Surrounded

[Orochimaru's Favor: 55%↑]

[Temporary Mission: You may choose to demonstrate Kunai Throwing Technique before him to gain progress toward his favorability.]

[Temporary Mission: You may attempt to use the Mangekyō Sharingan to swiftly resolve the battle directly.]

[Triggered Option: You may defeat Orochimaru and use the Stockholm syndrome to maintain his desire and interest. There is a certain chance this will directly complete the mission, but it will also raise the threshold to some extent. There is a 15% chance—too much of a good thing will backfire, causing his favorability to decrease.]

As Itachi watched this string of values continually rise, he knew that Orochimaru had been hiding in the shadows, observing him all along.

He could even feel the naked envy and desire in that undisguised gaze. Sometimes, being exceptional was just like that—you always ended up with troublesome relationships.

He had long since grown used to the hostility of his peers back at the Ninja Academy.

Perhaps that was the special treatment reserved for an [Unusual Talent].

Geniuses were always lonely.

Different from everyone else.

Otherwise, they would simply fade into the crowd.

"Do you... do you know what crime it is to assassinate a daimyo?"

Most of the attendants had already been slaughtered. In the middle, the exposed daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields, Ishiyama Sanae, wore a terrified expression. As an aristocrat who had been pampered since childhood, the only time he had ever truly encountered blood was while hunting. When had he ever experienced such a real, blade-to-blade slaughter?

In his eyes, they had never been anything more than chess pieces.

Yet he had never imagined that one day, he himself would become a chess piece—coveted by others, even meant to be devoured!

The Anbu said nothing. To them, these ants were merely targets to be slaughtered. Precise, efficient, scalpel-like killings required no pointless chatter with those who were about to lose their heads.

Meanwhile, Orochimaru stood in the distance with his sleeves fluttering, looking utterly at ease. Could it be that he truly did not care at all?

That was absolutely impossible. It felt as if he had overlooked some crucial piece of information.

Itachi felt an unprecedented sense of danger, yet he could not put it into words.

Clang!

Suddenly, a masked man blocked Kakashi's short blade. As the two exchanged blows, sparks scattered from the clashing blades and fell to the ground. This man was actually capable of rivaling a Jonin!

"Combination Technique—Four Violet Flames Formation!"

Many unfamiliar figures appeared in the corners around them. Judging by their stance, they were also ninja. In an instant, the flames surrounding them turned red, directly trapping everyone inside a crimson square.

Scorching energy seared through the surrounding space, and the entire world was briefly dyed red. Those who did not understand what it was wailed the moment they touched it. The inexplicable flames were like living creatures, scorching anything that came into contact with them. Anyone who touched them would be burned in an instant!

Otogakure!!

So the intelligence had been correct. Orochimaru had founded his own village, and in such a short time, he had already managed to cultivate experts of this caliber.

That bastard had indeed been planning this for a long time.

"What do we do?"

Kakashi and the others threw kunai, but without exception, they melted into pools of iron and mist before this technique. Forget assassinating the daimyo—this sudden development might get all of them killed.

"It's only Orochimaru. What else can we do?"

Itachi sneered and rolled his neck slightly, producing a string of crackling joints. Recognized as one of the team's strongest fighters, his combat ability was close to Kakashi's. As for his genjutsu, it naturally countered Orochimaru, whose soul was thin and weak.

He simply did not want to fight to the death over this mission.

"Then we'll use you as practice. I've also wanted to see what kind of exciting match it would be between the talents I've trained and Konoha's Anbu. So, Kidomaru, I'll leave it to you."

Orochimaru's voice drifted over. Four people slowly emerged from the thick fog, differing in height, build, and shape, but every one of their faces bore Curse Marks.

The Sound Four!!!

Itachi felt an inexplicable pressure as well. These were Orochimaru's elite—beings much like personal bodyguards. Anyone capable of protecting an S-rank rogue ninja naturally would not be ordinary.

Every one of them was at the Jonin level, and the power of their Curse Marks gave them the terrifying ability to challenge opponents above their rank.

"I've really wanted to see whether Konoha's legendary Anbu ninja are as mystical as people claim."

"I bet it's mostly bullshit. I don't believe these people, who scurry around dark places like rats carrying out assassination missions, can be that strong."

"Still, we'd better be careful. Don't underestimate them and suffer for it."

"Relax. If anything seems off, I'll keep an eye on it for you."

"We're only playing around anyway. This technique is still usable, at least."

The Sound Four chattered like a group of chatterboxes, paying no attention to them at all.

Itachi stared at the powerful figures in the distance maintaining the Combination Technique—Four Violet Flames Formation. They looked exactly the same.

How was that possible? Could it be a forbidden technique like the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique?

No. Judging from the flow of chakra, that was not quite it.

Or were they clones carved with Curse Marks, each carrying a corresponding portion of his power?

"Don't let your guard down. We can't afford casualties in a place like this."

Itachi spoke to the people beside him with a bitter smile. This mission was at a serious disadvantage. It was definitely an ultra-S-rank mission, probably no less difficult than assassinating any of the Five Great Nations' Kage.

Damn. I really hadn't checked the almanac before leaving today.

"What? Not interested in playing with us brothers?"

Jirobo sneered, his fat face twisting. He wanted to see just how capable this person whom Lord Orochimaru praised so highly truly was.

He had stolen Lord Orochimaru's affection from them. Unforgivable.

An inexplicable power spread over their skin like spiderwebs. Savage power erupted from within their bodies, and vaguely, it seemed as though beasts bound to them were about to burst free.

"We can't break through it. Looks like we'll have to fight them head-on."

Kakashi gritted his teeth. For ninja like them, this kind of crude battle was extremely disadvantageous.

Besides, they had been exposed on someone else's territory. They did not possess the strength to massacre a city or destroy a nation.

Once they resorted to human-wave tactics, they would be worn down completely.

"Then let's meet these bastards head-on."

Itachi slowly drew his Anbu short blade from behind his back. Its sharp surface was as smooth as water, reflecting his face.