Researching the Uchiha

The surprise kick struck Itachi.

"Ah, ah..."

With the cawing of crows, Itachi's entire body split into a flock of crows.

While the crows were still in the air, Itachi used the Body Flicker Technique to appear overhead.

Shuriken came raining down with swishes, colliding with one another in midair to change their trajectories.

It took all four Sound Ninja working together just to block Itachi's shuriken assault.

With another Body Flicker Technique, Itachi closed in and kicked one Sound Ninja away.

The remaining three quickly became entangled in battle with Itachi.

The other two headed toward Shisui. With a single glance from him, both instantly collapsed to the ground.

Kabuto Yakushi had remained off to the side without making a move. These Sound Ninja were jonin Orochimaru had recruited.

Their abilities were beyond question.

Yet even while being surrounded, Itachi defeated them without much effort.

Itachi had used only a Crow Substitution Jutsu.

Shisui had merely stood in place and used a genjutsu to strip the two of their Combat Power. He had not participated in the fight afterward at all.

In mere moments, the Sound Ninja jonin were sprawled all over the ground.

"What a disappointment. You couldn't even force out the Mangekyō Sharingan?"

A hoarse yet magnetic voice rang out.

Orochimaru, who had just changed bodies, stepped out of the shadows.

Kabuto lowered his head.

"My deepest apologies, Lord Orochimaru."

"Withdraw. The battle ahead is no longer something you can interfere with."

Though he had only just changed bodies, Manda should be enough.

Orochimaru's handsome face was ice-cold as he bit his finger.

"Boar, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Ram..."

Kabuto was greatly startled. Was Lord Orochimaru going to use that directly?

"Summoning Technique!"

Bang! Thick smoke billowed out.

Itachi and Shisui leaped away.

A tremendous roar whistled past their ears.

"Orochimaru, I demand sacrifices whenever you summon me!"

Orochimaru looked irritated.

"Defeat them, and I'll prepare sacrifices for you."

"Roar!" A piercing shriek rang out.

Manda's massive body lashed toward them like a whip.

Boom! It smashed a huge crater into the ground!

After his strike Failed, Manda slowly raised his body, casting a vast shadow beneath himself.

Kabuto hurriedly dragged three nearby jonin away.

The other few ninjas had already been crushed into a puddle of flesh by Manda.

"Uchiha Itachi! I never expected you to come looking for me!"

Orochimaru stared greedily at the Sharingan in Itachi's eyes.

Before defecting, he had watched this genius train. It had practically been a suicidal method of training.

Back then, he had begun to Covet the Sharingan.

After taking control of the daimyo in the Land of Rice, he had established Otogakure, developing it while researching ninjutsu.

Over several years, he had improved the Impure World Reincarnation left behind by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

He had also carried out the first transfer of the immortality technique, Living Corpse Reincarnation.

Unable to forget Itachi's Sharingan, he had been preparing to make his move.

Unexpectedly, an Undercover agent in Konoha sent word that the Uchiha Clan had split from Konoha.

Uchiha Itachi and Fugaku had even awakened the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan.

Orochimaru had not expected Fugaku to be so patient. The Third Shinobi World War had lasted for so long.

Yet he had never heard that Fugaku possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan. Only now had it been revealed.

And Itachi was so young, yet he possessed the Mangekyō Sharingan as well.

Itachi and Shisui exchanged a glance. To ensure Kotoamatsukami went smoothly and prevent Orochimaru from becoming wary of genjutsu.

Against a giant Summoned Beast like Manda, they could only use Susanoo.

"Come on, Itachi! Let me witness the Susanoo of the Mangekyō Sharingan!"

Orochimaru's face was filled with fervor. He was determined to collect every ninjutsu in this world.

Susanoo was a legendary technique. How could it not drive a researcher like him mad?

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Every attack Manda launched as he charged forward was like a magnitude-seven earthquake.

The entire ground exploded, sand and stones flew everywhere, and dust filled the air!

Itachi and Shisui could only dodge in haste.

As the earth trembled and the mountains shook, even the flying debris carried tremendous destructive force.

"This won't do. We have to leave!"

Kabuto could only quickly flee the battlefield with three unconscious burdens in tow.

"Itachi! Constantly dodging isn't your style. Come on, let me see the legendary Power of the Gods!"

Orochimaru was desperate to witness Susanoo, but Itachi and Shisui had dodged all the way. Just as Orochimaru was growing impatient.

Itachi noticed that only the three of them remained nearby, so he exchanged another glance with Shisui.

The tomoe in Itachi's eyes instantly transformed into a triangular pinwheel.

An orange-red Chakra giant instantly rose from the ground!

Surging Chakra began constructing itself from the giant's skeleton and Meridians until flesh and blood covered its entire body.

It was Susanoo's Second Stage!

Shisui leaped up at the same time and charged toward Orochimaru.

"Magnificent! Magnificent! This is the Mangekyō Sharingan! This is the Power of the Gods! Hahahahaha!"

Orochimaru's blue-gray face was covered in a sickly smile.

He let out a raspy laugh.

Susanoo's Second Stage consumed an enormous amount of Chakra. As soon as Susanoo appeared, Itachi sent Manda flying with a single blow.

Boom! With a tremendous Rumbling sound, even Manda could not steady himself and was knocked away.

After sending Manda flying, Susanoo immediately hurled a Yasakani no Magatama.

As Manda was knocked away, Orochimaru leaped down and happened to meet Shisui charging at him.

Orochimaru's gaze shifted away from Itachi's Susanoo.

"Shisui, I heard Danzo has always wanted your eyes. Does that mean you have the Mangekyō Sharingan too?"

A sharp light flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. With his intelligence, how could he not know that Shisui's Sharingan was certainly special as well?

Unfortunately, he only knew that the Mangekyō Sharingan could awaken Susanoo. He did not know that the Mangekyō Sharingan could also give rise to other secret techniques.

You'll find out.

The instant Orochimaru met Shisui's eyes!

A line of bloody tears ran from Shisui's eyes as they suddenly opened wide!

Kotoamatsukami!!

What!? Orochimaru was startled! It was already too late!

[ Ding, congratulations to the host for greatly changing Orochimaru's life ]

The host has obtained Reaper Death Seal x1

A smile appeared on Natsuki's face. It seemed Shisui was quite reliable after all.

"Roar..."

Dust billowed nearby as Manda let out a miserable howl after being struck by the Yasakani no Magatama. Black flames burst forth!

"What kind of flames are these!? Ah! Ah..."

He howled, "Orochimaru, what are you doing!"

In his final moments, he saw Orochimaru suddenly stiffen before falling from the air.

How could this be!? Orochimaru had been defeated!? Why wasn't Orochimaru using ninjutsu, Shadow Snake Hand, or Many Snakes Formation!??

Manda was somewhat terrified. Bang! He turned into a cloud of smoke and fled!

Orochimaru raised his head, his voice hoarse.

"That saves me the trouble of preparing sacrifices."

"Why did you come over only now? We still have much to do, so Don't waste time."

With that, Orochimaru turned and headed toward the valley behind him.

Itachi dismissed Susanoo and descended from the air, panting heavily as he supported Shisui, whose eye power had been overly depleted.

He looked at Shisui, who Nodded wearily.

In that instant, he had altered Orochimaru's will.

Orochimaru had originally wanted to become the wind that turned the windmill.

Kotoamatsukami made him realize that he still had a group of like-minded companions who could become the wind alongside him.

Now, Not only did he want to turn the windmill, he wanted to sweep across the entire world like a hurricane.

As Orochimaru walked ahead, he saw how exhausted Itachi and Shisui both looked.

"Susanoo consumes more than just Chakra, doesn't it?"

Itachi Nodded. "Susanoo also consumes eye power. It is an extremely dangerous technique."

One moment they had been fighting to the death, and the next they were discussing things like teammates. The contrast was simply bizarre.

Yet Orochimaru did not find anything wrong with it.

Kabuto Yakushi emerged from the base and looked surprised when he saw Orochimaru walking together with the two Uchiha.

But out of trust in Orochimaru, Kabuto naturally did not question him.

Orochimaru explained indifferently.

"They came to cooperate with me. Go prepare the Medical Laboratory."

The Medical Laboratory!? Kabuto had once been a Medical Ninja, so he was very familiar with it.

It was generally only needed when conducting biological research.

"Yes, Lord Orochimaru! What are we researching this time? I'll prepare the Test Subject."

Orochimaru turned to glance at Itachi, extending his tongue and circling it across his face.

"Researching the Uchiha Clan. The Test Subject is Itachi."

Kabuto: "..."