"Kagura, don't blame Kabuto..."
Yakushi Nonou looked at Akihara Kagura, who still appeared angry, and struggled to speak: "It's not Kabuto's fault, he was just trying to raise funds for the orphanage..."
"I've known for a long time."
Akihara Kagura interrupted Yakushi Nonou, speaking coldly: "Otherwise, I would have killed him already. Dean, you should rest for a while now."
"..."
Yakushi Nonou shook her head.
The Akihara Kagura before her was nothing like the smiling boy from a while ago, the boy who kept smiling even after being accidentally injured by her...
This child is still angry...
Perhaps this child has the best reason to be angry among everyone present.
"Kagura."
Yakushi Nonou softly called Akihara Kagura's name, gently saying: "I'm sorry, we all thought you were dead when you disappeared after being kidnapped..."
"I don't care anymore."
Akihara Kagura slowly shook his head, as if indifferent: "When I was sent to Orochimaru's lab back then, I thought I was going to die..."
Akihara Kagura tilted his head back, as if trying to stop his tears from falling: "To survive and see you again is already a blessing for me."
"..."
Kakashi Hatake slowly walked over and patted Akihara Kagura's shoulder, trying to offer silent comfort to his subordinate.
Kakashi Hatake then looked at another subordinate and suddenly spoke: "Uchiha Itachi, you can leave now."
"..."
Uchiha Itachi hesitated, standing in place.
Akihara Kagura glanced back at his supervisor, asking in a deep voice: "Captain Kakashi, are you asking me to let him go?"
"Don't be impulsive."
Kakashi Hatake grabbed Akihara Kagura's shoulder and slowly shook his head.
Uchiha Itachi's identity is unique, being the son of Uchiha Fugaku from the Uchiha Clan and personally recommended by Shimura Danzo to join the Dark Department, with even Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen's agreement.
This means...
Uchiha Itachi is entwined with the high-level affairs of Konoha and the Uchiha Clan.
"Kagura."
Kakashi Hatake's words calmed Akihara Kagura down: "Dean Yakushi Nonou is still alive, she needs to stay in the village to take care of the other children in the orphanage, doesn't she?"
Kakashi Hatake continued: "If you kill Uchiha Itachi, Shimura Danzo won't allow you to become the future Root Leader, and Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou would never be able to return to the village. Do you want them to be homeless?"
"But..."
Akihara Kagura suddenly hesitated.
"Let's return to the village first."
Kakashi Hatake saw his subordinate was tempted and earnestly advised: "When we get back, report this to the Hokage. He will not allow this kind of thing to happen again..."
In theory.
The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen might not intervene.
Yet, Sarutobi Hiruzen's attitude seemed to change toward Akihara Kagura, even starting to forbid any contact between Shimura Danzo and Akihara Kagura.
"Uchiha Itachi."
Kakashi Hatake seized the moment while Akihara Kagura was contemplating and immediately looked at Uchiha Itachi in the distance, commanding in a deep voice: "To prevent the Third Tsuchikage Onoki from being taken back by enemies from The Hidden Rock Village, order you to report back to the village at once and seek reinforcements to support us!"
The real purpose of this order wasn't for reinforcements, but to make sure Uchiha Itachi would leave separately from them to avoid being impulsively killed by Akihara Kagura.
"..."
Uchiha Itachi immediately flew off!
"I haven't decided yet!"
Akihara Kagura instantly wanted to step forward and stop him.
"Calm down!"
Kakashi Hatake restrained him, explaining: "If you really kill him, the situation will be irreparable, and even the Hokage would have difficulty handling it..."
Kakashi Hatake grabbed Akihara Kagura's shoulder, exploiting his weakness, and said: "Kagura, be patient for now and return to seek the Hokage's judgment!"
"He's already gone."
Akihara Kagura looked at Kakashi Hatake, raised an eyebrow, and snorted coldly: "I'll let him go this time, for now, hoping he might in the future..."
...not regret it.
Better not regret it in the future, might as well die now.
Akihara Kagura glanced at the healing Yakushi Nonou, then at Yakushi Kabuto, and instructed: "Yakushi Kabuto, you and Dean Nonou find a place and stay for a while. I'll return to the village to assess the situation and come to bring you back."
"Alright."
Yakushi Kabuto was very obedient.
Yakushi Kabuto dared not refuse Akihara Kagura's words; he already felt guilty about Yakushi Nonou's favoritism toward him and is even more apologetic for misunderstanding Akihara Kagura.
If he had chosen to believe Akihara Kagura wouldn't kill him and instead sought help, perhaps things would not have come to this point, nearly endangering the dean and himself...
Thankfully.
Thankfully, Akihara Kagura arrived in time.
"Thank you."
Yakushi Kabuto softly expressed his gratitude.
Perhaps Akihara Kagura didn't need it, or didn't want to hear it, but Yakushi Kabuto had to say it, having owed Akihara Kagura too much...
For safety, Yakushi Kabuto decided to hide with Yakushi Nonou, remaining in the Land of Earth to avoid being discovered by Shimura Danzo's Root upon returning to the Land of Fire.
Yakushi Nonou felt it was safer this way.
In the whole Land of Earth, only she and Yakushi Kabuto were members of the Intelligence Department. The Land of Fire is the main base of Konoha, and their whereabouts may not escape the ears and eyes of Shimura Danzo.
Akihara Kagura seemed somewhat helpless but had to agree with them, taking Kakashi Hatake, young Karin, and the Third Tsuchikage Onoki to leave first.
"Take good care of the dean."
Akihara Kagura focused his gaze on Yakushi Kabuto and advised: "If you encounter any difficulties, you can go to The Hidden Rock Village. After all, I have captured their Third Tsuchikage, and we can always negotiate an exchange..."
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Kakashi Hatake and the Third Tsuchikage Onoki coughed abruptly.
These two had firsthand experience of how Akihara Kagura negotiated exchanges...
Yakushi Kabuto shook his head slightly, softly saying: "We will be careful. Once the dean and I find a hiding spot, we'll find a way to contact you."
"Okay."
Akihara Kagura nodded slowly.
Although he had already found the next stop for Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou, it wasn't convenient to mention it at that moment, thankfully someone responsible for following through had arrived...
"We're leaving."
Akihara Kagura picked up the Third Tsuchikage Onoki.
Young Karin quickly grasped his sleeve, and Kakashi Hatake approached to place a hand on Akihara Kagura's shoulder, waving goodbye to Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou.
In an instant.
Akihara Kagura vanished from the spot.
After Akihara Kagura disappeared, Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou supported each other, intending to leave the Earth River Canyon, which nearly turned into their grave.
A white snake suddenly slithered out from a crevice.
The white snake suddenly opened its mouth wide, and a figure emerged from its mouth, paying no heed to the snake saliva on him, just furrowing his brows in thought.
"This child Kagura..."
"I must have encountered him on my way out of Konoha, right?"