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"Team up again?"
Orochimaru heard Danzo's words and immediately revealed a malicious smile, asking, "Danzo-sama, you wouldn't be thinking of having me kill Tsunade, would you?"
"That's right!"
Danzo nodded with a serious expression and said in a deep voice, "Not just Tsunade, but also that brat from the Uchiha Clan—both must be eliminated."
In the recent Hiruzen Sarutobi assassination incident, Danzo fought Uchiha Itachi, losing several Sharingan. If Uchiha Itachi had overused his ocular power, he might have been forced to use Uchiha Shisui's eye.
After that encounter, Danzo felt that Uchiha Itachi's existence was a potential threat even greater than Uchiha Shisui, and he had to be eliminated!
"Hehehe!~"
Orochimaru heard Danzo's words. They didn't sound like a joke, but he couldn't help laughing as he said, "Not just Tsunade—you even want to kill that genius clan leader of the Uchiha, who has awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan. Danzo-sama, you really think highly of me!"
"But I'm sorry, I can't do such a thing. And Danzo-sama, can you still afford to pay me for those things?"
As he spoke, his gaze openly fixed on Danzo's right eye, filled with greed.
In the recent assassination incident, Orochimaru had witnessed Danzo using the Uchiha Clan's forbidden ninjutsu, Izanagi, during his fight with Uchiha Itachi. He was very curious about that forbidden technique that could "bring the dead back to life."
"Hmph!~"
Danzo saw Orochimaru's gaze and couldn't help but snort coldly. "After it's done, I will tell you all the secret information about the Uchiha Clan, including the Sharingan's forbidden ninjutsu that allows one to escape death— Izanagi."
"So that ninjutsu is called Izanagi?"
Orochimaru pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "No, it's still too risky. I'm not confident I can deal with that brat's Mangekyo Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan."
Although this was an excuse to raise his price, he indeed wasn't confident in dealing with Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyo Sharingan after witnessing its abilities.
Fortunately, he and Uchiha Itachi were still allies for now. He could use Itachi to pressure Danzo, exploit the remaining value from this old man, and then "sell" him.
That's right—Orochimaru had long planned to sell Danzo as "goods," and he had even found buyers. Two of them.
One was Uchiha Itachi—or rather, the Uchiha Clan.
Danzo's arm full of Sharingan, revealed during his fight with Uchiha Itachi, was undoubtedly a desecration of the Uchiha Clan's bloodline. It would make him a mortal enemy of the Uchiha Clan, with no room for reconciliation. Selling him to the Uchiha Clan would surely yield a good reward.
However, Orochimaru also knew very well that even with Danzo as a bargaining chip, he definitely couldn't obtain a Sharingan or a forbidden ninjutsu like Izanagi from the Uchiha Clan. So the best way was to first drain Danzo dry, then sell him—making the most of him.
Orochimaru had anticipated that Danzo would not give up easily when he came to meet him this time. Whether it was the rise of the Uchiha Clan or Tsunade returning to the village to become the Fifth Hokage, Danzo would absolutely not allow it. He would definitely try to stop it.
And Orochimaru was the only helper Danzo could find now.
As long as Danzo still wanted to return to Konoha, he would take the bait. Then it would be time to test his bottom line.
As for the fact that the two had once fallen out and even tried to kill each other—for them, these were insignificant trifles.
Danzo pondered for a moment, then said, "I will give you some tactics and forbidden ninjutsu that the Second Hokage once researched specifically against the Uchiha Clan."
"Tactics and forbidden ninjutsu against the Uchiha Clan?"
A strange look appeared in Orochimaru's eyes, then he smiled. "I didn't expect Second Hokage-sama to have left such things behind. It seems the rumors about his constant vigilance against the Uchiha Clan were not groundless."
"Hmph!~"
Danzo snorted lightly. "The Uchiha Clan is inherently an uncontrollable and dangerous element. They are born with an evil bloodline."
"Hehehe!~"
Orochimaru laughed and extended his hand. "I don't care about such things. Please let me see what Second Hokage-sama left behind first."
"Here!"
Danzo seemed prepared. He took out a scroll and threw it to him.
Orochimaru caught the scroll, opened it, and glanced through it. A look of surprise appeared on his face.
"As expected of Second Hokage-sama—to come up with so many tactics and forbidden ninjutsu against the Sharingan. Truly amazing!"
The scroll recorded various encounters Senju Tobirama had with the Uchiha Clan since the Sengoku period, along with tactics and ninjutsu designed to counter the Sharingan. It even included multiple methods to more efficiently destroy Susanoo.
"Although the Mangekyo Sharingan is powerful, it is not without cost."
Danzo looked at him. "With your abilities—and with these—dealing with a mere brat from the Uchiha Clan should be easy."
"Hehe, if it were that simple, you wouldn't have come to me."
Orochimaru chuckled, then put the scroll away. "However, seeing Danzo-sama's sincerity, I'll team up with you one more time. When do you plan to act?"
Danzo's eyes sharpened. "Three days from now."
"No problem."
After discussing the details, the meeting ended. Orochimaru then went to see another person.
"Itachi-kun, we meet again."
Orochimaru smiled. "How does it feel to be treated as a hero?"
Very good.
Uchiha Itachi thought this but did not say it. Instead, he asked coldly, "What do you want?"
"Hehe, it seems your mindset has changed a bit."
Orochimaru studied him. "The way you look at me now… it's like you're looking at a criminal."
Itachi didn't answer, but his gaze flickered slightly.
"???"
Orochimaru's smile faded. "No way… you actually have such a thought?"
"No. You're overthinking it."
After a brief internal struggle, Itachi suppressed the thought and asked again, "What do you want?"
"Good."
Orochimaru relaxed slightly. "It's Danzo. He's planning to retaliate against you and the Uchiha Clan."
"Danzo Shimura!"
Itachi's eyes turned blood red. "Where is he?!"
"Itachi-kun, calm down."
Orochimaru smiled. "I can tell you his location… help you capture him… even help you kill him."
"But what are you willing to pay?"
After a pause, Itachi said, "What do you want?"
"Hehehe!~"
"Nothing from you. Just a favor."
---
Amegakure — Akatsuki Headquarters.
"Orochimaru."
Pain looked down at him coldly. "You'd better have something important."
"Hehehe!~ I do."
"It's about Danzo Shimura."
After explaining, Pain asked, "What do you want in return?"
"Just a favor—help me deal with one more person."
"Agreed."
Orochimaru smiled.
Everything was proceeding exactly as planned.
Somewhere in the Hidden Rain Village…
A frog emerged from a puddle. From its mouth, Jiraiya climbed out.
At the same time—
In Konoha, Naruto received a message from the Masked Man.
He could now be taken to meet the leader of the Akatsuki.