Shimura Danzo is indeed the controller of the Curse Seal…
But Akihara Kagura is no small figure in the Root either, currently even serving as the current Leader of Root. If he leaves with Danzo now, will he really not get beaten by this new Supervisor in the future?
Kagura is not a petty person; he proactively waved at them and said, "Send Lord Danzo home first, then report back to the Root Base!"
"Yes, Lord Kagura!"
The two Root Ninjas were already quite familiar with this phrase.
"..."
Shimura Danzo coldly glanced back at his former subordinates, suppressing his inner anger, and slowly left with the help of his cane.
On his way home, Shimura Danzo encountered Uchiha Itachi, who had just caused a ruckus and was now coming to make Danzo fulfill his promise.
"Uchiha Itachi…"
The two Root Ninjas immediately tensed up.
"I'm here to make you fulfill your promise."
Uchiha Itachi looked at Shimura Danzo and coldly said, "Never harm Sasuke. If you break this promise, I will leak Konoha's information to enemy nations."
"..."
Shimura Danzo truly had a bit of a headache.
Because he was no longer in Konoha's upper echelon, in contrast, Akihara Kagura became part of Konoha's leadership. Given Akihara Kagura's attitude towards the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Sasuke's safety is really uncertain…
"Akihara Kagura replaced me as the Leader of Root."
Shimura Danzo announced a piece of news that made Uchiha Itachi's scalp tingle, then continued, "If he dares harm Uchiha Sasuke, I will stop him…"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi's eyes were filled with doubt.
If Akihara Kagura intends to kill Sasuke, what could Shimura Danzo do to stop him?
Uchiha Itachi believed he had grown strong enough tonight, controlling Susanoo and the Three-tails, yet still being utterly crushed by Akihara Kagura. Who could possibly stop that guy from killing?
However…
There's another person.
Uchiha Itachi thought of another person he wished to meet, and his body transformed into a flock of crows, disappearing from Shimura Danzo's sight.
"Also a bastard…"
Shimura Danzo cursed under his breath and then instructed the two Root Ninjas beside him, "Deliver the Sharingan to my house instead of the Root Base!"
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
The two Root Ninjas dared not contradict him.
Meanwhile,
Sarutobi Hiruzen and Akihara Kagura completed their patrol.
In the entire Uchiha Clan, only Uchiha Sasuke was found as a surviving member. The others had likely been killed, and some bodies couldn't even be found, probably destroyed by Uchiha Itachi's first Tailed Beast Ball.
Just as Sarutobi Hiruzen and Akihara Kagura returned to the Hokage Tower, both sensed someone hiding there. Akihara Kagura raised his finger.
No need to ask more.
This Chakra was very familiar tonight.
"Kagura."
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head, stopping Akihara Kagura's actions, and sighed, "Kagura, leave here first. I still have matters to handle."
"..."
Akihara Kagura furrowed his brow.
"No need to worry."
Sarutobi Hiruzen already knew that the person hiding here was Uchiha Itachi, and he understood that Uchiha Itachi wasn't here to assassinate him.
After all, Akihara Kagura was right there.
Sarutobi Hiruzen worried about conflict between Akihara Kagura and Uchiha Itachi and continued, "So much happened tonight; go rest, Kagura, that's my order."
"..."
Akihara Kagura could only disappear from the spot instantly.
Once Akihara Kagura left, Uchiha Itachi's figure appeared instantly, kneeling on one knee behind Sarutobi Hiruzen, as if still the loyal ninja of Konoha.
"I've already guessed everything."
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed, continuing, "Regardless, I should thank you first. At least after tonight, Konoha avoided internal strife and maintained peace in the village."
"It's just that…"
"There's some regret in my heart."
"I always favored you and Kagura. You were thoughtful from a young age, while Kagura was a bit reckless. I envisioned you two as future pillars for Konoha, even arranging you as his teammate…"
"I'm sorry."
Uchiha Itachi apologized softly.
"I thought Kagura was already extreme enough…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't turn to look, just spoke somberly, "I didn't expect your actions to be even more extreme… I should be the one apologizing; it's my failure not having found a way to handle the Uchiha and Konoha situation, making your generation bear our mistakes when you should have been Konoha's future…"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi bowed his head deeply.
Sarutobi Hiruzen stopped lamenting and spoke about his handling of Uchiha Itachi, "Starting tomorrow, Konoha will view you as a rogue ninja who murdered a clan, placing you on the wanted list, dead or alive…"
"That's as it should be."
Uchiha Itachi didn't argue.
"What do you plan to do?"
"I've sought help from Uchiha Obito, and join a group called Akatsuki. I plan to follow Uchiha Obito and gather intel on him and Akatsuki…"
Uchiha Itachi mentioned the Akatsuki Organization, already having decided his future to follow Uchiha Obito as a rogue ninja.
"Obito, huh…"
Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed again.
As they discussed Uchiha Obito, little did they know he was watching them from not far away, along with another observer.
"This is a spy infiltrating our Akatsuki…"
Akihara Kagura chuckled lightly while standing beside Uchiha Obito.
After Sarutobi Hiruzen sent Akihara Kagura away, he found Uchiha Obito to watch the scene play out.
"Hmph, it doesn't matter."
Uchiha Obito also didn't care, coldly laughing, "We lack manpower anyway; Uchiha Itachi is merely a pawn to capture Tailed Beasts…"
Uchiha Obito was more worried about Akihara Kagura in front of him, "However, you're really terrifying. Perhaps even the ancestor Uchiha Madara wouldn't be your match…"
"Who knows…"
Akihara Kagura wouldn't get complacent.
The threats in this world have never disappeared.
Even that Zetsu, who was floating with half its body, presented a quite frightening threat behind it, one that even Akihara Kagura had to be wary of.
"Alright."
Uchiha Obito's figure disappeared into the Space-Time Vortex, leaving behind a single sentence, "Don't forget your former promise; I'll be waiting at the agreed place."
"Let's go too, Kagura."
Zetsu's form gradually sank into the ground.
"..."
Akihara Kagura nodded and disappeared instantly from the spot.
On the Hokage Tower.
Uchiha Itachi and Sarutobi Hiruzen continued their exchange.
Uchiha Itachi was deeply worried about Uchiha Sasuke's safety and hoped his brother wouldn't encounter any incidents: "I'm worried Kagura might resent me for what I've done…"
"I'll keep an eye on him."
Sarutobi Hiruzen reassured Uchiha Itachi, speaking softly, "Your brother might resent you more; Kagura won't harm him. I'll also instruct Kagura to abandon revenge on you to avoid causing trouble if you encounter him…"
"Thank you, Lord Hokage."
Uchiha Itachi bowed his head in gratitude, feeling relieved.
However, when Uchiha Itachi and Sarutobi Hiruzen intended to leave the Hokage Tower and head to the agreed location to meet Uchiha Obito, they met someone they least wanted to encounter while going downstairs.
Akihara Kagura.
Akihara Kagura seemed to have been there all along, never leaving. He spoke as he saw Uchiha Itachi descending the stairs, "I was hoping you'd stage a good assassination attempt on the Hokage, giving me a rightful reason to kill you…"