The Hidden Rock Village.
Kabuto's temporary residence.
Kabuto and Kakashi Hatake sat across the table from each other, both feeling they didn't know enough about Akihara Kagura.
"Both Kagura and I were children from the orphanage."
As Kabuto spoke, he hesitated for a moment before continuing, "When we were very young, Kagura disappeared for unknown reasons. Everyone thought Kagura was dead, including the dean and me. We completely forgot him."
Kabuto was telling the truth.
However, Kabuto believed Akihara Kagura was indeed a child from the orphanage, but for unknown reasons, he was forgotten by everyone due to his disappearance.
"I know about this."
Kakashi Hatake did know about these events and even proactively helped Kabuto with the answer to Akihara Kagura's disappearance: "During that time, children were disappearing from the villages around Konoha, and later, even the children and ninjas from within the village vanished..."
Kakashi Hatake sighed and explained: "Back then, Orochimaru was secretly conducting illegal Hashirama Cell Transplantation experiments, abducting many children to be used as experimental materials. The transplant experiment on Kagura succeeded, and he successfully awakened Wood Release..."
"So that's what happened..."
Kabuto shook his head rather helplessly and continued: "Kagura didn't believe he was abducted; he always thought he was sent to the lab by the dean... But I know the dean; she would never send the orphanage's children away."
"Maybe he was too young."
Kakashi Hatake voluntarily defended his subordinate: "At that time, Kagura's mind wasn't mature, and he relied too much on you, which is why he might have been deceived by Orochimaru or Shimura Danzo, thinking Yakushi Nonou had sent him there."
"Perhaps that's the case..."
At this point, Kabuto couldn't help but marvel at the whimsical nature of fate: "After Kagura awakened Wood Release, he stayed in Root for training, but we knew nothing about it at that time. We didn't know what kind of life he was living..."
Kabuto had once trained in Root to develop espionage skills.
Kabuto knew very well what kind of life those trained in Root lived from a young age—a group of children fighting each other, where only the winner survived.
"Until five years ago..."
Kabuto started slowly deciphering the timeline after he and Dean Yakushi Nonou joined Root, speculating on Akihara Kagura's thoughts during that period.
"For the orphanage's funds, Dean Nonou and I joined Root. Around that time, Akihara Kagura learned of our joining Root..."
Recalling the hate and jealousy Akihara Kagura exhibited that day, Kabuto took a deep breath before continuing: "However, we had already forgotten Kagura. We've never seen him in Root nor remembered him..."
"The Wood Release Bloodline is top secret."
Kakashi Hatake amiably reminded him.
Even talents like Yamato were used by Shimura Danzo as secret weapons; let alone a Wood Release Bloodline prodigy like Akihara Kagura.
"But..."
Kabuto slowly adjusted his glasses and brought up a matter that always made him feel anxious upon remembrance: "Kagura always remembered us."
"That's normal..."
Kakashi Hatake was well aware of this and proactively answered: "Perhaps life in Root was too oppressive, and he'll always remember the orphanage..."
"So..."
Kabuto raised his head to look at Kakashi Hatake, as if hoping to get an answer from him: "Would he hate us for completely forgetting him?"
"..."
Sweat appeared on Kakashi Hatake's forehead.
Kakashi Hatake often performed missions with Akihara Kagura, hearing him articulate his Ninja Path, and witnessing him rescuing Karin in extreme ways. He acknowledged that Akihara Kagura, though enshrouded in darkness, still possessed kindness deep inside.
However, even though Kakashi Hatake believed he understood Akihara Kagura enough, upon hearing Kabuto's question, he couldn't help but add a question mark to Kagura's thoughts.
A child growing up in such a stifling environment as Root, with a personality influenced by Shimura Danzo, resorting to extreme violence—the very people who could make him feel there was still beauty in the world, had forgotten him?
"Kagura's temperament is quite extreme."
Kakashi Hatake rubbed his forehead, sensing the tricky nature of the situation: "No wonder you always think he wants to kill you... But it might not be the case. Maybe Kagura has already forgiven you."
Kakashi Hatake recalled Akihara Kagura's remarks about wanting to kill Kabuto, those that implied he wanted to save Yakushi Nonou, slowly organizing his thoughts.
"Kagura's feelings for Yakushi Nonou are deep. Although he always says he wants to kill you, his purpose might always be to free Yakushi Nonou from Root. Yakushi Nonou stayed in Root for your sake, is that right?"
"This is another reason why Kagura wants to kill me."
Kabuto's expression gradually became complex, showing guilt and bitterness at times: "Because the dean always wanted me to leave Root's darkness, forgetting that there was another orphanage child who grew up in Root, exposed to even more darkness and suffering than I encountered..."