"I received the dean's favoritism."
Yao Shidou recalled the favoritism Yakushi Nonou showed him, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart, followed by a sense of guilt: "Yet none of the dean's love fell on Kagura, she had long forgotten him."
"I understand now."
Kakashi Hatake immediately understood Yao Shidou's meaning, sighed, and said, "It seems Kagura's character isn't so extreme, he hasn't killed you yet..."
"Because he wants to end it in a more painful way."
Yao Shidou seemed unbothered about revealing the truth to Kakashi Hatake, someone seeking death, perhaps he too needed someone to talk to, perhaps he too needed someone to give him answers.
Yao Shidou and Akihara Kagura spent very little time together, he personally heard Akihara Kagura talk about his jealousy, and had also seen Akihara Kagura's temperament.
Yao Shidou knew that Akihara Kagura had a child-like temperament, and had feelings for the Konoha Orphanage, but also harbored deeper hatred and jealousy.
"Kagura has always been planning to make the dean and I turn against each other."
Yao Shidou brought up Akihara Kagura's plan, and also mentioned Shimura Danzo's plot: "Because I left the dean when I was very young, she could only understand my life through photos, Shimura Danzo replaced the photos with fake ones, the dean doesn't even recognize the current me..."
"Shimura Danzo once mentioned that as long as the dean completed the last mission, I would be allowed to leave Root, however, Kagura got involved in this plot, and mentioned that the dean's last mission should be to kill the stranger that is me."
Following this conspiracy, Yao Shidou once again brought up Akihara Kagura: "Kagura always knew about this, jealous of the dean's favoritism towards me, hating that the dean forgot him..."
Yao Shidou sighed, seeming a bit powerless: "I've already received a new mission, the same one should also have reached the dean..."
"If nothing unexpected occurs, our mission is to kill each other."
"Now Akihara Kagura has personally arrived in the Land of Earth, with the purpose of witnessing the dean personally kill me, then personally telling her who she actually killed..."
"..."
This plan is truly cruel and ruthless!
Kakashi Hatake remained silent, unable to speak, realizing he didn't really know Akihara Kagura enough; this plan was not only about killing but was also heart-wrenching.
Perhaps all along, when Akihara Kagura spoke about wanting to kill Yao Shidou, all those words were true, that child indeed had a dark and extreme side in his heart.
"I see..."
Kakashi Hatake finally understood why Yao Shidou always thought Akihara Kagura wanted to kill him; anyone would think the same.
"I thought he always wanted to save you and Yakushi Nonou."
Kakashi Hatake shook his head and continued, "In order to rescue Yakushi Nonou, he always wanted to return to Root from the Dark Department, wanting to continue serving Shimura Danzo, and is also competing with Uchiha Itachi for the future Root Leader's position..."
"This seems a bit contradictory."
Kakashi Hatake raised his doubt: "If Yakushi Nonou really ended up killing you under his manipulation, even if he later allows Yakushi Nonou to leave Root, wouldn't Yakushi Nonou still hate him?"
Without waiting for Yao Shidou's answer, Kakashi Hatake answered his own doubt: "No, this is normal, because that guy doesn't care about others' opinions no matter what he does; that guy could kill hundreds of people in an instant without explaining that his original intention was to save lives..."
"Isn't there also a chance for a turnaround in this matter?"
Kakashi Hatake looked at Yao Shidou and proactively asked: "Since you already know these things, why not confess to Yakushi Nonou? As long as Yakushi Nonou knows you are Yao Shidou, wouldn't this conspiracy be rendered useless?"
Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but feel curious: "By the way, when did you know about this plot arranged by Shimura Danzo and Akihara Kagura? You've completely seen through it even before it started..."
"Kagura told me personally."
Yao Shidou thought of that teenager full of hatred and continued: "Because Kagura once said, even if I told the dean these truths, he would personally kill me in front of the dean to let her taste the pain..."
Yao Shidou looked up, looking at Kakashi Hatake as if he were a fool: "Akihara Kagura is in the Land of Earth, even if we crack this conspiracy, what use is it? Does Senior Kakashi think I have any confidence in subduing him?"
"I don't have any confidence either."
Kakashi Hatake recalled the strength of his subordinates, reminded: "Last year when we went to The Hidden Mist Village for a reconnaissance mission, Akihara Kagura used Wood Release to defeat the Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura, and even captured him alive and brought him back to Konoha..."
"I remember... Karatachi Yagura is also the Three-tails' Jinchuriki."
Yao Shidou, hearing of Akihara Kagura's feats, became increasingly uneasy.
Once, Yao Shidou had infiltrated The Hidden Mist Village for a period of time, being one of the few who survived conducting espionage during the Bloody Mist Era, naturally knew that the Fourth Mizukage Karatachi Yagura was the Three-tails' Jinchuriki.
What could he do?
An elite from a Great Country's Ninja Village, even a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki, was captured alive by Akihara Kagura using Wood Release, making it impossible for him to be his match...