Chapter 102: Chapter 102: Dean, do you remember Kagura?
Hatake Kakashi felt a bit of a tingling in his scalp.
He was just an ordinary ninja of Konoha's Anbu, why did he get involved in something like the dispute over the future leadership of the Root by two youngsters!
However...
Hatake Kakashi had no choice but to get involved.
How could he not when both candidates vying for the future leadership of the Root were under his command?
"I still think that Lord Tsuchikage should be handed over to Lord Hokage for handling."
Hatake Kakashi's brain was spinning wildly as he carefully hinted to Akihara Kagura, "If you have this merit, Lord Hokage will grant all your requests... You want to become the leader of the Root, isn't it to rescue Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nono?"
"..."
Akihara Kagura slowly shook his head and said in a deep voice, "Let's leave this place first, avoid the encirclement of the Rock ninja, and make a decision once we return to the Land of Fire!"
Akihara Kagura shook his head and sighed, "Avoiding the encirclement and blockade of the Rock ninja is not easy, especially while escorting Lord Tsuchikage."
"Right, where is Itachi?"
Hatake Kakashi remembered another teammate, wondering why Uchiha Itachi hadn't come along. Could it be that the subordinate was killed by Akihara Kagura?
"Uchiha Itachi didn't come along."
Akihara Kagura snorted, continuing carelessly, "Because he thought coming here to save you was too dangerous. In the future, he will become the leader of the Root, a high-ranking official of the Konoha. How could he take such a risk?"
"Itachi is not that kind of person..."
Hatake Kakashi frowned and defended Uchiha Itachi spontaneously.
Although Hatake Kakashi didn't interact much with Uchiha Itachi, he believed that the polite child was not someone who would abandon his teammates' lives for power.
"Tch..."
Akihara Kagura glanced at Hatake Kakashi, seemingly puzzled, "I came here to save you, why wouldn't Uchiha Itachi be willing to come with me? Does he have some important mission? Does he think he's saving Konoha?"
"Cough cough, don't belittle yourself..."
Hatake Kakashi coughed a few times, reminding, "Also, next time you come to rescue someone, could you check first whether the person you're rescuing has been captured?"
"Did you get rescued or not?"
Akihara Kagura seemed to always be a consequentialist in his actions.
"..."
Hatake Kakashi really had no good retort.
From the outcome perspective, he indeed was rescued, and even wasn't tortured by the Rock Village, but psychologically, it was somewhat uncomfortable.
"Right."
Hatake Kakashi refused to discuss the matter further, speaking softly about his encounter with Yakushi Kabuto in the Rock Village: "It seems Kabuto received an assassination mission. He's been suspecting that you're trying to manipulate him and Yakushi Nono into killing each other..."
"Oh."
Akihara Kagura remained silent, his expression calm.
His gaze still tranquil, Akihara Kagura slowly turned to look at Hatake Kakashi. His eyes carried a suppressed force, as if he was expecting, questioning, and even pressuring.
"That guy Kabuto..."
"Did he mention where he was going for the assassination mission?"
"It seems like... the Tsuchi River Gorge."
After pondering for a moment, Hatake Kakashi provided an answer and added a time: "If I remember correctly, it should be tomorrow. We should make it in time if we hurry, right?"
"More than enough."
Akihara Kagura spoke with his usual calm demeanor.
"Are you going to kill him?"
Hatake Kakashi furrowed his brows and continued, "I heard him mention your past stories, mentioning you and Danzo wanting to manipulate him and Yakushi Nono into killing each other..."
Akihara Kagura's brows also furrowed, and he pursed his lips, revealing a cold smirk, seemingly disdainful of Kabuto's foolishness.
"That fool..."
"He told you this?"
"Uh."
Hatake Kakashi rubbed his forehead's hair, softly saying, "I don't think you would do such a thing; it must have been Danzo's idea..."
Ever since learning about Akihara Kagura's past, Hatake Kakashi understood the darkness and the tragic childhood of this kid.
Such a pitiful little guy.
Hatake Kakashi didn't know what it felt like to be forgotten or even abandoned by others, but he knew it must be unbearable, perhaps also a reason why Akihara Kagura's actions and character became more and more extreme.
"Sorry."
Hatake Kakashi placed his hand on Akihara Kagura's shoulder.
This was an apology for not understanding Akihara Kagura's past and always misunderstanding his extremeness. It was already quite commendable that this kid was still willing to keep his kindness.
"Let's go."
Akihara Kagura paid no attention, simply reaching out to grab the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, and turned to speak to them, saying, "Karin, place your hands on me. I'll use the Flying Thunder God Technique to get us out of here first!"
"Yes, Lord Kagura!"
Karin immediately reached out and grabbed hold of Akihara Kagura's clothes.
This squad, along with their spoils of war, vanished on the spot.
Akihara Kagura, utilizing the Flying Thunder God Technique and the Light-Weight Rock Technique, effortlessly flew them past the blockade circle set up by the Rock ninjas, heading straight for the direction of the Tsuchi River Gorge.
Tsuchi River Gorge.
Uchiha Itachi had arrived here early.
This mission, to kill two deserters, was especially important to Uchiha Itachi, absolutely allowing no room for error. He had even been lying in wait here for a whole day.
Until last night, Uchiha Itachi secretly saw a familiar figure here, it was a senpai he had once encountered, Yakushi Nono...
This senpai had searched the area for a long time, eventually setting up some simple traps and found a rock to hide behind...
Could it be that Yakushi Nono also took on the mission to assassinate the deserters?
It's possible.
If Shimura Danzo was worried that he couldn't complete the assessment, it wouldn't be strange to leave a senpai here to finish up or to monitor his assessment.
In fact.
Yakushi Nono was entirely worried about not being able to complete the mission.
For a medical ninja to kill like a combat ninja is not easy; they had to use various methods, whether it be ambush, traps, or poison.
March 16th.
Another person arrived at the Tsuchi River Gorge.
Uchiha Itachi recognized this person as another intelligence officer he had once encountered, Yakushi Kabuto, was this person also here to support him?
However...
The development of events exceeded Uchiha Itachi's expectations!
While Uchiha Itachi was still pondering, Yakushi Nono could not restrain herself and suddenly rushed towards Yakushi Kabuto, throwing a shuriken!
Yakushi Kabuto quickly dodged the incoming shuriken, desperately avoiding Yakushi Nono's attack, and landed a palm on Yakushi Nono's shoulder!
"Dean!"
"I am Kabuto! I am the real Yakushi Kabuto!"
Yakushi Kabuto held down Yakushi Nono's shoulder, stopping her from continuing to attack, and explained in a deep voice, "Shimura Danzo deceived us! The photos he has been giving you are fake! He made us fight each other, this is a conspiracy by Kagura and Shimura Danzo!"
"What... Do you mean? You are Kabuto?"
A flicker of doubt and confusion passed through the eyes of Yakushi Nono.
"It's me."
Yakushi Kabuto quickly nodded, bringing up their past at the orphanage: "Do you remember? Dean! It was you who gave me these glasses! It was you who taught me medical ninjutsu! It was you who gave me this name!"
"The rules of the orphanage, everyone must go to bed and rest by nine o'clock at night, do not waste food, do not quarrel with peers, and do not make a fuss in the restroom…"
"We worked together to treat the wounded from the war in exchange for funds…"
"We went together to collect cardboard boxes…"
The scenes from the Konoha orphanage, as if engraved in the bones of Yakushi Kabuto, he has always remembered every detail of his time at the orphanage…
These memories are real!
These stories are known only to the children of the orphanage!
Especially some things that only he and Yakushi Nono knew, it was absolutely impossible for a third person to know!
Yakushi Kabuto spoke of his longing for life in the orphanage, his dream of being able to speak out to someone: "I've always missed the Dean, always wanted to see the Dean, always thought that maybe one day I could return to the orphanage…"
"Kabuto…"
Tears welled up in the eyes of Yakushi Nono.
This gentle woman reached out and embraced Yakushi Kabuto's shoulders, just like she did back in the orphanage, gently pulling him into a mother-like embrace.
"You've grown so much…"
"Dean!"
Yakushi Kabuto could no longer suppress his emotions, his years of longing and feelings were finally released, and he finally saw the person he wanted to see again.
Most importantly…
He and the Dean no longer had to fight each other!
Their fates would not be as Kagura said, caught in a plot!
"Since I joined the Root, it wasn't long before I was sent by Danzo to various places as a spy, never knowing the Dean was looking for me…"
Yakushi Kabuto's emotions gradually calmed down, and he began to talk about his life after joining the Root, unconsciously omitting some of the dangers and hardships he experienced as a spy.
However, as a spy herself, Yakushi Nono could understand these things, but could only gently rub his forehead, showing a warm smile.
"This is not a responsibility you should bear…"
Yakushi Nono shook her head, speaking of her plan: "I have made an agreement with Danzo. After one last mission, you can leave the Root…"
"This is a conspiracy by Kagura and Danzo."
Yakushi Kabuto shook his head swiftly, gritting his teeth, "Danzo has never intended to let us leave the Root. Danzo has always been sending my photos to you, all of which are fake. He has been deceiving you!"
"..."
Yakushi Nono slowly extended her hand from her bosom and took out a photo, which was of a young man smiling strangely.
"This is fake!"
Yakushi Kabuto quickly snatched the photo and said in a deep voice, "Dean, the assassination mission you received, that's where my photo is. This is Kagura's revenge, a conspiracy meticulously designed by him and Danzo. He wants us to kill each other..."
"Kagura? This name sounds a bit familiar..."
Yakushi Nono felt the name was somewhat familiar.
Suddenly, Yakushi Nono recalled when she had heard this name before.
A few days ago, when she was meeting with a boy from the Konoha Village, another boy suddenly appeared, whom she almost mistook for an enemy and almost injured...
Did that boy seem to recognize her?
Others called that boy Kagura-kun?
"Dean, do you remember Kagura?"
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Yakushi Nono, seriously reminding her, "Akihara Kagura, he was also a child from the orphanage, didn't stay long before being abducted by Orochimaru for human experiments. We all thought he was dead, but he's actually alive!"
"Ah!"
Yakushi Nono's complexion slowly changed.
Yakushi Nono didn't remember adopting a child named Akihara Kagura; she only remembered the boy who smiled at her when she saw him, the boy who, even after being injured by her, still carelessly praised her!
"Is he... a child from the orphanage?"
Yakushi Nono's heart twitched slightly, her body gradually started to tremble, "But... Kabuto... I seem to have forgotten him..."
Yakushi Nono slowly turned her head to look at Yakushi Kabuto, tears streaming down her cheeks, "Kabuto... I should... I should not forget any child... I will never forget any of my children!"
"It's okay."
Yakushi Kabuto also looked somewhat dejected, gently extending his hand to embrace the Dean, comforting her, "It's okay... Dean... It's not your fault about Kagura... It's Orochimaru's fault... It's Danzo's fault, it's Danzo who hid the fact that Kagura was still alive from us!"
~~~
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