Sarutobi Ryu nodded and then shook his head, answering Kakashi's question: "It's not being handed over to the third squad, but rather handled personally by the third squad's sub-captain."
One person?
Apart from Itachi, who was the sub-captain of the third squad, the other three sub-captains were all shocked.
That's a complete and powerful ninja clan... wouldn't monitoring them alone cause problems?
Even though Itachi, being a member of the Uchiha Clan, is convenient for monitoring the Uchiha compared to his Anbu identity... however, assigning such an important task to one person is really absurd.
"Yes. I understand."
Kakashi couldn't comprehend what the higher-ups were thinking, as there were too many anomalies.
Besides, the Uchiha Clan's matters are too sensitive; going too deeply might inevitably arouse suspicion from the top.
Therefore, Kakashi simply asked up to this point and did not delve further.
Anyway, he wasn't very interested in the task of monitoring the Uchiha Clan, staying in the village all day, rarely going out, his body was almost rusting.
Just transmitting this news to the Land of Demons and fulfilling my duties will suffice.
The short meeting ended, and Itachi stayed behind alone.
The three sub-captains left first, and not long after, the door of the conference room opened again.
A man walked in.
He was wearing a black cloak coat, with a pair of black sunglasses on his face, and a very conspicuous purple mark on his right cheek.
As he walked in, the dark will accompanied him, making the atmosphere in the conference room extremely heavy.
"Ryu, it's been a while."
This person was the Root Jonin, Aburame Ryuma.
He was Shimura Danzo's right-hand man and was skilled in the Aburame Clan's Insect Secret Jutsu.
He seemed familiar with Sarutobi Ryu, casually greeting him.
Sarutobi Ryu grunted, not speaking.
Aburame Ryuma smiled slightly, not caring about Sarutobi Ryu's attitude, instead looking at the silent Itachi beside him.
"As agreed, from now on we are colleagues executing the mission together. Pleased to meet you, Uchiha Itachi."
"Pleased to meet you."
Itachi replied politely.
"Then, follow me, we'll head to the new monitoring room; that's where we'll be working."
After Aburame Ryuma finished speaking, he turned and left.
Itachi followed his footsteps to leave the conference room.
"Is Itachi okay?"
Sarutobi Linko seemed worried about Itachi's safety.
"Don't worry, since it's the Hokage's decision, he will surely protect Itachi's safety."
Sarutobi Ryu sighed.
The task of monitoring the Uchiha Clan isn't precisely handed over to Itachi alone.
It should be said that Itachi, with his Anbu identity, is meant to engage with Root, monitoring the Uchiha Clan along with Root ninjas.
This was the true intention of the higher-ups.
Thinking about the decision of his father, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Ryu couldn't comprehend it.
If Anbu were to monitor, there might be a buffer with the Uchiha Clan.
Shimura Danzo, the Root Leader, severely rejects the Uchiha Clan as a ninja of darkness; would he really decide the future of the Uchiha Clan from a fair and neutral perspective?
Father, what exactly are you thinking? Sarutobi Ryu couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
He did not wish for such an extreme organization as Root to monitor the Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha Clan's ninjas are inherently fierce; if Root gets involved, it's hard to guarantee what might happen.
He doubted whether his father, the Third Hokage's decision, was correct.
However, due to his father's other identity—the Third Hokage, he couldn't defy.
Before being a ninja of the Sarutobi Clan, he is Konoha's ninja Sarutobi Ryu.
"If Tsunade and Jiraiya were in the village, it would be better; they could certainly restrain Danzo's steps, not let father act recklessly like this."
Sarutobi Ryu had imagined this scenario more than once.
But unfortunately, Tsunade and Jiraiya had long left the village.
Root can't be contained with the strength of the Hokage alone.
Sarutobi Linko didn't speak, but held her husband's hand, giving him encouragement.
No matter what decision her husband makes, she will just follow him.
◎
"You really are on my side, Itachi."
At the Root headquarters, Danzo personally met with Itachi, showing a kindly smile on his usually gloomy face.
Itachi stood in front of Danzo, slightly looking up at the man before him.
He had met with Danzo many times before.
Before he started school, he had formed an inseparable tie with this man.
During the Chunin exams, after joining Anbu, he had secretly communicated with this man.
Although everything this man did was for Konoha, there was always a vibe about him that Itachi disliked.
Itachi couldn't pinpoint the feeling.
Was it disgust or nausea, or something else, Itachi had no idea.
"I'll leave the Uchiha Clan's matters to you from now on. At this point, the only one who can save the Uchiha Clan is you, Itachi."
"I understand that."
Indeed, the recent decrease in Uchiha Clan gatherings was not due to enlightenment but because some people avoid Anbu's sight, purchasing large quantities of weapons from the Ninja Cat Clan.
For instance, kunai and explosive tags, especially explosive tags, purchasing over tens of thousands.
Itachi didn't need to think to know what they planned next.
Such a vast number of explosive tags, once deployed inside Konoha, the turmoil it could cause is unimaginable.
Even executing a beheading operation might inevitably harm many innocent villagers.