Kabuto Yakushi stood in the dimly lit corner of the Konoha hospital storeroom, his glasses catching the faint glow of the overhead lamp. His hands moved swiftly to prepare a summoning seal. For months, he had been carefully gathering intel on Konoha's inner workings to send to Orochimaru, his true master. Tonight, he intended to summon a small snake to deliver vital information.
"Simple as always," Kabuto muttered to himself, his lips curling into a sly smile. He placed his hand on the summoning seal and channeled his chakra.
Nothing happened.
Kabuto frowned, adjusting his glasses. He tried again, adding more chakra to the seal. The result was the same—no summoning, no snake, just a faint pulse of resistance.
"What the…?" he muttered, his voice tinged with frustration. He knew his summoning technique was flawless, and yet the jutsu failed.
Before he could investigate further, he sensed the faint presence of someone behind him. Kabuto turned, his usual calm demeanor intact, only to find a masked ANBU operative watching him silently.
"Can I help you?" Kabuto asked, feigning ignorance as his mind raced.
The ANBU didn't answer immediately. Instead, they stepped closer, their imposing presence filling the small room. "What are you doing, Kabuto Yakushi?"
Kabuto adjusted his glasses, his expression neutral. "Just organizing medical supplies. Is there a problem?"
The ANBU's silence spoke volumes, and Kabuto's mind worked quickly to analyze the situation. Something had changed in Konoha. He didn't know what, but the failed summoning and the sudden ANBU surveillance were clear signs.
"Don't wander too far from your duties," the ANBU finally said, their tone low and laced with warning. "We're keeping an eye on you."
Kabuto gave a polite nod, though his mind was already scheming. "Of course. I'll get back to my work."
As the ANBU disappeared into the shadows, Kabuto's calm façade faltered. His summoning jutsu was blocked, and the ANBU's behavior suggested they were specifically watching him.
The Hokage's Web
In the Hokage Tower, Naruto sat at his desk, reviewing reports from the ANBU monitoring potential spies within the village. The report on Kabuto Yakushi caught his attention.
"He tried to summon snakes," Dragon, the ANBU head, reported. "The seal you and Jiraiya developed worked perfectly. The jutsu failed, and our operative intercepted him."
Naruto smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Good. Keep watching him. Kabuto is a key piece in Orochimaru's network. I want him monitored closely but not caught just yet. Let him squirm and waste his time."
Dragon nodded. "Understood, Hokage-sama."
Naruto's mind worked quickly, thinking of how to use Kabuto to his advantage. He knew Kabuto was a skilled manipulator and spy, but with the summoning seal in place and ANBU surveillance, Kabuto's ability to operate within Konoha was severely limited.
Kabuto's Realization
Kabuto returned to his small apartment in Konoha, his mind racing. He sat at his desk, scribbling notes in a coded journal.
"A new Hokage?" he whispered to himself, piecing together the clues. The summoning seal was advanced, something Orochimaru would have detected if it had existed before. The ANBU's heightened activity also suggested a shift in leadership.
He leaned back, a rare moment of uncertainty crossing his face. "If the Hokage has changed, why hasn't Orochimaru warned me? And who could it be? Hiruzen? No… this feels different."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses and smirked. "Well, whoever it is, they've made their move. Now it's my turn."
Little did he know, every move he made was being watched, and the web Naruto had spun around him was tightening with each passing day.
Naruto sat in the Hokage's office, the sun filtering through the windows as he reviewed reports from the hospital. Kabuto Yakushi was a dangerous variable, someone too skilled and too deeply embedded in Orochimaru's schemes to be left unwatched. While the ANBU surveillance had effectively blocked his summoning attempts, Naruto knew that more proactive measures were necessary.
He placed the report on his desk and looked at Dragon, the ANBU head. "Send one of our senior ANBU medics to the hospital. I want them embedded in Kabuto's team as their leader. Make sure they're good enough to remain undetected and capable of gathering intel. Kabuto must believe they're just another medic nin sent by the administration."
Dragon nodded, his mask hiding any hint of expression. "I have just the operative in mind, Hokage-sama. A skilled medic who's worked undercover before. They'll make sure Kabuto doesn't realize he's being watched, and if he steps out of line, we'll know immediately."
Naruto nodded, his piercing gaze firm. "Good. Also, remind them not to confront him directly. I want Kabuto in Konoha for now, wasting his time. Let him think he's still in control."
The New Medic Arrives
At the hospital, Kabuto sat in the staff lounge, sipping tea while flipping through a medical journal. He glanced up as a new figure entered the room.
The woman appeared to be in her mid-thirties, her sharp eyes scanning the room with the practiced ease of someone who'd seen far too much in her career. She carried herself with quiet confidence, her medic uniform pristine.
"Good afternoon," she said with a polite smile, her tone friendly but professional. "I'm Michiko, the new team leader assigned to oversee this department."
Kabuto raised an eyebrow, masking his irritation with a pleasant smile. "Oh? I wasn't informed about a new leader. Usually, I'd be the one to handle those duties."
Michiko's smile didn't waver. "Orders from the administration. They wanted someone with more experience in this role. I'll be handling overall supervision, but I look forward to working with you, Yakushi-san. Your reputation as a medic is well-known."
Kabuto nodded, feigning humility. "Thank you. I'm sure we'll work well together."
As the day went on, Michiko observed Kabuto closely, noting his every move. She made no effort to hide her competence, quickly organizing the team and delegating tasks with precision. Her skills as a medic were undeniable, and Kabuto found himself grudgingly impressed.
However, his instincts told him something was off. Why would the administration suddenly assign someone like her here? He resolved to keep an eye on her, just as she was silently keeping an eye on him.
The Hokage's Chessboard
Later that evening, Dragon returned to Naruto's office with an update. "Michiko has successfully integrated into Kabuto's team. He's already showing signs of suspicion, but she's skilled enough to handle him. No red flags yet."
Naruto leaned back in his chair, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Good. Keep a close watch on both of them. Michiko's job is to observe and subtly disrupt Kabuto's plans, but I don't want her getting caught. Kabuto is clever, and Orochimaru wouldn't keep him around if he weren't valuable."
Dragon inclined his head. "Understood, Hokage-sama. We'll keep the operation running smoothly."
Naruto smirked. "Let Kabuto wonder who's really in control. Every step he takes, every move he makes—we'll be watching. Let the spider think he's spinning his web while we tighten ours."
Kabuto's Doubts Grow
In his apartment, Kabuto sat at his desk, scribbling in his journal. The arrival of Michiko unsettled him. She was too capable, too efficient. And while she didn't seem overtly suspicious, Kabuto's instincts screamed that her presence wasn't coincidental.
He adjusted his glasses and muttered to himself, "Who are you, Michiko? Just another medic, or something more? And why now?"
For the first time in years, Kabuto felt like a pawn instead of a player. Little did he know, every move he made was part of Naruto's carefully orchestrated game.