"This matter must not be leaked either."
Sarutobi Hiruzen could only classify this matter as confidential to prevent other Ninja Villages from believing that Konoha was supporting the Kaguya Clan and manipulating the downfall of the Land of Grass.
"About Karin..."
Kakashi Hatake recalled Akihara Kagura's advice and took the initiative to say, "Karin's abilities are very special. She has strong perceptual abilities, and Obito has always coveted the Nine-tails within Naruto. Karin can help sense danger in advance..."
"Should we place her next to Naruto?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen lowered his head and pondered for a moment. He already knew what happened with Karin and that she is a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, compounded by the threat of Uchiha Obito...
"Alright."
Sarutobi Hiruzen agreed to this matter and spoke proactively: "Let this child enter the Ninja Academy; after all, she is a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan..."
This child named Karin is worth cultivating in Konoha.
If this little girl can build a bond with Naruto Uzumaki at the Ninja Academy, it would be even better. In the future, let her learn some of the Uzumaki Clan's fuinjutsu, which could help with the potential leakage of the Nine-tails Chakra in the future.
"There's one more thing."
Kakashi Hatake looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen and talked about Uchiha Itachi: "Uchiha Itachi wants to kill two members of the Intelligence Department, claiming to act on Danzo's orders..."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't criticize this matter.
Because the issue with Uchiha Itachi was something he tacitly approved for Shimura Danzo to handle, and the Intelligence Department members might cause information leaks, which was something Danzo dealt with.
However, the next words from Kakashi Hatake made Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes narrow: "These two Intelligence Department members are the head of the Konoha Orphanage, Yakushi Nonou, and a person named Yakushi Kabuto. They happened to encounter Akihara Kagura, and there was a conflict between them..."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen furrowed his brows.
He had long approved of Shimura Danzo grooming Uchiha Itachi to be high-level espionage within the Uchiha Clan, but not for Danzo to cultivate him this way!
Killing comrades from the same village!
Does he want to drive a child, who inherently carries the Will of Fire, into darkness? Especially an Uchiha genius!
Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a headache, trying to bring back the extreme Akihara Kagura wasn't easy and now he also had to deal with Uchiha Itachi's issue...
"Let's return to Konoha first."
Sarutobi Hiruzen waved his hand, ordering: "Kakashi, tell me everything about your mission this time... By the way, where's Itachi?"
Kakashi Hatake also furrowed his brows and said: "I let him return to Konoha first to report to the Hokage about what we did in the Hidden Rock Village..."
"Uchiha Itachi was taken by Lord Danzo to carry out a mission."
A person responsible for conveying orders to Shimura Danzo responded, "I just saw Uchiha Itachi when delivering the Hokage's orders."
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen slowly nodded.
This matter can only be addressed when Shimura Danzo returns to Konoha!
Inside the Hokage Tower.
Kakashi Hatake brought Akihara Kagura along.
Kakashi Hatake reported the mission's process to Sarutobi Hiruzen, in which the matter of Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou was the most important, requiring Sarutobi Hiruzen's command to resolve.
"I understand."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, acknowledging this matter.
Because Sarutobi Hiruzen needed Akihara Kagura to be a pillar of Konoha's future, he naturally couldn't let this child's bonds fall into someone else's hands.
"Just have them come back."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was confident in resolving this issue: "I will order Danzo not to harm comrades in the village without cause. Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou will both be removed from the Root and Intelligence Department, allowing them to choose their own paths..."
"Yes, Third Generation!"
Akihara Kagura immediately agreed on their behalf.
However, by the time Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou returned, the two had already become spies placed in Konoha by Orochimaru.
"Kagura."
Sarutobi Hiruzen glanced at Akihara Kagura, seizing the opportunity for guidance: "Danzo's methods are extreme; don't become like him. He's always too cautious, worried that Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou would leak information; that's his mistake, and I will strip him of his control over the Intelligence Department."
This was a form of reassurance.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was worried that it might create a barrier in Akihara Kagura's heart.
"I can understand Lord Danzo's thinking."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, seeming to fully grasp the situation: "Lord Danzo always felt that Root Ninjas shouldn't have bonds because that would be a weakness. I tried to sever my own bonds, killing Yakushi Kabuto and Dean Yakushi Nonou, but..."
"Danzo's thinking is flawed."
Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately realized Shimura Danzo's foolishness, looking at Akihara Kagura with a gentle and kind expression: "Bonds are the most beautiful thing in this world. It's because of bonds that we realize we are not alone in this world..."
"Yes."
Akihara Kagura lowered his head.
"Go arrange Karin's situation."
Sarutobi Hiruzen lit up his pipe, satisfiedly instructing, "Help that little one find a place to stay near Naruto. I hope she gets along well with Naruto."
"Yes."
Akihara Kagura turned and left.
After Akihara Kagura left, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally felt relaxed, sighing, "Educating a radical kid is truly a challenge..."
"..."
Kakashi Hatake really agreed on this.
Since Akihara Kagura became his subordinate, Kakashi Hatake felt his headaches becoming more frequent, especially after Uchiha Itachi joined in.
This Sub-Commander position was truly difficult!
"Hokage-sama."
Kakashi Hatake hesitated, looking at Sarutobi Hiruzen, and softly said, "After the Yakushi Kabuto and Yakushi Nonou incident, the relationship between Itachi and Kagura has almost become irreconcilable. Additionally, the two have been secretly competing for the future leader position of the Root..."
"Let me think..."
"Hmm, wait, what did you say..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen listened while seemingly hearing something strange, suddenly stopping Kakashi Hatake's words, looking peculiarly at him: "The Root... when was there a need to change the leader?"
Danzo...
When did he plan to retire?
Why was I not informed of this?
Why didn't anyone tell me Danzo wanted to retire?
Moreover, considering Danzo's nature, would he really be willing to let go of power and retire?
"..."
Kakashi Hatake looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen in surprise.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was even more surprised than Kakashi Hatake's.
"How did you come by this information?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head somewhat helplessly, planning to ask Danzo about this later, as he couldn't let Danzo alone decide the future leader position of the Root.
Because the formation of such a distorted institution as the Root was only possible due to Danzo being a lifelong companion, allowing anyone else to continue controlling it as Danzo did, becoming a near-private armed force, was simply unacceptable...
Kakashi Hatake felt something was amiss, proactively asking, "Wasn't Danzo recommending Itachi to enter the Dark Department to groom a future Root leader?"
"..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen was at a loss for words.
Konoha's high-ranking officials wanted Uchiha Itachi to become a spy embedded within the Uchiha Clan, a matter that could never be discussed with an average ninja...
But...
How did such rumors start circulating?
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a while and felt he could only continue along the lines of this rumor: "Indeed, both Danzo and I have aged, and Konoha's future must rest on the shoulders of young people. Perhaps Danzo does have the idea of nurturing a successor..."
"Yes..."
Kakashi Hatake slowly nodded, continuing: "Kagura always believed that Shimura Danzo selected him, but Danzo chose Uchiha Itachi, so the conflict between them never ceased..."
"Hmm, I understand..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen took a deep puff of smoke, exhaling a dense smoke ring: "Don't be concerned; once Danzo returns, I will discuss this with him..."