Kapitel 148: Chapter 147: The Walking Priestess

"When you manage to extract chakra and learn the sensory ninjutsu I taught you, you'll realize whether what I said is true. The orphanage is far more complex than you think."

After saying this, Byakuya's voice gradually faded until it disappeared into the corner of the room.

Kabuto was no longer surprised by such scenes, but he was deeply intrigued by the sensory ninjutsu Byakuya left behind.

While he firmly believed that the head of the orphanage was a truly good person, he couldn't help but wonder if she was a ninja and if the orphanage was indeed a training facility for some department in Konoha. Byakuya had made a good point: where had all the children who had grown up in the orphanage gone? The children raised by the head couldn't all be ungrateful that they wouldn't even consider paying a visit, and the fact that none had returned to visit spoke volumes.

Kabuto opened the scroll containing the sensory ninjutsu and began studying it.

This was his first time learning ninjutsu, and just by looking at the words, he felt as though they had a magical pull, urging him to read on.

After finishing the scroll, Kabuto formed the necessary hand signs to enhance his sensory abilities.

Through the sensory ninjutsu, Kabuto sensed the chakra within himself. Chakra was the product of combining spiritual and physical energy, the foundation for using ninjutsu and enhancing one's body.

After wandering around the orphanage for a day, Kabuto confirmed that, aside from himself, none of the other children had extracted chakra. From this, it seemed clear that the orphanage was not a training facility for a Konoha department.

Just as Kabuto was beginning to feel relieved, he suddenly sensed something and turned to look toward the entrance of the orphanage.

There, he saw Nonō carrying a basket of vegetables toward the door. Walking beside her were two men, seemingly engaged in a conversation with her.

Nonō's expression gradually darkened as if she just wanted to chase the two men away.

However, after the men said something, her face became grim before she reluctantly invited them into the orphanage.

Seeing this, Kabuto was slightly stunned. Normally, he would have assumed these were just some vagrants harassing the Nonō because of her beauty but after learning sensory ninjutsu, Kabuto could now confirm that these two men were Konoha ninjas.

Additionally, Nonō herself possessed chakra, indicating that she, too, was a ninja. Judging by the chakra response, Nonō was actually stronger than the two Konoha ninjas.

"Could it be that she has triggered some high-ranking officials in Konoha and is trying to break free?" Kabuto thought. Byakuya wasn't lying after all—Nonō was indeed a Konoha ninja, and there was a high probability that the orphanage was some kind of training institution for Konoha.

However, Kabuto couldn't understand why Nonō had kept these things hidden from them.

Could it be that Nonō was only using them?

While Kabuto was grappling with this realization, Byakuya reappeared beside him. Glancing at Nonō in the distance, Byakuya said, "Kabuto, I told you, I wasn't lying. Your headmaster is indeed a ninja of Konoha. But it's strange—you're all so grown up now, and she still hasn't begun training you. I wonder what she's thinking. Could it be that she's grown soft and can't bear to train you?"

Byakuya paused deliberately before continuing, "I really want to know more about Nonō's situation, but unfortunately, I'm not yet a fully-fledged ninja, so I can't follow and listen in."

Hearing this, Kabuto narrowed his eyes. Byakuya had spoken exactly what was on his mind.

At this point, Kabuto had no choice but to seek Byakuya's help, so in a humble tone, he asked, "Lord Byakuya, could you teach me the ninjutsu to conceal my presence?"

"I could teach you, but you wouldn't be able to learn it just yet..."

Byakuya shook his head and continued, "But I can conceal your presence and take you closer to eavesdrop on their conversation. I also want to know what they're discussing, but you'll need to get a bit closer."

Kabuto eagerly agreed to Byakuya's proposal. He knew Byakuya was a spy from another village hiding in Konoha, but Kabuto was more interested in discovering the true identity of the headmistress and whether she had been using them—this was crucial to him.

Soon, Kabuto, with his presence concealed, arrived near Nonō and the Konoha ninjas. Hidden in a corner, he used the sensory ninjutsu to listen in on their conversation with ease.

Inside the orphanage, the Konoha ninja looked at Nonō and said, "Walking Priestess, Lord Danzo has ordered you to return to the Root immediately. You can't stay here any longer!"

Nonō glanced at her former comrades, a glimmer flashing across her glasses. "Don't call me that name. I am no longer the Walking Priestess. I am now just the head of this orphanage, Nonō. And besides, I've already repaid Lord Danzo for his kindness. I have no ties to Root anymore."

The Root ninja maintained a stoic expression and replied, "Once a member of Root, always a member of Root. Even though the war is over, it doesn't mean you're free from Lord Danzo's control. You are still a member of Root, and you will continue to serve him."

He then scanned the area before adding, "However, Lord Danzo acknowledges your contributions to the village, so he's giving you a choice this time. You can either return to Root and resume your role as the Walking Priestess to carry out missions or, you can provide a few children with potential ninja abilities to replenish Root's ranks. Root lost quite a few ninjas in this last war."

Upon hearing these two options, Nonō trembled with rage, barely containing her anger as she responded, "I will not choose either of these. I have left Root, and the children in this orphanage have nothing to do with your organization. If you continue to press me, I will go to the Fourth Hokage. If the Fourth Hokage will stay quiet too, then I will take the children and join Root. For now, leave—your presence is not welcome here, and I won't be seeing you out."

The two Root ninjas exchanged glances. They knew they couldn't obtain permission from the Fourth Hokage. In fact, this recruitment operation by Root was being carried out in secret, and if exposed, it might lead to consequences from the Hokage's office.

But when had Root ever needed to explain its actions to anyone?

With that in mind, the Root ninja gave Nonō a cold look before saying menacingly, "This is our last meeting, Miss Head of Orphanage. Next time, Lord Danzo will be paying a personal visit."

Nonō stood up, expressionless, and said, "See yourselves out. The orphanage does not welcome Root members. If you don't leave, I'll call the police force."