Confrontation

Zhang Miao's perception had become exceptionally strong by now. Within a radius of four kilometers, as long as he was willing, he could immediately sense whenever someone used chakra.

However, this ability was only for specific situations. During normal times in the village, he couldn't constantly activate his sensing ability. After all, Konoha was one of the Five Great Shinobi Countries, with a multitude of ninja; even if Zhang Miao activated his sensing ability, it wouldn't reveal much.

Moreover, the most crucial point was that Zhang Miao housed the Nine-Tails within him, granting him the ability to sense malevolence. If someone nearby harbored ill intentions towards him, he could immediately perceive it.

Due to these reasons, Zhang Miao seldom paid attention to what was happening around him now. Hence, the black crow that had previously perched on the tree branch, managing to evade his notice.

After taking off from Zhang Miao's backyard tree, the crow didn't halt elsewhere; it continuously flew towards the northern direction of Konoha.

After a night of flying, the crow finally arrived early the next day at a torii gate with long steps. It perched on the shoulder of a young man.

The man wore a black and red-clouded robe, donning Konoha's shinobi headgear. However, a slash horizontally across the headgear split the leaf symbol into two halves.

Such attire was the symbol of the S-rank rogue ninja group, "Akatsuki"!

If there were Konoha shinobi present, they would have recognized this man as none other than Itachi, the one who annihilated the Uchiha clan and then defected from the village.

At this moment, Itachi sat at the bottom of the steps, his expression remarkably calm. Only when the black crow landed on his shoulder did his demeanor change slightly.

"Have you returned?"

Uttering these words to himself, Itachi turned to look at the crow perched on his shoulder.

When his eyes met the crow's eyes, his ordinary eyes instantly transformed into the Mangekyō Sharingan of three tomoe. Simultaneously, the eye of the crow perched on his shoulder turned into a red eye in the shape of a shuriken!

Mangekyō Sharingan!

Naturally, the crow couldn't possess the Mangekyō Sharingan. It was something Itachi had bestowed upon it. This particular Mangekyō Sharingan had a significant origin; its original owner was none other than Shisui, who had committed suicide in Naka River.

At that time, Shisui had intended to use his "Kotoamatsukami" Mangekyō Sharingan to prevent the Uchiha clan coup, but after losing his right eye to Danzō, he despaired and gave his remaining left eye to Itachi before committing suicide.

Subsequently, due to the tremendous shock Itachi experienced witnessing Shisui's death, Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan evolved into his own unique Mangekyō.

Shisui had raised a flock of crows in his lifetime. After his death, Itachi used these crows as his summoning animals.

Moreover, Itachi implanted Shisui's gifted "Kotoamatsukami" Sharingan into one of the crow's eyes for reconnaissance and special purposes.

For instance, the crow perched on his shoulder right now used its Sharingan to record everything it saw. When Itachi locked eyes with the crow, everything it had witnessed appeared in Itachi's mind.

After a moment of staring at the crow, Itachi absorbed all that the crow had seen into his mind. Only then did he nod.

"I see it all now. Well done!"

Seemingly understanding his words, the crow perched on his shoulder croaked and then flew away directly into the sky, flapping its wings!

As the crow flew off, the once expressionless Itachi revealed a faint smile of satisfaction.

"Compared to him, my brother, I'm really not doing a good job. But since Sasuke can follow him, I can rest assured!"

Just as Itachi thought this, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him. At the same time, a cold, hoarse voice sounded from behind him.

"Hehehe... Rare to see Itachi-kun smiling. Could it be something pleases you?"

Hearing this voice, Itachi immediately retracted the smile from his face and slowly turned around, giving the person behind him a cold glance.

"It has nothing to do with you, Orochimaru!"

As it turned out, the figure appearing behind Itachi was none other than Orochimaru, who had defected from Konoha five years ago!

At this moment, Orochimaru also wore a black and red-clouded robe, clearly having joined the "Akatsuki" organization. From his appearance here, it could be inferred that he and Itachi were together.

Facing Itachi's indifferent attitude, Orochimaru didn't mind at all. A faint smile flickered across his pale face again.

"Hehe, Itachi-kun, don't mind me. I'm just curious!"

Upon hearing Orochimaru's words, Itachi didn't respond. Instead, he turned expressionlessly and stepped upward toward the stairs.

Observing Itachi completely disregarding him, Orochimaru's slitted pupils flashed with a hint of severity. Stealthily, he lifted one of his hands.

As he raised his hand, his originally pale arm instantly transformed into a gray, pointed-fanged python that swiftly coiled around Itachi!

Faced with Orochimaru's sudden ambush, Itachi didn't display any sign of fear but rather furrowed his brow in irritation.

"Orochimaru, what is the meaning of this?"

"Hehehe..."

Upon hearing Itachi's question, Orochimaru's hoarse laughter echoed again, his sinister slitted eyes filled with greed.

"To have someone with precious Sharingan willingly come to me, I am indeed fortunate. I won't hesitate to take possession of your body!"

Over the years, Orochimaru had sought methods for immortality. His approach involved transferring his soul into another's body, consuming their soul, and seizing their body!

Orochimaru's act involved using others' bodies as "vessels" for his soul, constantly seeking new bodies to achieve immortality.

Moreover, this approach had an added advantage. When changing bodies, if he could obtain a body with a kekkei genkai, he could acquire the powers of that kekkei genkai!

Orochimaru had long coveted the power of the Uchiha clan's Sharingan. Ever since Itachi joined the Anbu, Orochimaru had often spied on him secretly.

Now, with Itachi having defected and appeared before him, Orochimaru could no longer contain his inner greed and directly attacked Itachi!

Watching Itachi restrained, Orochimaru's face instantly filled with a gratified smile.

"I've always wanted a perfect body. Itachi, with your Sharingan, you're a masterpiece. Merge with me!"

As he said this, Orochimaru prepared to attack Itachi again. But before he could make a move, he realized the scenery around him had changed!

At that moment, his surroundings turned entirely blood-red. The Itachi he had restrained with his serpentine hand disappeared, and instead, Orochimaru found himself impaled by several giant iron spikes, rendering him immobile.

"It was the Tsukuyomi!"

This was a genjutsu triggered by the Sharingan. Even if the victim was aware of being in a genjutsu, their body couldn't move.

That's the situation Orochimaru found himself in. He was well aware he was under Itachi's illusion, yet he showed no fear. Instead, his face exhibited a hint of excitement.

"I've fallen for the Tsukuyomi illusion! What an incredible visual power, it's fantastic!"

Having said this, Orochimaru struggled to raise his hands, seemingly intending to perform hand seals. But before he could complete them, Itachi lightly waved his hand, causing blood to splatter as he directly severed Orochimaru's left hand along with the wrist!

Amid Orochimaru's agonizing expression, Itachi gently lifted the kunai in his hand and calmly addressed him.

"Orochimaru, any of your jutsu is ineffective before my eyes. I hope this won't happen again, otherwise, it won't be just a hand that's lost!"

After speaking, Itachi paid no further attention to Orochimaru clutching his severed hand. He turned and left, yet a tinge of reminiscence flashed in his eyes as he departed.

"Even one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, couldn't resist my Sharingan's visual jutsu. How powerful are you, who completely disregarded my Mangekyō Sharingan? Uzumaki Ryunosuke!"