Chapter 137

"Kaito, he's gone?"

"Hmm, he recognized me. This guy is really interesting."

Just as Kaito was lamenting about the ninety million walking away from him, Shisui came up to him.

Shisui had been watching the recent battle and now had a better understanding and view of Kaito's strength.

Kaito didn't use his Sharingan throughout the whole fight, a fact Shisui noticed.

As a Sharingan user, he naturally understood how poor Kaito's control of the details was during the battle.

Of course, this 'poor' is relative to Kaito's previous battles, with the help of the Sharingan, one can naturally discern details that ordinary people can't.

Becoming stronger in the details and constantly finding opportunities to break the enemy, this is also the characteristic of Uchiha clan's battle style.

Kaito's performance just now showed no ability in this aspect, he was simply fighting Orochimaru with raw strength.

Kaito's display of raw strength was awe-inspiring to Shisui. However, Shisui was a bit puzzled about how Orochimaru recognized Kaito, after all, Kaito didn't use any special techniques.

"Fire Release, and I let it slip."

Kaito shrugged and sighed, but his expression didn't seem too bothered.

"Orochimaru really is a crafty fox, he noticed and grasped every little detail. Impressive."

"Orochimaru is one of the three legendary ninja, he's definitely not an easy opponent."

Shisui didn't find it surprising when he heard this, after all, Orochimaru had been in the Root and the Anbu, his skills in smooth-talking and ability to control details are extremely potent.

Kaito is certainly powerful, but he hasn't received training in places like the Anbu and the Root.

"But now that he knows, will it have any impact on us?"

"Actually, the impact on us is not significant, Orochimaru is smart, he knows what should be said and what shouldn't."

Kaito was somewhat confident in response to Shisui's question, after all, if Kaito's identity was really exposed, he could just blame Hiruzen Sarutobi internally, and deny everything externally.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi really wanted to investigate, Kaito could just say, "You didn't pay me, can't I earn some extra money?"

Of course, this was absolutely the worst choice, Kaito knew it would not come to that point.

"Alright, enough about Orochimaru, we should go deal with our own matters."

Kaito didn't feel like thinking about Orochimaru any further. His gaze shifted towards the rear, and then he calmly said,

"Orochimaru gave me some intelligence before he left, that is, the forces of Rock Hidden Village are coming to take over this defense zone."

"So, are we going to take action against those Rock Ninja?"

Although Shisui was a bit confused about how Kaito got information from Orochimaru, his focus was not on this at the moment.

Taking action against the ninja of Rock Hidden Village didn't burden him mentally, much like the first time they encountered the ninja of Cloud Hidden. He had no particular fondness for these guys.

Besides, they had been mentally prepared for this from the beginning. As long as they handled things cleanly and didn't expose themselves, anything was possible.

"Indeed, otherwise we would have a lot of explaining to do."

Kaito chuckled, and then his gaze turned to the back, and at this moment, the flames in the sky began to slowly dissipate...

...

"Who are you?"

The team leader from Rock Hidden Village asked as he watched the two eerie ninja dressed in black robes approaching, his voice heavy.

Although he appeared calm, inside he was extremely anxious, and the Rock ninjas behind him felt the same.

They had drawn their weapons, and some of them were even gritting their teeth, ready to attack at any moment!

Strictly speaking, the two men in black hadn't done anything yet, but paired with the blazing flames in the sky, they exuded an oppressive feeling that was hard for them to imagine.

However, neither Kaito nor Shisui paid much attention to these people. The two shared a brief glance, then they suddenly sped up and split up, charging towards the crowd!

"Enemy attack! Be on guard!"

Watching their movements, everyone knew what these two wanted to do.

Ordinarily, two ninjas charging at a team of over fifty would seem foolish. But these two were different. The terrifying flames and strong chakra fluctuation from before indicated that they were not ordinary!

Their assumptions were correct, but the problem was that they were dealing with two Uchiha with Mangekyou Sharingan.

While running, Kaito's ninja blade had taken on a deep blue chakra, and his eyes turned crimson.

He wanted to end this battle quickly, and having already confirmed what he needed to against Orochimaru, he naturally wouldn't hold back.

During his sprint, he had already selected his first target.

A taller Rock ninja on his left side. This guy was in the front line and Kaito could clearly sense that his chakra was strong.

If he were to take action, it made sense to handle the more formidable opponents first, making it easier for Kaito to clean up the rest.

This was a lesson he learned from his superior during the end of the war, and he kept it in mind ever since.

Kaito's speed was extremely fast, even without the use of space-related abilities, his speed was unimaginable to the average person!

The person he targeted was actually the team leader of this Rock Hidden Village squad. Seeing Kaito's incredibly fast sprint, his face turned slightly pale.

Especially after sensing that he was Kaito's target, he couldn't help but panic. But after the initial panic, his face turned red instantly.

Was he angered because he hadn't expected to be underestimated as the first target?

"Damn it, I knew we couldn't trust those hired ninjas!"

The team leader of Rock Hidden Village thought to himself, as he quickly formed seals. His sealing speed was extremely fast, and in a moment, a wall of earth rose in front of him.

Moreover, right in front of the earth wall and on the path Kaito had to take, rows of earth spikes sprung up!

Faced with this, Kaito simply scanned his surroundings. The next moment, his ninja blade was swung swiftly.

"Buzz!"

The blue blade, loaded with sharp Wind Release chakra, swept across, cutting down the emerging earth spikes in rows!

Then Kaito accelerated even more, leaping to the newly risen earth wall before anyone could react. His ninja blade, filled with boundless confidence, thrust forward forcefully.

"Bang!"

Sand and dust flew about, mixed with a tinge of red. Kaito could clearly sense his ninja blade penetrating the chest of the Rock ninja.

As the dust settled, through the thin veil of smoke that couldn't obstruct his sight, Kaito could clearly see his shock and unwillingness.

However, Kaito quickly raised an eyebrow, for he noticed that the guy suddenly pulled out an explosive tag and slapped it onto his ninja blade!

"This damned guy..."

This Rock ninja's innards were completely shattered. With such damage, he was definitely a goner, only managing to hold on due to his robust constitution.

Yet, he actually had the nerve to pull this stunt before his demise, an act of resistance Kaito had never encountered before during a mission.

"Is this the retaliation of a war ninja at death's door?"

Kaito suddenly recalled his superior once telling him, on the battlefield, there should be no room for mercy, fear, or any inappropriate emotions.

When facing the enemy, you should do everything in your power to kill them because if they don't die, you could be the one to fall.

Moreover, the brutality of war is unimaginable. You never know when you'll meet your end.

So what you need to do is, even if you're on the brink of death, find a way to take out the enemy in front of you.

Kaito had only heard of such brutality from his calm-voiced superior. Now, he truly experienced it for the first time.

This left Kaito with a bit of a sigh in his heart, but he quickly regained his composure.

Because strictly speaking, he too was a ninja whose hands were stained with blood. Even if he hadn't been thoroughly baptized by war, he was a competent ninja!

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, Kaito forcefully pushed his ninja blade forward, driving it, along with the explosive tag that the Rock ninja had just set, back into his chest.

The next moment, Kaito used his teleportation technique to leave his original position, and a severe explosion carrying a thick mist of blood erupted on the battlefield!

"Captain!"

This explosion caused many ninjas near the Rock ninja to suffer. At this moment, the surviving Rock ninjas couldn't help but let out a mournful wail.

"Captain?"

Upon hearing this, Kaito instantly realized that the person he had taken out first might not have been any ordinary adversary.

However, this was a good thing for him. The more important the person who died, the weaker the fighting spirit of those who were left would probably be.

With this in mind, Kaito suddenly accelerated and leaped above the epicenter of the explosion. His gaze swiftly darted around, and he quickly located his ninja blade.

Though his own ninja blade looked somewhat pitiful now, it was not made of any ordinary material.

Despite being heavily bombed with the explosive tag, it didn't break, which showed the extraordinary nature of this ninja blade or, to put it another way, the extraordinary material used by the Hidden Mist Village to forge this blade.

"Shisui's efficiency isn't too bad either."

Quickly picking up his blade, Kaito's peripheral vision also caught sight of Shisui on the other side.

Utilizing his Sharingan and speed advantage, Shisui was constantly maneuvering through the Rock ninja formation.

Moreover, Kaito noticed that a portion of these Rock ninjas were exceptionally calm in the face of such a barrage.

However, the other portion was clearly in a state of unease and panic, and these Rock ninjas didn't seem to have a particularly high reserve of chakra.

They were just like regular defense ninjas, if classified by ninja rank, they would be chunin or genin.

After all, jonin were the village's most valuable resources. Even if they came to the borders, they wouldn't be ordinary squad leaders; they would have higher duties for sure.

"Die!"

As Kaito was thinking and controlling his descent from above, a sudden voice echoed by his ear.

He slightly turned his head to see a kunai about to stab into his neck from the side.

However, the next moment everything came to a halt. The brutal and ferocious expression on the Rock ninja's face froze. His eyes were filled with the sight of Kaito's crimson-red, three-tomoe Sharingan!

In an instant, his face was filled with bewilderment and confusion. Not until Kaito's ninja blade passed over his throat did he come back to his senses, lowering his head in resentment.

But Kaito didn't spare him another glance. He lightly flicked off the fresh blood on his ninja blade, then, like Shisui, rushed into the crowd...

...

"Why are you guys here?"

Lightly flicking his ninja blade, Kaito and Shisui turned their gaze to the Third Star Shadow and his companions. The two of them were curious as to why these guys had come.

"We were normally patrolling the sector when we received news of a huge fire outbreak at the frontline. That's why we came over to check it out."

Facing Kaito's inquiry, the Third Star Shadow showed composure and tranquility, but this was merely surface deep.

Internally, he was as tumultuous as everyone else. Truly, a storm was raging within him!

They could not forget the spectacle that unfolded before their eyes when they arrived at the battlefield.

They witnessed these two men dance amidst the crowd like graceful butterflies. Their movements were effortless, sending any ninja who came into contact with them flying backward.

Under their control, combat seemed like an art form, every movement they made was concise and natural!

However, the two had starkly different combat styles. One was entirely focused on speed, their phantom-like swiftness was near impossible to anticipate.

He was like a mirage, no, he was something more terrifying than that. Speed was seamlessly integrated into his being.

His opponents couldn't discern which was the mirage and which was the real body, they were utterly manipulated by him.

The other didn't display such remarkable speed but was the one who stirred the deepest fear in the Third Star Shadow and the others.

His movements didn't seem particularly fast, but they were extraordinarily accurate. With every strike, every dodge, there was a casualty!

The key was that he utilized everything around him, whether it was the enemy's weapons or their attacks.

They couldn't forget how this man, when surrounded by five enemies, seized the arm of the first attacker, pulled him abruptly, and made him stab his own comrade with a kunai.

Afterward, with a light twirl, he dodged the incoming shinobi sword from behind, a blade that ended up killing the first attacker.

At that moment, he acted. After handling the man with his ninja blade, he attached an explosive seal onto him with a speed that was impossible to track.

Next, with a kick, he sent the man flying into the crowd and, in doing so, evaded the sneak attack from the other two.

Finally, he grabbed the hands of the two, causing their weapons to pierce each other. At the same time, the man with the explosive seal exploded amidst the crowd.

Everything was executed with an air of mastery, as if he had complete control over the battlefield!

He didn't seem like a ninja, but rather a dancer, a dancer who could easily kill all his enemies.

No matter how they looked at it, such an enemy was beyond their capacity to handle, far beyond their capability to provoke.

Yet, facing two individuals with such power, the doubts in their hearts grew heavier. The questions of the Third Star Shadow resurfaced in their minds.

Why would these two accept such a mission? What unknown motives might they have?

However, the Third Star Shadow knew that now was not the time to worry about such matters. Moreover, they weren't in any position to delve into them.

Someone who could single-handedly accomplish such feats, even if the opponents were not very strong, was no ordinary person!

It must be understood that in ninja battles, most times, quantity could alter the outcome. Even if an elite ninja was surrounded by a group of average ones, the likelihood of perishing was extremely high.

Yet the two in front of them, especially the one speaking, exhibited such a high level of combat artistry that it sent shivers down the spines of the Third Star Shadow and his comrades.

"Yes, sir."

Taking a deep breath, the Third Star Shadow replied with both seriousness and a hint of reverence.

"It's not that we distrust you, it's simply that it is our duty."

"Is that so?"

Kaito regarded the old man before him with amusement. He didn't actually believe what the old guy was saying, but he didn't bother to delve into it now.

"Who would've thought that you indeed are a responsible 'Shadow'? Well then, since you're here, I can give you an update. These guys are all from the Hidden Rock Village. We repelled the ninja they hired previously, and if there were no accidents, that man is a rogue S-rank ninja from the Hidden Leaf Village."

"An S-rank rogue ninja from the Leaf?"

Kaito's revelation instantly changed the expression on the Third Star Shadow and his companions' faces. Despite its decline, the Hidden Leaf Village was still one of the top five villages in the world of ninja.

That an S-rank rogue ninja from there was present, how could they not be terrified?

What relieved them, however, was that Kaito had directly defeated them. That was indeed good news.

Furthermore, after learning about this, the Third Star Shadow was more confident about his inner thoughts. He had to seize this opportunity!

"Sir, you have completed this mission. I will promptly pay the remainder of your fee."

Thinking this, the Third Star Shadow spoke earnestly. His sincerity made Kaito and Shisui exchange glances.

Because they could feel that this guy hadn't finished speaking. Indeed, the Third Star Shadow spoke again.

"However, could you gentlemen reveal your names or code names, so we can identify you more accurately. Furthermore, I hope that we can have more extensive, more comprehensive cooperation in the future!"

.....

"This situation turned out unexpectedly smooth, and we actually achieved our goal just like that. It seems your decision was correct again, Kaito."

Walking towards another sector, Shisui looked at Kaito with some emotion, reminiscing about everything that had happened. It still seemed somewhat surreal.

What was the purpose of their trip?

Simply put, it was to make money!

Whether it was accepting war hire missions or selling off the weapons they had collected in bulk, all of these were tasks they needed to do to earn money.

Now they had completed a war hire mission, the next step naturally was considering how to sell off those weapons.

What Shisui never expected, though, was that the Third Star Shadow sought them out, proposing long-term cooperation.

"Master Haruka, Master Narumi, your strength is beyond anything I ever imagined.

With your help and the assistance of the organization behind you, I believe the Star Ninja Village can weather its hardest times.

Thus, I hope to hire you on a long-term basis, or hire your organization, to help and protect us.

Furthermore, I hope that your organization can accept a contract from us.

This contract is not for battle, but rather, I hope you can help us find items that can enhance our fighting capability."

Shisui remembers clearly how humble the Third Star Shadow appeared in that moment, and how fast his heart was beating.

This man's intentions couldn't be clearer, he wanted them to find a way to acquire weapons.

Now that Shisui and Kaito are mercenary ninjas, it was perfectly normal for them to be entrusted with such tasks.

And predictably, there was a lot of room to manoeuvre in this task; a misstep and the Third Star Shadow could be taken for a ride.

Yet, the Third Star Shadow had no such concerns and even expressed delightfully that everything was up for negotiation.

"As long as you can assist the Star Ninja Village, we are willing to pay a reward.

Because we suspect that we'll need your assistance to transport these items, naturally we wouldn't mistreat you."

Hearing this man's proposal, Kaito and Shisui didn't need much consideration. They agreed straightforwardly.

However, Kaito knew well that they couldn't let this man feel they could easily complete the task, otherwise he would think everything was easy to obtain.

So, even after agreeing, Kaito only indicated that he would contact the weapons suppliers for negotiations with the Star Ninja Village.

If the negotiations were successful, Kaito's team would be responsible for transportation. If unsuccessful, it could be discussed later. Naturally, the Third Star Shadow wouldn't refuse.

"Yes, and my name is now Kasugano Haruka, and this is Takayuki Narumi. Please don't forget."

Kaito was in good spirits, even joking around with Shisui. However, when it came to the names, Shisui was intrigued.

"Speaking of which, does the name Takayuki Narumi have any special meaning?"

Shisui stroked his chin, looking at Kaito curiously.

"And, does your name, Kasugano Haruka, have any hidden meaning?

I don't think you'd choose insignificant names, right?"

You're not wrong. I'll tell you that these names have no special meanings. They are just the names of two average guys.

"Of course, if you forget about the brother and sister scene in the cabin..."

Kaito muttered under his breath, though he would never say these words out loud. They were just playful banter after all.

If Kaito had a sister, he might have even named himself Haru Kasugano.

"It's nothing, just a name I found easy to use." Kaito shrugged it off, then looked ahead. "That's the area to patrol, right? Once we've checked it out and made sure there are no issues, we can head back to Konoha."

Before they left, the Third Star Shadow gave them a bonus task, which was to inspect a remote defense area.

Literally, it was just a simple patrol task. If all went well, Kaito and his team wouldn't have to lift a finger and could walk away with their payment.

However, if they were unlucky enough to encounter an intruder, Kaito could join the ninjas stationed in the defense area in a counterattack.

Compared to other war tasks with clear objectives, this really was a freebie.

Moreover, the Third Star Shadow hired them at a not-so-cheap price. Naturally, Kaito wasn't going to pass up on the opportunity. After all, the actual control range of the Star Ninja Village wasn't particularly large.

Especially since many areas were still cliff edges, with poisonous gas lingering, there weren't many issues in terms of defense.

"Indeed, once we finish patrolling there, we can leave. But this time, we must pay close attention to Orochimaru."

Shisui wasn't particularly interested in the meaning behind those names either. He rubbed his chin and started to think seriously.

"Orochimaru, such a powerful and proud individual, joining an organization and undertaking such tasks, that organization must not be simple.

Kai...Haruka, do you think that guy might also be in the same organization?"

"Uchiha Itachi?"

At these words, Kaito couldn't help but be taken aback, though he still pretended not to know.

"I'm not sure, perhaps the next time we meet Orochimaru we can ask.

But speaking of which, why didn't you use the Kotoamatsukami earlier?

If you had used Kotoamatsukami, perhaps we could have controlled Orochimaru, and he could serve us in the future."

"Are you referring to the Kotoamatsukami in my left eye? It indeed has the power to manipulate someone's will, but after using it once, I can't use it again for a long time."

Addressing this issue, Shisui also seemed helpless. He shrugged and said.

"After all, it's a very domineering technique, and its consumption is also massive.

When we dealt with Danzō, I used it on that mysterious Uchiha, and it hasn't recovered yet.

And my right eye's Kotoamatsukami requires continuous casting and remodeling, and it also requires eye contact. He would definitely discover it and try to resist.

So, I didn't act. I had no other choice."

Shisui's explanation was reasonable, causing Kaito to shake his head slightly.

But Orochimaru can't withstand genjutsu now, can he? If Shisui really acted, chances are Orochimaru would fall prey, right?

Of course, recognizing a dangerous situation and immediately running away, that's something Orochimaru could do. The odds of him escaping might be even higher.

Sighing softly, Kaito decided not to fuss over this. And besides, he found it reasonable that Kotoamatsukami had such a long cooldown.

If this technique didn't have a cooldown, the entire world would likely be forcibly controlled by it.

Not to mention anything else, if the moon could cast infinite Kotoamatsukami, who would need the Infinite Tsukuyomi!

Kaito recalled reading somewhere about Kotoamatsukami, like how it could instantly rewrite one's will, with a cooldown lasting several decades.

However, that was due to the fact that after Shisui's death, there was no suitable body to protect these eyes. Now, Shisui was alive and well, with his eyes intact in their sockets.

Kaito figured the cooldown should significantly shorten, right?

"So, when do you think you'll be able to use Kotoamatsukami again?" Kaito asked curiously after a moment of contemplation.

"Probably in about five more years." Shisui responded uncertainly. "Before, it would definitely have taken over eight years, but after the injection you gave me, I found the time reduced considerably. But still, the quantity consumed is likely the determining factor for the cooldown."

"Alright, I see." Kaito could only nod helplessly upon hearing this.

Yet, an idea came to his mind. Once Shisui's Kotoamatsukami had cooled down, he planned to use this technique on Orochimaru.

A top-tier research talent like him was certainly not someone Kaito planned to let go.

The two casually chatted as they walked forward, seeming rather at ease amidst the crises in the Bear Country.

Yet as they walked, Kaito and Shisui simultaneously halted, their gaze directed toward the distance.

Both sensed a strong smell of blood wafting from afar, accompanied by a hefty surge of chakra.

This naturally put them on alert, as they could tell this chakra was no weaker than Orochimaru's!

"It seems like nothing is going to make our lives easier today," Kaito sighed softly before speaking up, "I'll go check it out. It might be Orochimaru's people again. Maybe I can get some information from them."

"I'll come with you," Shisui didn't hesitate at all and stated directly, "There are clearly two sources of chakra this time. We'll go together. If there's trouble, it's better to have each other's backs."

Without waiting for Kaito to retort, Shisui dashed in that direction, leaving Kaito to simply nod in silence.

The two of them moved swiftly and in the blink of an eye, they reached the spot where the scent of blood was most potent.

Apart from a ground covered in bodies, there were two figures standing there.

One of them was a grey and white figure with a strange formation at his feet.

The other was clad in a robe similar to Orochimaru's, black with red clouds.

Upon seeing these two, Kaito and Shisui's eyes lit up at the same time.

In Shisui's perspective, these two individuals were obviously from the same organization as Orochimaru, so he could think of a way to extract information from them.

Kaito, on the other hand, fixed his gaze firmly on the robed man. There was only one thought in his mind.

"I have to try and recruit this guy if I can!"

...

"I really am unlucky, didn't expect to run into this guy."

In a secluded area within the Bear Kingdom, Orochimaru's figure slowly emerged from the ground. He looked off into the distance, a smile unwittingly appearing on his face.

He felt rather unfortunate. In the Bear Kingdom, a place several nations away from Konoha, he had managed to run into an Uchiha.

What's worse, the Uchiha he encountered was the clan head, Kaito, who had overthrown Uchiha Fugaku at a young age and even taken one of Uchiha Itachi's eyes!

When it came to Uchiha Kaito, Orochimaru had relatively sparse information.

Although this kid had once been a well-known genius in Konoha, geniuses were a dime a dozen in their era.

Countless talents fizzled out, becoming fleeting shooting stars, and numerous prodigies fell before reaching their potential, leaving behind only regrets.

War was both the cradle that birthed geniuses and the graveyard that destroyed them. Until a genius truly matured, Orochimaru would never pay them much mind.

And now, Uchiha Kaito had indeed matured, and both the speed and extent of his growth had exceeded Orochimaru's expectations.

Uchiha Itachi was dangerous enough. Even with just one eye, he could utilize the Sharingan to deliver a complete defeat.

So, what kind of outcome could Orochimaru expect if he faced Uchiha Kaito?

"Furthermore, there's another guy with him, who's obviously biding his time, clearly trusting in Uchiha Kaito's abilities.

Anyone who can accompany the clan head on missions must have exceptional skills to assist the clan head in critical moments.

This guy must be Uchiha Shisui!"

Just the presence of Kaito was enough to discourage Orochimaru from taking action, and now with the addition of Uchiha Shisui, a former Konoha ANBU and a formidable character who had already awakened the Mangekyou Sharingan, Orochimaru had absolutely no intention of intervening.

In modern terms, it's not that Orochimaru wasn't up to the task, it's just that his opponents had powered up their gundams - and they were more than capable of operating them.

Therefore, faced with such a dire situation, Orochimaru naturally chose the most direct and effective method - he ran.

He would never risk his own life, especially since this operation was, from the start, a waste of his time.

"The Sharingan, particularly the Mangekyou Sharingan..."

Gazing quietly into the distance, Orochimaru pondered to himself. This was the second time he'd been defeated by the Sharingan.

Even if the opponent hadn't used that power, Orochimaru's retreat was indeed due to its existence.

However, such an event did not instill any sense of loss within Orochimaru. On the contrary, his desire for such eyes and their formidable power grew more potent!

Such terrifying eyes, such powerful abilities; if he couldn't find a way to acquire and experience them himself, it would indeed be a colossal failure on his part.

He must find a way to gain such power. But before acquiring it, he also needs to devise a way to deal with the individuals who wield this power.

"Attacking Uchiha Itachi seems implausible. Having experienced an attack before, he'd be even more cautious now. I don't see any opportunity there.

Moreover, his eyes are incomplete. Capturing such a person, even if I managed it, wouldn't hold much meaning."

Standing still, Orochimaru silently contemplated. Personally, he had no particular fondness for someone like Uchiha Itachi.

He knew Itachi left the Hidden Leaf Village, and even though his information was incomplete, he was, after all, once a candidate for Hokage.

Itachi attacked his own clan, became a rogue ninja, which led to Danzo also becoming a rogue, and ultimately falling by the blade of Uchiha Kaito.

Orochimaru immediately realized that Itachi, who bought into the nonsense spouted by Danzo and his teacher, was completely misguided.

Back in his Hidden Leaf days, he could already tell that his teacher and Danzo were always undermining the Uchiha.

Danzo, a man driven by his selfish desires, had no moral boundaries; he considered everything he did as the benchmark for morality.

Studying the cells of the First Hokage was something Orochimaru coveted and desired, but he had no opportunity to do so.

Would he have done it if it weren't for Danzo leading the initiative and providing the materials, and if not for his teacher's tacit consent?

At least before undertaking this task, Orochimaru had no thoughts of leaving the Hidden Leaf. But as issues emerged within the village and all fingers pointed at him, he could see how the Leaf had changed, how his teacher had changed. Perhaps, around that time, Orochimaru preferred leaving the Leaf to pursue his heart's desires.

Itachi, who actually believed them and blamed his own clan for their deeds, perhaps still saw the Leaf belonging to his teacher and Danzo.

"Such a fool, to think he could activate the Mangekyō Sharingan. Truly incredible."

Orochimaru sighed deeply, but he was well aware of Itachi's excellent talent. In the early days in the Leaf, he had observed Itachi's training.

Shaking his head, he no longer wished to dwell on Itachi. His targets should better be the Hidden Leaf or even Uchiha Kaito and Uchiha Shisui!

But dealing with them won't be a simple task, at least for Orochimaru, it seemed utterly impossible.

"To counter the Sharingan, or even the Mangekyō Sharingan, one must rely on someone with similar eyes."

Orochimaru murmured, but in the next moment, as if he had stumbled upon a revelation, a smile spread across his face.

"There might not be any living individuals, and raising one myself would demand an unknown amount of time and effort, with no guarantee of success.

However, among the deceased, there are indeed numerous heroes, both those possessing such eyes and those capable of combating them!"

At this moment, Orochimaru suddenly realized that his perspective had been too narrow, far too narrow.

If the living are unworkable, why not the dead?

Jutsu came into existence to serve mankind, and the techniques developed by Hashirama Senju, why couldn't I put them to use?

With proper manipulation, I can certainly acquire the capability to overthrow those Uchihas with the Mangekyō Sharingan!

Orochimaru fell silent for a moment. A person can either become a deviant in silence, or they can become worse, and at this moment, Orochimaru truly became both.

"It appears I have a new direction for my research, and once I succeed, I'll obtain what I desire.

Even more, you departed souls might get a chance to witness the beauty of the world once more. Who knows, you might even thank me for it!"

//

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