Orochimaru stared at Itachi, feeling far less calm than he appeared.
Even he couldn't explain why, but whenever he faced Itachi—especially when he saw the indifferent expression on Itachi's face—he felt uneasy.
Itachi looked at Orochimaru and said, "Hand over the Nine-Tails!"
"Do you really think the few of you can make me hand over the Nine-Tails without a fight?" After a brief pause, Orochimaru continued, "I've already told 'B' what I want. If you want the Nine-Tails, you'll have to trade me what I want!"
With that, Orochimaru watched Itachi closely.
He wanted to use Itachi to confirm whether 'B' and the Akatsuki members like Itachi were working together, so he could plan his next move accordingly.
However, Itachi remained expressionless after hearing him. There wasn't even the slightest shift in his gaze, and Orochimaru couldn't glean any useful information from his reaction.
Then, accompanied by a chorus of cawing, the flock of crows that had formed Itachi's body scattered in every direction!
Orochimaru's expression darkened.
There was no doubt that the one who had appeared here was only one of his Shadow Clones, and Itachi had clearly realized that. There was no point wasting his energy getting entangled here.
Orochimaru's Shadow Clone leaped up to the treetops and surveyed the battlefield.
The First, Second, and Fourth's Impure World Bodies were tied up by Scorpion and Deidara, while Kabuto Yakushi was fighting Juzo Biwa. The battle was more or less at a stalemate.
Ordinarily, given the nature of the Impure World Bodies, a stalemate like this would work in his favor unless someone could break it.
But with Itachi's arrival, Orochimaru began to consider retreating.
Because Itachi was the one who could break the stalemate!
Moreover, Itachi's appearance meant that other Akatsuki members might be nearby. After all, Akatsuki