Video: Kakashi and Orochimaru

[You can actually post videos here. Perfect, that saves me the trouble of writing everything out.]

[Video: Kakashi and Orochimaru]

Kakashi, who had just arrived home, raised an eyebrow at the title. Why would he face off against one of the Sannin in the future?

He had a new assignment now: teaching Sasuke and the others. He probably wouldn't be leaving the village.

Orochimaru was a wanted Missing-nin. If anyone discovered him, they would try to arrest him. Surely he wouldn't sneak into the village in disguise?

Curious, Kakashi settled into a comfortable sitting position and tapped the screen, immersing himself in the footage of his own battle.

But why does it say "and" instead of "VS"?

Kakashi pondered it for a while but couldn't figure it out. Eventually, he shook his head and decided to stop thinking about it.

Whatever the case, he needed to watch this. If it happened in the future and he hadn't watched or prepared for it, he would be in trouble.

[On-screen, Kakashi was inside a cave, his expression grave as he formed hand seals.

"Evil Sealing Method!"

The one receiving the seal was Sasuke. As Kakashi slapped his hand down, Sasuke's teeth chattered violently.

"Ah!"

After the sudden stab of pain passed, Sasuke Uchiha sucked in a cold breath, and the markings spreading outward from the strange mark near his shoulder slowly receded!

Tap, tap!

Footsteps sounded, followed by an icy voice!

"You've gotten stronger again, Kakashi!"

Kakashi shuddered at the sound of that voice!

He spun around and watched the man approaching, forcing himself to speak.

"Orochimaru..."

Although his words sounded normal, it was clear that he was afraid. His silence said everything he couldn't put into words.

"Heh, but I didn't come here for you this time."

Orochimaru approached one step at a time, radiating an oppressive presence.

"Give me the boy behind you!"

"What do you want with him?"

Kakashi knew he couldn't win, but he still spoke, choosing to stall in the hope that reinforcements would arrive!

Whether Orochimaru believed he had everything under control or simply hadn't noticed, he continued speaking at his own pace.

He went on to mention that Kakashi already possessed a Sharingan!

His words were full of provocation!

Kakashi immediately formed a Lightning Blade in his hand, his gaze sharpening!

"If you take one more step...!"

"You may be one of the Sannin, but I can still take you down with me!"]

At this point in the video, Sasuke Uchiha was stunned. Orochimaru's icy gaze had even made his legs tremble.

Still, he forced himself to hold on. He would face more and more powerful opponents in the future. He couldn't give up just because he encountered someone who frightened him. If he did, what right would he have to take revenge on that man?

He had been tense and frightened, but when he heard Kakashi claim that he could take Orochimaru down with him, a light flashed in his eyes. He couldn't help seeing his teacher in a new light.

Had I been underestimating him all along?

[The footage continued. Hearing Kakashi's words, Orochimaru burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing at?"

Although Kakashi asked the question, his expression darkened. He could tell that Orochimaru was looking down on him!

"Ha ha! What you say and what you can actually do are two completely different things!"

A relentless barrage of taunts followed!

Kakashi remained unmoved, holding his Lightning Blade at the ready to fight Orochimaru at any moment.

Yet Orochimaru merely sneered and turned around.

"You said you'd kill me. Go ahead and try!"

As soon as he finished speaking, killing intent enveloped Kakashi. On-screen, Kakashi's pupils abruptly shrank to pinpoints!

"If you can, that is-"

Only when the tapping footsteps faded, signaling Orochimaru's departure, did that killing intent disperse. Kakashi finally breathed out, released from the threat of death!

"Heh, take him down with me..."

Kakashi's pupils were still trembling as he gave a couple of self-mocking chuckles.

"I really am an idiot."]

The footage cut off!

Sasuke Uchiha exited the video, breathing rapidly, his back drenched in cold sweat. Just now, he had felt as though the Grim Reaper's scythe had been pressed against his neck.

The footage was so immersive that Orochimaru's killing intent toward Kakashi had enveloped the viewer as well. Sasuke's legs had gone weak, and he could no longer feel them!

"H-he really is powerful. Just what you'd expect from one of the Sannin!"

His voice trembled as he spoke.

"My teacher still isn't strong enough as he is now."

But the Orochimaru in the video was certainly no good either. The footage revealed that he had come for Sasuke's Sharingan, so his intentions definitely weren't kind. If Sasuke went to him, he might be used on the spot.

That was out of the question. After thinking for a moment, Sasuke Uchiha decided to put it aside. He would make surpassing Kakashi his goal first. Otherwise, how could he even talk about anything else?

One of the Sannin had a formidable reputation, after all. He wondered whether Kakashi could defeat Uchiha Itachi.

Stroking his chin, Sasuke pondered the question.

Hatake Compound

"Hah-hah-"

After exiting the video, Kakashi also had beads of sweat trickling down his forehead and was breathing rapidly, though he was doing much better than Sasuke Uchiha.

His face was just a little green!

His on-screen self had certainly been arrogant, actually thinking he could stop one of the Sannin!

Now he finally understood why his title had only used "and," unlike the "VS" in Sasuke's earlier video.

"It wasn't a fight, just an encounter. But the experience felt no different from dying once."

He was far too weak. From the way Orochimaru behaved, he seemed to have designs on Sasuke. His words made it clear that he had come for the Sharingan!

Kakashi quickly slapped himself twice. Once he had shaken himself free of that memory, he began considering what Orochimaru had said.

Orochimaru's words had revealed two objectives: Sasuke and his Sharingan. There was also the fact that he had infiltrated the ninja village, seemingly for an exchange or some sort of event. Otogakure!

So he wrote down two names on a sheet of paper: Sharingan and Otogakure.

After writing them, he began drawing out his thoughts. He drew two branches beneath Sharingan, labeling one "Sasuke" and the other "acquisition." Beneath the village's name, he drew two more: "a ninja village founded by Orochimaru" and "able to participate in some event in Konoha."

There was still far too little information. Kakashi practically scratched his head bald but couldn't come up with any other clues.

Still, he had a vague feeling that this was probably connected to the Konoha Crush Plan Luo Mang had mentioned before!

He had never even heard of such a small village. That could only mean it had attached itself to a major village, allowing it to enter Konoha. And that major village had very likely agreed to the so-called Crush Plan as well!

At that thought, Kakashi shuddered. This deduction was highly plausible. After all, Luo Mang had complained more than once about Hiruzen Sarutobi's weakness toward outsiders, which let others treat him like a pushover!