I'M NARUTO UZUMAKI

The Choice of Orochimaru

"My information comes from Konoha. If you don't believe me, you can go to Uzushiogakure to investigate for yourself. But whether the Uzumaki Clan's leader and the Uchiha there will allow you to investigate is another matter entirely."

Orochimaru ignored Itachi's piercing gaze and instead observed him with amusement, like a snake sizing up its prey.

As one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru was a master manipulator, blending lies with just enough truth to make his deceptions believable.

For instance, claiming Uzushiogakure served as a forward base for Konoha was a deliberate fabrication.

If the village were truly hostile to Konoha, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Jiraiya wouldn't stand idly by. Even Danzo, despite his clandestine operations, avoided direct confrontation on this matter, treating it as a dangerous unknown.

Seeing Orochimaru's confident assertion, Itachi momentarily doubted whether the information was false. However, he wasn't about to trust Orochimaru blindly.

After a moment's thought, Itachi asked, "Your source of information is Konoha? I doubt an outsider could acquire intelligence of this level so easily."

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly and replied in a slow, deliberate tone, "Inquiring about my sources isn't part of our transaction. We're both rogue shinobi, and we both understand the value of spies. Haven't you left someone behind in Konoha as well?"

Left someone behind?

Itachi's expression barely flickered, but for a brief moment, his thoughts turned to Sasuke. His face darkened—Orochimaru was threatening him.

"You mean Sasuke, that weakling? He's not a spy. If he had posed any threat, I would have eliminated him that night."

Orochimaru merely chuckled, unconcerned with the young Uchiha. "Itachi-kun, is there anything else you'd like to discuss? We could always negotiate another deal—perhaps even cooperate against Uzushiogakure and the Uchiha there."

"This is an internal Uchiha matter. I suggest you stay out of it."

Hearing this, Itachi frowned, then added, "By the way, if you plan on attacking me, now's your best chance—Kisame is far enough away."

"Itachi-kun, you know me so well. Why not collaborate? Give me your Mangekyō Sharingan to study for a few days…"

Before finishing his sentence, Orochimaru formed a seal with both hands. The solid ground beneath them transformed into a mass of writhing serpents, slithering toward Itachi.

Yet Itachi stood motionless, allowing the serpents to coil around him, his expression eerily calm.

Believing his attack had succeeded, Orochimaru approached leisurely. "Itachi-kun, where are your vaunted genjutsu and Katon jutsu? I expected a real fight. Or are you simply stalling for time?"

Itachi remained silent, his gaze steady and unsettling.

Then Orochimaru sensed something was wrong. He commanded the snakes to attack, but no matter how they struck, Itachi's composure remained unshaken. In the distance, the sky glowed with an ominous fire.

It's midnight. The sun shouldn't be rising so soon…

Realizing the deception, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and asked, "When did you trap me in a genjutsu? I didn't sense any chakra disturbance."

Itachi responded flatly, "From the moment we met."

Orochimaru's eyes widened in realization. "I see… but my Mandara no Jin (Ten Thousand Snake Formation) activates on a timer. I imagine your real body outside this illusion must be in quite the predicament."

As he spoke, Orochimaru broke free of the genjutsu, using the combination of his burning snakes and a summoned beast to disrupt Itachi's hold.

However, escaping the illusion had come at a steep cost—much of his body was charred and riddled with deep wounds.

Meanwhile, the massive snake horde of Mandara no Jin had suffered heavy losses, their bodies reduced to scorched husks. The acrid scent of burning flesh filled the air.

Orochimaru sighed. "To think that just a few years ago, you were a mere child… Now you possess strength rivaling the Five Kage. The Uchiha bloodline is truly enviable."

Perched on a high branch, Itachi gazed down at him and spoke coldly, "Enough talk. Use whatever jutsu you have left."

Orochimaru didn't waste words. Slamming his palm onto the ground, he summoned Manda.

The colossal serpent appeared in a thunderous burst of smoke, immediately putting Itachi on high alert. But instead of attacking, Orochimaru used the distraction to flee, his body melting into shadows as he disappeared into the distance.

Frowning, Itachi activated Amaterasu, the inextinguishable black flames consuming Orochimaru's retreating form within seconds.

With the contract severed, Manda vanished in a puff of smoke.

Itachi halted his pursuit, his gaze landing on a charred corpse draped in remnants of an Akatsuki cloak.

Kisame, who had just arrived, glanced at the remains and sighed. "So, that's the end of Orochimaru? I would've liked to fight him at least once."

Itachi shook his head slightly. "Orochimaru isn't that easy to kill. He must have escaped somehow."

Kisame raised an eyebrow. "I see… Still, forcing him to flee means you've surpassed him in strength. If he thought he had a chance, he wouldn't have run."

"Regardless, he's made a grave mistake. Not only was he wounded, but he's also violated Akatsuki's rules. From now on, he'll be an enemy to both the Five Great Nations and Akatsuki."

Itachi frowned, sensing an inconsistency.

Orochimaru was highly skilled in genjutsu—he once forced a past Eight-Tails Jinchūriki into a rampage using illusions alone. There was no reason he should have been so easily trapped by Itachi's Tsukuyomi.

Furthermore, after escaping the illusion, Orochimaru's decision to flee rather than counterattack seemed… premeditated.

Was his intention all along to leave Akatsuki? And before departing, did he merely test whether he could take my Mangekyō Sharingan?

If so, then the information he had shared earlier…

A troubling thought crossed Itachi's mind—Orochimaru had been Danzo's ally for years, closely tied to Root's clandestine activities.

Danzo must have provided him with information…

After all, Orochimaru once operated within Konoha's higher ranks. Even after defecting, his connection to Danzo remained strong—just as Itachi himself had secretly reported Akatsuki's movements to the Third Hokage in exchange for Sasuke's protection.

---

Hundreds of Kilometers Away

After hours of escape, Orochimaru emerged from a narrow crevice in a rock face.

The burned flesh on his body had already been shed, revealing fresh, pale skin beneath. His tattered clothing was the only sign of the battle he had endured.

Looking down at himself, he muttered, "Five cycles of cell regeneration lost. This body won't last much longer. I need a new vessel."

"Who should it be? Kimimaro… or another reserve?"

"Kimimaro is ideal, but his Kaguya clan disease is still an issue…"

"Seems I'll need a different host. A pity I couldn't claim Itachi's body, but now that I've openly opposed him, I can't stay with Akatsuki any longer."

He contemplated his options.

One was to establish his own village in one of the smaller nations.

The other was to seek refuge in a rival great nation—perhaps Iwagakure or Kirigakure—offering intelligence in exchange for protection.

Even the newly formed Uzushiogakure could be an option…

After a moment, Orochimaru smirked.

"Why not both?"

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