Uchiha Obito left with a grim expression.
As for this White Zetsu named Awei, it kept desperately hinting at wanting Zetsu to plant the Spore Jutsu in Akihara Kagura's body, which Uchiha Obito ruthlessly refused.
Akihara Kagura glanced at the White Zetsu named Awei, unexpectedly feeling a bit in sync, determined to make its life create more value in the future.
"Young man..."
This White Zetsu looked at Akihara Kagura, speaking with a reserved attitude yet very eloquently: "Do you need me to do something for you?"
"Help me monitor Uchiha Obito."
Akihara Kagura's words nearly choked it.
"This task conflicts with my primary mission..."
This White Zetsu named Awei hesitated, shaking its head, about to say something when its body suddenly sank into the ground and it warned: "Be careful, something's unusual, I've sensed a presence of chakra."
"Hmm?"
Akihara Kagura also sensed the approach of a sinister chakra, a bit surprised by White Zetsu's chakra perception ability, this guy's perception ability is quite impressive!
A small white snake appeared, slithering up to Akihara Kagura and stopping, opening its mouth, slowly spitting out a slender sword.
Curiously enough…
The sword hilt was not wet with snake saliva.
"Orochimaru..."
Akihara Kagura's eyes slightly glimmered.
It was unexpected to see a small white snake sent by Orochimaru at this time, especially when White Zetsu dispatched by Uchiha Obito was monitoring him.
Forget it.
I didn't plan to keep this matter hidden anyway.
Because these two supervisors will eventually converge, Orochimaru is curious about everything and will definitely investigate the Akatsuki Organization in every way possible.
Uchiha Obito never expected my loyalty to him and wouldn't care if I pledged allegiance to anyone else. After all, I've stated in front of Uchiha Obito that if I'm displeased, I'll betray and kill White Zetsu.
When Akihara Kagura took the sword spat out by the little white snake, he saw a small red seal tag attached to the scabbard with a line of text written on it.
It was a handwritten line from Orochimaru.
[Happy New Year]
This was a sturdy Kusanagi Sword.
It was a New Year's gift sent to him by Orochimaru through the small white snake.
Akihara Kagura always knew Orochimaru harbored unkind intentions towards him, yet receiving this gift at the start of the New Year in the Ninja World, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of gratitude.
In the future, Orochimaru will take in many children, most of whom are reluctant to leave his side. Who wouldn't want to stay by a supervisor like him?
At the New Year's…
it's precisely the loneliest time for someone, yet Orochimaru still sends warmth. Who would reject such a person who holds you in their thoughts?
"Help me thank Lord Orochimaru."
A genuine touch of emotion appeared on Akihara Kagura's face as he softly said: "Now I've infiltrated the Konoha Anbu, becoming an Anbu Ninja. Shimura Danzo hasn't broken the alliance, even helping me secure an identity in the Konoha Orphanage."
Simultaneously, Akihara Kagura monitored the White Zetsu named Awei using [Dark Side of the Ninja World] while speaking to the little white snake.
"In a while, I might pass through the Land of Grass, and hope then I can find an opportunity to meet with Lord Orochimaru. Help me ask if Orochimaru has time for a meeting."
"..."
The little white snake nodded, quietly slipping back into the grass.
Akihara Kagura stood still, knowing that White Zetsu named Awei was still eavesdropping: "Stop hiding underground, come out!"
"Are you with Orochimaru?"
The head of White Zetsu slowly emerged from the ground.
"Isn't that normal?"
Akihara Kagura raised an eyebrow, retorting: "Without Lord Orochimaru, where would my Wood Release Bloodline come from?"
"Makes sense."
The White Zetsu named Awei slowly nodded, sincerely asking: "Can I tell Obito about your allegiance to Orochimaru and Orochimaru's whereabouts?"
"It's not convenient for now, is it?"
Akihara Kagura frowned, thinking for a moment before asking: "What if Lord Orochimaru doesn't want you to know?"
"This..."
The White Zetsu named Awei seemed confused.
Does it mean we won't invade Orochimaru's privacy if he doesn't want us to know?
"I originally planned to secretly visit the Akatsuki Organization's base while heading to The Hidden Rock Village to assess its strength and consider whether to invite Lord Orochimaru to join the Akatsuki Organization..."
"If Lord Orochimaru is willing, you can report to Uchiha Obito; if he's not willing, you report to Uchiha Obito, wouldn't it just get his hopes up?"
Akihara Kagura leisurely explained: "Wait until Lord Orochimaru decides to join the Akatsuki Organization, then inform Uchiha Obito; you would certainly hope for a strong ninja like Orochimaru to join our Akatsuki Organization, right?"
"That's true too..."
White Zetsu Awei nodded, a bit sceptical: "But, will Orochimaru join the Akatsuki Organization?"
"As long as the Akatsuki Organization is strong enough, Lord Orochimaru will surely be willing."
Akihara Kagura spoke as though sincerely, continuing: "Before coming to Konoha, Lord Orochimaru was being pursued, so I've been helping him look for a suitable organization where he can have protection and avoid being hunted down."
"Who's chasing Orochimaru?"
This White Zetsu was very curious and even started pondering, "Orochimaru is one of the Sannin of Konoha, to be able to chase Orochimaru, at the very least, they must be a village's Kage..."
"Seems like it's someone named Jiraiya..."
Akihara Kagura mentioned a name.
"Another one of Konoha's Sannin, huh..."
This White Zetsu shook its head and sighed, "Things like this always happen in Konoha. Jiraiya chasing Orochimaru, Kakashi Hatake tracking Uchiha Obito, who knows if such things will continue to occur in the future..."
Such things will inevitably persist.
As long as Konoha harbors darkness and as long as greed exists within human hearts, there will always be ninjas defecting, and always people wanting to bring them back.
"Alright."
Akihara Kagura casually brushed off this White Zetsu and comforted, "After I meet Lord Orochimaru, I'll ask him if he'd like to join the Akatsuki Organization!"
"Sure!"
After agreeing, this White Zetsu named Ah Wei suddenly reacted and asked a key question, "If Orochimaru doesn't want to join the Akatsuki Organization with you, will you choose Orochimaru or us, the Akatsuki Organization?"
"Of course, I'd choose you guys."
Akihara Kagura also mentioned possible unexpected scenarios, "If in the future, Lord Orochimaru isn't willing to join the Akatsuki Organization, you guys should find someone to convince him by force. You wouldn't be unable to handle even Lord Orochimaru, would you?"
Akihara Kagura's attitude towards Uchiha Obito and the Akatsuki Organization was always straightforward, "If you can't even defeat Lord Orochimaru, then why should I choose you over him? Why would I join the weaker side?"
"Besides."
"Although I haven't seen Lord Orochimaru for a long time, he still remembers to send me a New Year's gift, whereas Uchiha Obito didn't even bother with a New Year's greeting when he came."
When Akihara Kagura said this, there was inevitably a hint of resentment in his words, "A leader who lacks this bit of magnanimity, if he's also not strong enough, what makes him worth following?"
"You're right."
This White Zetsu named Ah Wei was convinced, and its body slowly sank underground.
As it was halfway immersed in the ground, it seemed to remember something and tried to put on a friendly smile.
"Young man, Happy New Year..."
"Happy New Year."
The smile on Akihara Kagura's face was a little less lonely.
The start of a new year.
Konoha Village was adorned with festive charms.
The entire village was enveloped in a cheerful New Year atmosphere.
Even the Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura, who was compelled to reside in Konoha, was warmly invited by Sarutobi Hiruzen to join Konoha's New Year celebration.
The Anbu Ninjas were not among them.
This was the busy work period for the Anbu Ninjas.
During the New Year festivities, many tourists from other regions would visit Konoha for sightseeing, making the Anbu and the Konoha Police Force the busiest departments during this time, patrolling everywhere in Konoha to prevent spies from mingling with tourists and infiltrating Konoha to steal information.
Anbu changing room.
After finishing their day of patrol, Akihara Kagura and Kakashi Hatake returned to the changing room to change into casual clothes, and they saw a small box in their locker.
There was a line of text written on the box.
[Wishing you a safe and prosperous spring]
Akihara Kagura opened the small box to find a beautifully made kunai inside, clearly not an ordinary item, certainly superior to those in the Konoha Weapon Shop.
This was a gift from Kakashi Hatake.
"Didn't you learn the Flying Thunder God Jutsu?"
Kakashi Hatake, standing beside Akihara Kagura, casually said, "My teacher used to leave a mark on kunai, throw them with the mark to instantly approach the enemy. I happen to have a kunai of reasonably good quality..."
"Ah, the gap between people..."
Akihara Kagura shook his head and put the kunai away, sighed, "I didn't prepare anything, it makes me seem too discourteous. I'll have to make up for it with a big gift when I have the chance in the future..."
"If you feel embarrassed..."
Kakashi Hatake patted the little guy on the shoulder with a smile, suggesting his own request, "Then just treat me to a bowl of ramen!"
"..."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, displaying a generous attitude, "Ramen is too simple, today I'll treat you to salt-grilled saury!"
"That would be even better."
Kakashi Hatake's smile became bright.
Akihara Kagura, the little one, always had an offending attitude in the Anbu, yet he remembered his supervisor's favorite food.
Late-night dining.
After parting ways with Kakashi Hatake, Akihara Kagura...