"My information comes from Konoha. If you don't believe me, go investigate Uzushio Village yourself. But whether the leader of Uzushio Village—or the Uchiha—will let you snoop around… that's another story."
Orochimaru completely ignored Itachi's stare, watching him with a playful, snake-like gaze—like a predator toying with its prey.
As one of the former Sannin, Orochimaru was a master of deception. If you want someone to swallow a lie, you mix it with just enough truth.
For example, calling Uzushio Village a Konoha outpost? That was his deliberate guess.
After all, if Uzushio Village were truly Konoha's enemy, both Jiraiya and Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't just sit around doing nothing. Konoha staying silent made the whole situation… suspicious.
Seeing how confident Orochimaru looked, Itachi Uchiha couldn't help but waver. But trusting Orochimaru completely? Yeah, not a chance.
Suddenly, something clicked in Itachi's mind.
"Your information comes from Konoha? Ordinary people don't get access to that level of intel. So who exactly is your source?"
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly and replied coldly,
"Digging into sources isn't part of our deal. We're both missing-nin—you should understand how important spies are. Or what, you didn't leave someone behind in the village?"
Itachi froze for a split second.
Then Sasuke's face flashed in his mind.
His expression darkened instantly.
So that's what this bastard meant.
"You mean Sasuke Uchiha? That useless brat?" Itachi said coldly. "He's not a spy. If he were even remotely a threat, I'd have cut him down that night."
Orochimaru didn't bother exposing the lie. He had zero interest in Sasuke anyway. He just chuckled.
"Itachi-kun, anything else you want to know? We could do more… transactions. For example, dealing with Uzushio Village's Uchiha together."
"That's an internal Uchiha matter," Itachi said sharply. "Stay the hell out of it."
Then, as if remembering something, Itachi added calmly:
"If you're planning to make a move on me, now's your best chance. Kisame is far enough away."
Orochimaru's smile widened.
"You really do understand me, Itachi-kun. So… how about cooperating? Lend me your Mangekyō for a few days—"
Before he could finish, his hands flashed through seals.
The ground instantly turned into a writhing mass of venomous snakes.
They surged up and swallowed Itachi whole.
And yet—
Itachi didn't move.
Didn't resist.
Didn't even blink.
Orochimaru walked closer, smiling lightly.
"No genjutsu? No fire style? I was expecting a real fight. What's this—waiting for backup?"
Silence.
Itachi just stared at him, eyes calm… too calm.
That's when Orochimaru's instincts screamed.
Something was wrong.
He immediately commanded the snakes to tear Itachi apart—but no matter how they bit and constricted, Itachi's expression didn't change.
Meanwhile, the sky in the distance began to glow red.
That was impossible.
It was still night.
"…When did you cast the genjutsu?" Orochimaru asked slowly. "I didn't feel any chakra invasion."
Itachi replied flatly:
"The moment we met, you were already under it."
Orochimaru paused… then nodded.
"I see. But my Ten Thousand Snake Formation activates on a delay. Right now, your real body should be in trouble."
The next second—
He broke free of the illusion.
Flames roared. Chaos erupted.
But escaping came at a price.
Half of Orochimaru's body was charred black. Flesh burned, riddled with holes—injuries that would've killed anyone else ten times over.
The air reeked of burnt snakes.
Even Orochimaru had to admit it.
"I didn't expect you, a brat from a few years ago, to reach Five Kage-level strength. Uchiha blood… truly enviable."
Itachi stood atop a tree, looking down coldly.
"Enough talk. Show me what you've got."
Orochimaru didn't hesitate.
He slammed his hand onto the ground—
"Summoning Jutsu!"
A massive serpent—Manda—appeared like a living mountain.
Even Itachi's expression tightened slightly.
But instead of pressing the attack—
Orochimaru ran.
His body blurred into a black shadow, retreating at full speed.
Itachi frowned.
Black flames—Amaterasu—ignited on Orochimaru's body, instantly engulfing him.
Moments later, all that remained was a charred corpse.
Manda vanished in a puff of smoke.
As Itachi approached, Kisame arrived beside him, glancing at the corpse.
"Didn't expect Orochimaru to die in some random place like this. Shame—I wanted a proper fight with him."
Itachi shook his head.
"He's not dead. Not that easily."
Kisame raised a brow.
"Heh… figures. Still, forcing him to run means you're stronger than him. Otherwise, he wouldn't retreat like a scared dog."
But Itachi wasn't listening.
Something felt off.
Orochimaru's actions didn't add up.
For someone skilled in genjutsu, there's no way he'd fall that easily.
And after breaking free, why run instead of going all-out?
Unless…
He planned to leave Akatsuki.
And this fight?
Just a test—to see if he could snatch the Mangekyō.
If that's true…
Then everything Orochimaru said earlier—
Might be bullshit.
Itachi's thoughts tangled into a mess.
And inevitably, his mind drifted to one man—
Danzō Shimura.
The bastard who dragged him into darkness.
If anyone fed Orochimaru that information…
It would be him.
Far away…
After hours of escape, Orochimaru crawled out from a narrow rock crevice.
His burned flesh had already regenerated into pale, fresh skin. Only his tattered clothes proved the battle even happened.
He looked down at himself, muttering:
"Cell division reduced by five cycles… This body won't last long."
Time to switch bodies again.
"Kimimaro… or another vessel?"
Kimimaro was ideal—but his bloodline disease made things tricky.
"Tch… what a waste."
Then another problem surfaced.
"I attacked Itachi. Staying in Akatsuki is no longer an option. So… where next?"
He considered his options:
Start his own hidden village.
Join another major force and trade intel for protection.
Then he smirked.
"Why not both?"
But choosing which faction to join…
Now that was the real headache.
Because this time—
Picking wrong might get his ass killed for real.
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