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Chapter 35: Studying the Uchiha
A sudden kick launched from the shadows toward Itachi.
"Ahh… h!"
With the caw of a crow, the figure of the weasel shattered into a flock of crows.
As the crows scattered through the air, the real Itachi appeared above them in a flash.
Shurikens clashed mid-air, switching directions and cancelling each other out as four ninjas coordinated to block Itachi's attack.
Using his instantaneous movement technique, Itachi closed the distance, delivering a sharp kick to one of the Sound Ninjas.
The remaining three immediately charged at him, only to be swiftly overwhelmed in the chaos.
Two others moved toward Shisui, but with just a glance from him, both collapsed instantly, falling unconscious.
Yakushi Kabuto remained at the cave's entrance, unmoving. These Sound Ninjas were elite shinobi gathered by Orochimaru. Their abilities weren't weak—
But even under siege, Itachi barely broke a sweat.
He had only used a Crow Clone and a single illusion, yet he managed to eliminate two opponents without them ever joining the battle.
Within moments, the Sound Ninja lay defeated across the battlefield.
"What a disappointment… You couldn't even force me to use my Mangekyō Sharingan."
A raspy, magnetic voice echoed from the shadows.
Orochimaru, in a newly obtained body, stepped forward with a sinister smile.
Kabuto lowered his head.
"I'm deeply sorry, Orochimaru-sama."
"Stand down. The next battle isn't for you to interfere in."
Though his body was newly acquired, it was still strong enough to summon Manda.
Orochimaru's cold, refined face twisted into a faint grin. His golden eyes gleamed with serpentine hunger as he bit into his finger with a quick snap.
Crimson blood welled up. Slowly, he began weaving the hand seals—each one deliberate, filled with venomous intent. His voice was low, nearly a whisper, but it carried weight like a curse cast in the dark.
"Summoning Technique!"
Bang!
A massive cloud of smoke burst outward, swallowing the battlefield in a choking haze. The pressure in the air shifted—heavy and oppressive.
Itachi and Shisui instinctively leapt back, kunai at the ready.
Kabuto's breath hitched. He's summoning Manda this early…?!
From within the smoke came a thunderous, hissing roar:
"Orochimaru! If you summon me, I demand a sacrifice!"
Orochimaru frowned.
"Defeat them, and I'll provide you with a proper offering."
ROAR!!
Manda's massive body slammed into the earth like a whip.
Boom! A crater formed instantly.
After missing, Manda coiled up and raised his enormous body, casting a monstrous shadow over the land.
Kabuto quickly dragged three nearby unconscious shinobi to safety. The others weren't so lucky—several were crushed into pulp beneath Manda's strike.
"Itachi Uchiha! I didn't expect you to come to me yourself."
Orochimaru's greedy eyes locked onto Itachi's Sharingan.
Back when he was still in Konoha, he had witnessed Itachi's suicidal training methods. Even then, he coveted his eyes.
After defecting and taking control of the Land of Rice Fields, Orochimaru created the Sound Village and devoted himself to studying forbidden jutsu.
In just a few years, he had improved the Second Hokage's Edo Tensei technique and perfected his own version of immortality—Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Obsessed with Itachi's eyes, he planned to claim them for himself.
Later, his spy in Konoha informed him of the Uchiha Clan's fallout with the village—
Even more shocking: both Itachi and Fugaku had awakened the legendary Mangekyō Sharingan.
Orochimaru couldn't believe Fugaku had hidden such power, even during the long years of the Third Great Ninja War.
And yet, here was Itachi—still so young—already possessing Mangekyō.
Itachi and Shisui exchanged a silent glance.
They couldn't allow Orochimaru to become wary of their Genjutsu. To defeat a beast like Manda, they'd need to use Susanoo.
"Come on, Itachi! Show me that Mangekyō Sharingan Susanoo!"
Orochimaru was ecstatic. A madman obsessed with jutsu, he couldn't resist the allure of witnessing a legendary power.
RUMBLE! RUMBLE!
Manda charged again. Each attack shook the earth like a magnitude-seven earthquake.
Debris flew everywhere, smoke and dust filled the air—
Itachi and Shisui barely managed to evade.
"We need to retreat!" Kabuto shouted, carrying the unconscious ninja with him.
"Itachi! Hiding isn't like you! Come on—show me the power of a god!"
Orochimaru grew more impatient by the second.
Once Itachi confirmed they were the only ones left nearby, he locked eyes with Shisui and nodded
.
The tomoe in Itachi's eyes spun into a triangular windmill.
An orange-red chakra erupted from him, forming a colossal skeletal frame, muscles, and then armor—
Susanoo, Second Stage!
Simultaneously, Shisui leapt toward Orochimaru.
"Amazing… truly amazing! This is Mangekyō! This is divine power!" Orochimaru's pale face twisted in madness.
Despite Susanoo's intense chakra consumption, Itachi effortlessly launched Manda into the air with a single strike.
BOOM! Manda screeched as he was flung back.
Without pause, Itachi hurled a cluster of Yasaka Beads.
As Manda was knocked aside, Orochimaru jumped down—only to meet Shisui head-on.
His eyes shifted away from Susanoo.
"Shisui… I heard Danzo's been eyeing your eyes. That means you, too, possess the Mangekyō Sharingan, don't you?"
Orochimaru's gaze sparkled. With his intellect, he had already guessed it—Shisui's eyes were no ordinary Sharingan.
But he didn't know Mangekyō could also unlock secret techniques unique to the user.
He was about to find out.
At that very moment, Shisui's eyes bled as he activated his trump card:
Kotoamatsukami.
Orochimaru's eyes widened in shock. What!?
Too late.
…
[Ding! Congratulations, host. You have significantly altered Orochimaru's fate.]
Reward: Ghoul Sealing Technique ×1
Kaien smiled. Shisui had come through.
…
ROOOAR!!!
Manda shrieked in pain as the Yasaka Magatama struck. Black flames erupted across his body—
Amaterasu!
"What are these flames?! NOOOO—AHHH!!"
He howled in agony.
"Orochimaru! What are you doing?!"
In his final moments, Manda saw Orochimaru freeze midair—his body limp—and fall.
No way! Was Orochimaru defeated?
Why isn't he using his jutsu? Hidden Shadow Snake Hands? Manda Formation?!
Panic surged through Manda. Bang! In a puff of smoke, he disappeared.
Orochimaru slowly raised his head, eyes hollow.
"…I am the sacrifice."
His voice was eerily calm.
"Why are you only arriving now? There's still much to do. Don't waste time."
With that, he turned and began walking toward the valley.
Itachi deactivated Susanoo and staggered to the ground, supporting the exhausted Shisui.
They exchanged a look.
In that one moment, Shisui had rewritten Orochimaru's will.
Before, Orochimaru merely wanted to manipulate the windmill.
Now, he wanted to become the storm that drives it—
To reshape the world itself.
Orochimaru glanced back.
"Susanoo consumes more than just chakra, doesn't it?"
Itachi nodded. "Yes. It also drains pupil power. It's a dangerous technique."
One second, they were deadly enemies—
The next, they were speaking like teammates.
It was bizarre.
Yet Orochimaru didn't find it strange at all.
Kabuto emerged from the base, stunned to see Orochimaru standing with the two Uchihas.
But his loyalty prevented him from questioning it.
Orochimaru said calmly.
"They're here to cooperate with me. Go prepare the medical lab."
"Medical lab…?"
Kabuto, once a skilled medical-nin, understood what that meant.
Such facilities were only used for biological experiments.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama! What are we researching this time? I'll prepare the test subjects."
Orochimaru turned, licking his lips as his eyes lingered on Itachi.
"…We're studying the Uchiha. The test subject… is Itachi."
Kabuto: "..."
….
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Translated By – Ancient Lores
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