As Itachi sensed the growing number of Root ninjas around him, his interest in continuing the conversation waned.
The killing intent in his heart slowly faded as well. Initially, he had planned to kill Danzo after questioning him and then fight his way out through the swarm of low-level ninjas. Alternatively, he considered compelling Danzo to commit suicide after issuing a final order, making him die a humiliating death akin to Shisui's.
However, the interrogation revealed that Konoha had deviated far from the script he had foreseen. The unexpected and incomprehensible developments left Itachi on edge, prompting him to reconsider his course of action. Ultimately, he decided to spare Danzo's life—for now.
Killing Danzo might bring him fleeting satisfaction, but keeping him alive served a greater purpose. By allowing Danzo to live, Itachi could monitor events in Konoha and have an insider—albeit unknowingly—feeding him information.
After all, using Kotoamatsukami, a visual jutsu with a cooldown of more than a decade, only for Danzo to die immediately would be a significant waste.
Besides, forcing Danzo to live a cautious, fear-filled life might be a torment in itself—a fitting punishment for someone like him.
---
Under the watchful eyes of the Root ninjas, Itachi, wearing his strange mask, strolled away confidently.
Even if Hiruzen Sarutobi had spies among the crowd, what could they do?
As Itachi departed, Danzo tactfully called all the Root members into a meeting.
The Root ninjas, initially full of suspicion, slowly let go of their doubts upon seeing Danzo's commanding presence and vigorous demeanor.
But little did they know that everything had already changed.
Now, with just a flick of a certain young man's hand, their once-indomitable leader would bow and submit, becoming nothing more than a puppet.
And they, in turn, were reduced to mere pawns in someone else's game.
---
"Itachi, you really surprised me. I thought something had happened to you."
As Itachi emerged from the cave, Orochimaru's voice echoed from behind him.
His tone carried genuine concern, revealing that if Itachi hadn't reappeared soon, Orochimaru might have barged in himself.
Had it not been for the powerful chakra fluctuations inside, which didn't escalate into a fight, Orochimaru might not have held back this long.
"Orochimaru, you're incredible..."
Itachi glanced at Orochimaru, his expression one of sincere admiration.
After all, without Orochimaru's Root mask, none of this would have been possible.
From the gatekeeper's tone alone, it was evident that Orochimaru had long made preparations.
Even without Itachi, Orochimaru might have already laid plans to deal with Danzo, plotting meticulously with contingency measures in place.
---
"Heh, Itachi, your praise is quite flattering," Orochimaru responded, his tone steady, unaffected by the compliment. He wasn't a child, after all.
Faced with Orochimaru's calm demeanor, Itachi fell silent. For a moment, he didn't know what to say, finding himself at a rare loss for words.
"So, Itachi, did you get what you wanted? Did you acquire the Mangekyo Sharingan?"
Seeing Itachi's silence, Orochimaru asked softly, his curiosity piqued by what might have transpired inside.
"Mm, thanks to you, I managed to obtain the Mangekyo Sharingan without much trouble."
Itachi didn't hide the truth in his response, though he left out the details of how it all happened.
"That's good to hear. So, should we head back to the base now, or do you want to linger in Konoha for a while?"
Orochimaru relaxed slightly upon hearing Itachi's confirmation. Suppressing his curiosity about Itachi's newfound power, he changed the subject with a question.
His tone made it sound as if they were strolling through a garden, completely disregarding their status as intruders.
---
"Do you know where Naruto lives?"
Ignoring Orochimaru's suggestion, Itachi posed a question of his own, seemingly unaware of the implications.
"Naruto? Are you talking about the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki?"
Orochimaru was momentarily puzzled by the unfamiliar name but quickly pieced it together. If Itachi mentioned someone, they must be significant. After a moment's thought, he recalled the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki boy named Naruto.
"Yes. You're planning to form your own village, aren't you? The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is a valuable asset. Aren't you tempted?"
Itachi teased, half-serious, in response to Orochimaru's confusion.
"Itachi, that's not something to joke about. While Konoha may be in decline, targeting the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would be unwise."
Orochimaru's voice turned serious as he elaborated:
"Not to mention the challenge of evading Konoha's pursuit and successfully taking the Jinchuriki.
"Even if we managed to bring him back, we couldn't openly display him. Once exposed, our village would face Konoha's wrath, and other villages would intervene to claim the Jinchuriki for themselves. Such actions might even spark the Fourth Great Ninja War, leading to complete annihilation."
Orochimaru wasn't sure whether Itachi was joking or serious based on his tone.
So, he could only carefully analyze the pros and cons to dissuade Itachi from his idea.
At the same time, a white-haired figure appeared in his mind.
This Naruto wasn't just the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki—it came with a complex web of connections.
...
Hearing Orochimaru's words, Itachi thought for a moment and agreed that Orochimaru had a point.
Moreover, if they were to establish a village, Orochimaru wouldn't be hiding in the shadows as before. Instead, he would have to operate openly.
Once a village was established, it would face scrutiny from other villages and become a hotbed for espionage.
Bringing Naruto back would be impossible to keep secret unless they locked him up.
"Alright, alright, I was just joking."
Orochimaru's reasoning quelled the mischievous thought in Itachi's mind.
Originally, after what Hiruzen Sarutobi pulled, Itachi had entertained the idea of giving him a taste of his own medicine.
"You manipulated my brother Sasuke; I'll steal your precious Naruto."
Then he'd whisk Sasuke away as well, leaving Sarutobi with nothing but empty hands.
It was a beautiful idea, but reality is often disappointing.
In the original story, Sasuke's defection was already a major event. If it were Naruto instead, he probably wouldn't have even had a few carefree days before being captured and subjected to intensive re-education.
After all, the stakes were different. When Sasuke defected in the original story, Konoha wasn't willing to expend significant resources to bring him back. But the Nine-Tails? That was a whole different story.
...
"By the way, Itachi, aren't you going to visit Sasuke? He's your younger brother, after all."
Hearing Orochimaru's question, Itachi sighed slightly with relief but couldn't help smirking.
The two continued walking without stopping.
"You already know the answer to that. You must have Sasuke's information, don't you?"
In response to Orochimaru's teasing, Itachi plucked a low-hanging tree branch and fiddled with it in his hands, answering with a hint of frustration.
"I always thought someone capable of wiping out their entire clan would be cold-hearted. But the more I've interacted with you, the more it seems like there's a hidden reason behind it—or perhaps you had no other choice?"
As Orochimaru spent more time with Itachi, he began to understand parts of his personality. Bringing up Sasuke in their conversation, he decided to test the waters with a probing question.
Orochimaru had already defected from Konoha long before the Uchiha clan's downfall, so he wasn't clear on the details.
For things he didn't understand, Orochimaru avoided making baseless assumptions. If he was curious, he preferred to find the answers himself.
"Curiosity killed the cat. Knowing too much isn't always a good thing."
Orochimaru's question brought back a flood of memories and emotions for Itachi—his confusion in his previous life, his deep love for the village, and his powerlessness against overwhelming odds.
If he had transmigrated into this world back then, perhaps he might have tried convincing Shisui to take a stand against Konoha in a fight to the death. With three Susano'o wielders, their power and deterrence could have ensured a safe retreat.
Then again, Shisui, who was so devoted to the village, might have used Kotoamatsukami on him out of fear or ideological conflict. It wasn't entirely impossible. After all, Itachi wasn't the only one who loved the village—Shisui did too.
Perhaps this was the fundamental difference between himself and his previous incarnation: different perspectives, different priorities, and different values.
But without knowing the "script" of events, how much could he have truly accomplished?
Thinking about this, Itachi felt a deep sense of melancholy.
"Heh..."
Sensing Itachi's despondency, Orochimaru chuckled softly, finding the situation rather amusing.
It was the first time he had seen such an emotion from Itachi.
---
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