Tianzang felt truly wronged.
Kakashi Hatake also believed that Tianzang was wronged. Kakashi always knew that Tianzang was an honest person, incapable of such random acts of murder.
Akihara Kagura, being the one who framed Tianzang, was even more aware of how unjustly accused Tianzang was.
"Isn't there a possibility..."
Tianzang's face turned pale as he cautiously presented his hypothesis: "Kagura, aside from us, could there be another Wood Release Ninja hidden in the village?"
"It's not impossible."
Kakashi Hatake looked up at the sky, rambling on: "In the Ninja World, nothing surprises me anymore, neither events nor people."
Kakashi Hatake had a strange suspicion that someone wanted this kid to stay clear of Shimura Danzo, which wasn't necessarily a bad thing—just that the method seemed somewhat extreme.
Of course.
Such an idea certainly couldn't be voiced out loud, otherwise, this kid who's always mentioning Shimura Danzo might just start a fight right there...
Who would do such a thing?
Who stands to gain by driving a wedge between Shimura Danzo and Akihara Kagura?
Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but recall the behavior of the old man in the Hokage Tower—could there be another Wood Release Ninja lurking under the Third Hokage's command? When did this Wood Release Ninja appear?
However...
The act of killing Aburame Ryuma...
Doesn't quite resemble the Third Hokage's style.
Yet, as a ninja who had been with the Dark Department for many years, Kakashi Hatake had witnessed a lot of darkness and wasn't inclined to use his fixed mindset to ponder the Hokage's thoughts.
Of course.
This matter needs to be thoroughly investigated.
With a Wood Release Ninja hidden in the village killing fellow villagers, at the very least, we need to find out if this person is an infiltrating enemy or a subordinate hidden by someone in high places.
"Alright, I'll look into it."
Kakashi Hatake intended to take the burden off his two subordinates, contemplating deeply: "If this person is attempting to strain your relationship with Danzo but fails to achieve their goal, they will undoubtedly surface again to use Wood Release for murder..."
At this point, Kakashi Hatake turned to Akihara Kagura: "Don't doubt your leader, Tianzang would never frame others..."
"Kakashi-senpai..."
Tianzang's eyes showed a hint of emotion.
"Oh."
Akihara Kagura nodded, with a look of disbelief on his face.
Is it possible that he's just the type who enjoys framing others? If there was any other way, why would he throw the blame onto Tianzang?
Forget it.
The goal has been achieved.
It's enough that Kakashi Hatake is willing to investigate.
Even if that mysterious masked man hidden in the shadows doesn't reveal any flaws, Akihara Kagura must find a way to make Kakashi Hatake notice something.
Meanwhile.
The Venus Flytrap Monster, which had been lurking underground eavesdropping, quietly relayed the conversation between Kakashi Hatake, Tianzang, and Akihara Kagura to the mysterious masked man.
"Tch..."
Upon receiving this information, the mysterious masked man couldn't help but mock: "That idiot Kakashi is truly overestimating himself. Does he really think he can uncover anything? I'll kill another person tonight and see what that idiot can do!"
"Wait..."
You're not that smart either!
Clearly, you just want to go head-to-head with Kakashi Hatake!
The Venus Flytrap Monster felt that the mysterious masked man was getting carried away and hurried to advise: "They already know someone is stirring the pot in the shadows, so our plan to use Wood Release to frame that kid Akihara Kagura is unlikely to succeed..."
The Venus Flytrap Monster paused before continuing: "Even if you kill another person, it might just prove that the kid is being secretly framed..."
"..."
The mysterious masked man fell silent.
Momentarily distracted by Kakashi Hatake's interference, he had forgotten that his original intent was to recruit that kid Akihara Kagura...
"Zetsu."
The mysterious masked man took a deep breath to calm himself: "Continue to keep an eye on that kid for now and see if there are any other opportunities..."
As expected.
There were no opportunities all day today.
Because Akihara Kagura, new to the Dark Department, certainly wouldn't be acting alone.
Kakashi Hatake, along with Tianzang and Akihara Kagura, carried out a day of routine tasks for the Dark Department, primarily involving protecting the Hokage, conveying Hokage orders to other departments, and patrolling and guarding against enemy invasion.
"When can we rest?"
Akihara Kagura found the routine tasks of the Dark Department rather light: "Where do the Dark Department members rest at night? In the dormitory? Why haven't I seen the dormitory?"
"Resting at night?"
Kakashi Hatake and Tianzang gave Akihara Kagura an astonished look.
"Don't... we rest at night?"
Akihara Kagura's expression was even more astonished than theirs.
"Of course not."
Kakashi Hatake quickly shook his head and continued: "Apart from carrying out tasks outside, the routine patrols in the village require the Dark Department to undertake inspection duties for at least sixteen hours. Someone will relieve us tomorrow morning."
"Sixteen hours of work a day?"
Akihara Kagura's face changed involuntarily.
With so many street lamps in Konoha Village, how come the Hokage's body isn't hanging from them!
"Dark Department work tends to be somewhat dull."
"Compared to missions outside, staying in the village to protect the Hokage and guard against enemy invasions is relatively easy."
Tianzang seemed long accustomed to it and continued: "Only ninjas who can truly endure can become part of the Dark Department."
As Tianzang spoke, he handed a Soldier Pill to Akihara Kagura: "Can you handle the Dark Department work on your first day? Let's have dinner first."
"This is... dinner?"
Akihara Kagura experienced the work atmosphere of the Ninja World for the first time.
If the daily life of Dark Department members is always like this, couldn't the Hokage's body really hang from street lamps separately?
"It might be a bit tiring."
Kakashi Hatake bit into a Soldier Pill, speaking softly: "The full name of the Dark Department is the Assassination Tactical Special Force. During times of peace, we are Konoha's army, and we can't take missions as leisurely as other ninjas do."
"Oh."
Akihara Kagura immediately understood.
"By the way, you don't have a code name yet, do you?"
Kakashi Hatake glanced at Akihara Kagura: "When performing missions, Dark Department members can't use their own names or address each other by their names. To avoid being identified by enemies, it's best to use a code name."
"Is that really necessary?"
Akihara Kagura looked at Kakashi Hatake's white hair and couldn't help but say: "There aren't many people in the Ninja World who can use Wood Release or have white hair like Captain Kakashi. Do we still need a code name? I haven't seen the Third Hokage use your code name today, have I?"
"..."
Kakashi Hatake fell silent.
"Perhaps it's really not necessary..."
Tianzang stood by, cautiously discussing with them.
"Let's go patrol the village first!"
Kakashi Hatake didn't intend to argue with Akihara Kagura, focusing on the important matter: "You two should pay extra attention and see if you can find any traces left by the Wood Release Ninja..."
Since the other hidden Wood Release Ninja might be a subordinate of the Third Hokage, Kakashi Hatake didn't dare let too many people know, entrusting only Tianzang and Akihara Kagura with this duty.
"Alright!"
Akihara Kagura felt immediately energized.
By helping create new trouble for his future mysterious masked employer, forcing this future employer to come recruit him to resolve the issues, Akihara Kagura felt quite spirited about this task.