In the Land of Rain, at the Akatsuki base,
Uchiha Itachi watched the screen showing Sasuke's indifferent expression – an expression that seemed to have nothing to do with him, an expression blinded by hatred. For the first time, it made him doubt himself.
He began to reflect:
Is what I believed to be right, truly right?
Is the love I think I showed Sasuke actually what Sasuke wanted?
Destroying the Uchiha clan and leaving only Uchiha Sasuke... was that cruelty towards him, or love for him?
"Is the path I'm following truly correct?"
[The Screen Continues--]
[Naruto leaped high, landing directly on Sasuke and punching him. "What do you think your Konoha comrades are?!"]
[Unexpectedly, Sasuke spat the blood from his mouth onto Naruto's face and said nonchalantly, "Can your so-called comrades make me stronger?"]
["I'm going to Orochimaru."]
[Hearing this, Naruto couldn't help but retort, "Do you think he'll just give you strength for free? He just wants your body as a vessel! You'll be killed! How can I just stand by and watch you go?!"]
[Sasuke remained unusually calm, "Something like that doesn't matter anymore."]
Ino: "It's just as we thought! Sasuke's reason for leaving the village is to gain power and then kill Uchiha Itachi!"
Tenten: "But he's going to die!"
Sarutobi Hiruzen: "I know Orochimaru's character. He would never make a deal where he doesn't profit!"
Jiraiya: "I hope Naruto, that foolish boy, can bring Sasuke back!"
Just as they were eager to watch the continuation of Naruto's battle, the screen unexpectedly switched to playing other clips, catching everyone off guard.
[On the Screen--]
[Two men in Akatsuki uniforms are moving quickly up bluestone steps.]
[Uchiha Itachi walks in front, with Orochimaru following closely behind, maintaining a short distance.]
[Suddenly, Orochimaru's left hand transforms into a snake, instantly binding Uchiha Itachi's body. He then smiles proudly saying, "To encounter someone possessing the precious Sharingan right in front of me... I'm so fortunate."]
["Now then, I will take your body..."]
[In the next second, Uchiha Itachi's Sharingan ocular technique activated. Orochimaru realized that everything he had just experienced was genjutsu; he had already fallen prey to Itachi's illusion technique.]
["Such terrifying pupil power... it's magnificent."]
[Then, trembling, he prepared to form hand seals again, but unexpectedly, with a scream, his left hand was severed by Uchiha Itachi.]
[Itachi looked calmly at Orochimaru. "Your ninjutsu is completely useless before my eyes."]
The image on the screen ended, but the shock it left upon Konoha Village, and indeed the entire Shinobi world, was hard to describe.
At this moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt like he couldn't face anyone.
In the future shown on the screen, he had desperately fought to seal Orochimaru's hands.
But Uchiha Itachi had merely looked at him and cut off a hand.
If Itachi hadn't been concerned about Orochimaru being part of the same organization, it's likely Orochimaru could have been killed on the spot.
It truly was a humbling comparison.
The eyes of the Konoha rookies were wide with shock, finding it hard to believe.
Orochimaru was one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha, a terrifying figure capable of making children cry in fear.
Yet this same person, who could kill the Third Hokage and attempt to destroy Konoha Village, was easily disabled by Uchiha Itachi.
What left them most speechless was,
Sasuke intended to seek Orochimaru out as a master... this... even if he learned everything Orochimaru knew, he still wouldn't be able to defeat Uchiha Itachi.
However, in the eyes of Kage-level powerhouses like Jiraiya and the Fourth Raikage, they could see more nuance.
While it was true that Uchiha Itachi seemed to defeat Orochimaru in an instant, there was also an element of matchup compatibility and counters involved.
If Jiraiya, also one of the Konoha Sannin, were to fight Uchiha Itachi, the result would certainly not be the same.
Of course, determining the exact outcome would require a specific look at their respective physical conditions and preparedness at the time of a potential fight.
...
Land of Rice (Otogakure),
Orochimaru's physical condition at this time had deteriorated to the point where he could barely hold out until Sasuke's arrival.
Kabuto observed this and advised, "Lord Orochimaru, why don't you perform the reincarnation technique first? We can wait another three years for Sasuke's body! That will also allow him to become stronger and more suitable for your reincarnation."
"Fine! Arrange it!" Orochimaru said with resignation.
At that moment, after Kabuto stepped out, he witnessed the scene where his most admired Lord Orochimaru was instantly defeated by Itachi.
This directly struck at the core of his beliefs.
How could this be?
Lord Orochimaru, the most powerful being in his mind, defeated with just a glance?
Is that the true strength of the Uchiha clan?
What terrifying Sharingan, what a terrifying Uchiha Itachi.
He also began to understand more deeply why Lord Orochimaru wanted to ally with Sunagakure to destroy Konoha – it was all for Uchiha Sasuke's body.
"Lord Orochimaru, I must help you obtain Sasuke's body!"
With this thought, Kabuto went deeper into the base and took the man named Gen'yūmaru, who was one of Orochimaru's prisoners to the laboratory.
...