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Hokage Tower.
Inside the Hokage's office.
Tsunade saw the returning Uzumaki Naruto and Jiraiya.
"Is something wrong?"
Jiraiya looked at Tsunade, appearing somewhat downcast.
"No, it's actually good news."
Tsunade glanced at the intelligence on her desk and sighed deeply: "Information from Root's operatives indicates that Orochimaru was killed by Uchiha Sasuke..."
"!!!"
Everyone present widened their eyes in shock!
Because during the Konoha Village Collapse Plan incident, Orochimaru had murdered the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, leaving a seed of fear in the hearts of Konoha's ninjas.
"Orochimaru... is dead?"
Jiraiya's expression became complicated, and he sighed lightly: "Back when Orochimaru took Uchiha Sasuke away, I thought he wanted to seize that kid's body. I didn't expect him to die at that kid's hands..."
"This is, after all, a good thing."
Tsunade clasped her hands together, resting her elbows on the desk: "Now let's check Naruto's training results. I plan to reassign Naruto and Haruno Sakura back to Team 7. For this, I have specially prepared an opponent for you..."
"Of course."
After saying this, Tsunade added: "However, Hokage's assistant Akihara Kagura, after hearing my idea, wanted to insert a Root ninja into Team 7, forming a complete unit..."
"I refuse!"
Uzumaki Naruto waved his fist and rejected this proposal!
Because Team 7 always belonged to him, Uchiha Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura, he didn't want anyone else to join and replace Sasuke!
"..."
Haruno Sakura looked at Tsunade with worried eyes.
"I also rejected his proposal."
Tsunade fully understood Uzumaki Naruto's feelings.
Because her disciple, Haruno Sakura, thought the same.
Of course.
If Akihara Kagura had proposed Karin, Tsunade might not have objected. But since Akihara Kagura proposed an ordinary ninja, Tsunade immediately rejected it, fearing that Akihara Kagura wanted to control the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
However...
Akihara Kagura didn't give up.
In the name of worrying about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki possibly encountering accidents, Akihara Kagura hoped to send a Root ninja to monitor Uzumaki Naruto. Tsunade had no choice but to agree because this was decided at the Konoha Village's Five Hokage meeting.
This Five Hokage meeting...
Refers specifically to the five Hokage of Konoha Village.
Over the years, while Jiraiya trained Uzumaki Naruto, they seemed to intentionally liberate the Nine-Tails chakra, which resulted in several dangerous situations.
In any case, while Tsunade rejected Akihara Kagura's proposal to place someone in Team 7, she couldn't refuse Akihara Kagura's request to send someone to monitor Naruto to prevent accidents.
"Fine."
Tsunade glanced at Shizune beside her and said softly, "Let me first check your results! I specially selected an opponent for you. To wait for Naruto's return, I didn't let him go on a mission..."
"Who?"
Uzumaki Naruto was curious.
"Ahem... He will come this afternoon."
Tsunade coughed lightly and then said: "The opponent I prepared for you is Kakashi, but he was assigned by the Hokage's assistant to test someone else in Root first..."
This was necessary.
Because Akihara Kagura wanted to send a Root ninja to monitor Team 7, and since Akihara Kagura and Team 7's captain, Hatake Kakashi, were old friends, the proposal had to be approved by Kakashi.
So...
Hatake Kakashi accepted Akihara Kagura's invitation to first check the strength of the Root ninja, to see how strong they were and what kind of person they were.
Root's exclusive training ground.
When Hatake Kakashi arrived, he felt somewhat averse to Akihara Kagura's actions. Upon seeing Akihara Kagura, he wanted to make a sarcastic remark: "Hey, I say, isn't it unnecessary to have someone monitor us?"
"This is also for your safety."
Akihara Kagura looked at Hatake Kakashi and said softly: "Over the years, Naruto and Jiraiya-sensei have caused quite a few incidents during their training. Being cautious is never wrong... I originally wanted to insert someone into Team 7, but Lady Tsunade rejected it. However, to prevent accidents, it's best to have someone monitor them!"
"You're becoming more and more like Danzo..."
Hatake Kakashi recalled the former leader of Root.
"First, let's see the person I selected..."
Akihara Kagura patted Kakashi's shoulder amicably and said, "If you think his strength is acceptable, I'll let him monitor Team 7. If not, I'll replace him..."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi shook his head in silent refusal.
This Team 7 instructor had decided that regardless of who Akihara Kagura chose, he would not agree to Akihara Kagura's proposal.
Of course.
Unless Akihara Kagura chose Karin.
"Come out."
Akihara Kagura clapped his hands, looking at the shadow behind a big tree in the training ground: "Let your former superior test your strength to decide if you are qualified for the next task I have for you..."
"..."
From behind the tree emerged a hooded figure.
The figure gently removed their hood, revealing a familiar face to Hatake Kakashi: "Kakashi-sensei, long time no see..."
It was the recently returned Uchiha Sasuke.
"..."
Hatake Kakashi was stunned.
Hatake Kakashi was dumbfounded.
Hatake Kakashi couldn't understand.
"You..."
Hatake Kakashi looked at the grown-up Uchiha Sasuke in disbelief, his eyes frozen in their sockets: "Is it really Sasuke? What... is going on?"
"This is a long story."
Akihara Kagura stood beside Hatake Kakashi and slowly began to explain: "Back then, Orochimaru was always greedy to obtain Sasuke's body..."
"In order to kill Orochimaru, I saw Sasuke's talent and brought him into Root to carry out a secret mission. He intentionally defected, allowing Orochimaru to take him and investigate Orochimaru's secrets, continuously passing information back to the village about Orochimaru..."
"Finally..."
"Sasuke succeeded in killing Orochimaru."
"Since his mission is completed, I naturally want him to return to Konoha."
When Akihara Kagura said this, he seemed a bit helpless: "I originally wanted Sasuke to return to Team 7, to your command, to prevent Naruto from losing control of the Nine-Tails, but Lady Tsunade refused. I can only let Sasuke monitor Team 7..."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi's mind was in a whirl. He could only rub his temples repeatedly and gestured to Akihara Kagura: "Wait, let me process this..."
The information was overwhelming.
Hatake Kakashi had often regretted and lamented his companions and disciples defecting from Konoha, only to find out now that his companions were still causing trouble in the ninja world, and his disciple's defection was actually a facade to carry out a mission to kill Orochimaru...
Now...
The mission was complete.
Sasuke had returned.
Hatake Kakashi looked up at the sky, feeling that his years of regret needed some compensation, but he couldn't criticize Akihara Kagura and Uchiha Sasuke.
After all...
Assassinating Orochimaru was undoubtedly an S-rank mission.
Such a mission was beyond the knowledge of an ordinary Konoha Jonin like him.
However...
For the sake of friendship...
Couldn't they have at least hinted to comfort him?
Hatake Kakashi remembered the times he and Akihara Kagura had barbecue and ramen, occasionally mentioning Uchiha Sasuke's defection, and Akihara Kagura would always smile without saying a word, sipping pear juice as if indifferent to these matters.
Yet...
Now all crises have been resolved.
Uchiha Sasuke's defection was fake.
Hatake Kakashi didn't feel too upset, but sighed: "You should have at least told me when you took my student..."
"Sorry, Kakashi-sensei."
Uchiha Sasuke stepped forward and apologized in a deep voice: "Back then, I actively requested to join Root to gain power..."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi averted his gaze.
"Why are you looking at me?"
Akihara Kagura furrowed his brows, feeling puzzled: "Didn't you also want to join Root back then? It's normal for Sasuke to want to join."
"I don't want to join now."
Hatake Kakashi took a deep breath and shook his head: "Now Root's reputation in the village is as bad as the Uchiha Police Force's back in the day..."
After saying this, Hatake Kakashi realized he might have said something offensive, potentially hurting Uchiha Sasuke.
After all...
The Uchiha clan had been annihilated.
However, Uchiha Sasuke seemed indifferent to Kakashi's words, even nodding thoughtfully as if understanding something.
"Alright."
Hatake Kakashi, seeing Uchiha Sasuke, had no desire to test or involve him in monitoring. He simply beckoned Sasuke: "Let's go, and reassign you to Team 7..."
"Lady Tsunade has already refused."
Akihara Kagura interrupted.
"You didn't tell Lady Tsunade the truth, did you?"
Hatake Kakashi glanced helplessly at Akihara Kagura.
"Root ninja's identity is top secret."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, speaking coldly: "The Hokage cannot interfere with Root's matters, and the assistant cannot interfere with the Konoha Hospital's matters. This is a rule set by the Five Hokage... I let you meet Sasuke because we're friends."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi found this rule nonsensical.
What kind of rule was this?
Why was there a different focus between the Hokage and the assistant? Normally, shouldn't the assistant not interfere with Anbu?
However...
Since the Fifth Hokage Tsunade was a medical ninja, this seemed somewhat understandable.
"Kakashi-sensei."
Uchiha Sasuke stepped forward and declined Kakashi's proposal: "I haven't killed Uchiha Itachi yet, I can't go back now..."
On one hand, he needed revenge.
On the other hand, he needed to compete with Karin for the position of Root leader.
Although Uchiha Sasuke knew he could enjoy a brief warmth in Team 7, he also understood that the position of Root leader was crucial.
To Uchiha Sasuke, the position of Root leader meant that if Uzumaki Naruto ever become Hokage, they could still fight side by side;
More importantly, Root was the base for surviving Uchiha, and revitalizing the clan required him to surpass Karin and become Root leader!
"I need to stay in Root."
Uchiha Sasuke felt deeply connected to both Root and Team 7: "In the future, I can protect Team 7 from the shadows..."
"Test his strength."
Akihara Kagura patted Hatake Kakashi's shoulder, sighing: "I've tried to persuade him, but he insists. Let him stay in Root for now!"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi fell silent.
This Team 7 instructor thought for a moment, then had no choice but to nod: "I agree, but Naruto and Sakura will be disappointed..."
"Kakashi-sensei, don't tell them the truth yet."
Uchiha Sasuke shook his head, a sneer on his lips. He was still the proud Uchiha: "If Naruto knew, he'd mess up my plans. I'll tell him after I kill Uchiha Itachi..."
"..."
Hatake Kakashi knew Sasuke's thinking was correct.
This student...
Was indeed moving towards revenge!
But this student didn't seem lost to revenge, as from Sasuke's face, Kakashi could see...
In Sasuke's heart...
There was a place for Team 7.
Hatake Kakashi could tell that while Sasuke mocked Naruto, he didn't want Naruto entangled in Root's complexities...
Hatake Kakashi's gaze shifted to Akihara Kagura beside him.
How had Akihara Kagura taught Sasuke? This young man hadn't forgotten his revenge, nor was he blinded by it...
"If you don't want to return and wish to protect them from the shadows..."
Hatake Kakashi raised his hand to Sasuke, saying softly: "Then let me see the results of your years of training..."
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke removed his cloak and raised his hand to Kakashi, his eyes turning serious!
Challenging his teacher...
Was something Uchiha Sasuke had long considered!