Returning to Konoha after years away felt like a punch in the gut. Eight years gone, and nothing really had changed. The same shops, the same ramen stand, even the academy was still where it had stood eight years ago.
But Kabuto had changed. This wasn't his home anymore, if it had ever been. Every corner reminded him of Nono, and every curious look sent him back to his time at the achademy, where it was a good day if the teacher remembered his name during roll.
But now...he adjusted the Sound headband, and called his most recent team back from gawking. In truth, they weren't quite ready for the Chunin exams yet, but a new village had to keep up apperances and it wasn't time to reveal their true power yet.
In a few more minutes, the Sound delegation would meet with that of Konoha's, and they'd spend the rest of the day posturing and pretending they weren't sizing up the competiontion and trying to get as much information as possible out of the newcomers. He didn't mind. He'd done this before, taking his teams to various functions across the ninja world, pretending the fool and lulling them all into viewing the Sound as unimportant. But there was a certain feeling of triumph now.
Look at me now, he wished he could say. I wasn't worth anything then, but now I have much right to be here as any other representative.
And, because there was still that voice in his head, the one that was equal parts disposable spy and the angry victim, part of him demanded, Am I finally dangerous enough to be worthy of your notice?
Yakushi Kabuto | Otogakure
But Kabuto had changed. This wasn't his home anymore, if it had ever been. Every corner reminded him of Nono, and every curious look sent him back to his time at the achademy, where it was a good day if the teacher remembered his name during roll.
But now...he adjusted the Sound headband, and called his most recent team back from gawking. In truth, they weren't quite ready for the Chunin exams yet, but a new village had to keep up apperances and it wasn't time to reveal their true power yet.
In a few more minutes, the Sound delegation would meet with that of Konoha's, and they'd spend the rest of the day posturing and pretending they weren't sizing up the competiontion and trying to get as much information as possible out of the newcomers. He didn't mind. He'd done this before, taking his teams to various functions across the ninja world, pretending the fool and lulling them all into viewing the Sound as unimportant. But there was a certain feeling of triumph now.
Look at me now, he wished he could say. I wasn't worth anything then, but now I have much right to be here as any other representative.
And, because there was still that voice in his head, the one that was equal parts disposable spy and the angry victim, part of him demanded, Am I finally dangerous enough to be worthy of your notice?