I've Seen Through Your Technique

"So, you're unwilling to agree? Is it because you can't bear to leave these Anbu teammates behind? Itachi, I never thought you'd still be so childish. Do you know how many people have begged me for this opportunity, only for me to refuse them?"

Orochimaru suddenly recalled something from the files. It was said that after this child's cat had died, he had awakened a One-Tomoe Sharingan—and he had also experienced the tragic deaths of his teammates.

Perhaps those wounds had been permanently inflicted upon his young heart.

Or did this child simply not understand how precious a resource he was? Within Konoha, which expert didn't establish his own school and guard his techniques jealously? There was barely any exchange of ninjutsu knowledge between them.

Even though the Third Hokage had created the ninja academy to break down the barriers between social classes, advanced knowledge still rarely circulated among commoners.

"I won't do something that betrays my friends."

Itachi's voice was resolute. Hearing those words, the Anbu members beside him were so moved that tears nearly fell, their voices choking up.

"Itachi, you..."

If they put themselves in his shoes, they definitely wouldn't have answered so decisively.

After all, the joy of being kept by a rich beauty wasn't something just anyone could comprehend. Those who had never encountered such good fortune could naturally act tough, ramble about righteousness and morality, and claim the grapes were sour because they couldn't reach them.

But what if a wealthy beauty with a flawless figure and breathtaking looks extended an olive branch to you?

It would be hard not to fall for her.

But Itachi... he had sacrificed so much for them... sob, sob, sob...

Even Oda Misuzu stood to the side in a daze. She had seen plenty of men who thought with their lower halves, and she knew just how crazed they could become in their pursuit of power and beautiful women.

And following Orochimaru, the most well-established of Konoha's Three Ninja, and entering under his command practically meant having anything one could want.

Yet he could still refuse.

In an instant, her impression of the child rose by several levels. Without realizing it, his image in her heart became far more imposing. She saw him as a man now, no longer a child whose hair hadn't even fully grown in.

"What a righteous little fellow. But I like your kind of innocence. Untouched by the world—it makes you seem pitiful."

Orochimaru clicked his tongue and sighed. He seemed somewhat embarrassed into anger as he shook the Kusanagi Sword in his hand, ready to rush forward the next second and dispose of every one of them. In any case, he was determined to claim that Sharingan today.

How could someone as shrewd as him fail to notice that they were already at the end of their strength?

"How...? When did you...?"

Just as Orochimaru was about to make his move, he suddenly discovered—

His body couldn't move at all!!!

Then countless crows suddenly swooped down before him, cawing noisily as they crashed into his face. Their harsh cries rang out, and when he finally managed to open his eyes, the world before him—

Was covered in crows.

"Welcome to my genjutsu world."

Itachi's voice slowly drifted over. Just moments ago, through a brief exchange of glances, he had already implanted his mental world into Orochimaru's mind.

This also allowed the two of them to communicate directly through chakra fluctuations, preventing anyone else from discovering their secret transaction.

"When did this happen? How could I not have noticed?"

Orochimaru spoke in disbelief, struggling to raise his hand as he attempted the appropriate [Release] technique. This brat had actually managed to restrain even him with genjutsu!!!

"My technique is everywhere. Don't be so anxious. I only came to negotiate."

Itachi spoke slowly within the inner world.

"What negotiation? Are you trying to stall for time while destroying my outer shell? It's useless. My body has countless immortal forms."

Orochimaru's expression turned somewhat savage. He had never imagined that Itachi's talent would surpass his own. With the power of the Sharingan alone, the boy had already reached heights that many people could never attain in their entire lives.

The Sharingan...

Orochimaru's desire for this bloodline limit grew ever stronger. If he could obtain such legendary power, then Konoha—even the Five Great Nations—would be nothing more than objects in his palm.

"Don't you merely covet my clan's power? It's not as if we don't have spare Sharingan. Besides, only a handful of powerful people know the secret transplantation techniques. Can you defeat them?"

Itachi bluffed, relying on Uchiha's reputation. As Konoha's foremost great Household, the Uchiha clan's illustrious name, earned through the outstanding achievements of its ancestors, was enough to make enemies flee at the very mention of it.

"Orochimaru, do you feel angry? Anger is a sign of helplessness. If you want to blame someone, blame your soul for being too weak. Your research truly is great, but unfortunately, I saw through every one of your techniques long ago!"

Itachi continued provoking him, further infuriating this senior.

If he wanted to forge a partnership and dance with a snake, he first had to let this venomous serpent know the price of daring to covet the Uchiha clan.

"How could this be...?"

Orochimaru's soul continued to reel. How could this brat know his most private secret?

What exactly was going on?

The Soul Reincarnation Technique was the latest experiment he had recently been attempting. In order to obtain the secret of immortality, he had pushed himself into extreme exhaustion nearly every day, causing tremendous depletion to his soul power. Otherwise, how could this brat have exploited his weakness?

"So, Itachi, what exactly do you want?"

Orochimaru put away his flippant attitude. At this point, Itachi was already worthy of his attention.

If he still treated him as some little brat, he would suffer badly for it.

Given time, this brat's future achievements would surely reach even greater heights than his own. Perhaps he truly would become a powerhouse capable of creating an era.

Orochimaru was truly looking forward to it.

"I have a way to help you, but in return, you need to agree to one condition."

Itachi smiled thoughtfully. Now that the other party had taken the bait, things would naturally be easier. He glanced at his system's quest bar.

[Orochimaru's Favor: 5%↑]

But this favorability was indeed a little low.