Post Konoha Crush Interlude 1: Kabuto Yakushi.

"Anything else?" asked the woman, glancing at him with a notepad in hand.

"No, just water, thank you," Kabuto replied with a practiced smile, rubbing the back of his head in a deliberate display of humility. It was a calculated move, a tactic to disarm people with what they perceived as refreshing kindness. Such an approach worked best with those in high-pressure roles—individuals constantly criticized, like a Daimyo's secretary or customer service worker.

The woman offered a faint smile before walking away. Kabuto's smile faded as he leaned forward, lacing his fingers together and resting his chin atop them.

Despite the risk, he found a strange relief in leaving the claustrophobic bolthole where he had been hiding. Orochimaru-sama, for all his brilliance, had never prioritized comfort in his hideouts. The relentless screams of his master in agony didn't help matters. Kabuto had needed to step away to preserve his own sanity, though he pitied the Sound Four, stuck there nursing their injuries with no such reprieve.

His thoughts were interrupted by the creak of the door opening. A man entered, nondescript and unremarkable—just another face in the crowd. Yet, Kabuto felt the subtle tug of his chakra sense.

I sense a deviation. That must be him.

The man silently took the seat across from Kabuto. He didn't even bother looking up, the silence between them stretching until Kabuto sighed, breaking it.

"You do realize that hundreds of Konoha-nin are searching for me, right?"

The man remained mute. To an ordinary observer, nothing seemed amiss, but Kabuto saw it all: the delayed blinking, the slight unnatural gait, and the irregular heartbeat—signs of an artificial form. He exhaled, resigned.

"You could have been less conspicuous with your disguise, Sasori-sama."

There was a pause before the puppet-man finally spoke, and Sasori's voice emerged, smooth and calculated.

"If you were foolish enough to let yourself be captured by Konoha-nin, then you're of no use to me, Kabuto." The man tilted his head slightly, a gesture that might have seemed human to anyone else.

Kabuto was reminded once again of Sasori's genius. His puppets were eerily lifelike, each one a testament to his skill, yet manipulated effortlessly from the shadows.

"Which brings me to this," Sasori continued, his voice low and steady. "That was quite an event. Tell me everything."

Kabuto allowed himself a wry smile as he lifted the glass of water, taking a measured sip. "It wasn't anything relevant to your organization, Sasori-sama."

"It isn't," Sasori replied evenly. "But I intend to track every move that traitor makes. That's why you're my spy. Now, speak."

Kabuto chuckled, lifting the glass of water to his lips. "Well, it started off well enough. The Kazekage was quietly eliminated by Lord Orochimaru and his Sound Four, and neither Sunagakure nor Konoha suspected our involvement. The plan was straightforward: let the One-Tail transform into his true form in the middle of Konoha during the finals, and launch the operation. Orochimaru-sama would isolate the Hokage and eliminate him, while the rest of us systematically dismantled the village."

"Yes," Sasori said, his tone even. "But that's not what happened, is it?"

"It wasn't," Kabuto admitted, adjusting his glasses. "Several complications arose. For one, the One-Tail's host nearly transformed during his first match against Uchiha Sasuke. I was forced to trigger the signal prematurely to commence the operation."

"I see." Sasori's puppet tilted its head slightly, the wooden joints emitting a faint creak. "Orochimaru is not one to allow a minor disruption to derail his plan. Such a shift should have been... acceptable. Expected, even. And yet, this 'minor adjustment' as far as I have heard, seems to have led to the near-total annihilation of the invasion force."

"Oh?" Kabuto smiled faintly. "I didn't expect you to consult other sources before coming to me. I must say, I'm wounded."

"You're being overly familiar," Sasori replied coldly. "Now, continue."

Kabuto smirked but resumed. "You're right, of course. That misstep alone would not have spelled disaster. The One-Tail was a spectacle, not a necessity. With the element of surprise, our forces should have sufficed. But…" He pushed his glasses up, the lenses catching the light. "Konoha was prepared for an invasion."

Sasori's puppet tilted its head further, its wooden joints creaking slightly. "Prepared, you say? Elaborate."

"I should have noticed the signs earlier," Kabuto said, his tone measured. "By the time of the first match, civilians were being discreetly funneled to bunkers. ANBU patrols were unusually dense on the rooftops, and the tension was palpable. But the confirmation came when the operation began. Almost immediately, their counteroffensive was launched."

He leaned forward slightly. "ROOT operatives led by Danzo Shimura arrived to reinforce the stadium. Soon after, a strike force led by Shinku Yuhi joined the fray. Outside the arena, ANBU units rallied under Yugao Uzuki and executed precise shadow raids targeting our key jonin commanders. Meanwhile, Shikaku Nara and Hiashi Hyuga coordinated the village's main forces, swiftly boxing in our troops and retaking lost ground."

"Interesting," Sasori mused. "It seems Orochimaru's overwhelming strength blinded him to the need for strategic finesse."

"I would refrain from speaking ill of the man who shelters me," Kabuto said, his tone sharp, "especially when he cannot defend himself."

"Speaking of that," Sasori continued, undeterred, "tell me about his battle with Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Ah," Kabuto began, his tone neutral but with a hint of amusement. "From what I observed, Danzo Shimura broke the barrier ninjutsu that had been set to isolate Orochimaru-sama and the Hokage from the rest of the battlefield. Once that was down, members of the Hokage Guard Platoon, aided by ANBU operatives, engaged Orochimaru-sama's bodyguards. Meanwhile, Shinku Yuhi and Danzo Shimura assisted the Hokage in fighting Orochimaru directly."

"I see," Sasori murmured, his voice steady. "I assume that snake relied on that accursed jutsu of his—the one that brings back the dead? It's how he managed to hold his own against them, isn't it?"

Kabuto's lips curved into a faint smile. "Yes. While Orochimaru-sama was maimed and gravely injured, the most significant outcome…" Kabuto's glasses gleamed as his eyes narrowed. "He can no longer use any of his jutsu."

"Is that so?" Sasori's voice betrayed a flicker of intrigue.

"It is," Kabuto confirmed. "I witnessed it myself. After Danzo Shimura employed fuinjutsu to seal the two individuals Orochimaru-sama had resurrected, the Hokage executed a technique to bind Orochimaru-sama's arms."

"Executed, you say? What kind of technique?" Sasori inquired, his tone measured.

Kabuto feigned ignorance, lowering his gaze slightly. "I couldn't discern its exact nature. It seemed to be some form of kinjutsu, one that prevents the use of jutsu by binding the arms. However, the Hokage used a shadow clone to perform it."

"I see." Sasori's puppet tilted its head slightly. "And how did Orochimaru escape?"

"That," Kabuto replied smoothly, "is where I intervened. Seeing his bodyguards preoccupied, I stepped in to fend off Danzo Shimura and Shinku Yuhi. I was able to extract Orochimaru-sama and ensure we slipped away before any jonin could give chase."

"How altruistic of you," Sasori said, his voice laced with skepticism.

Kabuto smiled faintly. "Trust is an investment, Sasori-sama. Allowing him to die would have yielded nothing for me… or for you."

"I neither believe nor trust you, Kabuto. But that is irrelevant," Sasori said dismissively. "Konoha's preparedness for the invasion intrigues me. Do you suspect a leak in Orochimaru's ranks?"

Kabuto steepled his fingers, his expression calm. "Orochimaru-sama has already ordered rigorous questioning of Otogakure's members, but I'm inclined to believe there was no internal leak within Otogakure."

"Then you suspect Sunagakure?" Sasori pressed.

"It's possible," Kabuto admitted. "I personally met with the Sunagakure jonin responsible for coordinating with Otogakure to deliver Orochimaru-sama's plans for the invasion. However, during that meeting, a Konoha-nin managed to tail me and overhear our discussion. I wanted to eliminate the interloper myself, but the jonin insisted on handling it."

Kabuto sighed, shaking his head. "The jonin assured me the Konoha-nin had been eliminated. Yet, on the day of the invasion, that very same man reappeared in the arena to confront him. It seems I should have insisted on dealing with the matter personally."

"You should have. That was careless of you. I expect no such blunders when working with me," said Sasori, his tone sharp. "And Orochimaru's next plans?"

Kabuto smiled, a faint glimmer of amusement in his eyes. "He spoke of seeking out one of his fellow Sannin. He's asked me to track her down, believing that only the greatest medical ninja in the world can heal his arms. However…" Kabuto paused thoughtfully. "The jutsu the Third Hokage performed—whatever it was—took a significant toll on him. From what I observed, it induced extreme chakra fatigue. My professional opinion is that the jutsu exacted a severe cost. Using a Shadow Clone to perform it must have been a way to mitigate the price."

"And Sunagakure?" Sasori pressed.

"Hm. Once they discovered the Kazekage's death, they quickly disavowed any involvement with Orochimaru's actions. However, the Konoha Council has demanded reparations. Negotiations remain at a standstill, with both villages too preoccupied with their own recovery efforts. Sunagakure, in particular, has shut its borders for the time being," Kabuto replied smoothly.

"Interesting," mused Sasori. "Orochimaru's forces are shattered, and he is crippled. Konoha is left with an incapacitated Hokage, and Sunagakure is leaderless and in turmoil." The puppet's jaw creaked faintly as Sasori continued. "How fortuitous. This chaos serves our interests well." His voice dropped slightly. "And the One-Tail's host—what can you tell me about them?"

Kabuto smirked, reaching into his pocket to produce an orange card. He slid it across the table. "The host's name is Gaara of the Sand. All pertinent details are on that card."

The puppet's lifelike hand reached for the card, slipping it into its mouth in one seamless motion. Sasori's tone sharpened. "And the Nine-Tails' host?"

Kabuto retrieved another card and slid it forward. The puppet repeated the motion, its subtle efficiency unsettling even to Kabuto.

"Will you explain why these individuals interest you so much?" Kabuto asked, feigning curiosity.

"That is none of your concern," Sasori replied coldly. "You've done an adequate job. I will contact you again when it is relevant. Ensure that neither Orochimaru nor Konoha compromises you in the meantime."

With that, the puppet's head slumped forward, its chakra threads severed.

Kabuto leaned back in his chair, exhaling quietly. Reaching into his pocket, he produced yet another card, flicking it idly between his fingers. On the card was an image of a young kunoichi with regal features, pale skin tinged with a natural blush, and dark, flowing hair cascading past her shoulders. Most striking of all were her crimson-ringed eyes.

"Yuhi, Kimiko," Kabuto muttered, his tone contemplative. "A fascinating kunoichi, indeed." He twirled the card. "It paid off, sparing you when I caught you tailing Baki and that proctor. It seemed you truly capitalized on that event." He tilted his head. "Not only that…but wiping out two platoons of shinobi? Playing an important role in defeating a fully transformed Tailed Beast? At your age? Remarkable." A smirk crept onto his face. "I suppose I should thank you for your actions. You've made Orochimaru-sama even more reliant on me, and you've ensured I remain in Sasori's good graces."

Sliding the card back into his pocket, Kabuto sighed and drained the rest of his water. He set the glass down with deliberate care, his expression momentarily softening.

"It's such a shame I had to cut your father down to make our escape," he murmured, almost wistfully.