"So, why didn't things improve if the Third Hokage found out about all of this at 14?" Kabuto asked Naruko bluntly.

"Cause it was too late." Naruko said flatly. "By then, I was just hoping that I'd be able to move into one of my team mates houses or apartments. It was something I was counting on, actually. The problem is that for all the powers of the Hokage, grandfather couldn't enforce his rules 24/7. Not when most of the shinobi also didn't give a damn."

Kabuto nodded slowly, thoughtfully. "Then why didn't he remove you from the apartment?" He said quietly, writing things down on a notepad.

"Because, honestly, I didn't care at that point, I was too used to it. And... I didn't mention anything about the apartment." Naruko whispered quietly.

"Why?" Kabuto asked patiently.

"Cause I've heard a lot of people complaining about their stuff not working, cockroaches, bed bugs. To me, it wasn't worth complaining about what l thought everyone went through. I actually felt proud, like I was a grown up for being able to figure out ways around it." Naruko responded, her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Really?" Kabuto asked dryly.

"Well, yeah! Being a shinobi is all about being self-sufficient! Moldy cold water? Boil it! The red guck in the faucet dissolves as it boils, and it kills everything in the water. Strain it with a shredded paper bag, and boom, clean drinking water and cleaning water!

The cockroaches in the microwave get fried when you start it for two minutes. Kill them, clean it out with some of the red guck, and now you can use the microwave for ramen!

The bed bugs are still a nuisance, but some of the boiled water with some of the red guck in a plastic bottle and you can spray them. It won't kill them but it'll make them run. Kinda stains the carpet though, so you really want to aim for the walls."

Kabuto stared.

Naruko's face flushed even harder. "And the landlord even gave me a huge discount for not complaining! Only 2,000 yen a day!"

"A day?" Kabuto clarified faintly. Naruko nodded.

"Yep! Especially since the streets get creepy at night. All those weird older guys come out sometimes and try to give me money to go 'home' with them." Naruko shuddered.

Kabuto's eye faintly twitched. His smile looked frozen.

"I also got a bunch of the orange jumpsuits, for free! They were on super discount! I only had to pay 50,000 yen for the kunai. They don't work very well though, so they don't really cut into the targets at the Academy, and you gotta throw them at a weird angle."

"And the super hot water in the shower works great for when the oven stops working! Free boiling water!"

"I... see." Kabuto's voice was strangled.

"Naruko, do you know your primary physician? The Akimichi Clan are struggling to find your medical records." Kabuto changed the subject.

Naruko felt confused.

"Uh, no. I've never needed to go to the doctors. I've never gotten sick enough to need one. Besides, I don't like doctors! I've heard they really like to drain people dry of blood, like vampires! They even inject things into people! Who knows what's in those things!"

Naruko shuddered.

"I am going to have so much fun delivering some of these animals to Orochimaru-sama." Kabuto whispered quietly to himself, and Naruko felt her confusion grow.

What animals? And who's Orochimaru?

"Do you know where babies come from?" Kabuto asked her abruptly.

Naruko felt her face darken as she vividly recalled the Talk with her grandfather.

"Yes." She said shortly.

Kabuto sighed. "Who taught you?"

"My grandfather."

"Good. So at least that's accurate."

"Yeah, but for a reeeaally long time, I was told that monsters like me don't deserve to breed. That hurt to hear."

Kabuto's eye twitched again.