Chapter 41: The Cunning Orochimaru

As they walked along the path, Shishou suddenly stopped.

"Two months ago, someone hired the black market to track Orochimaru's movements."

"Yesterday, the black market received a message from Orochimaru."

"And now, Uchiha Itachi has appeared at the information broker's place."

With these thoughts racing through his mind, Shishou quickly deduced the situation.

This meant...

Orochimaru had likely already left the Akatsuki organization.

And was now being hunted by them.

With this realization, Shishou grabbed Yugao firmly.

"Don't grab me like that, you jerk! It really hurts," Yugao complained, wincing as she rubbed her sore back, glaring at Shishou.

"We need to move," Shishou said, pulling Yugao along as they made their way into a deserted alleyway.

In an instant, the two of them disappeared from sight.

Land of Hot Water

In Orochimaru's secret base.

Inside a well-equipped laboratory, Orochimaru stood in front of a large experimental device, closely observing the shadowy figure writhing in agony within.

A thick, black snake slithered in from the doorway behind him, coiling around his body, and hissed in his ear.

"Intruders again?" Orochimaru mused.

"Is it those persistent bounty hunters?"

"No?"

"They're waiting outside the base?"

Orochimaru asked the snake a few more questions, glanced at the now-motionless figure inside the device, switched off the machine, and exited the room.

Muttering to himself as he walked, he said, "Such a pity, another failure."

"This base is compromised, time to move on."

As he left the laboratory and entered the main hall, he passed by the bodies of numerous ninjas scattered around. They were either sent by the black market to track him down or were bounty hunters attracted by the price on his head.

All of them were currently immobilized by Orochimaru's snakes.

Since Orochimaru had needed test subjects earlier, he had spared their lives temporarily.

But now that he was leaving, a mere wave of his hand ended their lives.

Outside the Experimental Base

"I need to see someone," Shishou said.

"If you're scared, just stay behind me."

He glanced at Yugao, smiling. They had both removed their disguises and were now wearing masks.

Yugao, having witnessed Orochimaru's gruesome experiments on Leaf Village people during her time in the ANBU, was extremely afraid of him. Shishou was well aware of this.

"Scared? Me? Never, I..." she started defiantly, but stopped mid-sentence.

Orochimaru!

Seeing Orochimaru emerging from the base, Yugao shivered and quickly hid behind Shishou.

Despite her tough exterior, Yugao feared Orochimaru greatly, feeling he was inhuman and extremely cruel.

Do they know me?

Orochimaru stepped outside and noticed Yugao's reaction, narrowing his eyes slightly.

Anyone who feared him usually knew him well.

With a hidden hand seal, two large snakes erupted from the ground, binding Shishou and Yugao tightly.

Since they recognized him, he decided to capture them first and question them later.

Licking his lips, Orochimaru approached the two, intending to remove their masks.

But after taking just two steps, he halted.

The snakes coiled around Shishou were rapidly discoloring and shriveling, turning into skeletons within seconds.

Orochimaru stood still, stunned.

This was a jutsu he had never seen before!

"Interesting," he said, leaning against a tree, tilting his head towards them. "Who are you? Why do you know me? And what business do you have with me?"

Without arguing, Shishou removed his mask.

"My name is Shishou."

Since he planned to work with Orochimaru for a long time, it was easier to reveal his true face. He had also used the Sharingan to alter his appearance, making himself taller and adding a beard. Now, he appeared as a burly man standing over six feet tall with a full beard.

"Whether we know you or not is irrelevant," Shishou continued. "What matters is if you are interested in making a deal with me."

A deal?

Orochimaru's interest was piqued. In a hoarse voice, he asked, "What sort of deal?"

Shishou smiled at the intrigued Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, what do you think of Uchiha Itachi's strength?"

At the mention of Itachi, Orochimaru's expression darkened, his eyes gleaming with a murderous light, and his killing intent surged. Losing to a teenage Itachi was one of his greatest humiliations.

Anyone who brought it up usually faced his wrath.

Feeling Orochimaru's intense killing intent, Yugao clutched Shishou's clothes tightly, hoping he would use the Flying Thunder God technique to escape and take her with him.

"Orochimaru, please calm down and hear me out," Shishou said, unfazed by Orochimaru's malice.

"Itachi's power comes from his Sharingan."

"However, his eyes are different from ordinary Sharingan. That's the secret to his strength."

Shishou knew Orochimaru was unaware of the Mangekyo Sharingan at this time.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have foolishly challenged Itachi after the Uchiha massacre.

Orochimaru was taken aback. He had long suspected Itachi's eyes were different but couldn't find an answer.

No matter which Uchiha he encountered with three-tomoe Sharingan, they were only marginally stronger than other Jounin, not capable of overpowering him like Itachi did.

Then, recalling the Uchiha's evolution from one-tomoe to three-tomoe, Orochimaru asked excitedly, "Are you saying Itachi's Sharingan is an advanced version of the three-tomoe?"

"Yes," Shishou nodded.

"And what is this eye called?" Orochimaru asked eagerly, seeing a glimmer of hope in defeating Itachi.

"I want the Sky Blade's secret scroll," Shishou replied, not answering directly but instead stating his demand.

Orochimaru was not put off by Shishou's request; in fact, it made him happier. It meant Shishou indeed knew the secret of the Sharingan.

Orochimaru extended his neck, opening his mouth to regurgitate two scrolls, handing them to Shishou.

"To learn the Sky Blade's secret, you must first master another technique I developed," Orochimaru said. "Consider this scroll a gift from me."

Clever indeed, Shishou thought, pleased with Orochimaru's cooperation.

"Thank you, Orochimaru."

He then signaled Yugao to take the scrolls from Orochimaru, not wanting to touch the slimy items himself.

Reluctantly, Yugao reached out and grabbed the scrolls, wiping them on Shishou's clothes afterward.

Seeing her action, Shishou's mouth twitched slightly.

Yugao, you are bold indeed.

Just wait, I'll deal with you later.

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