Konan let out a soft sigh.
"Kakashi, this report is about you. Read it… but try to stay calm. Your body still needs rest to heal properly. You should've been prepared for something like this."
Kakashi took the scroll, confused for a second, then opened it.
The moment he read the contents, his pupils shrank to pinpoints.
"I'm in Konoha?"
"There's a Kakashi in the Leaf? Then who the hell am I?"
His face went dark.
If Kakashi had only been disappointed in the Leaf before — and hated Danzo — now he felt complete, total disillusionment with the entire village.
"Because my disappearance was hurting the Leaf's image, they just sent someone to use Transformation Technique and walk around as me? Just like that?"
"Lord Hokage… no. Hiruzen Sarutobi. You must be certain I'm already dead."
"Did you order Danzo to kill me?"
"Too bad for you — Danzo failed. Someone saved me. I'm alive. I'm doing just fine."
In that instant, Kakashi pieced everything together in his head.
If Danzo had acted on his own, Hiruzen would still think Kakashi was simply missing. And if Hiruzen believed he was only missing, he would never have risked creating a fake Kakashi. Because a missing Kakashi could still be in Sunagakure's hands. If Rasa ever produced the real one, the Leaf's lie would blow up in their faces.
Since they created the fake anyway, it meant Hiruzen was convinced the real Kakashi was dead.
How could Hiruzen be so sure when even Danzo couldn't confirm it?
The only explanation was that Danzo had failed the mission but lied to Hiruzen out of fear of punishment, claiming he had already killed Kakashi.
And Hiruzen believed him.
Which meant the order to kill Kakashi had come directly from Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Danzo was just the tool.
If Danzo could have heard Kakashi's reasoning, he probably would have laughed. After decades of taking the blame for Hiruzen's dirty work, the tables had finally turned — Hiruzen was now carrying one of Danzo's pots.
Kakashi's eyes filled with raw hatred.
"So, Lord Hokage… no, Hiruzen Sarutobi. Was my father really killed by your scheme back then too?"
"Because his achievements were too great?"
"You were scared he'd threaten your seat?"
"But my father never wanted to be Hokage. That position was always meant for the big clans anyway. The Hatake clan was tiny — barely even a clan."
Pain twisted across Kakashi's face.
"My father did nothing wrong… and this is how it ends? This isn't fair!"
"Using such a filthy, underhanded plot to destroy him… it's cruel."
"In any other village he would've been treated with respect. He might still be alive right now."
Konan hesitated, then spoke gently.
"Kakashi… that's just how the great villages are. Full of darkness, malice, and greed. They're the root of all the suffering in this world. The real villains."
"We're all victims. There are countless others like us."
"That's why we created the Akatsuki. To end all of it."
Kakashi nodded slowly.
"I'm fine. It's just… everyone I used to know suddenly feels like a stranger. This whole ninja world feels wrong. Like I have to relearn everything."
"If we can really destroy all this filth… I want to help."
He gave a bitter smile.
"But with my current strength… I probably won't be much use, will I?"
Obito was thinking the exact same thing.
The Mangekyō Sharingan already placed an enormous burden on the body. Even Obito, with Uchiha blood, struggled with it. The only reason he could use it so freely now was because of the Hashirama cells he'd transplanted.
Kakashi wasn't an Uchiha. Even a normal Sharingan had been difficult for him. For Kakashi, the eye was both a gift and a curse.
Obito had two options.
First: transplant Hashirama cells into Kakashi as well.
But Obito hesitated. The procedure carried serious risks. Failure could be catastrophic. And if it succeeded, Kakashi would be able to handle the Mangekyō — which meant he could access Obito's Kamui dimension and discover his true identity.
"That's not a good idea."
Obito didn't want Kakashi knowing who he really was. Not yet.
Second option: remove the Sharingan Kakashi had transplanted.
Two clear benefits. Obito would regain both of his original eyes and become significantly stronger. And Kakashi would finally be free of the constant burden.
But then came the real question.
Without the Sharingan, could Kakashi still contribute anything meaningful to the Akatsuki?
"Kakashi used to be a genius."
"But that was before. Back then I was the dead-last who had to look up to him."
"Now… he's the one who has to look up to me."
Obito frowned, deep in thought.
At that moment, Kakashi made a new request to Konan.
"I want to meet with someone from Sunagakure."
"Sunagakure?"
"Yes. I want to do an interview in the Ninja World Big Events Weekly. The Leaf treated me and my father like this. I refuse to let them sweep everything under the rug so easily."
Fire burned in Kakashi's eyes.
"I want to expose them!"
Konan reported the request to Pain.
Pain considered it for a moment, then approved.
"If Kakashi gives an interview to Sunagakure, it will definitely damage the Leaf. It will also worsen the tension between Sunagakure and Konoha. That works in our favor."
"A ninja world full of war and chaos makes it much easier for us to gather intelligence… and creates more opportunities to capture Tailed Beasts and their jinchuriki."
"However…"
Pain's brow furrowed.
"Konan, why do you think Sunagakure is deliberately provoking the Leaf right now? They finally have peace. They need time to develop. What's Rasa's real goal?"
This was the part that genuinely worried Pain.
At first he hadn't paid much attention to Sunagakure. But lately he was finding Rasa harder and harder to read. And the Tailed Beasts and jinchuriki were closely tied to Sunagakure — something the Akatsuki had to deal with eventually.
Konan thought for a second.
"Maybe we should ask Sasori of the Red Sand?"