During the time his original body had been killed by Danzo, Orochimaru had lost the ability to actively probe the outside world. He could only passively gather external information through the Heaven Curse Marks residing within Yamato, Haku, Anko, and the others.
After being resurrected by Kabuto, he had learned some recent developments in the shinobi world through Otogakure's intelligence network. He also knew that Hyuga Kagami had been chosen as the village's Fifth Hokage a few days earlier, but he did not have a thorough grasp of Konoha's internal situation.
It was only after reclaiming the Heaven Curse Mark from Anko and reviewing everything she had seen and heard in the village during this period that he understood the chaotic situation Hyuga Kagami currently faced.
"After suffering such humiliation, the Uchiha Clan will not simply swallow their anger. Has the old man truly prepared himself to deal with the Uchiha Clan's three pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan?" After a pause, Orochimaru deliberately slapped his forehead and teased, "Oh, I miscalculated. It should be four pairs of Mangekyō Sharingan!"
Orochimaru knew full well that Itachi had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, because Itachi had been driven to awaken it when Orochimaru kidnapped Sasuke and threatened Sasuke's life.
However, Itachi's body had always been one of Orochimaru's targets, so he had never disclosed this information to anyone.
Hearing the information Orochimaru had deliberately revealed, Hyuga Kagami narrowed his eyes. "Four pairs?! Are you saying the Uchiha Clan has other Mangekyō Sharingan hidden away?"
A cunning glint flashed through Orochimaru's eyes as he said quietly, "When it comes to dealing with the Uchiha, our interests align. I can assist you, and my condition is simple. I only need one pair of Mangekyō Sharingan for research."
People were like this: the more they could not