Uchiha Obito is really not a mature leader.
If Uchiha Obito had ever had experience leading projects, he would know that at this time he must find ways to win over his subordinates to prevent them from betraying his project.
However, Uchiha Obito's first leadership project was the longest-running and largest-scale Moon Eye Plan in the history of the Ninja World;
His first leadership position was impersonating Uchiha Madara, the greatest villain in the Ninja World, parachuting in as project director in charge of the specific execution of the Moon Eye Plan.
This led to Uchiha Obito becoming arrogant, thinking that his goals and future were so great that others could not possibly understand, so he wouldn't care about the opinions of other subordinates.
"This kind of personality will suffer sooner or later…"
Akihara Kagura always thought Uchiha Obito wasn't a competent supervisor.
Especially after crossing into the Ninja World, and the Moon Eye Plan project was slightly affected, triggering a chain reaction.
As is well known.
The project's founding period is extremely critical.
A little disturbance could lead to the entire project going bankrupt.
In the future, many problems are bound to arise, can Uchiha Obito, who doesn't know how to placate his subordinates, really navigate the storms of the Ninja World?
As a working person, in front of such a superior, Akihara Kagura couldn't expect to get promoted and get a raise, he could only hope that the rewards from the system's work tasks would be a bit more generous, rather than rewarding skills like the Earth Dragon Concealment Jutsu, which could only be used for support.
"Karin."
Akihara Kagura returned to the small inn, the first thing he did was to educate Karin: "In the future, when you become someone else's superior, you must not be dictatorial, you need to listen more to your subordinates' opinions, pay more attention to their needs, and understand their thoughts, got it?"
"..."
Little Karin nodded in a daze.
As a child who hasn't even entered Ninja Academy, this level of leadership education was still a bit too profound for her.
"Kagura-kun."
Uchiha Itachi also returned to the small inn, looking slightly tense: "The members of the Intelligence Department might have already left here, on Kakashi's end…"
Akihara Kagura glanced at Uchiha Itachi: "You stay here and take care of Karin, I'll go support him, is it difficult for you?"
"How long until you return?"
Uchiha Itachi felt a bit of pressure.
Because he still had an assassination assessment task on his shoulders, he couldn't carry a child with him while executing a military mission.
"With luck, I'll be back immediately."
Akihara Kagura had a nonchalant attitude, lazily continuing: "If I'm unlucky, I might never return in this lifetime."
"Lord Kagura!"
Little Karin quickly stood in front of him, volunteering, "I'll go with you, I can help, my eyes can see people, my blood can heal you!"
"Taking you along is fine too."
Akihara Kagura casually said, having the Flying Thunder God Jutsu by his side, he didn't really think there would be any particularly great danger.
"And you?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Uchiha Itachi.
"I…"
Uchiha Itachi was caught in an eerie internal struggle.
If he went with Akihara Kagura to rescue Kakashi Hatake, it was highly likely that some trouble would arise during the process, possibly delaying quite a bit of time…
Time was already very tight now.
He hadn't even found the location of the Earth River Canyon yet.
If he couldn't reach Earth River Canyon by March 16 to kill the two Intelligence Department members who were about to defect, it would mean that he couldn't pass the assessment from Shimura Danzo, which would affect his plan to become a double agent for Konoha and Uchiha…
This was the first task given to him by Shimura Danzo.
If he couldn't even pass this assessment task, could he still gain the trust of Shimura Danzo and the Konoha high-level officials in the future? How could he become the bridge between Konoha and the Uchiha?
The peace between Konoha and the Uchiha Clan was a mission he must fulfill, Uchiha Itachi had long decided, that he would spare no cost for this.
The death of teammates…
He had long been accustomed to such things…
A Uchiha should be used to such things; otherwise, how could one awaken the Sharingan, didn't his father Uchiha Fugaku also not pay attention to those deaths?
Uchiha Itachi stood there, clenching his fists: "Kakashi's order is for us to wait for his message."
"You want to live? For the position of Root Leader?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Uchiha Itachi, with a hint of mockery in his smile: "This invitation is a chance to choose your life path, Uchiha Itachi."
"You wouldn't understand."
Uchiha Itachi shook his head slowly and steadfastly.
"Let's go, Lord Kagura."
Little Karin clutched Akihara Kagura's clothes tightly, afraid that the two would start fighting there since Kakashi Hatake, who could mediate their conflict, was not around.
"Uchiha Itachi."
"In the future, I might not give you another chance."
Akihara Kagura picked up little Karin by the collar, carried her on his back, and slowly walked out of the inn room without looking back.
"If you both come back alive…"
Uchiha Itachi stood calmly and watched them leave the inn, before lowering his head to organize his ninja pouch.
"Those intending to kill, choose to save."
Uchiha Itachi stood in front of the inn's mirror, tidied his clothes, slowly drew his ninja sword and swiftly sheathed it again.
"Those intending to save, choose to kill."
Uchiha Itachi slowly walked out of the inn; outside, Akihara Kagura and little Karin were nowhere to be seen, he could only see the slightly bustling market.
"The world of ninjas is always full of irony."
Uchiha Itachi carefully inquired about the location of the Earth River Canyon and sped towards it. To successfully assassinate, the best way was undoubtedly to set up an ambush.
On the other side.
On the road leading from the border town to the Hidden Rock Village.
Akihara Kagura was carrying Karin on his back, heading straight towards the Hidden Rock Village, looking like a pitiful young boy wandering with his sister.
However...
The conversation between these two was somewhat strange.
"Neither of us knows the way inside the Hidden Rock Village, so first we need to think of a way to capture the Third Tsuchikage Onoki and have him guide us..."
"Didn't Kakashi-sensei say not to do that?"
"The Hidden Rock Village is so large that it'd be a miracle if Captain Kakashi doesn't get lost."
"How does Lord Kagura know the Hidden Rock Village is so big?"
"If the Hidden Rock Village wasn't large, then why is it that Kabuto never managed to find the person he's looking for?"
Just as Akihara Kagura said, Kabuto was almost driven insane.
In order to find Yakushi Nonou and reunite with the Dean by the mission deadline of March 16 at the Earth River Canyon, and ask if she received the same mission, Kabuto dared not stop at all.
However...
There was simply no opportunity.
The entire Hidden Rock Village can almost be described as a fortress cluster built on rocky mountains, and unless you search each one individually, it's impossible to find anybody.
Even searching through the fortresses...
Kabuto couldn't go too far, as it might expose his identity.
Until Kabuto thought he might only be able to rush to the Earth River Canyon on March 16, and when he was tiredly planning to return to his residence, he bumped into a man wearing a hat, knocking his hat off.
"Hmm?"
"Hmm?"
In that instant, their eyes met.
Kabuto stared somewhat stunned at the man across with his full head of white hair.
"We... seem to have met somewhere?"
Kakashi Hatake picked up his hat awkwardly and quickly put it back on his head, pressing down his full head of white hair.
"We probably haven't met, right?"
Kakashi Hatake cautiously intended to avoid the situation.
"We really haven't met in a ramen shop."
Kabuto nodded slowly, denying Kakashi Hatake's identity, indicating friendliness rather than hostility, and was about to turn and leave.
"Wait a moment."
Kakashi Hatake grabbed Kabuto's arm, asking softly, "Kabuto, can you tell me where the Five-Tails Jinchuriki is being held?"
Someone please tell him!
Why is the map of the Hidden Rock Village so massive, with stairways everywhere, fortress-like houses everywhere, and even roads difficult to find!
"..."
Kabuto narrowed his eyes slowly.
Kakashi Hatake is a Jonin from Konoha Village, an extremely talented Dark Department ninja. If Akihara Kagura really intended to kill him and Dean Yakushi Nonou, Kakashi Hatake's combat prowess should be helpful, right?
Kabuto nodded in agreement with Kakashi Hatake's request, while putting forth his own condition: "Once your mission is completed, help me stop someone from killing."
"Sorry."
Kakashi Hatake was silent for a while, not sure how to explain the trouble he encountered: "I'm not sure if I can make it out alive, because if I contact the Five-Tails Jinchuriki, it might expose my identity."
"That's impossible."
Kabuto quickly shook his head, thinking Kakashi Hatake was daydreaming: "The Five-Tails Jinchuriki Han is extremely loyal to the Hidden Rock Village. Once he discovers your true identity, he'll capture you immediately. You're engaging in something meaningless."
After Kabuto said that, he felt he had done his due diligence and did not intend to continue persuading Kakashi Hatake, but to return to his residence and slowly think of a strategy, like figuring out how to lure a Hidden Rock team to Earth River Canyon...
"Wait..."
Kakashi Hatake grabbed Kabuto's shoulder, whispering, "If you want to stop someone from killing, you could let another person help you. His strength could definitely stop it, and you two just happen to know each other..."
"Who?"
Kabuto felt that Kakashi Hatake was going to say a familiar name.
"Akihara Kagura."
Kakashi Hatake mentioned a name that was excessively familiar to Kabuto.
"..."
Kabuto looked at Kakashi Hatake, a bitter smile forming on his lips: "The person I want to stop is Akihara Kagura..."
"Akihara Kagura wants to kill you?"
Kakashi Hatake glanced at Kabuto in surprise, then quickly nodded: "True, I've heard that guy mention wanting to kill you quite a few times..."
Kakashi Hatake, as though finding confidence in the conversation, even began to think seriously: "Since Kagura wants to kill you, nobody you find to help would be useful, right? Given his current power unless you can find the Five Kage to save you..."
"..."
Kabuto's smile grew even more bitter.
"Alright, alright, no more joking around."
Kakashi Hatake patted Kabuto's shoulder, comforting him: "Akihara Kagura is just kidding; he could never want to kill you. You guys are from Konoha Orphanage..."
"That's precisely why Kagura wants to kill me."
Kabuto interrupted, his face full of displeasure as he said goodbye: "Go find your own doom. I need to get back to rest because I must figure out how to survive!"
"Don't rush to leave."
Kakashi Hatake frowned, holding on without letting go: "Kagura has been wanting you and Yakushi Nonou to leave the Root division, secretly competing with Uchiha Itachi for future leadership of the Root division how could he possibly want to kill you?"