Konoha Village.
Training Ground #3.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had been there early. Clad in his tactical gear, the Hokage was teaching Uchiha Itachi a unique Ninjutsu.
The trio that once formed a squad all had their own rewards.
Uchiha Itachi swiftly threw a shuriken, his hands quickly coming together, almost instantly forming a hand seal: "Ninpo: Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
The moment he completed the seal, the shuriken multiplied into many, scattering across the targets in the training ground.
"Not bad."
Sarutobi Hiruzen watched this scene with satisfaction.
He had only demonstrated the Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu to young Itachi once, and the fact that Itachi performed it successfully proved him to be the village's genius youth!
"Practice more in the future."
Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Uchiha Itachi on the shoulder, continuing to explain the intricacies of the technique: "The deeper your understanding of this jutsu, the more Chakra you can distribute, and the more shuriken your Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu can spawn. The last person who mastered this jutsu was able to create tens of thousands of shuriken shadow clones with a single shuriken..."
"Amazing!"
Uchiha Itachi's little face was full of awe.
"Keep it up, Itachi..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen patted Uchiha Itachi's shoulder, speaking in a solemn tone, "We are getting old, and soon the future of the village will rest on the shoulders of your generation..."
As Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke of these things, his voice gradually took on a touch of melancholy: "The reason we are still alive is to witness you, the new leaves, sprout and flourish..."
"Third Hokage!"
Uchiha Itachi's eyes were filled with emotion.
When Kakashi Hatake and Akihara Kagura arrived, they witnessed this touching scene, where the village elder was passing on Konoha's precious Will of Fire to the youth.
"..."
Kakashi Hatake was long accustomed to such scenes.
However, this time, Kakashi's gaze fell on Akihara Kagura. Does this young one also carry the will to uphold Konoha's future?
"Quite moving."
Akihara Kagura sighed deeply, as if recalling his own story: "Now, Danzo-sama seems to be aging as well..."
Akihara Kagura reflected thoughtfully: "There are always people in the village who want to become Hokage, but no one wants to join the Root. I wonder who will bear the will to protect Konoha at all costs in the shadows after Danzo-sama grows old..."
Akihara Kagura's gaze turned to Kakashi Hatake, speaking earnestly: "Captain Kakashi, have you really never considered it? Danzo-sama has always wanted to recruit you to join the Root, maybe because he's getting older, hoping to find someone to succeed him..."
"..."
Kakashi Hatake's forehead twitched.
Even if Shimura Danzo is getting older, he's still quite lively!
Kakashi doubted that Shimura Danzo had any such intention. That guy wanted to hold all power in his hands, how could he possibly want a successor?
The Root as an organization...
It would be better for Konoha if it disbanded early, right?
"Kakashi, you're here."
Having shared the Will of Fire with Uchiha Itachi, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the approaching Kakashi Hatake and Akihara Kagura, speaking to Kakashi: "Kakashi, I just had something to tell you. After Danzo returned yesterday, he recommended that Uchiha Itachi join the Anbu training. I plan to assign him to your squad..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen continued without allowing Kakashi Hatake to voice any objections: "Don't worry, Itachi will only undergo Anbu training for a while. If he qualifies, he'll go to Danzo's Root unit. You've worked with Itachi on missions before, so it should be easy to get along, right?"
This was an early idea of Shimura Danzo.
Within Konoha Village, the Uchiha Clan's actions had become increasingly aggressive. To gain insight into the Uchiha's internal movements, Shimura Danzo had long decided to plant a spy.
Uchiha Shisui was originally a suitable candidate.
However, Uchiha Shisui was deeply respected and loved by the Uchiha people, striving to maintain a balance between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan. Yet, due to personality issues, his resolve was often not firm enough, and he was easily influenced by others.
At this moment...
Uchiha Itachi caught Shimura Danzo's eye.
Back when Uchiha Itachi had a conflict with the Root, Shimura Danzo had already developed this idea. However, he was concerned about the young one's age and mental maturity, so he planned to act after the Chunin Exams had ended.
Shimura Danzo wanted to have Uchiha Itachi under his command as a spy to uncover the Uchiha Clan's secrets but needed to assess Uchiha Itachi first. He would be sent for a period of Anbu training to see if he would prioritize the village's interests over the Uchiha Clan's interests.
Nonetheless...
This matter required approval from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen did not reject Shimura Danzo's plan. This implied permission, as the Hokage was also concerned about any potential upheaval from the Uchiha Clan.
Coincidentally, with the Fourth Mizukage being forced to stay in Konoha at that time, Sarutobi Hiruzen was both in high spirits and somewhat worried about Shimura Danzo doing something extreme to the Fourth Mizukage, so he simply assigned Danzo some busywork.
Monitor the Uchiha Clan.
Train a spy from the Uchiha Clan.
This was undoubtedly something Shimura Danzo loved and had to do.
"It's decided then."
Sarutobi Hiruzen mentioned this matter to Kakashi Hatake during training on the field, it was simply a matter of course: "Kakashi, after the New Year, have Itachi report to your squad!"
"..."
Kakashi Hatake had no way to refuse the order.
Of course.
Kakashi also didn't really want to oppose it.
After all, Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Itachi had previously gone on reconnaissance missions to the Hidden Mist Village, and Uchiha Itachi was indeed less troublesome than Akihara Kagura.
"Third Hokage..."
Akihara Kagura frowned, speaking in slight surprise: "If I heard correctly, Danzo-sama is having him train in the Anbu for a while and then sending him to the Root?"
"That's right."
Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slowly.
Akihara Kagura quickly pursued his question: "Back then, Danzo-sama had also sent me to Anbu training, right? So at that time, I'll return to the Root with Uchiha Itachi? The dean is still in the Root, and Danzo-sama has always been good to me, I'd still like to go back!"
"Hahaha..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly shook his head, smiling as he continued: "Danzo sent you to the Anbu back then because the Anbu could maximize your abilities; as for Itachi, Danzo believes that he can do better in the Root."
"..."
Akihara Kagura slowly looked at Uchiha Itachi.
"..."
Uchiha Itachi's eyebrows slightly furrowed.
If he remembered correctly, during the Chunin Exams, Akihara Kagura had mentioned that he had been abandoned by Shimura Danzo at that time...
Now, Shimura Danzo wanted him to go to the Root, but wouldn't allow Akihara Kagura to return to the Root. It seemed he would be resented by Akihara Kagura again...
"Kakashi, Kagura, let's not dwell on these things."
Sarutobi Hiruzen decided to stop the conversation about the Anbu and the Root, initiating a new topic: "Is there any jutsu you two would like to learn?"
"I want to..."
Kakashi Hatake recalled Uchiha Obito's Space-Time Dojutsu, expressing his interest earnestly: "Try and see if I can learn a Space-Time Jutsu..."