Chapter 476: Orochimaru—Itachi Uchiha, Long Time No See
In an instant,
The members of the Shadow Organization swarmed in, kunai raining down like a storm.
Thankfully, Kisame reacted quickly. Though bound by the magic-sealing chains, they only suppressed his four basic stats—they didn't immobilize him.
He kicked off the ground and dove forward, rolling twice with the momentum.
Just barely dodging the lethal barrage.
"Wait! There might be a misunderstanding!"
Kisame was the type who liked to fight more than talk. If something could be solved with Samehada, he wouldn't waste his breath.
But… that was in normal situations.
Right now, he was like a fish on a chopping board. His core stats were all under 100. While that still put him at elite-level player status—
So were the many members of the Shadow Organization surrounding him.
"Kill Uchiha Itachi and Kisame Hoshigaki! Avenge Lord Hokage!"
A village leader had been assassinated. As the man who entered Konoha alongside Itachi, Kisame could swear to the heavens he was innocent—and it wouldn't matter.
Two Tier 2 Earth Release users stepped forward.
Their jutsu, [Stone Bats], pushed shape transformation to the limit. Twin-winged creatures charged toward Kisame.
Clang!
With his chained hands, Kisame reached over his right shoulder and unsheathed Samehada, swinging in a wide arc.
The stone bats were shattered.
But even in pieces, they remained active. The chunks clung to his body like clay.
"Activating the wall pearls earlier wasn't just to vent anger."
Hayate Gekkō, his tuberculosis long cured by the Samsara Game, coughed out of habit and said, "Even if you're a player, you shouldn't forget the shinobi code."
Information gathering?
Kisame's face turned grim. They had clearly anticipated his water-style abilities and used the stone bats accordingly.
Once shattered, they acted like sponges—high absorption and water-resistance.
Kisame could already feel it—his Zanpakutō had grown even weaker with his stats suppressed.
Run!
He twisted and unleashed a sharp water ring slash.
Hayate drew his sword and intercepted, slicing the wave in half.
Kisame took the opportunity to flee.
Hayate's expression darkened. "Chase him! We can't let the Mist traitor escape!"
The assassination of the Hokage was already disastrous enough.
If the culprit managed to escape, the Konoha clan would become a laughingstock in the entire Samsara Game.
"Activate the clan's wall defenses! No one leaves this territory alive!"
The massive fortified wall lit up—embedded pearls flaring to life.
Any lifeform releasing energy waves would be annihilated by the defense system.
A trap with no escape.
Even if Kisame and Itachi were strong, they wouldn't make it out unscathed.
Meanwhile—
Sensing how bad things had gotten, Itachi had fled into the residential zone.
Ever since the Samsara Game appeared, major factions had rapidly expanded, recruiting any civilian with player potential. Konoha was no longer just a village—it was practically a city.
The residential zone alone was vast.
It was full of tall wooden buildings housing friends and family of Konoha's players.
"I didn't do it… how did Danzo die?"
Itachi burst into a secluded home, cast a genjutsu to knock out the owner, and tossed them into the basement.
He was deeply confused. Though he knew he'd been set up, he didn't know by whom.
Obviously,
Even if he had seen through Danzo's disguise, he wouldn't have killed him. That would leave him without proof—just like now.
And aside from Yamato of the Shadow Organization, no one else had been present.
Itachi had known about Yamato since before defecting—a former ROOT member, later turned by Kakashi, now loyal to the Hokage.
He had no reason to kill Danzo.
"You look confused, Itachi-kun..."
A voice spoke up.
Itachi instantly turned, eyes sharp. He hadn't sensed even the slightest presence.
Whoever this was… they were strong.
Far beyond his detection range.
Who is it?
The door creaked open.
A slim figure walked in, casting a long shadow across the floor, gazing at Itachi with amusement.
Cold golden snake eyes glinted faintly.
Orochimaru.
Itachi hadn't expected to encounter his old rival here—in Konoha.
"Itachi-kun, I didn't expect to meet you here. Our fates aren't finished yet."
Orochimaru smiled. As he spoke, he touched a fingertip to the table.
Countless black curse symbols spread across the surface, then slithered toward Itachi like living things.
Dark Curse Flame.
Itachi leapt back, black fire bursting from his hands to block the approaching symbols.
He didn't hesitate for a second.
"You and I are nothing alike, Orochimaru!"
His expression was cold, his guard up.
Reputation followed you like a shadow.
As one of the strongest players in the Samsara Game, Orochimaru was no longer the easy prey Itachi once defeated with a single genjutsu.
He had to be cautious.
"Is that so?"
Orochimaru didn't argue. But a trace of pity flashed in his eyes.
His class, [Necrosnake Warlock], revolved around the [Curse] and [Beast] traits.
Itachi's [Dark Curse Sorcerer] was based on [Curse] and [Flame].
Though Itachi wouldn't admit it,
Their abilities did overlap.
"Mr. Fang Yi said it clearly—players receive powers aligned with their soul and will."
Orochimaru licked his lips, snake-like and sinister. "That means… you and I are the same, Itachi-kun."
"Killing loved ones. Severing chains. All to fulfill our heart's desires."
"Shut up!"
Itachi cut him off sharply, dropping all pretense of composure.
Orochimaru's wickedness was unforgivable. He was loathed by all.
Even if Itachi had made similar choices,
His motives were different. His deepest desire was peace—for the ninja world—for Konoha.
"No matter what you say… game powers don't lie."
Orochimaru's words were like a curse.
Itachi unconsciously stepped back, his spine pressed to the wall.
He knew Orochimaru was right—Samsara powers were fair and just.
To have mastered dark curse spells and maxed their levels… was something he couldn't explain away.
Normally,
Itachi would've brushed Orochimaru off as annoying noise.
But he had been shaken—first by Aizen's mental manipulation, then by the village's misunderstanding, then by being framed for Danzo's death.
One crisis after another had stretched his spirit thin.
One more tug—and it might snap.
"So… this was all your doing?"
Itachi gritted his teeth, struggling to suppress the fury rising in his chest as he questioned Orochimaru.
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