Entrance to Dragon Cave

[Orochimaru's Favor: 100%↑]

[Congratulations, Host. This mission has been completed. You have obtained the opportunity to enter Dragon Cave.]

[Dragon Cave instance unlocked.]

[You have obtained the Dragon Cave Summoning Jutsu.]

A stream of data continuously appeared in Itachi's mind. He looked down at the swarming ants below, contempt in his eyes.

Under the divine might of the Sharingan, everything was nothing but an illusion.

Even the movements of their bodies, every trajectory at every moment, slowed before his eyes like frames of a movie flickering past one by one like a slideshow.

This was the power of taboo, a technique said to have been stolen from the gods by the Uchiha Clan and grafted onto themselves.

"What an unexpected surprise. With these, no matter how chaotic the outside world becomes, I'll be able to protect the clan's lives."

Itachi couldn't suppress the wild joy at the corner of his lips. At last, he had obtained the purpose of this trip.

This was exactly what he wanted. As for this blessed land, even Orochimaru probably hadn't acquired the treasures within. This was a far more perilous paradise than the toads' homeland at Mount Myoboku.

It was said that the inheritances within were also strictly divided by strength.

It suited him perfectly.

"That only leaves this rather tough turtle shell. It really is troublesome, but no matter how troublesome a technique is, it has its weaknesses."

Itachi looked at the fiery red barrier. He had already thought of a way out. As for the daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields, he'd spare his life.

After all, he was a wise ruler, capable of bringing peace and prosperity to the innocent people under his rule during these turbulent times.

Unlike those samurai who treated human lives like grass. Although Itachi couldn't influence the mission's arrangements, he could at least decide whether or not to complete it.

"Damn it, this isn't strength an ordinary jonin could possibly possess."

The Sound Four had been utterly defeated, driven into a corner by the flames and the Anbu. Most of their comrades had been burned to ashes, while the man in the sky didn't even have a wrinkle in his clothes.

What overwhelming power.

Even Lord Orochimaru might not be capable of this.

The light in their eyes wavered at that moment, and they even felt despair. This was likely a gulf they could never cross in their lives. More terrifyingly, beyond that bottomless abyss lay the unseen darkness of that man.

You had no idea where his limits lay.

"Lord Crow, thank you for your help. You can head back now."

Itachi patted the giant crow's head. He had always been especially fond of his ninja beasts. With a bang, the summoning ended, and Itachi dove straight down from its back like a hunting hawk.

"Damn it, he's coming!"

Even the fat man in Curse Mark Transformation could hear his own voice trembling. Sakon and Ukon no longer had the strength to stand, but thankfully, this was only their clone. Their real bodies were outside, so they didn't need to worry about suffering this terrifying torment.

But what about Lord Orochimaru?

"Where do you think you're going?"

Itachi was almost face-to-face with them. The tomoe in his Sharingan suddenly spun and enlarged before their eyes, invading their minds in an instant. For a brief moment—

They felt like drowning men, desperately flailing their arms against the current to keep from being swallowed.

Yet their bodies in the chaos were utterly beyond their control.

"How can this be?"

Their eyes all went blank, while the daimyo wet himself in fright. A large patch beneath his golden robes was already soaked. Even the elites of Hidden Sound Village were no match for him?

He remembered that Orochimaru was one of the legendary Konoha's Three Ninja, and had even declared that within a few years, he could build a powerful ninja army not inferior to those of the Five Great Nations.

Yet he hadn't expected the gap between them to be as vast as heaven and earth.

"Break!"

With a cold snort from Itachi, the once-indestructible red barrier shattered from every direction like broken glass. The real Sound Four each spat out a mouthful of blood.

Their faces turned deathly pale as they swayed like kites with severed strings.

They had never imagined that he would affect them through the chakra of their clones, guide the genjutsu through it, and break their technique.

Such terrifying intelligence and strength made them shudder at the very mention of his name. Itachi Uchiha was destined to become another shadow in their hearts.

"Hurry up and leave. We don't have much time."

The Anbu ninjas beside him all gathered around. Thanks to Itachi this time, they had suffered almost no casualties. Even when facing nearly a hundred ninjas and samurai, they had managed to retreat unscathed.

They were already satisfied.

Even through their masks, he could still sense the fervent admiration in their eyes.

"But that daimyo..."

Kakashi gritted his teeth and wanted to draw his dagger to chase after him, but Itachi forcibly held him back.

"What are you doing?!"

"I just don't want you throwing your life away. Don't forget, Orochimaru hasn't made a move yet."

Faced with his captain's rage, Itachi coldly reminded him without giving him any face. That immediately woke the others up. Although the people nearby looked imposing, the value of assassinating them was far less than that of Orochimaru.

And Orochimaru's techniques were destined to remain a shadow in Kakashi's heart, leaving him standing there in a daze.

Besides, Itachi didn't want to keep escalating this matter. Every use of his eyes drained his body, and before obtaining the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, every use of them essentially brought him one step closer to death.

He didn't want to repeat the same mistakes.

"Then this is the only way. Besides, we've already done enough."

The Anbu members nearby also spoke up in reminder. This blatant operation had already drained them greatly. If they continued fighting, their movements would inevitably slow and deform.

To be honest, many of the Anbu had only filled in for others. Did anyone really think they all enjoyed this kind of dark mission?

At its core, the higher-ups were gambling with their lives. The greater the ability, the greater the responsibility?

The casualties, however, visibly increased, and the Anbu's annual death rate remained high.

"Then those bastards can count themselves lucky."