A Talk, a Welcome Feast

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Itachi fell slightly silent.

Why did Orochimaru make the Mangekyo Sharingan sound as common as cabbages...

"Why do I feel like Shisui's eye is a little difficult to use? What's the reason for that?"

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Itachi slightly changed the subject.

He had noticed that his Mangekyo Sharingan showed no sign of transforming into an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, so he decided to seek another path and hear Orochimaru's opinion.

After all, Shisui's Kotoamatsukami was powerful, but... its cooldown was far too long...

And its effect on people who also possessed Mangekyo Sharingan and Uchiha blood was still an unknown.

That was undoubtedly difficult to accept.

"Oh? How could that be? Did something go wrong somewhere?"

Hearing Itachi's words, Orochimaru was slightly startled. He found it rather strange.

"Let's eat first. You must be starving after traveling all this way. I've already had someone prepare the food."

Without waiting for Itachi's reply, Orochimaru spoke softly, playing the part of a gracious host.

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Itachi rolled his eyes.

"You always stop halfway through and leave people hanging. How am I supposed to have the mood to eat now..."

Looking at the thoughtful Orochimaru, Itachi said irritably.

"There's definitely nothing wrong with the serum. That means the problem can only lie with the eye."

Hearing Itachi's words, Orochimaru stroked his chin, emerging from his thoughts as he replied softly.

"What could possibly be wrong with the eye?"

Orochimaru's words left Itachi bewildered.

"Itachi, you misunderstood me. I mean, you may need to gather both eyes."

Orochimaru answered Itachi's question.

As Orochimaru spoke, the servants brought over several hearty dishes.

As well as a jug of wine.

"Both eyes? There's no such theory, is there?"

After the servants finished serving the dishes and left, Itachi finally asked softly, his tone slightly unnatural.

"There may not be such a theory, but Itachi, have you ever thought about why people have two eyes instead of one? The two eyes may have some wonderful connection. So if we have to say where the problem lies, it's most likely here."

Orochimaru leisurely poured himself a small cup of wine, then picked up another cup and poured one for Itachi as well.

Though it was a long table, they were seated very close together, close enough to reach each other with an outstretched hand.

After hearing Orochimaru's words, Itachi fell silent.

To be honest, he had never felt any rejection when using Shisui's Mangekyo Sharingan. It was just that it had never transformed into an Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, which made him anxious.

"Have a drink. The other eye is in Danzo's eye socket. I'll think of a way to take it."

Seeing the pensive Itachi, Orochimaru raised his wine cup and smiled softly, his tone brimming with confidence.

It was as though Konoha, one of the Five Great Villages, was a place he could enter and leave whenever he pleased.

As though Root, one of Konoha's two great factions, was also somewhere he could come and go freely.

Since Orochimaru had put it that way, Itachi put aside his thoughts, lifted the cup before him, and clinked it against Orochimaru's.

"This wine?"

After taking a sip, Itachi was slightly taken aback. He felt as though he had drunk this wine before.

"Looks like you're not much of a drinker either."

Hearing the surprise in Itachi's voice, Orochimaru placed his empty cup on the table, picked up the jug, and refilled it with a hint of nostalgia.

"Juzo led me astray back then."

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Itachi looked slightly uncomfortable.

"This is the wine we drank when we first met and discussed business. Doesn't it feel like you skipped out on the bill?"

Seeing Itachi mercilessly shift the blame, Orochimaru teased him with an odd expression.

"Uh..."

"Actually, I was planning to pay last time, but when I was about to settle the bill, I suddenly realized... I'd forgotten to bring money..."

Orochimaru's words made Itachi's old face redden slightly.

This guy didn't even leave him a way out. Bringing this up out of nowhere was so awkward...

"Hehehehe..."

Seeing Itachi's embarrassment, Orochimaru laughed.

Everything went without saying...

"How is the replication of your Mangekyo Sharingan going?"

After several rounds, Itachi was slightly unable to hold his liquor. A few red flushes had appeared on his cheeks.

"Not bad. This can't be rushed; it has to be done slowly. Besides, the Mangekyo itself isn't important to me. What interests me is why the Mangekyo possesses such powerful strength."

At this point, Orochimaru paused slightly.

"But Itachi, I've always been this open with you. What you did was a little unfair..."

Looking at the slightly tipsy Itachi, a sharp glint flashed in the depths of Orochimaru's eyes.

"Huh? How was I unfair?"

Itachi had been listening to Orochimaru, so Orochimaru's sudden change of subject left him a little confused.

On the surface, Itachi showed some hesitation, but deep down, he already knew what Orochimaru meant.

It seemed Orochimaru truly had done extensive research into the Mangekyo Sharingan.

He had discovered the secret of the Mangekyo Sharingan so quickly.

"The Mangekyo Sharingan cells you gave me weren't yours, were they?"

Orochimaru had no intention of indulging Itachi's act and directly exposed him.

He had only been somewhat suspicious at first, so he had used Itachi's drunkenness to test him slightly just now.

Watching Itachi closely, he had caught the flaw. Even that instant of unnaturalness had not escaped his eyes.

"Fine. It was our first collaboration, so it was inevitable that I held something back. But you should have discovered that the cells I gave you really were Mangekyo Sharingan cells."

Faced with the clever Orochimaru, Itachi could not be bothered to struggle.

When dealing with smart people, if something could not be hidden, there was no point trying to hide it.

Forcing the lie any further would only make the other party unhappy and make them feel slighted.

After all, if a fabricated lie could not fool the other party and one kept spinning it, wouldn't that make it seem as if one took them for a fool?

Itachi's words made the corners of Orochimaru's mouth rise.

He seemed quite pleased with his own cleverness.

"Then whose eye cells were they?" Orochimaru took a sip of wine and set his cup on the table as he asked curiously.

Orochimaru asked with clear curiosity.

"Take a guess."

In response to Orochimaru's curiosity, Itachi happily drank another cup of wine and took a bite of meat, a smug look appearing on his face.

Seeing Itachi's expression, Orochimaru found it rather amusing.

"You want me to guess something like that? Aren't you afraid I'll expose all your secrets?"

Orochimaru had no intention of guessing. Better to leave this young man some secrets.

Otherwise, the young man might become too wary of him and affect their relationship.

Once their relationship reached a certain point, Itachi would tell him without needing to be asked.

After all, he was a one-of-a-kind listener.