The Power of a God

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall."

"Water Release: Great Water-Splitting Technique!"

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Annihilation!"

The Anbu members instantly joined forces, rapidly forming hand seals and unleashing ninjutsu to wipe out a vast area.

Wind, fire, lightning, and electricity erupted in an instant. Vast energy, carrying terrifying force, swept through this narrow space. Using techniques on such a massive scale in a place like this clearly meant they were prepared to perish together.

But at the very least, they refused to be devoured by this army of monsters.

"Interesting. It seems that even Anbu elites are struggling under the burden of facing so many Curse Mark-enhanced fighters. Perhaps they're in such a sorry state because they lack the advantage of terrain... Wait, what's that?!"

Orochimaru stood nearby, watching the battle. Suddenly, his golden pupils contracted slightly.

As though he had discovered a divine miracle of truth, uncontrollable excitement surged through him. The thrill nearly made him scream.

Within the dust, he could sense that the Anbu members hadn't been crushed to powder alongside the techniques' destructive force. In the darkness, a massive, solid chakra form burned fiercely, its hard bones shielding those Anbu ants.

This was Susanoo!!!

The third power unlocked only by awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan was known as the power of a god. Susanoo symbolized destruction. Everyone said that anyone who saw it with their own eyes was doomed to die.

Orochimaru had even sneered at it while consulting ancient texts. According to legend, Susanoo was essentially materialized chakra. Immense chakra took humanoid form around its user, rendering most attacks ineffective. Yet excessive use came with side effects. It was both the user's "guardian deity" and the "grim reaper" that devoured their life force.

Over time, however, he had come to believe it was merely the Uchiha Clan's bluff and self-deception.

After all, even after living through two great ninja wars, the well-traveled Orochimaru had never seen anyone in the entire Uchiha Clan use such a legendary ninjutsu.

Yet he never expected...

"So this is... the power of a god?"

Orochimaru stared in rapture at the gradually emerging red chakra entity in the distance. It had only formed an arm's skeleton to ward off the assault of the external energy, yet Susanoo was already this overwhelmingly powerful.

The techniques rushing toward it were instantly reduced to dust.

"Hah!"

Itachi felt as if his body had been drained dry. Unprecedented cold sweat ran down his hair and sideburns, and even the hand clutching his short blade trembled uncontrollably.

Is this the exhaustion caused by activating Susanoo? It's terrifying. He could vaguely feel a dull, crackling pain in his bones. He had used it for less than a few seconds, yet he could already feel the backlash against his ocular power.

Using this godlike power repeatedly would only hasten his death!!!

"Quickly eliminate those ants. We're breaking out."

Itachi gave the order. He knew they couldn't delay. After being bombarded by the techniques, those Curse Mark maniacs were no longer as frenzied. Their bodies were even breaking apart beneath the disturbance of the external chakra.

Once the Curse Mark army recovered and regained its strength through their Curse Marks, what awaited them would be an incomparably brutal close-quarters battle.

His gaze was fixed on Orochimaru, who stood in the distance with his sleeves fluttering. This was the true enemy he had to face.

There could be no moment of carelessness.

"Itachi, you've truly surprised me. To reach the heights of the Uchiha Clan's ancestors through your own power... I really do covet that."

Orochimaru made no effort to conceal his envy and jealousy. His pale tongue extended to lick his lips, his hollow voice echoing along the underground cavern walls.

He suddenly realized that something had appeared before the pale, barren plains of his life, giving him something worth climbing toward.

It wasn't truth—that towering mountain with no visible end. Even though he had now read extensively and created his own techniques, he still felt that so-called truth was an unmoving thing, devoid of life's meaning.

But at the very least, he had suddenly become deeply interested in the Uchiha Clan's secrets.

Then let this child bring him a little more pleasure!!

"This isn't something you can lay your hands on, Orochimaru. Your ambition is too great. Be careful not to drop a stone on your own feet."

Itachi sneered. Although he had very little chakra left, he couldn't show weakness before his enemy.

"Speaking to your senior like that is rather disappointing. What is it, Itachi? At least until Lord Hokage signs an arrest warrant, I'm still one of Konoha's esteemed Three Sannin. Itachi Uchiha, would you like to learn my techniques? They are something close to eternal truth—perhaps precious experience you could never gain, no matter how desperately you struggle in the Anbu."

Orochimaru spoke without the slightest restraint. The nearby Anbu members stiffened slightly, watching Itachi Uchiha behind them with hesitation and wariness.

Even they could understand Orochimaru's attempt to recruit him.

Any exceptionally gifted member of the younger generation would likely find it difficult to resist the temptation of studying under Orochimaru. After all, this man was a monstrous expert who had completed over a hundred S-rank missions through his own strength.

He was known as Konoha's strongest executioner in the shadows. During the period when he ruled the Anbu, ninjas from every nation had cowered within their own territories, trembling and wailing.

"You needn't worry that following me would make you a rogue ninja. The secret hasn't been exposed yet, has it? At worst, we kill these Anbu members. They're nothing but ants. Wouldn't it be easy to make them die?"

Orochimaru's casual words emerged from his mouth. Then, he pulled a light, sharp Kusanagi Sword from his throat.

It seemed he was finally getting serious.

No one questioned the truth of Orochimaru's words. After all, throughout the ninja world, the notoriously vicious Orochimaru had never needed lies to deceive anyone. For ants like Kakashi, perhaps deception itself was beneath his contempt.

So, what would he choose?

Oda Misuzu huddled in the corner, filled with anxiety. Deep down, she hoped a child like Itachi could survive. Though they hadn't known each other for long, she still held such hopes and wishes.

Yet in another sense, she didn't want Itachi to make that choice. In her heart, the name Itachi Uchiha shouldn't become entangled with that sinister venomous snake.

"So, you think I'd agree?"

Itachi's expression was hidden beneath his mask, but his voice was filled with mockery.