Chapter 4: Task

Orochimaru holds quite a grudge against his own Teacher.

Fortunately, Orochimaru seems to realize he's an adult now and that there should be limits to speaking ill of others behind their backs, especially not to show immaturity in front of young people.

"Anyway..."

"My Teacher is someone too kind and somewhat cowardly to taint himself with darkness..."

"If you come across the Third Hokage in Konoha, make sure to stay away from the old man. He's very good at beguiling people with his words, and it's easy to be brainwashed by his rhetoric..."

But...

Lord Orochimaru...

You're quite good at brainwashing people too...

Akihara Kagura couldn't help but think to himself.

"Also..."

Orochimaru seemed to think of something, a rare serious look on his face as he smiled slightly: "Kagura, you are my most perfect creation. The First Hokage, Hashirama, was revered as a god of ninjas, and you have almost perfectly assimilated with his cells. You are the most talented child of this era..."

...

The young man silently nodded.

He had known this even before the Wood Release experiments; otherwise, why would he dare to take the risk of undergoing human experiments? But what about Danzo?

Fortunately.

Orochimaru didn't forget Kagura's question and casually mentioned a few things about Shimura Danzo, seemingly not holding his investor in high regard.

However, Kagura listened very seriously.

After all, Shimura Danzo is his future boss! Especially since he's undoubtedly one of the most difficult superiors in Konoha. It's necessary to understand the preferences of his future superior for better career planning!

Shimura Danzo.

The Advisor to the Hokage of Konoha.

A short-sighted yet ambitious old man.

Because the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, and Danzo were comrades who shared life-and-death experiences in their youth, Hiruzen showed considerable leniency towards Danzo, granting him significant power and tacitly allowing him to deal with the dirty troubles of Konoha.

...

Young Akihara Kagura felt that Orochimaru was a bit insincere.

The little bit of information Orochimaru provided was even less than what he already knew, making him wonder how he would operate in Konoha in the future!

Clearly.

Orochimaru didn't realize this.

He thought Kagura might not like the gloomy old man Danzo much, and he wanted to talk to Kagura about some children he was interested in within Konoha...

"There's a very interesting child in Konoha..."

"This little guy has shown exceptional talent from a young age and also happens to possess a Kekkei Genkai that is a natural enemy to Wood Release..."

"Who is it?"

The young Akihara Kagura was indeed a bit curious.

In this era of Konoha, there seemed to be many geniuses in the village, and those geniuses that Orochimaru continuously obsessed over were certainly not ordinary...

"Uchiha Itachi."

Orochimaru muttered a name familiar to Akihara Kagura and continued on his own: "That little guy is a true genius. Even in times of peace, his skills and talents far exceed those of his peers..."

Orochimaru remembered seeing the young Uchiha Itachi training in a training room and couldn't help but admire the young man's talent: "That child... If it's him, maybe he could awaken a higher level of Sharingan..."

Akihara Kagura's expression became somewhat strange.

However, as a diligent employee, Akihara Kagura maintained professional integrity. Seeing Orochimaru so fixated on the genius child, he took the initiative to offer help to his superior.

"If Lord Orochimaru wishes to see Uchiha Itachi again, I will find an opportunity in the future and try to bring him before you..."

"Good."

Orochimaru gave the perceptive young man an approving look.

Wood Release and Sharingan, undoubtedly, are the two most excellent Kekkei Genkai.

If in the future Akihara Kagura really could bring Uchiha Itachi before him, Orochimaru plans to have the two geniuses fight face to face. Whoever wins, he would take over their body...

As for whether Uchiha Itachi would agree to become a vessel, Orochimaru didn't care. He only needed one look to immobilize Uchiha Itachi...

Akihara Kagura remained very respectful on the surface.

If he really could bring Uchiha Itachi before Orochimaru in the future, Akihara Kagura planned to let Orochimaru and Uchiha Itachi have a fight, making Orochimaru realize the power of Sharingan and thus becoming completely obsessed with it...

Moreover...

The system recognized this as a work task assigned by his superior.

[System Prompt]: [New work task: Find an opportunity to bring Uchiha Itachi before Orochimaru.]

This kind of task...

Akihara Kagura swore to complete it well!

Even if these two people have met in some place they shouldn't have, Akihara Kagura must find a way to have them meet again!

Time passed somewhat too quickly.

Perhaps Orochimaru was too immersed in research experiments.

Time passed somewhat slowly.

Perhaps Akihara Kagura was too eager to head to Konoha.

On the fourth day.

Someone finally came to the base.

An old man leaning on a cane appeared around the base. His head was wrapped in bandages, even covering one eye socket, as if one eye was wounded.

Two ninjas closely followed the old man, their expressions wary as they surveyed the nearby environment, fearing danger to the old man inside the base.

"Lord Danzo."

One of the ninjas looked at the scattered rubble on the ground and spoke solemnly, "A fierce battle took place here not long ago. Perhaps Orochimaru encountered an enemy. We shouldn't stay here..."

"It's not an enemy."

Orochimaru, with a smile on his face, came out accompanied by Akihara Kagura, "It was just a little commotion caused by Kagura's successful experiment..."

"..."

The two ninjas immediately stood in front of the old man!

Despite knowing the connection between the old man and Orochimaru, as far as status is concerned, Orochimaru is an S-rank rogue ninja of the village! Just being a rogue ninja makes Orochimaru a dangerous person!

"Stand down."

With a single sentence, the old man dismissed his subordinates and slowly looked up at Orochimaru, "It's been a long time, Orochimaru. It seems... you've been doing well recently?"

The old man spoke slowly, seemingly making sure his words were clearly heard, indicating his superiority.

However, the old man quickly revealed his intentions, not waiting for Orochimaru's response and turning his gaze to Akihara Kagura beside him, he asked in a deep voice, "You just mentioned... that the experiment was successful? This child?"

"Correct, it's what you wanted."

The corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled up as he spoke leisurely, "Compared to the previous immature creation, the Wood Release in Kagura is much more powerful..."

"This child will come with me."

The old man, with half-closed eyes and an unquestionable determination in his voice, stated, "Only Konoha... can wield the power of Wood Release."