"Dean, this isn't your fault."
Kabuto Yakushi continued earnestly comforting his dean.
No matter how you look at it, this matter isn't the dean's fault.
Because Orochimaru kidnapped Akihara Kagura and Shimura Danzo deliberately concealed the fact that Akihara Kagura was still alive, they thought Akihara Kagura was already dead and slowly forgot this child from the orphanage, making the child mistakenly believe they had abandoned him.
"But…"
"That child…"
Yakushi Nonou pressed her chest; the pain and guilt clogged her heart, leaving her brain a blank, barely able to utter a word.
Yakushi Nonou recalled the time she saw Akihara Kagura; not only did she fail to recognize the child, but she also didn't even remember the name and even wounded him with a kunai… Yet the child still smiled, comforting her that it didn't matter.
"How could I forget my own child…"
Yakushi Nonou always treated the children adopted by the orphanage as her own, remembering every child's name, every child's story.
Except…
She forgot Akihara Kagura.
Whether it was because of Shimura Danzo or Orochimaru, it wasn't a reason for her to forget her child, even if she thought the child was already dead…
Even Kabuto Yakushi remembered…
Even Kabuto Yakushi remembered Akihara Kagura.
How could the dean of this orphanage forget her child?
"Dean!"
Kabuto Yakushi shook Yakushi Nonou's shoulders, trying to bring some clarity to his dean, and said seriously, "Now is not the time to talk about this. Our crisis isn't over yet!"
"Kagura hates us for forgetting him. He and Shimura Danzo conspired to make us kill each other. He's in the Land of Earth and definitely won't let us go!"
Kabuto Yakushi examined the surroundings while continuing, "Kagura might be arriving soon, or he might already be nearby. We must leave immediately…"
"..."
In the crevice between rocks.
Uchiha Itachi had been hiding here, recalling everything that had happened, slowly closing his eyes. This young man knew his true task now.
Shimura Danzo wanted him to kill the two members of the Intelligence Department who were about to defect, specifically Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou…
He himself delivered those two self-destructive mission scrolls to Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou; his assessment task was to conclude this conspiracy and tragedy.
Akihara Kagura…
Why does he always appear when information is being passed?
If, as Kabuto Yakushi said, Akihara Kagura hates them for forgetting him and conspired with Shimura Danzo to kill them, then Akihara Kagura appearing every time they passed information was actually to monitor his assessment task?
If, as Kakashi Hatake said, Akihara Kagura's purpose is to make them leave Root, but why do they have to leave Root?
Uchiha Itachi couldn't understand.
Perhaps these matters don't need him to think about.
Uchiha Itachi recalled the moment he parted ways with Akihara Kagura.
Regardless of whether Akihara Kagura came to monitor him, Uchiha Itachi knew he had no other choice, and now he had to continue on resolutely!
Even if…
He had to kill these two companions!
For the task, for Konoha, whatever the cost!
Shimura Danzo, this high-ranking member of Konoha, wanted to clean away these two Intelligence Department members about to defect. This was an order from above, a necessary sacrifice!
A cat face mask was in his hand.
Uchiha Itachi slowly reached out, putting on the cat face mask, hiding his true face underneath it, just like other Root Ninja executing tasks.
Two shuriken flew towards Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou!
"Enemy attack!"
This voice immediately caught Kabuto Yakushi's attention; he quickly pulled Yakushi Nonou, hiding behind a rock!
However…
It was futile!
Clang!
The sound of shuriken clashing was crisp!
Uchiha Itachi raised his hand, throwing out two more shuriken which struck the previous two, shifting their direction!
Four shuriken headed towards the two behind the rock!
The shuriken throwing jutsu of Uchiha Itachi was exceptionally masterful; besides the constant guidance from Uchiha Shisui, no one in Konoha or even the Ninja World was more skilled!
"What?"
Kabuto Yakushi looked in shock at the four incoming shuriken!
Even though Kabuto Yakushi had been on espionage missions for many years and seen many Ninja, he was amazed by the opponent's ability to attack beyond the line of sight!
This was far from over!
Uchiha Itachi quickly formed hand seals!
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
This was the jutsu that after Uchiha Itachi returned from a mission in the Hidden Mist Village, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen specifically taught him as a reward!
A densely packed swarm of shuriken descended towards the place where Kabuto Yakushi and Yakushi Nonou hid!
"Go!"
Kabuto Yakushi pushed Yakushi Nonou away, raising a mass of emerald green Chakra Scalpel in his hand, trying his best to block the incoming shuriken!
However…
Ultimately to no avail!
Kabuto Yakushi could only avoid critical areas as much as possible. To protect Yakushi Nonou, his arm, shoulder, and leg were each hit by a shuriken!