Chapter 41: Uchiha-like Speechlessness
The two of them had been fighting intensely, but just as Uchiha Itachi was about to launch another attack, Takahashi quickly held up a hand to stop him.
"Enough. I won't fight anymore. There's no point in this," Takahashi said, shaking his head. "If I hit you too hard and seriously hurt you, I'd feel bad. But if I hold back and you end up hurting me, I'd feel even worse. So, I'm done fighting."
Uchiha Itachi didn't understand what Takahashi meant. He had no idea that his true identity and the secrets of his past were already known to the others.
They were still standing off against each other when a new voice cut through the tension, interrupting their battle.
It was Orochimaru. He had returned, and his face was a picture of pure shock. When he had left, everything was fine. Now, he came back to find his base looking like a battlefield. It was as if someone had done the cleanup for him, in the worst way possible.
Even Sasuke was stunned. For a second, he wondered if he had come to the wrong place. This couldn't be Orochimaru's secret base.
Dead bodies were scattered everywhere. Orochimaru himself couldn't figure out who he had offended to deserve this.
But this was still his home, his territory. So, he gathered his courage and insisted on going inside to see the full damage.
When he came back out, his expression was even darker. The inside was far worse. He saw the bodies of Guren and Kabuto.
These two had been his most useful followers, chosen after a long and difficult search. He never expected them to die like this, so easily.
And there, in the middle of the destruction, were Uchiha Itachi and Takahashi, still facing each other. A terrible anger boiled up inside Orochimaru.
This is my home. My home! he thought, his rage growing. They killed all of my people, and now they're having a fight inside my own house? They can't bully someone like this!
His face twisted in fury. He had spent so many years building this operation, and now it was all ruined. This was something no one could accept.
When Uchiha Itachi saw Orochimaru, his focus shifted completely. It was like a superhero spotting his greatest enemy. And with Sasuke standing right there, his jealousy and hatred burned even brighter.
Uchiha Itachi suddenly let out a cruel, cold laugh. He looked like a real villain, and his acting was very convincing.
"It seems that after all this time away, you still haven't grown up," Itachi said, his voice dripping with contempt. "You really are a disappointment. You can't bear the glory of the Uchiha name. I will never acknowledge someone who can't even awaken the Sharingan."
Then, Sasuke looked straight at him and activated his Sharingan. His eyes swirled with the familiar tomoe pattern.
The scene became incredibly awkward. A heavy silence fell over the room. Uchiha Itachi's face showed pure confusion. Why was this happening?
After the long, embarrassing silence, Itachi seemed to be struggling to find the right words to say next.
"So what if you have the Sharingan?" he finally said, trying to sound dismissive. "A waste like you is still not worthy of our Uchiha clan. You and Orochimaru can die together here."
"Okay," Sasuke replied calmly.
Uchiha Itachi: ? ? ? ?
Why was this so different from the script he had imagined? In his plan, after Sasuke saw him, his little brother should be burning with hatred. He should be grinding his teeth, wishing he could tear Itachi into a thousand pieces. It shouldn't be this quiet and agreeable.
He even thought he saw a trace of pity and sadness in Sasuke's eyes. Uchiha Itachi was completely lost. What was going on? Could his acting really be that bad?
Then, Sasuke's eyes filled with tears.
"Brother... I know the truth now," Sasuke said, his voice thick with emotion. "I know the burden you carry for Konoha. When I saw Danzo's arm, covered in Sharingan, I understood. I know who truly bears the deep hatred of our Uchiha clan. I know how much you have suffered and how wronged you have been."
He took a shaky breath. "But it's a good thing I found out in time. We don't have to be enemies anymore. As long as we brothers work together, we can destroy Konoha. Orochimaru has already told me about your organization. Let me join you. I won't hold you back, I promise."
After hearing this, Uchiha Itachi felt a strange mix of emotions. What had been the point of all his hard work and sacrifice?
But after thinking about it for a long moment, he decided to agree. Now that Sasuke knew the truth, there was no hiding it. Perhaps it was better this way. It would change his plans, and having Sasuke by his side might mean fewer chances for his brother to train, but it would also keep him safer.
Then, Itachi turned his fierce gaze back to Orochimaru.
"You will remove the Cursed Seal from Sasuke," he commanded. "If you don't, I will kill you."
His words were simple and direct. He didn't unleash a powerful killing intent, but no one in the room doubted that Uchiha Itachi meant every word.
The person suffering the most in all of this was Orochimaru himself. He felt like the whole world was against him. If he weren't already a villain, this might have been enough to turn him into one.
But under the pressure of the situation and the threat to his life, he had no choice but to compromise.
"My arms are sealed now," Orochimaru explained, holding up his useless, bandaged limbs. "These temporary hands will take some time to remove a seal of that level."
Uchiha Itachi found this reasonable. If Orochimaru could have done it instantly, that would have been more suspicious.
With that matter settled for now, there was no immediate need to kill Orochimaru. Although Uchiha Itachi's hands were stained with the blood of countless people, at his core, he was not a cruel man. He would not kill without a purpose.
Before he left, Itachi gave Sasuke an address. As soon as the Cursed Seal was removed, Sasuke could go there to find him. Even if Itachi wasn't there, Sasuke could still use it to make contact and join the Akatsuki organization.
Takahashi watched Orochimaru for a moment, then suddenly remembered Kimimaro, whom he had let go earlier.
"How is Kimimaro?" Takahashi asked.
Orochimaru was taken aback by the question. "Didn't you kill him?"
"If I had killed him, do you think I would be asking you such a stupid question?" Takahashi replied, annoyed. "I didn't kill him. In fact, I cured his terminal illness. It would be better if he didn't come back here, though. It would save him from being used by a scumbag like you."
Orochimaru ignored the insult. His attention was completely captured by one thing Takahashi had said. His eyes lit up with a hungry curiosity.
"What did you say?" Orochimaru whispered, leaning forward. "You cured his illness? That's impossible. I tried many methods and made no progress. You aren't even a medical ninja. How could you have cured him?"
But Takahashi didn't give him an explanation. "I don't owe you any answers. For the sake of your own life, you'd better focus on removing Sasuke's Cursed Seal quickly. Otherwise, you know Uchiha Itachi is a man of his word."
Thinking of the icy coldness in Itachi's eyes, Orochimaru shuddered. He had struggled and schemed for so long just to achieve immortality. It would be the ultimate irony to die now, before reaching his goal.
He understood the situation perfectly. He and Takahashi had been enemies before. He had even tried to take Takahashi's life. Of course, Takahashi wouldn't help him heal his arms now.
But Orochimaru wasn't too worried. He had plenty of time to find another way. He waited, expecting Takahashi to leave with the others. But after a long moment, Takahashi was still standing there.
"Why are you still here?" Orochimaru asked, confused.
Takahashi smiled, a confident and somewhat threatening look on his face. "Uchiha Itachi said he would let you go," he stated calmly. "But I never said I would."
Orochimaru's face was covered in question marks. Are you kidding me?
(End of this chapter)