Shimura Danzo looked back at the Hokage Tower.
This Hokage Tower is Danzo's lifelong dream.
A single sentence from the owner of this Hokage Tower could terrify him, not because he is better...
Just because he is the Hokage!
Sarutobi Hiruzen's final reminder to him was not to let that child go astray.
That old bastard was implying something!
Shimura Danzo understood the hidden meaning. Sarutobi Hiruzen was reminding him not to stray, not to harbor improper thoughts about the Hokage position just because there was another Wood Release Bloodline Ninja in Root Organization!
But...
How could a person abandon their dreams?
Once you become the owner of this Hokage Tower, a simple command could change the fate of all of Konoha, or even the entire Ninja World.
"Sooner or later..."
Shimura Danzo turned away angrily, thinking that rather than quenching his thirst by looking at the Hokage Tower, he might as well go back and teach Akihara Kagura well!
Hmph...
Don't let that child walk the wrong path...
How could the child go astray if he follows me?
Hiruzen, everyone has their own path; it's not just your path that is valid.
Root Organization's base.
Akihara Kagura was still a bit frustrated. Shimura Danzo forbade him from going out and ordered him to rest at the Root Organization base, yet there was no system mission... It seems that the system is not so haphazard in issuing work tasks, and he has to explore properly himself.
Or maybe...
Resting... doesn't count as work?
Isn't resting between work considered working? Slacking off is clearly part of the job too! Besides, it's a rest ordered by the superior!
Nevertheless...
A new opportunity soon arrived.
Shimura Danzo returned to the Root Organization's base and finally issued a formal order to Akihara Kagura, successfully triggering a system mission for Akihara Kagura.
"Starting today, I will personally train you to ensure that during the Chunin Exams, you can defeat that brat Uchiha Itachi!"
"Hmph!"
"That brat..."
"Has caused me a bit of trouble..."
[System Mission]: [New work task, participate in the second half of Konoha's Chunin Exams as required by Shimura Danzo, and defeat Uchiha Itachi in the exam.]
One job...
Actually could earn two rewards?
Akihara Kagura's expression immediately became solemn!
"I will definitely do it..."
Looking at Shimura Danzo, Akihara Kagura asked, "Lord Danzo, can I kill in the Chunin Exams? Can I kill that guy called Uchiha Itachi?"
"..."
Shimura Danzo was momentarily speechless.
This child's character is just too extreme!
Uchiha Itachi was the son of Uchiha Fugaku, the Clan Leader of the Uchiha Clan, and a successor always seen as a source of pride by Uchiha Fugaku, having even awakened the Uchiha Clan's Kekkeigenkai, the Sharingan, early.
If Akihara Kagura were to kill Uchiha Itachi, it would definitely anger many people and might exacerbate the tensions between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan...
But...
Sarutobi Hiruzen is a weak man.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen were to appease Uchiha Fugaku's anger by handing over Akihara Kagura to him, it would be a huge trouble...
Such situations are not unprecedented.
A few years ago, when Kagura's envoys came to Konoha under the pretense of renewing the peace treaty, they secretly attempted to steal the Byakugan Kekkeigenkai from Konoha Village.
The Cloud Village envoys secretly infiltrated the Hyuga Clan to kidnap the Clan Leader's daughter, but their plans were discovered by the Hyuga Clan Leader, Hyuga Hizashi.
Faced with intruders trying to steal his daughter, Hyuga Hizashi had no mercy and killed the Cloud Village envoy on the spot with a single strike.
However, the Cloud Village refused to acknowledge this, instead accusing Konoha of killing their envoy and threatening to start a war unless the murderer was handed over.
Then...
The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen acceded to this humiliating demand and ordered the Hyuga Clan to hand over the murderer, taking all necessary measures for peace.
Eventually, Hyuga Hizashi's twin brother, Hyuga Hizashi, took the blame for killing the envoy and was forced to commit suicide, ending the clan with an absurd act of humiliation.
The precedent is still there.
From what Shimura Danzo knows of his old friend, if Akihara Kagura accidentally killed Uchiha Itachi, there is a high probability that Sarutobi Hiruzen would hand over a kid from Root Organization quietly to placate Uchiha Fugaku's fury...
If this indeed happened...
A typically disobedient Uchiha would lose a genius, and Root, known for being unruly, would lose a genius too; Sarutobi Hiruzen would lose nothing. Why wouldn't he do it?
As for...
Whether Akihara Kagura can defeat Uchiha Itachi...
Shimura Danzo suddenly realized he hadn't thought about this. Uchiha Itachi has easily defeated members of Root before.
Although Shimura Danzo has confidence in Akihara Kagura's Wood Release talents, a single Deep Forest Emergence attack is not something a regular ninja can withstand; but Akihara Kagura has always shown a lack of strategic gaming, easily getting played by Uchiha...
"Never underestimate Uchiha Itachi!"
Shimura Danzo coldly reminded him and continued, "The Chunin Exams don't forbid killing, but we can't kill indiscriminately either..."
After saying that, Shimura Danzo couldn't help but frown, wondering how such weak words could come from his own mouth.
"...Oh."
Akihara Kagura also felt something was off.
"Anyway..."
Shimura Danzo looked at Akihara Kagura and instructed, "No need to kill Uchiha Itachi; that brat is still useful to us."
"Yes, I understand."
Akihara Kagura didn't care much about this.
All along, Akihara Kagura has never been a bloodthirsty person.
Every time Akihara Kagura mentioned willingly helping Shimura Danzo with assassinations, whether suggesting killing Kakashi Hatake or Uchiha Itachi, it was just a polite gesture to delight Shimura Danzo, knowing Danzo would never dare let him act on it.
Should Shimura Danzo pause to reflect, he might realize Akihara Kagura has accomplished nothing helpful while at Root Organization's base...
Yet, even if Shimura Danzo paused to reflect, he might fear even more of Akihara Kagura doing something...
"One more thing."
"Remember your origin, you are a child raised in Konoha."
"Konoha Orphanage's director Yakushi Nonou adopted you in your early years; I brought you to Root and raised you. It was I who performed the Hashirama Cell Transplant on you when you were young, so forget all about Orochimaru..."
"..."
Akihara Kagura nodded silently, still maintaining his persona: "Lord Danzo, can I kill the orphanage director? Just in case she says something she shouldn't and brings you trouble..."
"Stop thinking about killing."
"Yakushi Nonou still has her uses."
Shimura Danzo once again felt something wasn't right.