Mastermind of the Akatsuki

Kabuto observed Danzo's reaction closely, quietly musing to himself.

Danzo was one of Konoha's high-ranking officials, the head of Root, and could dispatch entire squads of ninjas with a mere wave of his hand, orchestrating "unexplained accidents" for any troublesome Jonin.

Yet, the moment Byakuya's name was mentioned, Danzo's composure cracked. His face clearly revealed tension and unease, which left Kabuto curious—what exactly had Lord Byakuya done to make Danzo so visibly anxious at the mere mention of his name?

Realizing his reaction had been excessive, Danzo reined in his emotions. No matter how wary he was of Byakuya, he couldn't afford to reveal his apprehension in front of his subordinates.

Moreover, the truth behind the attack on Iwagakure was still uncertain.

The shinobi of Kumogakure are cunning and treacherous; they have a history of abductions and framing others. For all Danzo knew, they might have launched a covert mission against Iwagakure, targeting one of their bloodline limits.

Take Kumogakure's elite Jonin Toroi, for example—he was kidnapped as a child and groomed to become a wielder of the Magnet Release. Although Troy ultimately fell to the Fourth Kazekage, his case stood as proof of Kumogakure's ambitions.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Danzo refocused on Kabuto, pondering the boy's future.

Kabuto was a rare talent Danzo had personally picked out from the orphanage—young, highly skilled, and with a remarkably high mission success rate. If nurtured properly, he could one day become a Jonin Elite.

Konoha had no more than a few dozen Jonin Elite ninjas, and Root, under Danzo's leadership, had even fewer—only two or three. Losing another promising ninja would be wasteful.

However, Kabuto had failed his test of loyalty—he hadn't killed his loved one, which meant he might someday betray Danzo. Normally, such risks were eliminated swiftly.

But… the loss of Tenzō (Yamato), whom Hiruzen had taken from him months ago, left Danzo with fewer resources. Kabuto was too valuable to discard.

After a long pause, Danzo finally spoke:

"Kabuto, given that you've brought back vital information, I will overlook your failure this time. But failure cannot go entirely unpunished. After writing your mission report, you are to report to the Ninja Academy."

Kabuto was stunned. "The Ninja Academy? Lord Danzo, am I not too old to be placed there?"

Danzo stared him down and clarified, "Not as a teacher. You will attend as a graduating student. Once you graduate, I'll assign you a new mission. In the meantime, I want you to observe and report on any promising young talents at the Academy."

Kabuto accepted the task without further objection. He knew Danzo had lost trust in him and was using this as a pretext to distance him from Root.

Still, this wasn't entirely bad. A temporary break from Root meant more time to focus on his own studies—whether in medical ninjutsu or combat techniques. With enough power, he could truly become Lord Byakuya's right hand.

As he left the dark, oppressive confines of Root and stepped into the sunlit streets of Konoha, Kabuto crossed paths with another young Root ninja.

Their gazes met briefly before they passed each other without a word, heading in opposite directions.

Even though the other ninja wore a mask, Kabuto quickly deduced his identity. This could only be Root's lone Uchiha member—Itachi Uchiha.

Root had no shortage of young recruits, but none exuded the same aura of power and skill as the Uchiha prodigy.

Looking back at Itachi, who was now disappearing into the Root entrance, Kabuto couldn't help but feel that the Uchiha was far more suited for life in Root—and for the role of a spy.

But then again, what did that have to do with him?

With a faint sigh, Kabuto picked up his pace and vanished into the forest.

Meanwhile, Itachi felt something. He abruptly turned, scanning the area.

The leaves rustled softly, but there was no sign of anyone spying on him. Reassured, Itachi continued deeper into the Root headquarters, his heart weighed with unease.

To join Root and earn his place in the Anbu, Danzo had assigned him a dangerous mission—hunting down and eliminating a rogue ninja. This target was from a ninja clan and possessed Jonin Elite level taijutsu skills.

If not for Shisui's timely assistance, Itachi might have been killed during the mission.

Still, Itachi believed it was worth it.

While Shisui served as a bridge between the Uchiha clan and Konoha, Itachi knew one bridge wasn't enough.

To resolve the tension between the Uchiha clan and the village, they needed more intermediaries, and Itachi was determined to become one.

Only by proving himself to Danzo—showing him the loyalty and value of the Uchiha—could he help mend the rift.

And beyond Konoha, Itachi dreamed of bridging the gaps between villages, ushering in peace for the entire shinobi world.

The dream might seem far-fetched, but Itachi believed someone had to try. He saw further than most Jonin, so he had to shoulder greater responsibilities.

Crossing the dimly lit hallways of Root, Itachi finally stood before Danzo's office. The flickering candlelight reflected in Danzo's cold, calculating gaze.

Steeling himself, Itachi knocked.

"Come in," came Danzo's measured voice. "So you've finally returned, Itachi. How did the mission go?"

Itachi entered the room, knelt on one knee, and reported, "Lord Danzo, the mission was a success. The rogue ninja has been eliminated."

Danzo narrowed his eyes. "Oh? Is that so? Tell me everything."