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Inside the damp, dark base, Sasuke Uchiha stared at Orochimaru with crazed eyes.
“Can you give me the power to defeat that man?”
“Of course. Obey me—and I’ll grant you power beyond even Itachi Uchiha’s.”
A fanatical gleam appeared in Orochimaru’s eyes. He wanted to nurture Sasuke Uchiha, then take over his body.
Well, Orochimaru wasn’t afraid of his plans backfiring. The Orochimaru from the original story did have his plans backfire.
“I don’t need your help. Even with my own strength, I can defeat that man.” Sasuke Uchiha turned, preparing to leave.
However, just as Sasuke turned, a bone blade blocked his path. Kimimaro looked at Sasuke expressionlessly.
“Are you trying to stop me?”
This time, Sasuke Uchiha activated his Sharingan beforehand, not wanting to be defeated by a sneak attack from Kabuto Yakushi like before.
However, even with his Sharingan active and fighting at full strength, Sasuke was absolutely no match for Kimimaro.
Kimimaro was currently dying from illness, but if he unleashed his full power, he could fight a Kage-level opponent.
Sasuke Uchiha, though possessing the two-tomoe Sharingan, was at best at the level of an elite Chūnin—The gap was too vast.
“Sasuke-kun, do you truly believe you can defeat Itachi Uchiha? You should know, Itachi is the most talented individual I’ve ever seen, second only to Shin Uzumaki,” Orochimaru said.
Sasuke, who was about to attack, held back, turning his head to look at Orochimaru.
“Is Shin Uzumaki really that strong?” Sasuke Uchiha frowned, asking Orochimaru. He remembered Kakashi saying earlier that Shin Uzumaki was the Undisputed Strongest in the Shinobi world.
“He’s a monster. Even Itachi Uchiha is completely incomparable to Shin Uzumaki.”
Orochimaru felt a twinge of jealousy.
Shin Uzumaki’s strength was otherworldly. He didn’t know how Shin had obtained such power.
If Itachi was a prodigy, then Shin was a God.
Sasuke Uchiha’s brow furrowed even deeper. Though he hated Itachi immensely, hearing this still made him feel somewhat displeased.
Once upon a time, his older brother Itachi was the person he admired most—the strongest person he knew.
Now, he had become the person Sasuke Uchiha wanted to kill most.
“If Shin Uzumaki is so strong, why should I stay here with you? I’ll go find him and ask him to train me!” Sasuke Uchiha finished speaking and took a step, intending to leave.
“Hehe.” Orochimaru chuckled coldly, mocking Sasuke Uchiha’s naivety. Why would Shin Uzumaki train him?
“You think he’ll agree? You’re delusional… In the entire Shinobi world right now, only I can help you,” Orochimaru said flatly.
This was true.
Besides Orochimaru, who would help Sasuke Uchiha increase his strength for his own purposes, no one else could.
As for Kakashi… sorry, Kakashi was still unconscious, taken down by Itachi Uchiha’s Tsukuyomi.
Though both had been subjected to Tsukuyomi, Sasuke Uchiha was fine, while Kakashi had remained unconscious since that day. His spirit was damaged; Kakashi wouldn’t wake up for at least ten days to half a month.
“Why would you help me? You have your own motives, don’t you?”
Sasuke Uchiha’s intellect was online.
He turned back and asked with a cold smile. Nothing falls from the sky for free—A person like Orochimaru definitely had a purpose.
“Indeed. I do have a motive. Because I have a grudge against Itachi Uchiha. I also want to see Itachi Uchiha die.” Orochimaru had already prepared his excuse. And it was indeed true; Orochimaru did want Itachi to die.
Occupy Sasuke Uchiha’s body, kill Itachi Uchiha, then gouge out his Mangekyō Sharingan to obtain the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan—this was Orochimaru’s goal.
Looking up at Orochimaru, Sasuke Uchiha didn’t know if he should believe him.
“Returning to Konoha, you won’t be able to get revenge. No one in Konoha can guide you to a level where you can defeat Itachi Uchiha. Only by accepting my tutelage do you have a chance.”
“I won’t wait for your answer now. Think about it carefully yourself.” Orochimaru didn’t expect Sasuke Uchiha to agree immediately. However, Orochimaru was absolutely confident that Sasuke would eventually stay.
Sasuke Uchiha wanted to leave. Orochimaru didn’t stop him. But just because Orochimaru didn’t stop him didn’t mean others wouldn’t.
Kimimaro blocked Sasuke Uchiha, preventing him from leaving. As for fighting… Sasuke Uchiha was directly beaten down.
Kimimaro showed no mercy, at most refraining from killing Sasuke Uchiha, thoroughly letting Sasuke experience what true weakness felt like.
This was also Orochimaru’s instruction, part of his plan. Only by making Sasuke Uchiha fully experience weakness could he make him agree more quickly.
The effect was surprisingly good, even exceeding Orochimaru’s original expectations.
In just two days, Sasuke Uchiha agreed to stay. And to show his determination, he even scratched a line across his forehead protector.
From then on, he was a Missing-nin of Konoha.
Orochimaru was very pleased by this. He would now focus on nurturing Sasuke Uchiha.
Actually, the reason Sasuke Uchiha agreed, besides being beaten quite badly, was because he had another idea in mind.
His current strength was insufficient; escape was impossible. Why not increase his strength, kill Orochimaru, and then leave?
Use Orochimaru to increase his strength, then kick him aside when he was no longer useful. Wouldn’t that work?
This was Sasuke Uchiha’s current plan. One had to admit, Sasuke Uchiha’s heart was also quite dark.
Orochimaru and Sasuke Uchiha, each with their own agendas—both harbored ill intentions.
——
Meanwhile, in Konoha, several days had passed since Sasuke Uchiha’s disappearance.
Naruto Uzumaki was frantic…
His best friend was gone just like that. ‘My best bro… where did he go? How did he suddenly disappear?’
“Pervy Sage! Have you sent anyone to look for Sasuke yet?!”
Naruto barged into the Hokage Tower again, entering the Hokage office and clamoring at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya, seeing Naruto appear again, looked utterly distressed. This annoying brat Naruto is here again.
“I’ve already sent people to look. If there’s any news, I’ll tell you immediately. Can you please not disturb my work right now?” Jiraiya indicated he still had a mountain of work to do. Where did he find time to waste on Naruto?
“It’s been so many days. Sasuke wouldn’t have gotten into trouble, would he?” Naruto sat on the floor, dejected.
Jiraiya sighed. He didn’t know why Naruto and that kid Sasuke Uchiha were so close. Perhaps this was their bond, just like his and Orochimaru’s.
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