taken down so easily—not just because he tampered with the First Hokage's remains, but because he was the leader of Root, a high-ranking ANBU official.
Someone in his position should never have been involved in such matters.
Root was now gone, but the ANBU remained, continuing their duties of guarding the burial site and conducting periodic tributes.
Under the cover of night, Kabuto appeared on the eastern side of the Senju burial grounds.
To infiltrate the site unnoticed, he had first taken a long detour, climbed up the cliffs, and then descended along the mountainside.
Upon landing, he immediately concealed himself behind a rock formation.
Over time, he had familiarized himself with the ANBU's patrol routines and operational patterns at the burial site.
The ANBU, always masked and cloaked in black, certainly maintained secrecy—but that also made it easier for him to exploit gaps.
Every single one of Orochimaru's remaining informants in Konoha was embedded within the ANBU.
Kabuto often found this irony rather amusing.
But to be fair, the ANBU had always been this way.
In the past, Root had been different. Every core member had been personally recruited by Danzō, each one fitting into an exact role. It was nearly impossible to infiltrate.
But now, he was gone.
Without Danzō, the ANBU of Konoha was indeed more disciplined—but perhaps too disciplined.
From the perspective of the Hokage's administration, the new ANBU was excellent: obedient and no longer divided into factions.
However, from the viewpoint of Konoha's enemies, the dissolution of Root had weakened the ANBU's mobility and response capabilities. Though still formidable, they were now easier to deal with than before.
To a seasoned spy like Kabuto, the ANBU remained strong, but their methods were rigid.
He curled himself into the shadows, silently waiting for the patrolling ninja to appear.
After a long while, a squad of ANBU passed through.
He didn't move.
Even more time passed before a head slowly emerged from the ground, scanning the surroundings before cautiously climbing out.
Using Earth Release in this area was tricky—too shallow, and one might crash into a coffin; too deep, and it became impossible to sense what was happening on the surface.
For the patrolling ANBU guarding this graveyard, their task was a tedious one.
A sensory-type ninja would have made things much easier, but such shinobi were rare in the ANBU. The Senju graveyard had only one, solely responsible for detecting unfamiliar chakra signatures.
Just as one of the patrolling ANBU was about to move to a new position, he suddenly felt his body go numb—completely unresponsive.
He collapsed.
Before losing consciousness, he caught a glimpse of a figure crouching by the rock wall, dressed just like him.
Before he could think further, darkness took over.
Kabuto caught the fallen ANBU and hid him in the very spot he had just been guarding.
The drug would keep him unconscious for a full day.
He would likely be discovered within minutes, but that was enough time for Kabuto to complete his mission.
Slipping away, Kabuto moved toward the rendezvous point at the agreed-upon time.
According to his informant's intel, he had never used chakra throughout the operation. Even subduing the ANBU had been done purely with drugs.
The timing of the ambush was carefully calculated—the duration of the ANBU's watch coincided perfectly with the time required for the drug to take effect.
The Senju graveyard, with its long history, was anything but orderly. The Senju of the past had been carefree, and during the First Great Ninja War, a large number of fallen soldiers had been buried here in a hurry. Some graves had trees growing over them, their headstones nearly fused with the trunks.
This meant the area wasn't wide open. As long as Kabuto didn't use chakra, he wouldn't be noticed in the short term.
Unless, of course, he decided to start dancing in front of the graves of the First and Second Hokage.
As planned, he arrived at an inconspicuous grave.
It was a simple one, likely belonging to an ordinary member of the Senju clan.
The headstone bore only a name—no titles.
Even the name was barely legible under layers of dust.
The era of the Senju had long faded. Aside from the two Hokage, few in the village still remembered the great warriors of the past.
Kabuto waited by the gravestone.
Glancing at the headstone, he suddenly crouched down and brushed away the thick dust, revealing the name beneath.
"What are you doing?"
Hearing the voice behind him, he remained calm. He stood up naturally, dusted off his hands, then patted the dirt from his pants before turning around.
An ANBU stood before him, eyes cold.
"Do you know this person?"
"No. The name was covered."
Behind his mask, the ANBU's face showed confusion.
What the hell was this spy from Orochimaru thinking?
Was he an idiot? The ANBU didn't care about someone who had been dead for decades, yet this undercover agent was cleaning the grave like it was his long-lost ancestor.
Something was wrong with his head.
"Here. Take this. I'm done with Orochimaru," the ANBU said, handing Kabuto a sealed scroll.
"Aren't you afraid of giving it to the wrong person?" Kabuto asked with a sudden spark of curiosity. "What if I were an actual ANBU?"
"Then you'd just be out of luck," the man replied coldly. "As an ANBU jonin, I have every right to eliminate suspicious individuals."
"You're quite bold. Staying in Konoha seems like a waste of your talents."
"You talk too much. I told you, we're done. If I see you again, I'll kill you."
"Understood. I'll pass that message to Orochimaru-sama." Unbothered by the threat, Kabuto responded politely.
After all, it wasn't often one met a jonin who could deceive even himself so thoroughly. Killing him would be a waste.
The two then parted ways.
By the time Kabuto returned to his apartment, it was already past midnight.
His watcher was still there, but Kabuto walked right past him without concern.
A glance.
Sharingan.
Unfortunately, he didn't know the man's identity.
Inside his apartment, Kabuto secured the scroll.
It couldn't be delivered immediately. He would have to wait until Orochimaru arrived in Konoha to hand it over personally.
With everything settled, he washed up and climbed into bed.
Tomorrow would be a lively day.
With that thought, Kabuto turned over and fell into a peaceful sleep.
---
Meanwhile, at the Senju graveyard, chaos erupted.
The unconscious ANBU had been discovered, shocking the patrol leader.
His first order of business was to have every grave thoroughly inspected.
Before the tombstones of Hashirama and Tobirama, a squad leader of the graveyard patrol stood with a large group of ANBU, their expressions grim.
Naturally, the graves of the two Hokage were the top priority for inspection, and their security had to be of the highest level.
"Report!"
"Skip the report, just tell me the result!"
"Yes! There are no signs of tampering at the graves of the two Hokage."
"???"
Unwilling to believe it, the ANBU squad captain personally checked again, only to confirm that there was indeed nothing wrong. The graves had not been disturbed.
Despite his deep skepticism, he didn't dare suggest digging them up just to be sure. Instead, he could only order a continued inspection of the other graves.
After an entire night of searching, dawn arrived, and the ANBU were forced to accept a baffling fact—only one gravestone had been wiped clean.
No one could make sense of it.
Knocking out an ANBU guard clearly indicated the intruder was an enemy.
But after all that, their only action was… cleaning a single gravestone of an ordinary Senju clan member?
Who would believe that?
"Could it have been someone from the Senju clan?" someone suddenly asked.
"Why would a Senju clan member knock out an ANBU? If they wanted access, they could have just informed the Hokage. Would he really deny them entry?"
"Enough arguing!" The ANBU squad captain waved his hand impatiently. Of everyone here, he was the most frustrated. "I'll report this to the Hokage. You all hold the scene."
After instructing his subordinates, he left the graveyard and headed straight for the Hokage's office.
As he departed, one of the remaining ANBU watched him go, a hint of contempt flashing through his eyes.
What a useless fool… The jonin sighed inwardly.
He missed the days when Danzō was in charge. Back then, the ANBU weren't invincible, but at least they weren't this pathetic.
The current ANBU irritated him to no end—partly because of their approach and partly because he had been assigned to such a mundane task.
I'm a jonin. Shouldn't I be out fighting? Why am I stuck babysitting a bunch of corpses?
The Fourth Hokage? What a joke. Without people like us doing the dirty work, where would his shining reputation come from?
Ridiculous.
Despite his resentment, the jonin still led his subordinates in securing the scene.
The chunin's efforts were pointless—it was all just for show.
So easily fooled. The ANBU had truly fallen.
And yet, he felt no joy in the success of this infiltration. If the ANBU had even given him a sliver of hope, he wouldn't have sided with Orochimaru.
At least working with the Sannin gave him a taste of the old days.
---
At the Hokage's office, Minato had just finished the breakfast his wife had packed for him and was preparing to start his workday.
The towering pile of documents on his desk was something he had grown used to over the years, but he still found it unsettling.
Why did the Third Hokage never seem to have this many documents on his desk?
He had delegated responsibilities too.
Important documents were supposed to be the only ones reaching him, yet somehow, everything still ended up here.
"Sigh…" Minato let out a tired sigh as he tidied up his lunchbox and sat at his desk. Picking up the first document of the day, he took a look.
Oh, a request for additional budget allocations.
It lacked Masashi's signature—meaning it was most likely a fraudulent request. They really had the audacity to submit this without his approval?
Finding the note from the administrative department head requesting authorization, Minato circled his name, drew a line to the signature section, and wrote "To be discussed later." Then, he placed it in the box labeled "Discuss."
He liked handling these types of requests—no need to read them in full.
The second document wasn't a funding request, which slightly disappointed him.
It was an application for temporary residency from a group of merchants.
He read it carefully.
Ah, gambling businesses. They were here for the Chunin Exams.
The proposed tax rate looked reasonable, so he approved it with a note: Handled by the administrative department with ANBU cooperation, following regulations.
Then, he placed it in the "Approved" box.
Just as he reached for the third document, a knock came at the door.
"Come in," Minato said.
Man, reviewing documents is a tough job—I always get interrupted.
"Hokage-sama."
The person entering was one of his personal guards.
"Genma? What is it?" Minato asked, surprised.
Genma, along with Raidō and Iwashi, were his elite bodyguards, each possessing excellent spatial awareness. Minato had even developed the special Flying Thunder Formation Technique for them.
"Yes. The ANBU guarding the Hokage tombs just reported an intrusion last night."
Recalling the captain's report, Genma found it just as baffling.
"But… nothing was disturbed. The intruder only wiped a single gravestone."
"Huh?"
---
Interested in a Naruto story with a Yamanaka being the MC?
Naruto: The Yamanaka Puppeteer
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