Early morning.
Kakashi Hatake and Akihara Kagura left the Konoha archive.
One headed towards the Hokage Tower with his head held high, the other walked towards the Root base with his head down.
Inside the Hokage Tower.
Sarutobi Hiruzen started work early.
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought something might happen today.
The evidence in the Konoha archive regarding Shimura Danzo's support of Orochimaru in conducting forbidden human experiments was placed there through Sarutobi Hiruzen's hands.
Sarutobi Hiruzen speculated that Akihara Kagura might turn against Shimura Danzo, but he hadn't expected that when Kakashi Hatake reported to him, it would also involve Yakushi Nonou.
That little guy Akihara Kagura...
Was he really being threatened because of Yakushi Nonou?
"Yakushi Nonou..."
"I remember she's from the village's Intelligence Department..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen recalled the woman Yakushi Nonou.
Yakushi Nonou had always roamed the ninja world under the identity of a 'Witch,' providing valuable intelligence for Konoha, but she never particularly liked being a spy.
Shimura Danzo coerced Yakushi Nonou with the funding of the Konoha Orphanage to continue being a spy, providing Konoha with intelligence on other ninja villages, something Sarutobi Hiruzen was well aware of.
This is the darkness in the village.
This is something Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't bring himself to do, leaving Shimura Danzo to his own devices, knowing Konoha couldn't only have warm sunshine but also inevitably the shadows of darkness.
"For the time being, let's not interfere with this matter."
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't allow Shimura Danzo's work to be impeded.
Sarutobi Hiruzen knew that transferring Akihara Kagura to the Dark Department had already angered Shimura Danzo, doing any more would likely displease him even more.
If it were possible to bring Yakushi Nonou out of Root, it would indeed free Akihara Kagura from Shimura Danzo's grip, but Danzo that miser would probably go insane...
Of course.
There's one more thing.
Sarutobi Hiruzen hadn't told Kakashi Hatake.
Given the existing tensions between Shimura Danzo and Akihara Kagura, based on Sarutobi Hiruzen's understanding of his old friend, he knew it would inevitably fall apart without needing to do much.
Root Base.
When Akihara Kagura arrived, the two gatekeepers didn't dare stop him anymore.
Shimura Danzo was perplexed as to why Akihara Kagura had come to see him so soon after they had just met yesterday.
This little brat...
Could it be that he has information to report?
Not very likely, is it?
Would that monkey let him see confidential information?
Akihara Kagura knew what would pique Shimura Danzo's interest, so he started by mentioning Uchiha Obito: "Last night, while patrolling the back mountain, I discovered that the traitorous ninja Uchiha Obito had infiltrated the village and attempted to kill Naruto Uzumaki..."
"Uchiha Obito?"
Shimura Danzo was visibly shocked and a bit disbelieving: "Isn't that guy supposed to have died during the Ninja World War?"
Shimura Danzo remembered this incident clearly.
Shimura Danzo had specifically dispatched a team from Root to 'help recover' Uchiha Obito's body to ensure that Konoha's exclusive Sharingan bloodline wouldn't fall into others' hands.
However, that team of Root Ninjas never found it.
Shimura Danzo, upon failing, even attempted to 'help recover' the Sharingan that Uchiha Obito had given to Kakashi Hatake, to prevent the Uchiha's unique Sharingan bloodline from spreading outside.
But this plan didn't succeed either.
"Kakashi Hatake also witnessed it firsthand."
Akihara Kagura, showing no respect for Kakashi Hatake here, continued: "The Third Hokage also knows about this... Uchiha Obito has even awakened the Wood Release, and his Sharingan has a strange ability that allows him to avoid all attacks."
"That is... the Mangekyo Sharingan!"
Shimura Danzo's heart pounded ferociously as he immediately understood that Uchiha Obito possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan!
As someone coveting the Sharingan, Shimura Danzo understood the evolutionary process of the Sharingan better than the average Uchiha Clan member!
Mangekyo Sharingan!
This revelation made Shimura Danzo almost unable to restrain himself!
Shimura Danzo looked at Akihara Kagura and spoke in a deep voice: "You're saying that Uchiha Obito, who came back from the dead, has also awakened the Wood Release bloodline? Did he also undergo Hashirama Cell Transplantation? Only Konoha and Orochimaru have Hashirama Cells in the entire ninja world. Did you see Uchiha Obito at Orochimaru's place back in the day? Could it be that Orochimaru saved him then? I remember that Orochimaru wasn't present at the Shinobi Bridge in the northern front…"
"I've never seen him."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, not wanting to let his former boss take the blame.
"I understand now."
Shimura Danzo noted that his future focus would be on hunting down the rogue Uchiha Obito and retrieving the Mangekyo Sharingan that had fallen outside, before looking back at Akihara Kagura: "Go on, what did that monkey say about the matter?"
"Yes."
Akihara Kagura nodded and continued: "The Third Hokage instructed me and Kakashi Hatake to investigate Uchiha Obito's whereabouts, initially by going to the Konoha archives to look up information on Wood Release, to see if any traces of Uchiha Obito could be found…"
"The result…"
"I found these."
Akihara Kagura took out the evidence he obtained from the Konoha archives, whispering: "I highly suspect that the Third Hokage intentionally wanted me to see this evidence…"
"The Third Hokage has always believed that I was sent by Lord Danzo to undergo Hashirama Cell Transplantation human experiments, trying to use it to make me resent Lord Danzo…"
"Hmph, that monkey is always up to such foolishness!"
Shimura Danzo glanced at the evidence on those scrolls, nonchalantly putting them into a drawer: "Looks like Orochimaru left something behind when he left Konoha, but it doesn't matter now as long as we recover the evidence…"
Shimura Danzo, unusually squinting his eyes, praised: "Kagura, well done. Always report immediately any intelligence to me."
Shimura Danzo looked somewhat satisfied at Akihara Kagura, not minding that the little guy had been transferred to the Dark Department, feeling somewhat smug about Akihara's loyalty: "That monkey bastard will never understand why you would never betray me…"
"So what to do about this matter?"
Akihara Kagura scratched his head, seemingly a bit troubled: "I'm worried it might raise suspicions. They all think I was sent from the orphanage to be used as an experiment by Lord Danzo, believing I should betray him for it, yet I remain loyal…"
"Hmph!"
Shimura Danzo coldly scoffed: "Those idiots in the Dark Department have long been led astray by that monkey, forgetting that ninjas walking in the darkness only need to execute orders and absolutely don't need such useless things as emotions!"
"Yes, but I've already raised suspicions…"
Akihara Kagura glanced at the seemingly displeased Shimura Danzo, continuing to speak nonsense: "I could only temporarily claim my origin from the Konoha Orphanage, asserting that the head, Yakushi Nonou, told me to be loyal to Lord Danzo to barely dispel their doubts about me…"
"This approach can also work."
Shimura Danzo nodded satisfactorily at Akihara Kagura, continuing: "I will find a way to solidify this matter... By the way, I just heard you say that the monkey wants you and Kakashi to continue investigating Uchiha Obito's whereabouts?"
"Yes."
Akihara Kagura nodded and continued: "Kakashi Hatake has requested leave from the Third Hokage to go out of the village, planning to investigate Uchiha Obito's traces in The Hidden Mist Village overseas, suspecting Uchiha Obito might have defected there…"
"Just right."
Shimura Danzo's gaze suddenly turned sharp, coldly commanding: "Then continue following Kakashi to investigate Uchiha Obito's whereabouts, and inform me immediately upon discovering any trace of him, I will arrange for Root personnel to coordinate with you in transmitting messages…"
"Once you find his trace!"
"I will personally come over to support you!"
[System Prompt]: [New Task Assigned: Assist Kakashi Hatake in investigating Uchiha Obito's intelligence and notify Shimura Danzo of the information.]