It's Just Dogs Biting Dogs

"Someone, come in."

In the Hokage's office, after finishing the scroll detailing information about Sunagakure, the Third Hokage murmured.

"Lord Hokage," a figure dressed as an Anbu knelt on one knee before him.

"Infiltrate Sunagakure secretly. Keep a close watch on their movements, especially regarding any news of their jinchuriki," the Third Hokage said with a stern tone.

"Jinchuriki?" Upon hearing those three words, the Anbu's body trembled imperceptibly.

As an Anbu directly under the Third Hokage, he had witnessed the Tailed Beast chaos two years ago with his own eyes. Although the village hadn't suffered much damage due to the relationship between Jiraiya and the Fourth Hokage, the terrifying destructive power of the Nine-Tails and the Three-Tails had left a deep impression on him.

Though he felt nervous, the Anbu dared not defy the Hokage's orders; besides, this was merely gathering intelligence, not asking him to actually fight a Tailed Beast.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," the Anbu said respectfully.

He then departed.

Clearly, the Third Hokage had also received word that Sunagakure was about to change its jinchuriki. Even though Konoha had signed an alliance treaty with Sunagakure, the Third Hokage remained on high alert regarding Tailed Beasts.

He did not want a repeat of two years ago, when he only realized the Three-Tails from Kirigakure had reached his doorstep once it was already there.

Thump! Thump!

Just as the Third Hokage was preparing to review other documents, a knock sounded at the door again.

"Come in."

With red hair and a somewhat youthful face, the person who entered was Uzumaki Naraku.

Naraku then explained that Root had been approaching Kushina.

"Before Lady Tsunade left, she said my sister would wake up before long. If any accidents happen during this time, I worry that what is inside her..." Naraku stopped there.

He trusted that with the Third Hokage's intelligence, he would not fail to guess what he was about to say next.

As he expected, the Third Hokage's expression changed instantly upon hearing this.

He was well aware that the Nine-Tails had been sealed separately within Kushina and Naruto.

If it were just Kushina alone, he might not have been overly concerned, but adding the Nine-Tails to the equation made it a matter that demanded his full attention.

"Naraku, I will handle this matter," the Third Hokage said in a deep, calm voice.

Naraku nodded. Having received the answer he wanted, he had no desire to linger and turned to leave.

After all, he still harbored resentment toward the Third Hokage; every time Naraku saw him, he thought of his poor nephew.

"Nine-Tails," the Third Hokage fell into deep thought after Naraku left.

In his heart, he recalled the Tailed Beast chaos from two years ago, and he thought of the Fourth Hokage's death.

"Danzo," the Third Hokage muttered.

"Go and invite Elder Shimura here," the Third Hokage said to the shadows.

As Hokage, he had long since noticed that the Root organization led by Danzo had become increasingly active over the past two years, first by suppressing the Uchiha Clan, and then by using various excuses to extract numerous special privileges from him.

If it were only that, the Third Hokage could still accept it; after all, Danzo's Root was, at the end of the day, a part of Konoha—merely a blade of his, Sarutobi Hiruzen's, that could not see the light of day.

He had even secretly orchestrated the suppression of the Uchiha Clan himself, as in his view, the increasingly powerful Uchiha Clan in recent years had become a serious threat to his position as Hokage.

Especially after geniuses like Shisui and Itachi appeared within their clan.

Setting aside the Uchiha Clan, Danzo had now actually started letting Root approach Kushina, which was undoubtedly a provocation to the Third Hokage's authority.

Danzo, there are some things you cannot touch, the Third Hokage thought to himself.

Before long, Danzo, wrapped in bandages, arrived in the Hokage's office, led by an Anbu.

"Hiruzen, what do you want with me?" Danzo asked the moment he entered.

From his tone, it was clear that he held not a shred of respect for the Third Hokage in his heart.

Ignoring Danzo's words, the Third Hokage waved his right hand in the air, setting up a simple isolation barrier around them.

Seeing this, Danzo's expression turned serious.

The two then engaged in a heated argument.

Of course, the debate ultimately ended with the Third Hokage winning; Danzo agreed that he would no longer let Root approach Kushina.

Although Danzo was extremely unwilling, he had no way to refuse when the Third Hokage issued the order directly in his capacity as Hokage—after all, the Hokage was the highest leader of the village.

Danzo left the Hokage's office with a look of fury.

Although Root could no longer approach Kushina, the Third Hokage's actions this time had confirmed one thing for Danzo.

"The Nine-Tails has actually been split into two. Heh, Hiruzen, the position of Hokage will be mine sooner or later."

Naraku was unaware of everything that had happened in the Hokage's office, but even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared; in his heart, the Third Hokage and Danzo were just dogs biting dogs.

At this moment, he had just returned to Konoha Hospital, and as he was about to enter, he saw an acquaintance and couldn't help but stop.

"Yo, Kai, you're here."

Standing before him was Kakashi, who had just arrived from home.

He was dressed in a black tracksuit with a black mask, his silver-white hair and slender frame adding a touch of coldness to his appearance.

After so many years of getting along, Kakashi had become completely accustomed to the nickname "Kai."

Afterward, the two went to Ichiraku Ramen for dinner together, finally standing side by side atop the Hokage Rock.

"By the way, Naraku, the Third Hokage wants you to accompany me on a mission," Kakashi said.

"He actually wants me to go on a mission with you?" Naraku was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

"Is your squad out of people?" Naraku blurted out.

Kakashi shook his head slightly. "The village is currently receiving a massive number of requests. Whether it's the Anbu or other capable ninjas, everyone is out on missions."

"As for the members of our squad, they are all occupied with other tasks and cannot be spared for the time being."

"I see."

Naraku nodded. He had no objections to who he went on missions with, especially since it was Kakashi, whom he knew so well.

In the entire ninja world, aside from Minato and his wife, Kakashi was undoubtedly the person he trusted the most.

Of course, there was also Guy and his teacher, Jiraiya.

He had formed deep bonds with all of these people.

"Kai, have you thought about the matter regarding the Sharingan?" Naraku asked.

"The Sharingan," Kakashi reached up to touch the forehead protector covering his eye. Beneath it, the three-tomoe Sharingan was constantly draining the chakra from his body.

Reluctance, doubt, and hesitation—various complex emotions flickered in his right eye.

"Forget it."

"Sigh!"