A pure white operating table stood in the room. The surrounding walls were also white. Everything was empty and silent, so quiet it felt as though even the sound of a feather falling to the ground could be heard.
Kakashi lay on the operating table.
Fragments of memory surfaced in his mind.
It had still been during the Third Great Ninja War, when Kakashi and Uchiha Obito had gone to rescue Nohara Rin. But they had suffered a surprise attack from Iwagakure shinobi, and Obito had been crushed beneath a massive boulder.
Knowing he could no longer leave alive, Obito had given one of his eyes to Kakashi.
Kakashi still remembered the scene of that surgery.
It had been crude.
But Kakashi had felt at ease.
Because the one performing the operation had been Nohara Rin.
This time, the environment, facilities, and everything else were far better.
Yet Kakashi could not stop an uneasy feeling from rising in his heart.
Especially when he clearly saw who had entered to operate on him.
Sasori of the Red Sand.
A genius puppeteer.
Not a medical ninja.
But in terms of precision with his hands, he was only stronger than most medical ninja, not weaker. Not to mention, Sasori of the Red Sand had even dared to perform human modification surgery on his own body.
Kakashi was not worried about Sasori's skill.
What Kakashi worried about was Sasori's identity.
After all, Sasori's parents had both died at his father's hands.
Even with Pain's instructions, Kakashi was still worried that halfway through the operation, Sasori might "accidentally" slip and stab the surgical blade straight through his eye socket into his brain.
"No need to be so nervous. I won't use this chance to take revenge on you."
"You're pitiful, just like me."
"No… perhaps even more pitiful than me."
"Compared to you, the person I want to kill more is the one who gave the order for your father to go onto the battlefield."
That was one of Sasori of the Red Sand's reasons.
As for the other reason, it was that whether it was Pain or Konan, Sasori felt he would find it very difficult to be their match.
If he killed Kakashi, they would inevitably act.
At that time, the one who died would be him.
"Bear with it."
The only thing Sasori of the Red Sand could do was make a few small movements and let Kakashi suffer a little pain.
Not far away, a figure looked toward this side, closely observing the situation inside the operating room.
Uchiha Obito had made a decision.
At the same time that Kakashi's Sharingan was removed, he would attempt to transplant Hashirama cells into Kakashi.
Obito did not know why he had made this decision.
It was just that when he thought of removing Kakashi's Sharingan, Obito inexplicably discovered that he actually felt a little guilty.
It was as though he were stealing something from Kakashi.
Yet the Sharingan had clearly been his to begin with.
The Hashirama cells were compensation.
But transplanting Hashirama cells would not necessarily succeed.
The chance of failure was very high.
Even if Obito had decent skill, and even if Kakashi had transplanted the Sharingan before and his body contained a large amount of Sharingan chakra, Obito still could not guarantee success.
All he could do was require Sasori of the Red Sand to remove the cells in time the moment anything went wrong.
Time passed bit by bit.
The surgery proceeded little by little.
…
…
Konoha.
The true-and-fake Kakashi play arranged by Hiruzen Sarutobi had indeed achieved fairly good results.
Now, within Konoha Village, most people believed that the Kakashi in the village was the real Kakashi.
The Kakashi outside was actually Sunagakure's conspiracy.
"Sunagakure is too hateful. We must teach them a harsh lesson!"
"They think defeating Kirigakure makes them invincible? How could our Konoha be something they can provoke?"
"We're far stronger than Kirigakure. Who knows how many times stronger?"
"Hokage-sama is still too benevolent. He should just start a war against Sunagakure directly. Deterrence is useless. Sunagakure has become far too arrogant now. We need to hurt them badly."
Hiruzen Sarutobi observed the situation in the village through the crystal ball, nodded, and revealed a smile.
"It is finally resolved."
"It's all Danzo's fault!"
"If he wasn't going to act, then fine. But if he acted, he should have killed him. He made a move and still let him escape. If Danzo didn't do it on purpose, then he's truly somewhat too incompetent."
"Kakashi, don't blame me."
"Your father's death really had nothing to do with me."
"Danzo attacking you really wasn't my order either."
"The reason I manufactured a fake Kakashi was because there was no other choice. Sunagakure pushed things too far."
"If you must blame someone, then blame Sunagakure."
Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps sounded.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head.
"Who is it?"
"Me, Danzo!"
Danzo pushed open the door.
"Hiruzen, last time, you used the reason that I attacked Kakashi and killed him to strip me of my status as a village elder and abolish Root. Now you can return them to me, can't you?"
"Kakashi is still alive."
"That should prove that I never made a move, right?"
Danzo could no longer hold himself back.
The moment Kakashi's interview appeared in Ninja World Weekly, Danzo had hoped that Hiruzen Sarutobi would remove the punishment placed on him.
But Hiruzen had shown no reaction at all.
At that time, Danzo felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi was deliberately targeting him, and that Kakashi was only an excuse.
Danzo had cursed Hiruzen countless times behind his back.
And now, Danzo could no longer endure it.
Thus, he had taken the initiative to come to the Hokage Building, deciding to confront Hiruzen Sarutobi face-to-face and take back what belonged to him.
If Hiruzen still refused to give it back, Danzo had decided to retaliate.
After all these years, Danzo felt he had truly had enough.
He worked for Hiruzen Sarutobi. He worked for the village. He sought no fame, no profit, and blindly sacrificed himself.
Yet this was how he was treated?
It was far too unfair.
When Hiruzen needed him, he was called Hokage's assistant.
When Hiruzen did not need him, it became, "I am the Hokage."
Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head.
"Danzo, if you didn't act, then why would Kakashi leave Konoha?"
"In that interview, Kakashi himself said that he left because he was attacked and was saved by someone else."
"If the person who attacked him wasn't you, then who else could it be?"
"Other than you, who else would dare act without my orders?"
Danzo's eyes widened in fury. He pointed angrily at Hiruzen Sarutobi and was briefly unable to speak.
"And Danzo, if I remember correctly, you are still under confinement right now."
"I won't punish you this time. Return to the Shimura compound."
"Come find me again once you have truly reflected."
Danzo stomped his foot in anger.
"Hiruzen, you will regret this!"
After saying that, Danzo turned sharply and left.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned.
"Hm?"
An ANBU ninja arrived.
"Hokage-sama, a letter has come from Kumogakure. They hope to come to Konoha to discuss matters of cooperation. Also, they said their team is already on the way."