Mastermind of the Akatsuki

Deidara, a genius youth from Iwagakure, mastered the secret technique of Explosion Release at a young age. With this ability, he could craft various bombs from clay and even achieve the power of flight. 

If all had gone as expected, Deidara might have married Kurotsuchi and paved his way to becoming the Fourth Tsuchikage. 

However, fate played a cruel trick on him. During a rebellious escapade to avoid confinement, Deidara encountered an Uchiha who would alter his destiny forever. 

After losing to Itachi Uchiha, Deidara joined the Akatsuki, severing any ties to the position of Tsuchikage. 

Pulling his wandering thoughts back, Byakuya resumed gathering other critical pieces of information, such as the economic state of Iwagakure and its recent policies. 

Although these details lacked immediate tactical value, their strategic significance was undeniable. 

Kabuto nodded, recounting his observations from within Iwagakure. By the end of the briefing, Byakuya had a clear understanding of the village's current condition. 

After five years of recuperation and recovery, Iwagakure had not yet returned to its peak strength from before the Third Great Ninja War. Still, its power could not be underestimated as it retained the capacity to ignite a new conflict. 

Instructing Konan to document the intelligence, Byakuya fixed his gaze on Kabuto and asked, "Kabuto, has Danzo assigned any new tasks recently?" 

Hearing Byakuya mention Danzo, Konan paused in mild surprise. 

She was no stranger to that name. Danzo, a high-ranking official of Konohagakure and an enemy of the Akatsuki, was infamous. That Byakuya had managed to plant a spy within Danzo's Root organization astounded her. 

Nevertheless, Konan harbored no objections to Byakuya's infiltration tactics. 

Danzo and Jiraiya, her former teacher, were political adversaries. Danzo's collusion with Hanzō years ago had nearly wiped out the Akatsuki. Were it not for his constant presence within Konoha, they might have sent someone to assassinate him long ago. 

Kabuto extended his tongue, revealing the small but unmistakable Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal. 

This unique mark, a signature curse of Root, prevented its bearers from leaking information. 

It was this very seal on Kabuto that barred him from divulging Root's secrets. 

After a moment of contemplation, Byakuya formed hand seals and pressed them onto Kabuto's shoulder. Kabuto felt a surge of chakra flow through him, and the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal was dispelled. 

Realizing this, Kabuto's gaze toward Byakuya filled with admiration. 

Byakuya-sama's abilities exceeded his expectations. Even a high-level seal like the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal was no match for him. 

Noticing Kabuto's expression, Byakuya chuckled. "The Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal is derived from Uzumaki sealing techniques. Breaking it is no challenge for me." 

"Now, tell me about Root and Danzo. What's Danzo been up to recently?" 

Kabuto hesitated before replying, "Byakuya-sama, I haven't returned to Root in a long time. I'm unaware of its current situation. After completing this mission, I'll be able to provide you with more detailed information." 

"What mission?" 

Byakuya's eyes flickered with interest. He had a hunch about Kabuto's assignment but feigned curiosity. 

Kabuto answered without hesitation, "It's a mission to eliminate a traitor. A Root spy embedded in Iwagakure has turned rogue, and Danzo has tasked me with taking care of him." 

As expected, Byakuya thought. He retrieved a water bottle and handed it to Kabuto. "Do you have any information or evidence about this traitor's defection?" 

Taking the bottle, Kabuto shook his head. "Danzo didn't provide any intelligence. He only instructed me to seize the opportunity during the next rendezvous to deal with the traitor. Byakuya-sama, do you think there's something suspicious about this mission?" 

"Of course, there's an issue," Byakuya analyzed calmly. "If this traitor had genuinely betrayed Konoha, Danzo would have given you the necessary information. Instead, he told you nothing." 

He paused before continuing, "Moreover, this Root ninja's mission was the same as yours: gathering intelligence in the Land of Earth. You've never interacted before, which in itself is suspicious. Unless Danzo anticipated the betrayal from the beginning and deliberately assigned you to eliminate them." 

Kabuto fell into deep thought as he listened to Byakuya's reasoning before he quickly grasped the gravity of the situation. 

Being naturally perceptive, Kabuto soon realized the severity of the matter. Based on Byakuya-sama's analysis, Danzo's mission was riddled with suspicious points. 

Either Danzo intended to use Kabuto to deal with a ninja who had shown disloyalty to him, or—more troublingly—the so-called traitor to be eliminated was Kabuto himself. Otherwise, Danzo would have provided sufficient information, at the very least specifying the target of the mission. 

The thought sent a chill down Kabuto's spine. He turned to Byakuya and said earnestly, "Thank you for the warning, Byakuya-sama. Without your insight, I might have fallen into Danzo's trap." 

Byakuya smiled and helped Kabuto to his feet. "Kabuto, I value your talents greatly. Why would I let you come to harm? Your future holds far more than just this." 

Kabuto couldn't understand why Byakuya treated him so kindly, but he remained deeply grateful. 

Without Byakuya's covert support, the orphanage run by the director would have collapsed long ago, and the other children raised there would never have had the chance to lead normal lives. 

After a brief pause, Kabuto asked, "Byakuya-sama, what should I do next? Should I continue the mission or leave with you?" 

"Carry on with the mission," Byakuya replied. "I want to see exactly who Danzo is targeting." 

"Yes, Byakuya-sama." Kabuto nodded. With Byakuya's guidance, even if the Root traitor turned out to be as skilled as an elite jōnin, there was no need to fear. 

Still, a sense of foreboding crept into Kabuto's mind. He had a dreadful hunch about the identity of the target. 

--- 

After meeting with Kabuto, Byakuya and Konan lingered near Iwagakure for several days. 

While some intelligence could be gathered through hearsay, certain truths required on-site investigation. Byakuya didn't necessarily plan to take action against Iwagakure, but since it was Ōnoki's domain, it was prudent to prepare. 

One night, Kabuto contacted Byakuya for another meeting. 

Upon regrouping, the trio headed to the location where Kabuto was supposed to meet the Root traitor. 

The meeting spot was a secret training ground near Iwagakure. Normally off-limits as a restricted area, it served as the perfect rendezvous point. 

Half an hour later, a shadowy figure wearing a straw hat appeared in the training ground's dimly lit corner. 

The individual's chakra signature revealed traces of a Transformation Jutsu, and their movements down the cliffside were practiced and precise. 

Sensing the person's chakra, Byakuya turned to the anxious Kabuto and remarked with a knowing smile, "Kabuto, so this is who Danzo wants you to handle. That old bitch hasn't changed a bit—still as ruthless as ever."