I, Uchiha: Split Konoha

Chapter 66 Kakashi's Guilt

Contrary to expectations, the underground research institute was not damp; instead, it was dry and bright, though there were a lot of winding, serpentine passages.

With a creak, the door to the research lab slowly opened, revealing a group of medical ninjas wearing protective masks busily working. Just then, a figure blocked the way for the newcomer.

"Lord Ye, the person behind you needs to sign a confidentiality agreement."

A guard wearing a protective mask respectfully stepped forward and extended his arm to stop them. Upon seeing this, Uchiha Yoru smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay."

"Kakashi, come and sign the confidentiality agreement."

The signing of confidentiality agreements is only required when entering a secret base within the village or attending a secret meeting. Kakashi Hatake was secretly shocked to see this scene, realizing that this was actually a secret research base within the village.

Although he was on a mission, he knew even better that if this were truly a private matter, he would never have been allowed in. Therefore, this place definitely belonged to the village's research base and was legitimate and legal.

If it were a private matter, let alone whether he could come, even if he could, he wouldn't sign a confidentiality agreement.

Jonin are qualified to participate in various secret activities within the village, and under certain circumstances, they can enter certain secret bases after signing a confidentiality agreement.

"Okay." Kakashi Hatake respectfully accepted the pen and scroll, and only after signing his name and leaving his fingerprint was he allowed to enter.

"Kakashi, Orochimaru-sensei is now affiliated with Root. Since you were in the Anbu, you should know this, so I won't say any more."

Leading Kakashi inside, Uchiha Yoru spoke with a relaxed smile, as if the two were close friends. Kakashi, deeply remembering his mission, feigned a look of confusion and casually asked, "So what are we researching here?"

In response to Kakashi's question, Uchiha Yoru gave an apologetic smile and waved his hand, saying, "I can't talk about the secrets of the research, but the rest aren't really secrets, so I can tell you."

"The research here focuses on cultivating limbs and organs to make limb and organ transplantation technology more mature, and even to achieve the goal of self-cultivation, so that we don't have to take action against death row inmates and spies."

At the Jonin level, limb and organ transplantation is no secret. After all, it would be a great pity if a Jonin lost a hand or an organ in battle, resulting in a non-combat casualty.

On the contrary, it is quite normal to find an organ or limb that also possesses chakra and does not cause rejection. Most spies, traitors, and death row inmates end up like this. Even during wartime, captured ninjas from enemy countries are targeted. After all, anyone would do the same if they cut off the enemy's flesh to nourish their own side.

However, these are all unspoken rules tacitly agreed upon by the five great nations of the ninja world, and they are never brought to the forefront. As for the other smaller nations, very few can achieve this level of technology.

Kakashi Hatake stared at the dazzling array of items in the base. Everywhere there were petri dishes containing arms, legs, and even hearts and other organs, suggesting that some cruel culture experiment was taking place there.

"Night, what are you doing?!"

At this moment, Kakashi Hatake fell silent, seemingly feeling that the other party was trying to drag him into the mess. After all, although he was a pure ninja, he wasn't stupid. How could he not see that the recent actions of the Seventh Police Division represented Orochimaru sending a signal to the village—a signal of Orochimaru's political intentions?

Kakashi's appearance was naturally noticed by Uchiha Yoru, who immediately gave him an apologetic smile. After looking around and finding that no one was paying attention to them, he slowed down and walked alongside Kakashi, whispering something in his ear.

"Kakashi, there's no other way. If you don't find a way to suppress your Sharingan, it will constantly drain your chakra. Under these circumstances, if you haven't adapted to the Sharingan, you'll be practically useless. Even if you do adapt, it will affect your future training."

Kakashi possesses a Sharingan that constantly consumes chakra, making it almost impossible for him to concentrate on training. It can be said that Kakashi's current training direction is almost singular: control!

A genius, dragged into the abyss by the Sharingan.

Especially at this age, which is the peak development period for every ninja, Kakashi almost stopped progressing because of the Sharingan.

Seeing Uchiha Yoru's apologetic smile, Kakashi felt a surge of warmth in his long-dormant heart, and he lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "Yoru, thank you."

"Hehe, Kakashi, don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you. Once your eye problem is solved, you won't have to worry about anything."

Uchiha Yoru smiled and nodded as if he were talking about his old classmate, as if to say that although they had only spent a short time at school, they still had feelings for each other.

Kakashi felt a pang of guilt. He never showed mercy to his enemies, not even to rogue ninjas from his own village, but this time he was going to use his own comrades.

At first, Kakashi thought his old classmate was trying to drag him into Orochimaru's faction, since he could see some things.

One is his name, Hatake. Eight years later, the reputation of White Fang still exists, especially since he became a Jonin at the age of twelve. These intangible things and connections may not mean much to ordinary ninjas, but they are very important to politicians.

He himself was also a genius ninja of Konoha, a twelve-year-old Jonin, which was enough to attract a number of young ninjas.

Kakashi's father, Sakumo Hatake's, reputation, being a student of the Fourth Hokage, and being a genius ninja himself—these three factors combined constitute a kind of unseen political accumulation. Whoever gets Kakashi will gain these three political investments.

Therefore, Kakashi believed that Uchiha Yoru wanted to drag him into this mess, but it doesn't seem to be the case right now.

"Don't say anything later, leave everything to me. Don't worry, Orochimaru-sensei isn't petty."

Uchiha Yoru winked at him, as if to say, "Let's take the benefits first, you don't need to worry about the rest."

However, in Kakashi's eyes, this scene gave him the feeling that the other party did not want him to get involved in this mess.

Kakashi Hatake's joining the 7th Police Division was ostensibly for two reasons: one, to recuperate; and two, to make a political investment. But like Inuzuka and Aburame, it was just a regular political investment.

The Uchiha and Hyuga clans, however, are somewhat different. They have already placed their bets on Orochimaru, making their stance clear.

Therefore, in Kakashi's eyes, Uchiha Yoru seemed to not want him to be completely involved in this mess, and it was precisely because of this that he felt even more guilty.

Next week is the fourth round of recommendations, and it's the most crucial week. Whether we advance or not depends entirely on you!

(End of this chapter)