"Young man, what's wrong with you?"
White Zetsu Awe looked at Akihara Kagura with some curiosity.
"Awe..."
Akihara Kagura sighed softly and posed a question: "What do you think it takes for a person abandoned by everyone to believe that another person is their ally?"
"Hmm... make the other person abandoned by everyone too?"
White Zetsu Awe paused for a moment and caught up with Akihara Kagura's thought.
"Makes sense."
Akihara Kagura praised White Zetsu Awe.
Just as Akihara Kagura and White Zetsu Awe were discussing, Karin came over to submit documents and delivered a message.
Jiraiya has left Konoha.
Jiraiya is still determined to go to the Land of Rain to investigate the whereabouts of Nagato and Konan. That tall man wants to prevent his disciples from making a mistake.
If Akihara Kagura were to evaluate it, did this teacher not witness the power of the Rinnegan last time and intend to experience it personally this time?
"..."
Akihara Kagura rubbed his forehead.
Despite already informing Jiraiya about Akatsuki Organization's intel, why does he still think he can solve Akatsuki's troubles? Does he truly believe he can stop Nagato and Konan?
"Forget it."
"Since that's the case..."
"Let's speed up the process and start the plan!"
Akihara Kagura instructed Karin, mentioning his arrangements: "You and Uchiha Sasuke will lead all Root ninja to track down Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito's whereabouts..."
"Awe, go and cooperate with Karin, inform Black Zetsu and Obito, and let Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi's battle draw their attention..."
"Yes."
Karin nodded.
"Young man, what about you?"
White Zetsu Awe, not quite understanding, proactively asked: "At this moment, aren't you going to watch the Uchiha brothers' drama of mutual destruction?"
"I have more important matters to attend to."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, without answering White Zetsu Awe's question: "Let everyone focus on this brotherly duel... After witnessing a great play, they'll realize the ninja world has undergone a tremendous change."
"Change?"
Karin suddenly felt a bit uneasy.
The entire Root base quickly received Akihara Kagura's orders.
All surviving members of the Uchiha Clan were jubilant, after many years finally getting a chance for revenge against Uchiha Itachi!
Root practice field.
Uchiha Sasuke was still here training in Lighting Release Chakra Mode with Kakashi Hatake when he received orders from the Root, instructing him to immediately lead the Root ninja to search for Uchiha Itachi's whereabouts, hunting those who nearly wiped out the Uchiha Clan, Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito!
"Finally, I can kill that guy..."
A substantial chakra appeared around Uchiha Sasuke, flashing with bright electric sparks, indicating he had entered the Lighting Release Chakra Mode!
Remembering the man he desperately wanted to kill, Uchiha Sasuke angrily punched a wooden stake, shattering it into countless splinters under his fist!
"I'll go with you."
Kakashi Hatake sighed.
Although Uchiha Sasuke was going to hunt down Uchiha Itachi, it was clear he wouldn't let Uchiha Obito off either, so Kakashi Hatake planned to join the Root in action.
Such matters...
Cannot be hidden from Tsunade.
Tsunade felt a bit anxious sending off Jiraiya, only to hear Kakashi Hatake's report and request. A large-scale operation by the Root would definitely cause unrest.
However...
For Jiraiya, this was a good thing.
Because Uchiha Sasuke and the Root's action would certainly draw Akatsuki Organization members' attention, making it somewhat safer for Jiraiya to go to the Land of Rain to find the Akatsuki Hideout.
"Team 7, move out together."
Tsunade ordered Kakashi Hatake to lead Team 7 into action while assessing Konoha's available forces: "I'll dispatch Team 3, Team 8, and Team 10 together, we must not let Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito escape!"
Root Base.
The most secretive place in the entire Root base.
Undoubtedly, it was Orochimaru and Kabuto's laboratory.
Akihara Kagura opened the lab's door and saw Orochimaru and Kabuto, who were busy inside, both a bit surprised to see Akihara Kagura.
Orochimaru, while recording experimental data, teased Akihara Kagura: "Kagura-kun, ever since I came to Konoha, you haven't visited me here, is there something important?"
"Lord Orochimaru."
Akihara Kagura maintained a respectful attitude towards Orochimaru, curiously asking him a question: "Are you interested in returning to Akatsuki's base?"
"There's nothing noteworthy there..."
Orochimaru shook his head, not interested in the Akatsuki base: "Anyway, the Akatsuki members aren't your match, you can eliminate Akatsuki and bring back all the secrets hidden there, providing me with excellent experimental materials..."
"Jiraiya-sensei went."
Akihara Kagura brought up a name, slowly continuing: "I heard Jiraiya-sensei plans to go alone to stop Akatsuki's actions, trying to persuade Senior Nagato and Senior Sister Konan to halt their plan of capturing the Tailed Beasts..."
"..."
The pen in Orochimaru's hand paused for a moment, and then he resumed recording data, a wicked smile appearing on his lips: "Truly reckless, a disciple seeking to walk his own path appropriately requires a teacher's life to prove he hasn't chosen the wrong path..."
"So will you go?"
Akihara Kagura asked again.
"I'm not interested in Akatsuki's matters."
After repeating himself, Orochimaru's expression turned a bit unpleasant: "You and Kabuto have excavated the corpses of strong ninja world figures, what can I do even if I go? I'm no longer a match for that kid Nagato..."
"I'll go too."
One sentence from Akihara Kagura was enough to bolster Orochimaru's confidence.
"Although I'm not interested in Akatsuki..."
Orochimaru looked up at Akihara Kagura, smiling as he continued: "I've always been very interested in the secrets of Akatsuki's Rinnegan and the Gedo Statue..."
Akihara Kagura looked at Orochimaru and also smiled, slowly nodding: "The secrets hidden in Akatsuki are more than Lord Orochimaru imagines... Lord Orochimaru might as well go ahead first to prevent any unfortunate incidents for Jiraiya-sensei."
"You've got quite a favorable stance toward that Jiraiya fellow..."
Orochimaru's lips curled into a light smile as he directly removed his white coat: "Kagura-kun, aren't you worried that once I leave, I'll reveal all your and the Root's secrets? Any of these secrets, if exposed, would overturn your image in the ninja world..."
"It doesn't matter anymore."
Akihara Kagura replied with a smile, spreading his hands: "When a truly major event occurs, everything here becomes trivial."
"..."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly before striding out of the lab.
Leaving only Akihara Kagura and Kabuto in the entire lab.
"Do you need me to go?"
Kabuto curiously asked, looking at Akihara Kagura.
"Protect the director well."
Akihara Kagura tasked Kabuto, pulling a bark-like object from his pocket and tossing it to him: "If you hear that I've become the enemy of the entire ninja world, hand this piece of bark to the Fifth Hokage..."
"Hmm?"
Kabuto glanced in surprise at Akihara Kagura, catching the piece of bark from Akihara Kagura but not concerning himself with its origin: "Kagura, why become a rogue ninja? Did something happen?"
"Something's about to happen."
Akihara Kagura pointed to the piece of bark, softly reminding: "It records the history of the ninja world, and only those with Wood Release Chakra can read the contents on it. Don't say I gave it to you, just say I hid it in the orphanage when I was a child..."