"Heroes arise from every corner of the world. Don't underestimate anyone," Itachi said calmly in response to Orochimaru's comment.
"The strength of the spirit is not something superficial. It's tied to willpower. If you experiment on ordinary people or low-level ninjas, the success rate will naturally be negligible," he added, his tone steady.
Itachi's words, though softly spoken, carried an earth-shattering weight, opening the door to an entirely new realm of possibilities. This field, however, seemed to vary greatly from person to person.
"Itachi, you seem to hold Kakashi in high regard. If what you say is true, then even if you can implant Hashirama's cells, I wouldn't be surprised. After all, your abilities are already beyond my comprehension. But Kakashi… While talented, his potential seems..." Orochimaru trailed off, shifting the conversation toward Kakashi.
"First, give him the Uchiha clan's bloodline, then infuse him with Hashirama's cells. The success rate will be at least 80%. Don't hesitate," Orochimaru suggested.
Itachi didn't respond directly but instead spoke with quiet confidence.
"Kakashi may often lose his way in life and indulge in frivolous, trivial books, but when it comes to willpower, his resolve is unparalleled. After all, he's Kakashi of the 'fifty-fifty split.' Especially now, having rediscovered his faith, his willpower is even stronger—unyielding and determined."
"Alright, but if things go wrong, don't blame me," Orochimaru replied with a faint smile, seemingly swayed by Itachi's unwavering confidence.
If Kakashi's experiment succeeded, Orochimaru's own techniques would advance significantly, eliminating many longstanding obstacles in his research.
"Don't worry about that. Just get it done. By the way, how's the progress on acquiring the Shikotsumyaku bloodline limit that I requested?" Itachi asked, shifting the topic to something he wanted.
Whether it was the Shikotsumyaku or the Byakugan, Itachi intended to integrate them into himself in the future. However, that would have to wait until the Hashirama cell fusion was complete. Things needed to be done step by step.
"The Shikotsumyaku bloodline limit still needs time. I haven't perfected the experiments yet," Orochimaru responded softly to Itachi's inquiry.
"Alright," Itachi replied, slightly disappointed.
Though his current power was already formidable, he felt it lacked balance. His taijutsu was somewhat lagging behind. Incorporating the Shikotsumyaku would address this gap, refining and enhancing his physical abilities.
Despite his impressive strength, Itachi remained humble, driven by a thirst for knowledge, as evident from his relentless study of the Scroll of Seals.
"Itachi, how long do you plan to stay here this time? Should I keep you company?" Orochimaru asked, smiling at Itachi's momentary disappointment.
"No need. Go take care of Kakashi properly. We're both grown men—there's no need for company," Itachi retorted, half-jokingly.
"Alright, I'll get him settled, then I can finally catch up on some sleep," Orochimaru replied seriously.
After a meal together, Itachi returned to his former residence. He began reviewing the notes and details of the Flying Thunder God Technique, preparing for initial research into its application.
If all else failed, Itachi had a backup plan: he would visit the Land of Whirlpools, retrieve the mask, and perform some nerve-wracking maneuvers to reanimate Minato Namikaze using the Edo Tensei. He would hold Naruto hostage while seeking guidance from the legendary master of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
As a side bonus, he could also reunite the father and son.
Of course, this was just one of Itachi's mischievous musings. Many individuals deserved respect; he couldn't truly stoop to such measures.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
After another meal together, Orochimaru and Itachi arranged for Kakashi to undergo the procedure.
Seeing Itachi's composed demeanor, Kakashi's apprehension about the future lessened considerably.
"Lord Orochimaru, I leave everything in your hands…"
Seeing the strange glint in Orochimaru's eyes, Kakashi couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.
But when he thought of Obito waiting for him to rescue him and Rin waiting to be brought back to life, everything else seemed insignificant.
After all, there's nothing in this world more terrifying than confronting the memories buried deep in one's heart.
Right now, he could even face those memories head-on. What else could possibly scare him?
...
Watching Kakashi being taken away and seeing the light in Orochimaru's eyes, Itachi returned to his room and began a deep analysis of the Flying Thunder God technique.
This time, he wasn't fighting alone.
With his drastically transformed body, he used his cheat-like abilities.
Four shadow clones joined him in this sacred evolution.
...
As Itachi focused, time flew by quickly.
Compared to Minato's isolated and painstaking three-year effort to develop the A-rank, no-seal ninjutsu Rasengan…
Itachi absorbed the wisdom of his predecessors, stood on the shoulders of giants, and added modern inspirations and insights from the 21st century to tackle the Flying Thunder God—a technique on a game-breaking level.
Before he realized it, Itachi had spent half a year secluded in his room.
By now, he was already 15 years old…
If not for the fact that someone delivered meals to him daily and confirmed he was still alive, even Orochimaru might have suspected that Itachi had died of overexertion.
But seeing that Itachi was preoccupied, Orochimaru remained absorbed in his own work.
Kakashi had already been injected with the serum and was currently undergoing a transformation to integrate the Uchiha clan's bloodline, creating a bloodline that would perfectly suit him.
Meanwhile, Orochimaru was tinkering with Hashirama's cells, preparing for the nerve-wracking procedure he planned to perform after Kakashi's transformation was complete.
...
In his room, Itachi closed his eyes. His shadow clones continued, as always, to share their memories and insights with him at the end of each day.
With access to the Tsukuyomi realm, where space and time felt so close at hand, he wasn't completely in the dark.
"My sensory perception is lacking… Flying Thunder God doesn't just require spatial talent—it also needs exceptional sensory abilities…"
Itachi opened his eyes, massaging his furrowed brow as he muttered to himself.
With Sage Mode, his sensory abilities were decent, but in his normal state, they were subpar…
"Well, no matter. Theoretical knowledge is complete. Tomorrow, it's time to put it into practice."
Lying on his comfortable bed, Itachi stared at the ceiling.
The preparation phase was done. It was time to take action…
Sensory perception is often a matter of innate talent—just like Tobirama and that monster-level Nine-Tails.
Of course, there were ways to compensate.
Whether it was the Senju or Uzumaki clan's unique physiques, both had a high likelihood of possessing this passive talent.
Combined with certain sensory ninjutsu, it was possible to transform from an amateur into a true master.
...
...