Chapter 97: Plot Thickens
Rock Village.
The temporary residence of the Yakushi Kabuto.
Yakushi Kabuto and Hatake Kakashi sat opposite each other at a table, both staring at each other, feeling that they did not know enough about Akihara Kagura.
"I and Kagura were both children from the orphanage."
Yakushi Kabuto hesitated for a moment when he said this, then continued: "When we were very young, Kagura disappeared for some reason, and everyone thought he had died, including me and the Dean, who completely forgot about him."
Yakushi Kabuto was telling the truth.
However, Yakushi Kabuto believed that Akihara Kagura was indeed a child of the orphanage, just forgotten by everyone due to unknown reasons.
"I know about this."
Hatake Kakashi actually knew about these things and even actively provided Yakushi Kabuto with the answer to Akihara Kagura's disappearance: "During that period, villages near Konoha continuously had children disappearing, and later even the children and ninjas from the village disappeared..."
Hatake Kakashi sighed and explained: "Because Orochimaru was secretly conducting illegal Hashirama cell transplant experiments, kidnapping many children as experimental subjects. The transplant experiment on Kagura was successful, and he successfully awakened Wood Release..."
"So it was like that..."
Yakushi Kabuto shook his head helplessly and continued: "Kagura doesn't think he was kidnapped, he always believes he was sent to the lab by the Dean... But I know the Dean, she would never send the children of the orphanage away."
"Maybe it's because he was too young."
Hatake Kakashi actively defended his subordinate: "At that time, Kagura's mentality was not mature enough, too dependent on you, so he could be deceived by Orochimaru or Shimura Danzo, thinking it was Yakushi Nono who sent him in."
"Perhaps that's the case..."
Yakushi Kabuto could not help but sigh at the bizarre fate: "After Kagura awakened Wood Release, he stayed in the Root for training, but at that time we knew nothing about it, we didn't know what kind of life he was living..."
Yakushi Kabuto once trained in espionage in the Root.
Yakushi Kabuto is very familiar with the life of those combatants trained in the Root from a young age, a group of children fighting each other, with only the victor able to survive.
"Until five years ago..."
Yakushi Kabuto slowly started to sort out the timeline of his and the Dean, Yakushi Nono's, entry into the Root, speculating about Akihara Kagura's thoughts during that time.
"For the funding of the orphanage, I and the Dean of the orphanage joined the Root, it was around that time Akihara Kagura found out we joined the Root..."
Yakushi Kabuto recalled the hatred and jealousy on Akihara Kagura on that day, took a deep breath before continuing: "However, we had long forgotten Kagura, we never saw Kagura while we were in the Root, nor did we ever think of him..."
"Wood Release Kekkei Genkai is top secret."
Hatake Kakashi kindly reminded him.
Even talents like Yamato were treated as secret weapons by Shimura Danzo; let alone a Wood Release bloodline genius like Akihara Kagura.
"But"
Yakushi Kabuto slowly adjusted his glasses, bringing up a matter that always made him feel somewhat panicked and uneasy: "Kagura always remembers us."
"This is normal"
Hatake Kakashi was well aware of this and took the initiative to answer: "Perhaps life in the Root was too oppressive, and he always remembers the orphanage..."
"So"
Yakushi Kabuto raised his head, looking at Hatake Kakashi, seemingly seeking further answers: "Would he hate us for completely forgetting about him?"
Hatake Kakashi's forehead broke out in sweat.
Hatake Kakashi and Akihara Kagura often carried out missions together, having heard Akihara Kagura expound his ninja way and witnessed him rescuing Karin in extreme ways. He believed that Akihara Kagura, despite being shrouded in darkness, still harbored kindness deep inside.
However, after hearing Kabuto's question, Kakashi couldn't help but feel the need to question Akihara Kagura's thoughts, even though he thought he understood Kagura well.
A child who grew up in the oppressive environment of the Root, whose personality was influenced by Danzo to the point of resorting to extreme violence, and the only people who could make him feel the world's beauty had forgotten him?
"Kagura's personality is quite extreme."
Hatake Kakashi massaged his temples, sensing the difficulty of the situation: "No wonder you always thought he wanted to kill you... But it may not be the case; maybe Kagura has already forgiven you?"
Hatake Kakashi recalled the reasons Akihara Kagura wanted to kill Kabuto, those implying his wish to save Yakushi Nono, and slowly sorted out his thoughts.
"Kagura has deep feelings for Yakushi Nono. Although he always says he wants to kill you, his goal has always been to get Yakushi Nono out of the Root. Nono stayed in the Root for you, right?"
"This is another reason Kagura wants to kill me."
Kabuto's expression gradually became complex, showing a mix of shame and bitterness: "Because the Dean always thought of getting me out of the Root's darkness, forgetting that another orphan had been staying in the Root since childhood, even facing more darkness and suffering than I encountered"
"I received the Dean's favor."
Kabuto remembered the favoritism from Yakushi Nono towards him, feeling a warm yet quickly followed by guilt: "Yet, the Dean's love never fell on Kagura, who had been forgotten long ago."
"I understand."
Hatake Kakashi immediately grasped Kabuto's point, sighing deeply: "It seems Kagura's personality isn't so extreme after all, since he hasn't killed you yet"
"Because he wants to end it all in a more painful way."
Kabuto seemed unafraid to reveal the truth to Hatake Kakashi, who was seeking death actively, perhaps needing someone to confide in or seeking answers.
Kabuto and Akihara Kagura spent little time together, but Kabuto had heard Kagura talk about his jealousy and seen Kagura's nature.
Kabuto knew about Kagura's child-like nature, his feelings for the Konoha Orphanage, but also his deeper hatred and jealousy.
"Kagura has always been planning to make me and the Dean kill each other."
Yakushi Kabuto brought up Akihara Kagura's plan and then mentioned Shimura Danzo's conspiracy: "Since I left the orphanage at a very young age, the Dean could only understand my life through photographs. Shimura Danzo replaced those photographs with fake ones, and the Dean doesn't recognize me as I am now"
"Shimura Danzo once mentioned that as long as the Dean completes the last mission, I would be allowed to leave the Root. However, Kagura participated in this conspiracy and mentioned that the Dean's last mission was supposed to be killing me, a stranger to him."
Following the conspiracy, Yakushi Kabuto mentioned Akihara Kagura again: "Kagura has always been aware of this matter, envious of the Dean's favoritism towards me and resenting the Dean for forgetting him"
Yakushi Kabuto sighed, seemingly powerless: "I have already received a new mission, and the Dean should have received the same mission"
"If nothing unexpected happens, our mission is to kill each other."
"Now, Akihara Kagura has personally arrived in the Land of Earth, wanting to see the Dean kill me with his own hands, and then tell the Dean who the person he killed is"
"This plan is truly cruel and vicious!"
Hatake Kakashi remained silent, unable to speak, realizing he did not know enough about Akihara Kagura. This plan involved not only murder but also a deeper betrayal of trust.
"Perhaps all along, what Akihara Kagura said about wanting to kill Yakushi Kabuto was true; that child indeed has a dark and extreme side to his heart."
"So, that's it"
Hatake Kakashi finally understood why Yakushi Kabuto always believed Akihara Kagura wanted to kill him; anyone would think the same in his place.
"I thought he always wanted to save you and Yakushi Non."
Hatake Kakashi shook his head, continuing on his own: "To be able to rescue Yakushi Non, he has been wanting to return from the Anbu to the Root, continuing to serve Shimura Danzo, even competing with Uchiha Itachi for the future leadership of the Root"
"This seems somewhat contradictory."
Hatake Kakashi expressed his doubts: "If Yakushi Non really killed you under his manipulation, even if he later allowed Yakushi Non to leave the Root, wouldn't Yakushi Non hate him?"
Without waiting for Yakushi Kabuto's response, Hatake Kakashi answered his own question: "No, that's also normal, because that guy, no matter what he does, doesn't care about others' opinions. He could kill hundreds of people in the blink of an eye, yet he wouldn't explain that his original intention was to save people"
"This matter might not be without hope, right?"
Looking at Yakushi Kabuto, Hatake Kakashi asked proactively: "Since you already know about these things, why not confess to Yakushi Non? As long as Yakushi Non knows you are Yakushi Kabuto, this conspiracy won't work, right?"
Hatake Kakashi couldn't help but become curious: "By the way, when did you find out about the conspiracy Shimura Danzo and Akihara Kagura were plotting? You've thoroughly understood it even before the conspiracy began"
"Kagura told me personally."
Yakushi Kabuto recalled the youth filled with hatred and continued, "Because Kagura once said that even if I told the dean the truth, he would kill me in front of the Dean with his own hands, making the Dean taste the bitterness of pain"
Yakushi Kabuto lifted his head, looking at Hatake Kakashi as if he were looking at an idiot: "Kagura is in the Land of Earth. Even if we unravel this conspiracy, what's the use? Does Kakashi-senpai think I am capable of subduing him?"
"I am not sure either."
Hatake Kakashi remembered the strength of his own subordinates and spoke up to remind, "Last year, when we went to the Mist Village for a reconnaissance mission, Kagura used Wood Release to defeat the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, and even captured him alive and brought him back to Konoha"
"I remember Yagura was also the Three-Tails Jinchuriki."
Hearing about Kagura's achievements, Yakushi Kabuto became increasingly uneasy.
Once, Yakushi Kabuto had infiltrated the Mist Village for a period of time, a rare individual who survived during the era of the Blood Mist Policy as a spy, and naturally knew that the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura, was the Three-Tails Jinchuriki.
What else could he do?
A Kage of one of the Five Great Ninja Village, even a Jinchuriki, was directly captured alive by Kagura using Wood Release; he could not possibly be his opponent
"It seems, I can only think of another way"
Yakushi Kabuto sighed and poured himself a cup of tea.
"Something seems a bit off."
Hatake Kakashi felt something was not quite right, but after listening to Yakushi Kabuto's story, he felt there was no issue: "It seems there's nothing wrong, it's normal for Kagura, with such an extreme personality, to have the idea of killing you"
"Two more days."
Yakushi Kabuto, recalling the mission time getting closer on the scroll, sighed lightly: "The last time I saw Kagura, he told me that whether anyone could stop him from killing was up to my luck, maybe only hoping the Dean can persuade him?"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi suddenly fell silent.
Why wait until now to say something so important?
Kagura's character, when actually killing someone, never asks for others' opinions. If he decides to kill, he does so without regard for the consequences, killing hundreds of Grass ninjas on a whim!
Most of the time, Kagura's thoughts are indeed very extreme.
However, Kagura's thoughts are in a delicate state; it seems he could kill or not kill. If someone stops him, he doesn't kill; if no one does...
Next time
Should I try not stopping?
Hatake Kakashi quickly discarded this thought from his mind, because if he didn't stop him, that guy would definitely kill!
"If Kagura really wanted to kill you, he wouldn't say such things."
"Based on my understanding of him, he likes to kill, but he also wouldn't give up on saving people. Even while staying by Danzo's side, that child's heart still harbors a kindness shrouded in darkness."
Hatake Kakashi fixed his gaze on Yakushi Kabuto, cautiously verifying, "Is there a possibility that Kagura told you these conspiracies not because he wants to kill you, but rather to warn you, to be vigilant of Shimura Danzo's schemes?"
"But..."
Yakushi Kabuto found it hard to believe.
Because on that day, Akihara Kagura's jealousy and hatred seemed all too real.
"Of course."
"There's another greater possibility."
Hatake Kakashi shared another thought of his subordinate: "Kagura wanted to take revenge on you for forgetting him, to retaliate against Yakushi Nono's favoritism towards you, thus participating in this conspiracy. However, he did not actually want to kill you..."
"There are two more days."
Yakushi Kabuto glanced at the calendar on the table: "I must go to the Tsuchi River Gorge. I hope everything is as you said, that Kagura was just reminding me and the director to be cautious of Shimura Danzo's conspiracy."
Hatake Kakashi asked the question he wanted to know: "Can you tell me where the Five-Tails Jinchuriki is?"
"What a waste of life..."
Yakushi Kabuto shook his head and sighed, continuing, "I don't know the exact location... but the place where the Five-Tails Jinchuriki is imprisoned is definitely not a place crowded with people."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi felt he had wasted some time, though it wasn't a complete waste.
"I'm leaving now."
Yakushi Kabuto put on his Rock Village forehead protector, continuing, "Be careful. The Rock Village is conducting strict searches. You better not hide in my place, in case nothing happens at Tsuchi River Gorge and I have to continue my undercover work here."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi had no choice but to accept this suggestion.
Are these people from the Root so cold and ruthless for the sake of their missions?
Compared to them, Akihara Kagura, that kid, seemed to have a bit of humanity.
"Wait..."
"I almost forgot to remind him..."
Hatake Kakashi suddenly remembered something, realizing danger is never from just one place!
However, when Hatake Kakashi went out to find him, he found he could no longer locate Yakushi Kabuto.
"Don't underestimate the threat of Shimura Danzo. Akihara Kagura may not want to kill you, but Shimura Danzo definitely harbors thoughts of wanting you dead"
~~~
Talks that lead to nowhere but word count, but at least the plot thickens! /Bleam
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