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***
"Tsunade-sama is truly worthy of being the world's greatest medical-nin."
After getting used to it, Itachi Uchiha could sense that his body, which hadn't undergone training for two years, showed no signs of sluggishness.
On the contrary, he had just discerned through his Sharingan that his physique was even stronger than it had been two years ago.
A person's physique generally doesn't change easily, but Itachi's was still in a state of growth.
For two years, Shizune had daily injected him with medication specially formulated by Tsunade.
Over time, Itachi's physique had gradually improved.
"But after such a long period of not training, my reflexes must have been quite a bit slower."
Itachi hadn't fully recovered yet, but he was already anticipating the potential of this improved seven-year-old body.
He had graduated from the ninja academy at this age in his previous life.
However, Itachi wasn't so anxious now.
Two years ago, the masked man's plan had failed, drawing the attention of the Five Great Ninja Nations.
For a long time, he wouldn't be able to cause much trouble.
Yet Itachi was still eager to meet with the Fourth Hokage alone, for there was still something he needed to tell him.
It was the defection of Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Sannin.
Itachi hadn't seen him since his rebirth, his mind preoccupied with dealing with the masked man's attack on the village, so he hadn't revealed much of the past to Minato Namikaze.
Itachi hadn't anticipated the two years he'd spent in a coma.
During those two years, Orochimaru must have begun his human experiments.
Orochimaru was a dangerous man, having killed the Fourth Kazekage, initiated the Konoha Collapse Plan, and attempted to destroy Konoha, resulting in the death of the Third Hokage in his previous life.
In a previous conversation with his parents, Itachi had briefly inquired about the village's events over the past two years, and from this, he concluded that Orochimaru hadn't yet defected.
"Mom and Dad are both here. We can't leave."
Itachi looked at Mikoto Uchiha, who slept in the hospital bed holding Sasuke Uchiha, and Fugaku Uchiha, who leaned against the wall with his eyes closed.
They appeared to be asleep, but any movement from him would surely wake them.
Just as Itachi was lost in thought, pondering something about Orochimaru, he suddenly heard a flurry of noises in the hallway outside the ward.
The noise suggested someone was being rushed to the emergency room at the end of the hallway, having sustained serious injuries.
He hadn't paid much attention until he heard a raspy female voice:
"Orochimaru-sensei, why?!"
"Anko Mitarashi?"
Itachi was slightly startled.
As far as he knew, she was Orochimaru's only disciple.
Hearing Anko's distressed voice, Itachi's eyes narrowed slightly, and he immediately got out of bed and opened the door.
He looked toward the emergency room.
A purple-haired girl lay on an emergency bed, surrounded by several medical staff and Konoha ninjas.
Anko, seemingly unconscious, looked like she was struggling in pain.
As she moved her head from side to side, a black mark on her neck was revealed.
"Cursed Seal!?"
Itachi recognized the black mark on Anko's neck as the Cursed Seal developed by Orochimaru.
Because Sasuke had also been inflicted with this curse by Orochimaru in his previous life, Itachi had specifically gathered information about it.
The essence of this so-called Cursed Seal was actually similar to the sage power wielded by Jiraiya, one of the Sannin.
"Could it be?"
Itachi's eyes widened at the sight of what was happening to Anko.
"What's wrong?"
As Itachi's expression changed drastically, Fugaku, also awakened by the noise, stood behind Itachi, his eyes also glancing toward the emergency room.
Anko was being wheeled into the ER by medical staff.
"It seems someone's seriously injured," Itachi said, frowning.
"Isn't that little girl a disciple of Orochimaru?"
Fugaku's perceptiveness was naturally superior to Itachi's, and his expression was slightly surprised.
Not long after, medical staff rushed out of the ER.
A few minutes later, Tsunade hurried down the hallway, her face solemn.
Without even a moment to greet Fugaku or Itachi, she hurried into the ER.
Swish!
At this moment, an ANBU wearing a strange mask suddenly appeared at the window of Itachi's hospital room.
The appearance of the ANBU also woke up Mikoto, and Fugaku and Itachi turned to look at the window.
"Uchiha clan leader, the Hokage has summoned you for an important matter. Please go to the Hokage Building immediately," the ANBU said.
"I understand."
Fugaku had already vaguely sensed the urgency of the situation.
He gave Itachi and Mikoto instructions and immediately set off with the ANBU to the Hokage Building.
"What on earth happened? Why is Minato so anxious?"
Mikoto frowned, but Sasuke was not awakened by the noise.
"Is it too late?"
Itachi muttered to himself.
He had originally planned to find a chance to sneak out of Konoha Hospital tomorrow and tell the Fourth Hokage about Orochimaru.
But judging by the current situation, perhaps Orochimaru had already defected, he thought.
Swish!
Ten minutes later, Minato and Fugaku suddenly appeared in Itachi's hospital room.
"Sorry to bother you," Minato said to Itachi and Mikoto, then immediately walked out the door and headed for the emergency room.
Fugaku followed.
"Honey, what happened?"
Mikoto asked, looking at Fugaku's back.
Fugaku paused, glanced sideways, and said, "Orochimaru defected!"
"As expected!"
Although he had expected this, the moment it was confirmed, Itachi's eyes grew even more serious.
"What!?"
Mikoto was shocked.
With that, Fugaku stepped out of the hospital room, and Itachi followed closely behind.
Fugaku entered the emergency room. Itachi didn't follow him in, but the door remained open.
Itachi watched from outside.
Anko lay on the treatment table, seemingly unharmed.
Minato, examining her, placed his palm on her forehead.
After a moment, he withdrew his hand and formed a seal.
He placed his palm on Anko's neck, creating a faint pattern of lines in his palm.
Gradually, a frown formed on Minato's face.
Beside him, Tsunade asked in a heavy voice: "Can't even you break the restriction left by Orochimaru?"
"If it's just a simple restriction, it's not difficult to remove it."
Minato lowered his eyelids and said, "But once I break the restriction, it will trigger the sealed power in Anko's neck."
"I've never seen such a technique before, and I just sensed a subtle fluctuation of senjutsu chakra from it."
"Once the power of senjutsu explodes, her life will be in danger."
Tsunade's face was furious, and she said angrily: "Double restriction! It seems that Orochimaru has been preparing for this day for a long time!"
...
"How pitiful... They treat their own disciple like this."
Just as everyone was enraged by the double restrictions Orochimaru had placed on Anko Mitarashi, threatening her life at any moment, Shizune furrowed her beautiful brows, her eyes filled with sympathy as she looked at the purple-haired girl.
Outside, Itachi Uchiha, after hearing this information, had come to a conclusion.
According to the history he knew, Orochimaru was discovered by the Third Hokage while conducting human experiments.
Unable to bear the thought of parting with his most prized disciple, the Third allowed Orochimaru to escape.
However, since the Fourth Hokage had survived, the details of Orochimaru's defection had clearly changed.
At the treatment table, Minato Namikaze's hand seals shifted, placing a temporary seal on Anko's neck.
"I will first seal this potentially life-threatening technique. The restrictions on her will also be added to the seal," Minato said with a dark look.
Even if he couldn't get any information about Orochimaru from Anko, he couldn't let her life be threatened.
"I'll come back to break the restriction in three days."
For Minato, who mastered the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, breaking this double restriction wasn't particularly difficult.
The real challenge was how to avoid disturbing the senjutsu chakra in the Cursed Seal during the process.
"It was my negligence."
Minato's eyes were filled with murderous intent.
He had learned about Orochimaru's human experiments not long ago.
"Apart from the restriction, her injuries are almost healed."
Tsunade noticed that Shizune was very concerned about Anko, and her expression softened slightly.
"Take good care of her for the next two days."
"Yes," Shizune nodded in response.
"But if that happens, the clue to tracking Orochimaru will be cut off," Fugaku Uchiha said in a heavy voice.
"Then just issue a wanted order. The clues aren't necessarily completely cut off."
Just as Minato finished speaking, an ANBU stepped past Itachi and approached him from outside the door, saying, "Hokage-sama, the Aburame clan leader and the squad leader have already set out."
"Shibi Aburame?"
Itachi muttered to himself.
The Aburame clan leader was an expert in gathering intelligence.
During the Third Shinobi World War, he provided intelligence to the Konoha forces, allowing Konoha to seize the upper hand numerous times.
"I understand. Immediately issue an S-rank wanted order to the ninja world for the capture of the traitor Orochimaru!"
Minato's voice slammed down, clearly unwilling to let Orochimaru go.
Even though he knew that with Orochimaru's abilities, once he left Konoha, even with Shibi's presence, the chances of finding him were slim.
"Yes!" the ANBU replied, quickly leaving.
The people in the emergency room also gradually emerged.
Minato spotted Itachi standing in the hallway, his tense expression relaxing slightly.
"You look like you're recovering well," he said.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama," Itachi nodded to Tsunade, who stood beside Minato.
Tsunade waved casually and hurried off.
Just then, Fugaku approached.
"Go back and get some rest."
Fugaku had, of course, noticed Itachi following him.
Orochimaru's defection had quickly spread throughout the ninja world and was no longer a secret.
"I see," Itachi replied.
"Brother, Father, what are you doing?"
Behind them, Sasuke Uchiha, awakened by the noise from the hospital, stood outside the ward and looked over.
Fugaku glanced over at the sound.
Taking this opportunity, Itachi looked at Minato and said, "Hokage-sama, Naruto and Aunt Kushina weren't woken by this, were they?"
"Huh?"
Minato paused, his gaze fixed on Itachi, a serious look evident, as if he had something to say.
"No," Minato replied.
Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha were both here, so Itachi could only communicate with Minato in this way.
"Then I'll be leaving first."
Minato said to Fugaku and Mikoto, who had also left the ward, and left in an instant.
Orochimaru's defection had attracted the attention of the entire village's ninjas, so as the head of the Uchiha clan, Fugaku certainly couldn't sit idle and left the hospital.
"Mom, the hospital is too noisy. You should take Sasuke home to sleep. I'll be fine," Itachi looked at Mikoto and Sasuke and said.
Mikoto was reluctant at first, but when she saw that Itachi was indeed fine, she took Sasuke back to the Uchiha clan.
Swish!
Not long after Sasuke and Mikoto left, a figure leaped in from the window and stood before Itachi.
It was Minato.
As soon as Minato appeared, he formed hand seals with his hands and gently pressed them against the wall.
From his palm, a barrier pattern spread out, enveloping the entire room.
"This barrier will block out any sound from within. If you have anything to say, speak to this shadow clone of mine."
The entire village was shaken by Orochimaru's defection, so it was only one of Minato's shadow clones who came to see Itachi.
However, the shadow clones could transmit gathered intelligence back to the original master.
It was just a conversation, and there was no difference between the original master and the clone.
Itachi's expression immediately turned apologetic.
"I actually knew about Orochimaru's defection from the beginning."
"It was my negligence not to tell you."
Minato had guessed this from seeing Itachi's expression.
He shook his head and said, "It's not your fault. As the Hokage, I didn't notice the unusual movements in time, which allowed Orochimaru to successfully defect. It's my responsibility."
"When did you find out that Orochimaru was conducting human experiments?"
This was exactly what Itachi wanted to know: how Orochimaru could conduct human experiments under the Fourth Hokage's nose and still escape.
Minato's voice dropped.
"This guy set up his experiments outside the village during one of his missions. From what I've heard, for the past year and a half, every time he went out, it was probably to conduct those so-called human experiments."
"And it seems his subjects were provided by others, which is why the village didn't discover him until now."
"I see," Itachi nodded.
This was completely different from the history he knew.
Apparently, with the Fourth Hokage still alive, Orochimaru didn't dare conduct his own experiments in Konoha, let alone openly select test subjects from within the village as he later did.
After exchanging some information about Orochimaru's defection, the two men discussed the masked man's attack two years ago.
Itachi asked, "You fought Madara back then, didn't you?"
Minato nodded, but his next words sent a wave of shock through Itachi.
"That masked man's abilities are indeed formidable, but his true identity couldn't possibly be Uchiha Madara!"
....
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