"Is that... a Mangekyō?" As an Uchiha, Sasuke immediately recognized the origin of the crimson eyes in the container.
"Hehehe." Orochimaru let out a crazed laugh, a sinister glint flashing in his golden, slitted pupils. Kabuto, kneeling at his feet, could clearly sense Orochimaru's mood from his upward glance. It was a feeling of release from long-suppressed desires, the satisfaction of a long-hidden plan finally coming to fruition.
'Lord Orochimaru... is in an exceptionally good mood!' A white light reflected off Kabuto's glasses. He had handled the negotiations with the Akatsuki alone and knew the entire inside story. All of Orochimaru's research data had been traded for this pair of eyes from the former Uchiha clan head.
That's right. This Mangekyō Sharingan belonged to none other than Fugaku Uchiha!
Sasuke had only been four or five years old during the night of the massacre and was completely unaware that these were his father's eyes. Moreover, only Itachi and Obito had been involved in the entire operation. As part of their deal, Obito had taken most of the Sharingan, including this pair, which had already awakened the Mangekyō.
Amidst his wild laughter, Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with madness. None of them knew, not even Kabuto, that these eyes were the next step in his ambition to attain the ultimate Kekkei Genkai! Once the time was right, he, Orochimaru, would become the first person in the history of the ninja world to possess the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan as a non-Uchiha!
'Obito, oh Obito, don't think I don't know what you're researching. But some technologies aren't so easily mastered just by obtaining them. By the time you figure everything out, the landscape of the ninja world will be completely unrecognizable!'
It was now a race against time. In these hidden corners, unknown to Hatake Kusuo, the true undercurrents of the ninja world were beginning to churn. Beneath the tense and orderly battlefields, one conspirator's ambition was laid bare after another. Who was the player, and who was the piece on the board? The Uchiha clan's stone tablet, altered by Black Zetsu, was now, through Obito's deliberate actions, quietly spreading its influence throughout the ninja world...
"Big brother, my sister has been unconscious for so long. Why hasn't she woken up yet? Is something wrong?" Hanabi asked, hugging Hatake Kusuo's leg and looking up at him with wide, innocent, and worried eyes.
Hinata had been unconscious for over a month.
"It's alright. I check on Hinata's condition every day. Her vitals are very stable; there's no danger at all."
Though the words were perfectly normal, Hanabi's face suddenly blushed, and she shyly ran away. Hatake Kusuo was left completely bewildered. What, was he not even allowed to check on Hinata's health now?
Shaking his head with a wry smile, he walked into the living room and took his sword from the wooden rack.
"Kusuo-kun, are you going out on a mission again?" Shion came running over, her charming and affectionate eyes filled with a watery longing.
Hatake Kusuo smiled and gently ruffled her golden hair. "The ninja world is in chaos right now. I'm going out to verify some information and meet someone. You should stay here."
"Alright..." Hearing this, Shion pouted, rolling her beautiful eyes before walking away.
'That girl.' Hatake Kusuo touched the side of his waist where she had pinched him and let out a bitter laugh. The strength of a perfect Jinchuriki was truly astonishing... Even with his powerful body, Shion's pinch had actually hurt.
A moment later, Hatake Kusuo's expression turned cold. He took his sword and walked out the door.
Morino Ibiki had already become his exclusive research advisor, secretly recruiting talented medical-nin and researchers from both within the village and outside. After placing each of them under the Tongue-Cursing Eradication Technique, Kusuo had integrated them into Konoha's Anbu. That department was the most suitable place to advance research on Hashirama Cells and cloning technology.
However, his main purpose for leaving this time was to meet someone. An old friend, you could say.
He moved with the speed of a rushing fire, his sword at his side. A distance of a thousand meters passed in the blink of an eye. This was the physical enhancement he had gained after reaching an 80% synchronization rate. If Might Guy wasn't still defending the front lines in the Land of Demons, Kusuo would have sought him out to open the Seventh Gate for a close-quarters fight, just to see who was stronger.
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, the scenery blurred past him. Soon, Hatake Kusuo landed in a forest clearing.
"Come out. I can sense your breathing," Kusuo said loudly, his back to the woods and his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"Caw! Caw! Caw!" A murder of crows swirled through the air, gradually coalescing into a human figure. Beneath a calm, stoic face was a prominent tear trough.
It was Itachi Uchiha.
"Your body has fully recovered. In fact, it's even stronger. Your depleted visual prowess has also been completely restored," Hatake Kusuo stated, having instantly assessed Itachi's condition.
His words caused a flicker of change in Itachi's usually expressionless face. Though it was only for an instant, Kusuo caught it immediately.
"Your perception is remarkably sharp. No, this level of investigation is beyond the scope of sensory ninjutsu. Is it the Rinnegan?" Itachi asked calmly, seemingly trying to deduce the source of Kusuo's ability. However, after looking him over, he found no trace of the Rinnegan's aura.
"Don't waste your time. You won't be able to uncover my secrets," Kusuo said. "Now, tell me, why did you seek me out? If I recall correctly, your current status is still that of an S-rank rogue ninja of Konoha and a member of the Akatsuki. This means I could cut you down at any moment. If you think that recovering your body and visual prowess is enough to face me head-on, you are far too naive."
Swish!
With a single, horizontal slash, a terrifying wave of sword energy erupted, felling every tree within a hundred-meter radius. The cuts were perfectly smooth, like mirrors. To produce such a devastating attack, Hatake Kusuo had made only a simple drawing motion. The power was already this terrifying.
"You really do know what happened back then," Itachi said, his calm face showing no reaction to the power of the slash. After all, he had personally experienced even stronger sword energy before; this was nothing in comparison.
"I know," Hatake Kusuo replied bluntly, without any hesitation.
"I still remember what you said to me back then. And so, I've gradually come to agree with your way of thinking," Itachi said, his expression suddenly serious as he looked at Kusuo intently. "Obito transplanted Hashirama Cells into me and placed a jutsu on my heart that prevents me from taking my own life or revealing any information about his actions. Therefore, I cannot tell you what he is planning."
A crow suddenly appeared on Itachi's hand.
"However, I have recorded everything in this eye. Through it, you can learn all you need to know. This was once a gift from a dear friend. Now, I entrust it to you."
-------
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