Naruto: Uchiha's Intelligence Dealer

"Kabuto, don't eat so fast. You might choke..."

Before he could finish, Kabuto—sitting at the counter of Ichiraku Ramen—started clutching his throat and pounding his chest with one hand.

*Bang!*

Sora slapped Kabuto's back, forcing the stuck ramen down his throat.

"Sigh..."After catching his breath, Kabuto looked at Uzumaki Sora with gratitude. "It's not easy for nii-san to treat me to ramen. I have to eat as much as I can."

Sora smiled. "I have enough money. When you're done eating, pack up twenty portions to take back for your friends and the dean to try."

Kabuto's eyes lit up. "Really? Mother hasn't had a proper meal in a long time. I overheard yesterday... the orphanage's funds..."

Yun smiled faintly and glanced behind him. Someone had just stepped through the curtain of Ichiraku Ramen. "If everything went as planned, the orphanage's funding problem should be solved by now. Don't worry—you and your dean don't need to be spies."

The curtain was lifted.

Kakashi stood in the entrance, his forehead protector raised to reveal the Sharingan. The three tomoe spun slowly as he fixed his gaze on Sora.

"Don't be so tense, Kakashi. Your Kamui won't trap me. If you want to talk, I can treat you to a bowl of ramen." Sora smiled leisurely.

"With the Flying Thunder God Technique, Konoha's barriers seem meaningless to you... Uzumaki Sora, against someone like you, I can't afford to be careless." Kakashi replied, his eyes narrowing as they shifted toward Kabuto. "But how does someone as strong as you end up friends with a child?"

Sora chuckled. "You're not that old yourself, are you? Is that really something you should say? And this kid's talent... it's no worse than yours."

*Swish!*

In a blur, Minato appeared beside Kakashi, his Hokage cloak fluttering in the sudden breeze.

He placed a hand on Kakashi's shoulder. "Lower your Sharingan. If I'm right, he can use Flying Thunder God to leave before Kamui even activates."

Kakashi frowned. "But even with the Flying Thunder God Technique, not everyone moves at your speed, sensei."

Minato exhaled slowly, his gaze fixed on Sora. "That's what worries me the most..."

Without another word, Kakashi pulled down his forehead protector to conceal the Mangekyō.

"Teuchi-san, a large bowl of miso ramen."

The cook in the back responded automatically, only realizing who had spoken when he served the bowl. His eyes widened.

"Fourth Hokage-sama... busy today, aren't you? This one's on me."

He tried to act generous but glanced nervously at Sora. He had no intention of giving him free meals, after all, twenty takeout servings weren't exactly cheap.

Minato smiled and waved it off. "No need for that. Just take the money—go on."

When Teuchi retreated to the kitchen, Minato turned back to Sora. "We meet again."

Sora returned the smile with a nod. "Nice to see you again, Fourth Hokage. The intel I gave you last time seems to have borne fruit—meaning your way of handling things isn't bad."

Minato's gaze sharpened. "Is that arm from before the reason you now wield the First Hokage's Wood-style?"

Yun casually extended a hand, holding a chakra test paper between his fingers. The paper combusted, tore, crumbled, then became wet in quick succession.

"The time it took for the four chakra natures to appear is a little too short," Minato murmured, brows furrowing. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have met Danzo yesterday..."

Fire. Wind. Earth. Water. Four elements, all responsive. It was a rare sight.

Minato hesitated for a moment, then asked, "Why do you want to kill Danzo?"

His eyes flicked to Kabuto. "Your target isn't just him, is it? A child with this much potential..."

Sora smiled faintly. "You and Kakashi underestimate this child. If everything goes smoothly... he'll possess the power to control the entire world."

Minato's eyes narrowed as he glanced at Kabuto, who looked completely bewildered.

White hair. Oversized glasses. Hatake?

"He's not Kakashi's relative. Just a civilian child. But his talent in certain fields is among the best in the world," Sora explained, then turned to Kabuto. "I'll be leaving soon. You have two choices."

Kabuto blinked, still processing.

"First: follow the Fourth Hokage. I recommend the Research and Medical Department. Second: return to the orphanage and continue helping Director Nono care for the children."

Kabuto fell silent, deep in thought.

He remembered what happened yesterday—the bandaged man and the one with serpent-like eyes. Root. The dean...

"You seem to understand." Sora said quietly. "Though I'd prefer to see you stay at the orphanage and protect that little piece of purity... you understand, don't you? Without strength, everything you want to protect is just a bubble."

"Follow the Fourth Hokage. Maximize your value. You are the bond that connects the orphanage. As long as your worth is something the Hokage can't ignore... the orphanage will remain safe."

Kabuto slowly looked up and smiled. "Okay. I believe in you, Nii-san."

Sora was briefly stunned, then chuckled and rubbed Kabuto's head. "Looks like I've changed your fate too. You're an orphan... but you shouldn't fall into darkness just because of others' ambitions."

"Ahem..."

Minato cleared his throat, clearly baffled. "It seems you've already made the decision for me? As Hokage, don't I get a say?"

Kakashi leaned in and whispered, "Sensei, aren't they enemies? Is it really okay to accept spies so openly?"

Minato sighed. There were some things he couldn't explain to this disciple.

Enemy? Not quite.

*Swish!*

A kunai flicked out, cutting a shallow wound on Kabuto's arm. Blood trickled down.

"Kabuto, use the medical ninjutsu the director taught you. Show the Fourth Hokage."

Understanding the intention, Kabuto nodded. A soft green light enveloped his hands, and the shallow wound stopped bleeding almost instantly, the skin rapidly regenerating.

"Excellent chakra control. This kid does have the talent for the medical department," Minato admitted.

"Medical ninjutsu barely scratches the surface of his potential," Sora countered, tapping his own temple. "Talent is different from bloodline. Wisdom is different from intelligence. His real power lies here."

"He's not quite on par with the Second Hokage... but compared to you, who developed Rasengan, a no-hand-seal ninjutsu—he's not far off."

Minato's eyes lit up.

Konoha had many combat geniuses. But in the Research and Medical Departments, there had only been Orochimaru and Tsunade—and neither stood on his side.

"I agree." Minato said.

Sora raised an eyebrow. "Oh, and when I said 'not far off'—I meant you're slightly behind him."

"...???" Minato froze.

*****

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