Konoha Village, Root Base.
Shimura Danzo slowly sipped his tea.
Danzo always had great confidence in his schemes.
Especially when plotting against certain Konoha ninjas, he felt everything was within his grasp because he knew these people well.
"Let Uchiha Itachi contact the personnel of the Intelligence Department. He will inevitably encounter both Kabuto Yakushi and Nonou Yakushi and know that they are comrades from the village..."
"Once this is done."
"When Nonou Yakushi and Kabuto appear at Earth River Canyon and kill each other, Uchiha Itachi in charge of cleanup will discover the truth of the assessment mission..."
"These comrades whom he just met will be the targets he must kill in the assessment mission, awakening the resolve and darkness within him to kill his companions."
"We need Uchiha Itachi to become a high-level spy within the Uchiha Clan, transmitting its secrets to the higher-ups in the future..."
"Now, let Uchiha Itachi understand that for Konoha's will he can spare no cost, even if it means killing comrades he's just met, so that he will slowly adapt when selling out the Uchiha Clan's intel in the future..."
"Just right."
"And we can clean up the hidden threats posed by Kabuto Yakushi and Nonou Yakushi."
For Danzo, the key to this assessment mission was to change Uchiha Itachi's psyche, gradually leading him willingly down a dark path as a spy planted by Konoha's higher-ups within the Uchiha, selling out the Uchiha Clan.
As for Kabuto Yakushi and Nonou Yakushi, these tools had started causing trouble, and it was convenient to clean them up, letting them have one last use by awakening the darkness within Uchiha Itachi.
Inside the Hidden Rock Village.
Kakashi Hatake didn't have time to warn Kabuto Yakushi.
However, Kakashi believed Kabuto Yakushi was thorough enough as a spy, likely having realized Shimura Danzo was the true source of danger.
Concerning Kakashi Hatake himself, he needed to find a way to locate the position of the Five-tails Jinchuriki. Where in the Hidden Rock Village is the secret place holding the Five-tails Jinchuriki?
Outside the Hidden Rock Village.
A blond teenager was playing with mud.
This blond teenager named Deidara was the apprentice of the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, and had an extraordinary Earth Release talent from a young age, even mastering the Explosion Release Secret Technique.
For this reason, Deidara loved making explosions since childhood, often causing massive explosions in the Hidden Rock Village, forcing Third Tsuchikage Onoki to finally lose patience and have him reside outside the village alone.
A man clad in red armor stood beside Deidara.
This man in red armor was the Hidden Rock Village's Five-tails Jinchuriki, Han.
To avoid a Five-tails crisis within the Hidden Rock Village and prevent him from encountering villagers' resentment, Third Tsuchikage Onoki decided he should live outside the village. Understanding Han's introverted nature, Onoki let him stay with Deidara, hoping this mischievous child's presence would make him slightly more stable.
Of course.
The necessary surveillance and protection were indispensable.
A group of ninjas clad in Hidden Rock Village's Dark Department attire lurked in the shadows, surveilling this area. Third Tsuchikage Onoki ordered them to stay here, not only for the surveillance and protection of the Five-tails Jinchuriki Han but also to see if it would attract Uchiha Obito.
If Deidara encounters danger...
This child has always been the biggest danger in the Hidden Rock Village!
"Art is an explosion! Ha!"
Accompanied by the blond teenager's shout, a massive explosion occurred, shattering a huge rock instantly. The intense fire from the blast was so hot that it made people instinctively close their eyes!
A group of Dark Department members from the Hidden Rock Village had prepared ear plugs in advance, fearing their ears might become deaf from too many explosions during missions...
"Han, what do you think of my art?"
Deidara proudly glanced at Han in red armor.
"Not bad."
The man just nodded silently.
"Say a bit more..."
Deidara's little face fell slightly. It was hard work to complete this artistic creation, how could it only be worth a simple "not bad"?
"Truly not bad."
The man's attitude remained silent.
"You're just too boring..."
Deidara shrugged and continued his exploration: "The power isn't big enough, I must add more explosive clay, then I'll be able to blow up the old man's Tsuchikage Tower!"
"..."
The man seemed to hear nothing and slightly turned his gaze in another direction, noticing a young man holding a red-haired little girl.
"What is it?"
Deidara turned around and followed the man's gaze to the boy, curiously asking, "Are they from the village?"
"Absolutely not."
The man shook his head firmly.
People from the village wouldn't give him a sense of danger; not even Uchiha Obito's control could stir such anxiety!
"Hello there!"
Akihara Kagura led little Karin over, smiling and introducing himself: "We're here in the Land of Earth to help with afforestation..."
Akihara Kagura didn't really seem that happy.
He was still wondering what Kakashi Hatake was doing. The big Five-tails Jinchuriki was living just outside the Hidden Rock Village, why did he dive directly into the village?