Trading with Orochimaru!

Looking at the four corpses on the ground, Izumi's expression turned somewhat grim.

Uchiha Itachi and Roy, however, remained completely composed.

"They should be ninjas from Kirigakure, but why would they appear here at a time like this?"

Roy's face was full of confusion.

Kirigakure at this time shouldn't have the resources to be causing trouble everywhere.

"They are likely here to scout the current situation in Konoha."

"The relationship between our two villages isn't exactly good."

Itachi said slowly.

During the Third Shinobi World War, Itachi had been to the battlefield himself.

The brutality and the hatred left behind from that time could not be washed away in just these few short years.

"Investigating... Obito?"

Roy murmured in a low voice.

Kirigakure was currently still under Obito's control.

Karatachi Yagura had been manipulated by Obito, and Kirigakure was shrouded in the Blood Mist.

No matter what actions Kirigakure took now, it was bound to be related to Obito...

"Have you made contact yet?"

A smile appeared at the corner of Roy's mouth.

"Brother Roy, what should we do now..."

"First, dispose of the four, then..."

"Swish, swish, swish..."

Before Roy could finish, the shuriken in his hand shot out instantly.

Itachi leaped up at the same moment, his shurikenjutsu following closely behind.

A net of shuriken instantly enveloped the surrounding area.

A ninja appeared within the trio's line of sight.

His body was riddled with shuriken.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

However, all those shuriken simply fell to the ground.

"Lord Orochimaru, why have you appeared here?"

Roy narrowed his eyes, watching Orochimaru before him with caution.

Itachi also gripped his kunai tightly, his Sharingan beginning to spin rapidly.

The person before them was dangerous.

"Uchiha Roy, Uchiha Itachi, Uchiha Izumi."

"I didn't expect Uchiha Fugaku would be willing to let you out, but I am not here to cause you trouble this time."

"Let's make a trade: hand over the four corpses on the ground to me."

Orochimaru licked his snake-like tongue, speaking with a sinister expression.

"A trade requires a price, doesn't it?"

"Lord Orochimaru, what can you offer us?"

Roy asked directly.

Upon hearing Roy's words, Itachi and Izumi, standing to the side, were completely stunned.

Even Orochimaru was caught off guard for a moment.

This kid didn't play by the rules!

It was clear that Itachi understood exactly what kind of existence Orochimaru was.

Izumi was simply frozen in place, bewildered.

Orochimaru had assumed that him not attacking the three of them was the trade itself.

Now that Roy had asked such a question so abruptly, Orochimaru didn't know how to respond for a moment.

"Itachi, take Izumi somewhere else to relax."

"She's a bit tense."

Roy looked at Itachi and said softly.

"Understood, Brother Roy."

"Izumi, let's go."

Itachi took Izumi and vanished from the scene immediately.

"Little brat Roy, you have something you want to discuss with me, don't you?"

"Or perhaps, I possess something you require?"

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, looking at Roy with a playful expression.

"I want Hashirama Cells."

Roy stated his demand without a moment's hesitation.

"Hashirama Cells?"

"You kid, where did you..."

"I don't have any on hand at the moment; my previous research..."

"What are you planning to do?"

Before Orochimaru could finish, a ball of flame erupted from Roy's fingertip.

"If there's no sincerity, then forget it."

"This cooperation is merely a matter of good faith."

"Lord Orochimaru, I believe that if your future actions had the assistance of the Uchiha..."

Roy looked up, a hint of wickedness flickering in the depths of his eyes.

"Kid, do you know what you're saying?"

"You, a mere Uchiha Chunin..."

Orochimaru had originally intended to retort, but looking at the confident Roy before him, he found himself unable to continue.

"How many do you need?"

After thinking it over carefully, Orochimaru spoke slowly.

"At least three samples!"

Roy raised his hand and stated his requirement directly.

"Three samples?"

"Fine."

"I hope you remember what you said today, otherwise, a Chunin like you..."

Orochimaru did not finish his sentence, merely narrowing his eyes as he stared at Roy.

He wanted to find some flaw in Roy's demeanor.

"Lord Orochimaru is very intelligent; you see some things more clearly than I do."

"Furthermore, that goal of yours cannot be achieved without the assistance of us Uchiha."

"As for whether I have the ability to change the Uchiha, I don't think I need to say that myself, do I?"

Roy extended his hand, his expression remaining indifferent.

Orochimaru's attitude toward Sarutobi Hiruzen was not merely the simple hatred or dissatisfaction it appeared to be on the surface.

Orochimaru actually respected his teacher deeply.

It was precisely because of this that Orochimaru had decided to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen himself.

He wanted to prevent the Hokage status his teacher had maintained his entire life from falling into the abyss.

"Here."

"Those higher-ups are in trouble this time."

"The timing they chose is truly not a good one!"

After saying this, Orochimaru summoned four large snakes to carry away the four corpses.

At the same time, he handed over a box and prepared to take his leave.

"Lord Orochimaru, I don't know how to use this; you'll have to help me."

Roy said it as if it were only natural.

"Huh?"

"You kid..."

Orochimaru was somewhat dumbfounded.

If he didn't know how to use it, what did he want it for?

Moreover, he wanted him to personally transplant the Hashirama Cells?

Was he not afraid that he might leave some little "gifts" inside his body?

"Just cut your skin open and let the Hashirama Cells make contact to fuse."

"Whether you can withstand the Hashirama Cells depends entirely on your own strength."

"I am leaving."

Orochimaru finished speaking and was immediately swallowed by a giant snake that surged from the ground, vanishing from the spot.

Roy looked at the box in his hand with a calm expression, then tucked it directly into his Portable Space.

Orochimaru certainly had a way to increase the fusion success rate, but since he hadn't mentioned it, Roy didn't press the issue.

"Big Brother Roy."

A few minutes later, Itachi returned to Roy's side with Izumi.

"Let's go, we are continuing our journey."

"Our first destination is the Land of Grass."

Seeing that Itachi had returned, Roy prepared himself to head toward their target.

"Big Brother Roy, just now..."

"Do you want to know?"

"If you nod, I will tell you."

Roy looked at Itachi with a smile.

To be honest, he was very curious to see what kind of expression Itachi would have if he learned about these things.

"No, I just wanted to ask, I was already a bit hungry earlier."

Itachi shifted the topic simply.

That lie... it was truly flawless.

"Let's go, we'll get something to eat first."

"That stream over there looks nice."

After saying this, Roy vanished from where he stood.

Watching Roy depart, Itachi paused for a moment before following after him.