Studying the Uchiha

A fierce kick struck Itachi.

"Ah, ah..." Itachi's body split into a flock of crows, and the cawing of crows echoed throughout the room.

As the crows took flight, Itachi used the Body Flicker Technique to appear mid-air.

He threw shuriken, which clashed in the air, altering their trajectories.

The four Sound ninjas combined forces to fend off Itachi's shuriken attack.

Using the Body Flicker Technique again, Itachi closed the distance and kicked one of the Sound ninjas away.

The remaining three engaged in combat with Itachi.

Meanwhile, two others approached Shisui. With just a glance, Shisui rendered them unconscious.

Kabuto stood at the side, watching. These Sound ninjas were elite jonins recruited by Orochimaru.

Despite their combined efforts, Itachi defeated them with minimal effort.

Itachi only used a Crow Clone Technique, while Shisui, standing still, used a genjutsu to incapacitate two ninjas without participating further in the battle.

In no time, the Sound ninjas were all lying on the ground.

"How disappointing. They couldn't even force out your Mangekyō Sharingan?"

A raspy, magnetic voice emerged.

Having recently changed bodies, Orochimaru stepped out from the shadows.

Kabuto bowed his head, "I apologize, Lord Orochimaru."

"Stand down. The upcoming fight is beyond your capabilities."

Though he had just changed bodies, Manda should suffice.

Orochimaru's handsome face was cold. Biting his finger, he performed hand signs:

"Boar, Dog, Bird, Monkey, Ram…"

Kabuto was shocked. Was Lord Orochimaru going to use that technique?

"Summoning Technique!"

Boom! A massive cloud of smoke enveloped the area.

Itachi and Shisui jumped away.

A roar echoed.

"Orochimaru, summoning me requires a sacrifice!"

Orochimaru, annoyed, replied, "Defeat them, and I'll prepare a sacrifice for you."

"Roar!" Manda's enormous body whipped out like a giant snake.

Boom! The ground shattered, creating a huge crater!

Manda's initial strike missed, slowly lifting its body and casting a large shadow.

Kabuto quickly pulled the nearby Jonin away.

Other ninjas were crushed into pulp by Manda's massive body.

"Uchiha Itachi! I didn't expect you to seek me out!"

Orochimaru looked greedily at Itachi's Sharingan.

Before defecting, he had seen this genius's brutal training methods akin to suicide.

Back then, he coveted the Sharingan.

After taking control of the daimyo in the Land of Rice Fields, he established Otogakure and developed both the village and his jutsu research.

In a few years, he refined the Edo Tensei jutsu left by Tobirama Senju and performed his first Immortality Reincarnation.

Still obsessed with Itachi's Sharingan, he was planning to act.

Unexpectedly, his informants reported that the Uchiha had split from Konoha, with Itachi and Fugaku awakening the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan.

Orochimaru hadn't expected Fugaku to hide his abilities for so long, even during the Third Great Ninja War.

And young Itachi had also awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.

Itachi and Shisui glanced. They needed Susanoo to deal with a giant summoning beast like Manda.

"Come on, Itachi! Show me the Susanoo of the Mangekyō Sharingan!!"

Orochimaru was eager and determined to collect all the jutsu in the world.

Susanoo, a legendary jutsu, was a must-see for him as a researcher.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Manda's every attack felt like an earthquake of magnitude seven, shattering the ground, sending rocks flying, and dust rising!

Itachi and Shisui had to dodge quickly.

The ground shook, and the flying rocks were lethally dangerous.

"We need to leave!"

Kabuto, dragging three unconscious ninjas, quickly left the battlefield.

"Itachi! Dodging isn't like you. Come on, show me the legendary divine power!"

Desperate to see Susanoo, Orochimaru grew impatient as Itachi and Shisui kept evading.

Once Itachi sensed they were alone, he and Shisui exchanged a nod.

The tomoe in Itachi's eyes spun into a triangular pattern.

An orange-red chakra giant rose from the ground!

The chakra surged, forming the skeleton, muscles, and eventually the full body of the second-stage Susanoo!

Shisui also leaped, charging at Orochimaru.

"Magnificent! Magnificent! This is the Mangekyō Sharingan! This is divine power! Hahahahaha!"

Orochimaru's pale face was twisted with a manic grin.

Second-stage Susanoo consumed a lot of chakra. Upon its manifestation, Itachi immediately sent Manda flying.

Boom! The massive crash echoed as Manda was knocked back.

Susanoo then launched a Yasaka Magatama.

Orochimaru jumped off Manda just in time to face Shisui's charge.

Orochimaru's gaze shifted from Itachi's Susanoo.

"Shisui, I've heard Danzo covets your eyes. Do you also have the Mangekyō Sharingan!?"

Orochimaru's eyes sparkled with curiosity. He knew Shisui's Sharingan was special.

But he didn't know that the Mangekyō Sharingan could also awaken other secret techniques.

You'll find out.

As Orochimaru met Shisui's gaze!

Shisui's eyes bled, opening wide!

Kotoamatsukami!!

What!? Orochimaru was shocked! It was too late!

…

[Ding, congratulations to the host for significantly altering Orochimaru's life.]

Host gains Shiki Fūjin (single-use).

Natsuki smiled. It seemed Shisui was quite reliable.

…

"Roar…"

Amid the flying dust, Manda screeched from the Yasaka Magatama hit, black flames spreading!

"What are these flames!? Ah! Ah…"

Manda roared, "Orochimaru, what are you doing!?" His last sight was Orochimaru falling from the air, stiff.

How!? Orochimaru was defeated!? Why didn't he use his jutsu, Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, or the Manda Formation!?

Manda was terrified. Boom! He turned into a puff of smoke and fled!

Orochimaru lifted his head, his voice husky, "I guess I saved my sacrifice."

"Why are you only coming now? We have much to do, don't waste time."

Turning, Orochimaru headed toward the valley behind him.

Itachi dispelled Susanoo, gasping as he helped the exhausted Shisui down.

He looked at Shisui, who nodded wearily.

At that moment, Shisui had altered Orochimaru's will.

Originally, Orochimaru wanted to become the wind to turn the windmill. Kotoamatsukami made him realize he had like-minded partners to become the wind with him.

Now, he wanted to turn the windmill and sweep across the world like a hurricane.

Orochimaru walked ahead, noticing Itachi and Shisui's exhaustion.

"Susanoo doesn't just consume chakra, does it?"

Itachi nodded, "Susanoo also drains ocular power. It's a very dangerous jutsu."

From fighting to discussing like teammates in seconds, the scene was surreal.

But Orochimaru found everything was okay.

Kabuto emerged from the base, surprised to see Orochimaru with the two Uchiha.

But trusting Orochimaru, Kabuto didn't question it.

Orochimaru explained, "They've come to cooperate with us. Prepare the medical laboratory."

Medical laboratory!? Kabuto, a former medical ninja, understood its use.

It was needed for biological research.

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru! What are we researching this time? I'll prepare the subjects."

Orochimaru glanced at Itachi, his tongue flicking across his face, "We're researching the Uchiha. Itachi will be the subject."

Kabuto: "..."