Looking at Sasuke following behind him, a faint smile appeared on Orochimaru's face.
He had disguised himself as a Genin participating in the Chunin Exam, and his goal in sneaking into Konoha was to launch the Konoha Crush plan. Still, if he could take Sasuke back under his command, that would be an unexpected bonus.
After all, although he was currently cultivating a body suitable for himself, the Uchiha bloodline was still extremely valuable.
Sasuke also needed revenge for the humiliation Uchiha Itachi had inflicted on him. It would be best if the brothers killed each other, and then awakened a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan.
While Orochimaru was fantasizing about the future, a figure suddenly appeared in the distance, instantly freezing the smile on his face.
Looking at Naruto standing atop a tree branch, Orochimaru chuckled and said, "Mianma-kun, long time no see. So you also snuck into Konoha Village? Looks like that idiot Jiraiya did a pretty poor job with security."
Naruto looked at Orochimaru and replied with a playful smile, "Long time no see indeed, but I received an official invitation from Jiraiya. You, on the other hand, definitely snuck in."
Then Naruto added casually, "If I report you to Jiraiya right now, I wonder whether he and the Third Hokage would show mercy to a former teammate and disciple like you."
Orochimaru's expression changed slightly before he forced another smile.
"Lord Mianma, we are collaborators. There's no need to quarrel over such a trivial matter."
Naruto waved dismissively.
"I don't care what you're planning to do in Konoha. But Sasuke is an Uchiha, and in the future, he'll become part of Uzushio Village. You'd better not get any ideas about him."
Orochimaru's heart sank, though the smile on his face remained.
"Since Lord Mianma has spoken, I naturally have to give you face. But don't you want to witness the wonderful drama of brothers killing each other?"
"Although Uchiha Itachi's massacre was stopped back then, it doesn't seem like he intended to kill Sasuke from the start."
"I think he planned to use hatred to awaken Sasuke's Mangekyō Sharingan, then take Sasuke's eyes and obtain a spare pair of Mangekyō Sharingan for himself."
Orochimaru's words were directed not only at Naruto, but also at Sasuke, who was secretly hiding nearby.
Naruto couldn't help rolling his eyes.
If Uchiha Itachi had truly slaughtered the clan for power and deliberately kept Sasuke alive just to evolve into the legendary Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, Naruto might actually have respected him a little more.
But everything Itachi did was for Sasuke...
In Itachi's twisted logic, the village was more important than the clan, and Sasuke was more important than the village. If he could even use Kotoamatsukami to force Sasuke into becoming loyal to Konoha, that would have been the perfect ending in his eyes.
That was also one of the reasons Naruto preferred contacting Uchiha Shisui instead of Uchiha Itachi.
It was easier to work with a "dead man" than with Itachi, who was constantly monitored by Danzō, Obito, and others. Besides, Shisui's brain worked far better than Uchiha Itachi's—the guy who went to war killing people at four years old and then chose suicide after overthinking life.
Sasuke, secretly eavesdropping nearby, had shock written all over his face.
So Uchiha Itachi killed the clan for power, and spared him only to prepare a backup pair of Mangekyō Sharingan...
And this ninja named Orochimaru wanted him purely to watch the tragic spectacle of brothers destroying each other.
Yet despite all that, Sasuke still couldn't stop himself from feeling tempted.
If Orochimaru truly possessed the power to help him defeat Itachi, then refusing would be incredibly difficult.
After all, under Kakashi's guidance, he had no idea how long it would take before he could finally kill Uchiha Itachi. He had already waited for years, and who knew how many more years he would have to endure.
Suppressing his chaotic thoughts, Sasuke focused on the other ninja.
The voice sounded extremely familiar.
Wasn't this the captain of the Uzushio team who had been talking to Hinata earlier? And this person could actually speak to Orochimaru as an equal?
Judging from their conversation, it also seemed that all the surviving Uchiha clan members who had left Konoha were now in Mianma's village.
Mianma even considered Sasuke part of the clan and wanted to bring him along as well. Maybe some of the surviving clansmen he knew were actually there.
The conversation between Orochimaru and Naruto continued, but because of the distance, Sasuke could no longer hear clearly.
Just as Sasuke was about to move closer and continue spying, Naruto suddenly appeared behind him and said casually:
"Stop eavesdropping. I chatted with Orochimaru for a bit, but he already left."
Sasuke was startled and immediately raised a kunai to defend himself, but the terrifying pressure from Naruto made him unable to move.
Left with no choice, Sasuke lowered the kunai and stared at Naruto.
"Who exactly are you? Why did you come to Konoha? Why are you cooperating with rogue ninja Orochimaru? What kind of conspiracy are you planning?"
Hearing the barrage of questions, Naruto spread his hands helplessly.
"I'm just a ninja from Uzushio Village taking the Chunin Exam. I want to pass the exam and become a Chunin captain."
"You think I'd believe that?"
Sasuke stared at Naruto before continuing, "A normal ninja wouldn't know Orochimaru. You're definitely one of Uzushio Village's higher-ups, and you definitely came to Konoha for some other purpose."
Naruto nodded directly and admitted it.
"You're right. I do have other reasons for coming to Konoha, but what does that have to do with an Uchiha orphan like you?"
"Since I'm in a good mood, I can selectively answer some of your questions."
Sasuke thought for a moment before asking, "How much do you know about Uchiha Itachi? Are all my clansmen in Uzushio Village now? And what exactly is your relationship with them?"
"Uchiha are my subordinates. As for Uchiha Itachi, I don't know much."
After pausing briefly, Naruto revealed a smile that made Sasuke's scalp tingle.
"However, all the information you overheard just now was exactly what Orochimaru and I wanted you to hear."
"As a ninja, you should learn to think for yourself. Don't blindly believe everything other people say."
"Alright, conversation over. Go continue your Chunin Exam. I genuinely want to become a Chunin."
With that, Naruto brushed past Sasuke and rushed toward Hinata and the others.
Sasuke stood frozen in place, shock written across his face.
He had thought he'd finally uncovered the truth, only to realize the "truth" he learned may have been deliberately fabricated from the beginning.
For the first time in a long while, he felt completely powerless.
At the same time, Sasuke kept feeling that Mianma's voice sounded strangely familiar, as though he had heard it somewhere before.
But how could he possibly know someone powerful enough to casually chat with Orochimaru?
He must not have rested properly these past few days. Maybe the poisonous snake bite earlier had affected his judgment.
At that moment, Sasuke suddenly remembered something and fell into deep thought.
If Mianma truly had nothing to do with him, then why would he save him from Orochimaru just because he had taken in the surviving Uchiha clansmen?
Mianma definitely knew him.
And Sasuke had definitely met Mianma before.
It was just that, for various reasons, he still couldn't determine Mianma's true identity.
Compared to so-called reality, Sasuke trusted his own instincts more.
This was also a common flaw of the Uchiha bloodline.
Whenever reality conflicted with their personal understanding, they would stubbornly believe that the world itself was wrong.
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