Yes, regarding the planned joint hunt for Itachi Uchiha, Kabuto only intended to make various arrangements from the shadows. He had no plans to act personally!
Because once he made a move, he would no longer be able to maintain his current identity and could only choose to leave Konoha with Orochimaru.
If it had been before, Kabuto would have been more than willing.
He might even have wished to follow behind Orochimaru forever.
But his experiences over the past few years as a director at the ninja academy, occasionally teaching students, had made him feel as though he had returned to his days at the orphanage.
So, with confusion in his heart, Kabuto intended to seek his answer within the academy!
"That isn't the main reason! With your abilities, if you wanted to, you should be able to turn down a mission like this at any time, shouldn't you?"
Orochimaru was not someone so easily fooled.
When they met today, he had sensed that Kabuto had changed somewhat compared to before.
He simply could not determine what exactly had changed for the moment.
Besides, since their main objective this time was hunting Itachi Uchiha, Orochimaru had not paid much attention to Kabuto's slight abnormality.
But now, it seemed Kabuto had ideas of his own.
That did not put Orochimaru in a very good mood.
"Indeed, just as you said, Orochimaru-sama, if I wanted to, it would not be difficult for me to refuse something like this.
However, I have no intention of doing so!"
Kabuto paused briefly after saying that.
Orochimaru did not speak. He simply continued staring at Kabuto.
"Whew... Orochimaru-sama, my current identity is still useful! And given my present position in Konoha, I should be able to provide you with even more help, shouldn't I?
If