Shimura Danzo's intentions were as clear as day.
Since the Uchiha Clan had stayed in Konoha for years, Shimura Danzo had to exhaust every possible means just to obtain a single Sharingan. Uchiha Obito, the rogue ninja, was already marked by him.
Especially since Uchiha Obito possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan.
Shimura Danzo believed that Akihara Kagura and Kakashi Hatake might not be able to deal with Uchiha Obito, who possessed the Mangekyo Sharingan. He estimated that only by stepping in himself, with all his cunning, could there be any assurance.
On the other hand...
Even if the two had a chance to deal with Uchiha Obito, Shimura Danzo needed to be there to be the first to seize Obito's Mangekyo Sharingan.
Shimura Danzo instructed Akihara Kagura to remember to convey information, slowly calming down: "This time when you go to The Hidden Mist Village, is Kakashi Hatake going with you?"
"Yes."
"I've been monitoring him."
Akihara Kagura glanced at Shimura Danzo, who had returned to his usual composed self, and said in a low voice, "When I first came to Konoha, that guy displeased Lord Danzo, and this time on the road, I'll find an opportunity to kill him..."
"I have always told you not to go to extremes."
Shimura Danzo couldn't help but chuckle and said, "I've also told you not to strike at members of the Dark Department at will. They are members of Konoha, and Kakashi Hatake is an excellent ninja... I am a magnanimous person and won't mind his offenses."
"..."
Akihara Kagura nodded without much sincerity.
"I've always liked Kakashi."
When Shimura Danzo said this, he was somewhat serious: "He carries a darkness that others find hard to equal. On the road, you can ask him if he's willing to join the Root. I can help him keep Uchiha Obito alive in the future..."
"Okay!"
Akihara Kagura quickly nodded.
[System Prompt]: [New task, invite Kakashi Hatake to join the Root, from supervisor Shimura Danzo.]
Why does this supervisor always daydream like this!
Given the difficulty of capturing Uchiha Obito, the entire Konoha had no way to deal with him, and now you're already thinking about what to do after capturing him?
Moreover, Kakashi Hatake is an Anbu Sub-Captain, an official cadre within the system with a future prospect of becoming Hokage, yet you want him to join the Root as an external temp...
"However..."
Akihara Kagura, thinking the task a bit challenging, decided to give his supervisor a heads-up to prevent Shimura Danzo from truly believing Kagura could accomplish this.
"I'm worried Kakashi Hatake won't agree."
"Besides, Kakashi Hatake likely doesn't believe Lord Danzo can help him keep Uchiha Obito alive..."
"Oh?"
"Uchiha Obito..."
Akihara Kagura glanced at the still unflappable Shimura Danzo and continued, "He was the culprit who caused the Nine-Tails incident in Konoha six years ago."
Bam!
Shimura Danzo could no longer sit still!
"What did you say?"
"..."
Akihara Kagura satisfactorily lowered his head and continued, "When I met Uchiha Obito, he admitted himself to causing the Nine-Tails incident, but Kakashi Hatake thought there might be some doubt about it, hoping to exonerate Uchiha Obito. The Third Hokage did not say much..."
"Hmph!"
"Just as I expected!"
Shimura Danzo's eyes were full of fury, and he slammed his fist on the desk: "The Uchiha Clan were the culprits behind the Nine-Tails incident!"
"Uchiha Obito has the Mangekyo Sharingan. This must be his doing!"
"Once the Uchiha Clan deviates in thought, they gain malevolent power and bring great disaster to Konoha!"
Shimura Danzo couldn't stay put any longer, coldly saying, "Go rest for now! I need to go to the Hokage Tower to discuss important matters!"
"What about recruiting Kakashi?"
Akihara Kagura tentatively inquired.
"..."
Shimura Danzo remained silent for a while, deciding to let Akihara Kagura handle it: "Uchiha Obito will certainly be executed! As for the rest... handle it as you see fit!"
"Yes."
Akihara Kagura could only nod helplessly.
Since his supervisor said to handle it as he sees fit, then if there are issues after recruiting Kakashi Hatake, don't let his subordinate take the blame!
"By the way."
Akihara Kagura remembered something, intending to clear an accusation: "Lord Danzo, regarding Aburame Ryuma-senpai's matter..."
"I don't care about such trivial matters."
Shimura Danzo had no interest in the issue, nor did he care if Akihara Kagura wanted to clear his name, merely advising him: "Just remember not to kill randomly in the village!"
"..."
Why can't this accusation be cleared?
Shimura Danzo as a supervisor takes his own blame, but why is his subordinate also left to bear the blame?
Never mind.
These are just minor issues.
Akihara Kagura could only watch helplessly as Shimura Danzo went to the Hokage Tower. This supervisor always goes to the Hokage Tower when there's a problem, accomplishing nothing except getting frustrated.
Anbu dressing room.
When Akihara Kagura returned here, he planned to remove his Anbu gear and take advantage of some free time to roam the village.
However, Kakashi Hatake couldn't wait any longer.
For the first time in years, Kakashi Hatake was so proactive.
Kakashi Hatake obtained permission to leave Konoha from the Third Hokage and, without even heading home to pack, came to the Anbu base to meet Akihara Kagura.
"In such a hurry?"
"To avoid arousing Obito's suspicion."
Kakashi Hatake, wearing a white cloak, said softly, "Obito always hides his identity because he doesn't want anyone to know he's still alive... This time, with Obito's identity exposed, he might erase traces he left behind."
Kakashi Hatake gave them another reason: "The village also needs us to investigate The Hidden Mist Village's information."
The more Kakashi Hatake elaborated, the more convincing he sounded: "The Hidden Mist Village is isolated from the Ninja World Continent, having long enforced a closed-door policy towards the Land of Water, making it hard for anyone to learn about it. Konoha has always lacked information on The Hidden Mist Village, which is why I quickly got permission from the Hokage to leave the village..."
"..."
Akihara Kagura felt that Kakashi Hatake made a good point.
[System Prompt]: [New task, assist Kakashi Hatake in investigating The Hidden Mist Village's information, from supervisor Kakashi Hatake.]
"By the way."
Almost as if he remembered something, Kakashi Hatake suddenly said to Akihara Kagura: "I forgot to tell you, there will be a member of the Uchiha Clan going with us, so we need to stop by the Uchiha Clan Land."
No matter what, Uchiha Obito is still part of the Uchiha Clan.
The Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen instructed Kakashi Hatake to summon Uchiha Fugaku and inquired about the situation, voluntarily disclosing some information about Uchiha Obito to Uchiha Fugaku, including lingering questions about the Nine-Tails incident.
After all...
The Nine-Tails incident has always been a thorn between Konoha and the Uchiha.
Uchiha Fugaku immediately recognized the gravity of the situation and resolved to involve the clan in investigating Uchiha Obito's whereabouts.
If Uchiha Obito really was the culprit behind the Nine-Tails incident, his threat was no less than Uchiha Madara, Konoha's first traitor. The Uchiha Clan had suffered enough due to former clan leader Uchiha Madara's defection from Konoha...
If Uchiha Obito's involvement were truly confirmed...
The entire Uchiha Clan might stop negotiating with Konoha's upper echelon altogether...