Kabuto Yakushi could finally leave.
After escaping from that alley, he realized that the sweat from his body had already soaked his clothes.
"I must return to The Hidden Rock Village immediately!"
Kabuto's face was exceptionally pale, almost devoid of any color: "I can't wait any longer, I must find Dean Nonou right away!"
While Kabuto was hastily planning to return to The Hidden Rock Village to continue his search for the dean, he opened the red scroll to see what tasks were assigned to him.
[March 16th, Night]
[Earth River Canyon, assassinate a defected Intelligence Department member.]
This task was relatively simple for Kabuto.
Although Kabuto himself was a medical ninja, he had been diligently training in assassination techniques while acting as a spy, which were not inferior to the members of the Dark Department.
However…
This task sent a chill down Kabuto's spine.
Under normal circumstances, Kabuto wouldn't care about such a task, but given the appearance of combat personnel of Akihara Kagura's level at this moment, why would they need him, an intelligence member, to take on such an assassination mission?
Even…
Why was the task written with a fixed time and place, implying that the member to be assassinated would surely appear there at that time?
Moreover…
Where was the photo of the target he needed to assassinate?
How could they be certain that the person appearing there was surely the one he needed to assassinate?
Unless…
The person to be assassinated was also arranged to be there…
This time, this place, and the sudden appearance of Akihara Kagura…
All this information screamed to Kabuto that the person required to be assassinated in this task scroll was highly likely to be Yakushi Nonou, the very person he had been searching for.
If Kabuto had never received any intelligence information from Akihara Kagura, he might not have thought of this issue; however, Kabuto was especially cautious at this time, hoping to avoid any trouble that could lead to his and Yakushi Nonou's deaths.
"There's still time."
Kabuto gritted his teeth and destroyed the red scroll: "If I haven't found the dean by then, I'll go and see if it's the dean who appears there…"
In Kabuto's heart, there was still hope for the future: "As long as I can explain Shimura Danzo's conspiracy to the dean, we won't end up killing each other…"
On the other side.
In the alley of the border town.
Uchiha Itachi felt a bit helpless with Akihara Kagura: "Kagura-kun, please do not violate the Intelligence Department's rules and regulations, it's putting them in danger…"
"I am their danger."
Akihara Kagura spread his hands, seeming even more helpless than Uchiha Itachi: "I will kill them sooner or later, do you really want to protect their safety?"
"I must protect my comrades' safety."
Uchiha Itachi's expression immediately turned serious: "Kagura-kun, I know you were once a Root ninja, and may still retain the Root's way of doing things…"
Uchiha Itachi had long witnessed the conduct of the Root.
Uchiha Itachi also understood why Akihara Kagura was so brazen.
In Konoha, only the Root was known for doing such things as harming comrades, often not needing the Hokage's approval, but only obeying Shimura Danzo's orders to kill.
"The Root can kill comrades, that's why I want to return to the Root…"
Akihara Kagura shook his head, seemingly unconcerned about Uchiha Itachi's words: "If you think I am wrong, go report to Lord Danzo, do you think tattling on me will secure you the position of future Root Leader?"
"I never intended to become the Root Leader."
Uchiha Itachi rubbed his forehead and continued: "Kagura-kun, could you stop following me? I must deliver Lord Danzo's orders to the next Intelligence Department member."
"Already violated the rules…"
Akihara Kagura shrugged, showing even less care: "More or less makes no difference to me, let's go, let me see who the next person is…"
Uchiha Itachi tried persuading Akihara Kagura to understand a principle: "Unless permitted, Konoha ninja cannot arbitrarily know the identities of Intelligence Department members…"
"This would endanger their safety."
Akihara Kagura finished Uchiha Itachi's sentence, picking at his ear: "I was going to endanger their safety, you think I am protecting them?"
"..."
Uchiha Itachi felt trapped in an endless loop.
However, Uchiha Itachi was not without solutions, so he simply returned to the inn where they stayed, after bringing Akihara Kagura back, he sneakily slipped out.
Uchiha Itachi was confident that his counter-tracking skills were enough to lose Akihara Kagura and calmly attempted to contact the next Intelligence Department member according to the liaison code.
Inside the inn.
Kakashi Hatake was teaching Karin to refine Chakra while speaking to Akihara Kagura: "Kagura, don't disturb Itachi's work, although I know you want to meet Kabuto and Dean Yakushi Nonou, we shouldn't casually contact Intelligence Department members."
"Karin."
Akihara Kagura ignored Kakashi Hatake and turned to Karin: "Help me locate Uchiha Itachi."
"Don't help him."
Kakashi Hatake shook his head.
"But…"
Little Karin nervously glanced at Akihara Kagura, then at Kakashi Hatake, and spoke bashfully: "That's Kagura-sama's request, I can't refuse it."