A friend of Kabuto's…?
As a former elite operative of ROOT during the war era—and someone who had earned the title Wandering Shrine Maiden—Yakushi Nono knew exactly how significant that line was.
Uzumaki Kong.
Even if he wasn't directly under the Fourth Hokage's ANBU, he was clearly connected to the Fourth in some way.
Otherwise, he would never have spoken to Kabuto at the orphanage entrance earlier.
That conversation, if overheard by Danzō or Orochimaru, could have become leverage against the orphanage—something that cut both ways.
Yet in the end, Kong had still come back to her and offered advice, revealing his stance.
Kakashi…?
During the Kannabi Bridge battle, Konoha had produced two Sharingan heroes—
one was Uchiha Obito,
the other was Hatake Kakashi.
The Fourth Hokage's disciple.
And a member of his personal anbu.
Hokage Tower
Standing before the Fourth Hokage, Nono listened quietly as Kakashi reported everything in detail.
"The situation is as follows," Kakashi said calmly.
"The orphanage director stated that Lord Danzō used both funding and the children as leverage, forcing her to rejoin ROOT and participate in intelligence operations."
"The individual who clashed with Lord Danzō and Lord Orochimaru was a red-haired man who used Flying Thunder God. The formula carved into his kunai bore the name: Uzumaki Kong."
Minato glanced at the Flying Thunder God kunai Kakashi had handed him.
The formula carved into it was extremely similar to his own.
Blade of Ninja Love — Uzumaki Kong.
The man who had once traded with him a year ago…
The one who had intercepted Obito mid-transport and severed his arm using Flying Thunder God…
They were almost certainly the same person.
This conclusion had already been reached a year earlier.
And over the past year, intelligence on this man had been steadily compiled.
Minato pulled out a summarized report—
red hair, Flying Thunder God, average physical strength, confirmed killed multiple times… yet repeatedly reappearing.
Was that shadow from back then… immortal?
"One year ago, Captain Fugaku—" Kakashi began.
Minato gently shook his head.
"No. My conclusion hasn't changed."
"If Uzumaki Kong had intended to rescue the masked man, he could have done so the moment he severed the arm. Flying Thunder God would have allowed it."
"And at the police headquarters, I sensed no residual space–time ninjutsu."
"Call it intuition… but I don't believe this person harbors hostility toward Konoha."
Kakashi nodded slightly, then glanced at Nono, signaling her to speak.
"Fourth Hokage, I—"
Minato raised a hand, stopping her gently, and smiled.
"The orphanage funding issue will be resolved soon. I will also issue a formal warning to ROOT."
"As for the orphanage's security…"
Seeing the hope in Nono's eyes, Minato hesitated.
The children in the orphanage weren't technically Konoha's children.
Most were war refugees.
Orochimaru's words had made this painfully clear—children of unknown origin were ideal experimental material.
And precisely because of that, assigning guards was complicated.
The war had ended not long ago—no one could be sure there weren't spies among them.
"Sensei," Kakashi added,
"Uzumaki Kong mentioned that he's friends with a child in the orphanage named Kabuto."
A friend…?
Minato's expression sharpened slightly.
That man—Uzumaki Kong—who seemed to possess knowledge bordering on foresight…
Kabuto was his friend?
After a moment's thought, Minato looked at Nono.
"I'll have Kakashi set up a sensory barrier around the orphanage."
"And you can hang this kunai from the dormitory's main beam. If anything happens, Kakashi will contact me immediately."
Nono was overwhelmed with gratitude. She bowed deeply.
"The children of the orphanage… will all be grateful to the Fourth Hokage."
Minato smiled softly.
"I was an orphan too. I understand how those children feel."
"As for the boy named Kabuto—once he's officially registered, let him enroll in the Ninja Academy. He'll be listed under Kakashi."
Minato turned to Kakashi.
"What do you think? The Hatake household has always been just you. A bit of liveliness wouldn't hurt, right?"
Kakashi froze.
He's assigning me a kid?!
He was about to refuse, but Minato continued calmly:
"Based on prior intelligence, ROOT and Orochimaru both seem interested in this child."
"And since Uzumaki Kong is his friend…"
So I'm supposed to protect him—and report if Kong appears, Kakashi realized instantly.
It seemed the existence of Uzumaki Kong weighed heavily on his teacher's mind.
This man had been tied to nearly every major event in Konoha over the past year.
Even the Fourth Hokage himself seemed eager to meet him again.
Kakashi and Nono departed.
Minato stood by the window, gazing out.
The scenes from that so-called Information Exchange a year ago replayed vividly in his mind.
That shadow… Uzumaki Kong…
I really do want to meet you again.
Even Mangekyō Sharingan space–time abilities hadn't been the final hand.
The existence that rescued Obito.
The existence that silently killed Fugaku.
Who… was truly pulling the strings?
"Knock, knock."
"Come in."
The door opened.
The Third Hokage entered, accompanied by Danzō and the two advisors.
"Regarding tonight's incident at the orphanage," Minato said directly,
"I believe ROOT owes me an explanation."
His gaze toward Danzō was cold and sharp.
The Third Hokage spoke up:
"It seems someone attacked Danzō and Orochimaru while they were negotiating orphanage funding."
"The disturbance wasn't large, but the attacker apparently used—"
"The one who attacked me," Danzō interrupted coldly,
"used the Fourth Hokage's signature technique—Flying Thunder God."
"On that point, I would also like an explanation from the Fourth."
Turning to Minato, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado exchanged glances before speaking.
"Flying Thunder God isn't a technique just anyone can learn," Koharu said.
"In all of Konoha's history, only the Second Hokage and the current Fourth have mastered it."
Homura added thoughtfully:
"We heard the Fourth was teaching this technique to his guards. Was that successful?"
Their words never directly accused Minato.
Yet every sentence circled the same core suspicion.
Since Minato's succession—and the Third's gradual withdrawal—the two elder advisors had begun to sense it:
Their authority was slipping away.
The Fourth Hokage was not on their side.
And unlike the Third, he was not their ally.
Power breeds darkness.
Long-held authority breeds desire.
After decades at the top, they could no longer bear to let go.
And in that sense—
Danzō suited their ambitions perfectly.
The Fourth Hokage did not.
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