The mission request posted by Raizen quickly spread through the black markets in the small towns scattered across the Land of Fire.
In a hidden cave, several figures clad in black cloaks adorned with crimson clouds gathered.
"There is a simple mission for thirty million Ryo in the capital of the Land of Fire. Who wants to take it?" A woman in a black cloud cloak—Konan—asked as she drifted down to land atop a stone statue, addressing the group.
"Old man Kakuzu isn't here; otherwise, this mission would have his name written all over it," Deidara sneered.
Beside him, Sasori's voice echoed deeply from within his puppet. "The Land of Fire... isn't that the homeland of Orochimaru and the newcomer, Itachi?"
"The two of them are the most suitable for this," Sasori concluded.
Konan turned her gaze toward Orochimaru and Itachi Uchiha. "Orochimaru, Itachi, what do the two of you think?"
Orochimaru stared at Itachi with a gaze thick with greed. "Kukuku... I have no objection."
Itachi opened his eyes calmly. "Since I have joined, I will follow the Leader's arrangements."
Hearing Itachi's agreement, Orochimaru's smile turned even more sinister. His snake-like slit pupils remained fixed on Itachi. Itachi, however, remained composed, as if he didn't even notice the predator's gaze.
The meeting ended. Orochimaru and Itachi agreed on a meeting point and departed. Shortly after, the two met on a secluded path.
Orochimaru approached step by step, his greed now visible to the naked eye. Itachi showed no change in expression, walking slowly toward him. Just as they were less than a meter apart, Orochimaru stopped.
In Orochimaru's consciousness, he had already moved behind Itachi, releasing a snake to coil tightly around the young Uchiha's body.
Believing he had captured his prize, Orochimaru let out a triumphant laugh. "Itachi, do you know the meaning of eternal life?"
"I am currently pursuing it, and for that, I require a perfect vessel."
"And you... you are the ultimate vessel to grant me immortality."
Itachi, seemingly trapped in mid-air, spoke in a low, steady voice. "In the end, this is nothing more than your own hollow desire."
At that moment, Orochimaru's consciousness snapped back to reality. He realized with a jolt of horror that, at some unknown point, he had been paralyzed by Itachi's visual prowess.
"When did you...?"
"To think you could catch me in a binding jutsu without me even realizing..."
"What terrifyingly perfect eye power!"
Orochimaru struggled desperately to break free, but Itachi's blade fell. A sharp arc of steel severed Orochimaru's arm in a single stroke.
"Orochimaru," Itachi said, his voice devoid of emotion as he raised a kunai. "Should I kill you, or spare you?"
Just as he was about to deliver the final blow, several shuriken whistled through the air toward him. Itachi flickered backward, dodging the projectiles.
"Lord Orochimaru, are you alright?! I'm here to save you!" Kabuto Yakushi flashed in front of Orochimaru, tossing several explosive tags toward Itachi.
BOOM!
A cloud of smoke erupted. By the time it cleared, Orochimaru and Kabuto had vanished.
Watching the spot where they had disappeared, Itachi fell into deep thought. Vessels... immortality... Is Orochimaru researching a forbidden jutsu to transfer souls? He targeted me because he covets the Uchiha's visual power.
Automatically, the image of Uchiha Sasuke surfaced in Itachi's mind.
"Itachi, a fight broke out here? What happened?" The figures of White Zetsu and Black Zetsu emerged from the ground, questioning him.
Itachi replied calmly, "Orochimaru turned traitor. He attacked me, failed, and fled."
"Orochimaru has defected?" White Zetsu asked in surprise.
Black Zetsu, the "loyal son," muttered, "I saw the way that brat looked at Itachi. I knew he was trouble."
"Itachi has no partner now. What about the mission?" White Zetsu asked.
"Send word to the Leader. Have him assign a new partner for Itachi," Black Zetsu commanded.
The message was relayed instantly through Zetsu's network to Konan and Nagato's proxy.
"Orochimaru attacked Itachi and fled," Zetsu reported.
"Orochimaru defected?" Nagato was slightly surprised.
"He always looked at Itachi with greed. It was only a matter of time before he acted," Konan said, unfazed. Orochimaru's betrayal was well within her expectations.
"With Orochimaru gone, what about the Land of Fire mission?" Zetsu asked.
Konan spoke up before Nagato could. "Jūzō Biwa is currently without a teammate. Have him pair up with Itachi."
"Mhm. Let it be so," Nagato nodded. "Notify Jūzō. Tell him to depart immediately to rendezvous with Itachi Uchiha."
Back with Itachi, White Zetsu opened his eyes. "We have word. The Leader has assigned Jūzō Biwa as your new partner. Wait here; my clone has already gone to fetch him."
Itachi nodded, sitting on a rock to close his eyes and rest. An hour later, a man carrying the massive Kubikiribōchō (Executioner's Blade) and wearing the black cloud cloak appeared.
Jūzō laughed. "Itachi, sorry to keep you waiting."
"It's no matter. I needed the rest. Let's move."
Two days later, the pair appeared in the black market of the Land of Fire's capital. They received the mission scroll Raizen had posted.
"A group of rogue ninja? This mission is a cakewalk," Jūzō laughed as he read the scroll in a tavern. "This client must have more money than brains to pay this much for low-tier trash."
"The rogue ninja are no trouble. The problem is Kudo," Itachi said quietly.
Jūzō shrugged. "What's the problem with Kudo? He's just a civilian. I'll charge in and take his legs with one swing."
Itachi frowned. "From what I know, he is the Daimyo's brother. His estate is adjacent to the Palace. The Palace is guarded by the Twelve Guardian Shinobi, all of whom are elite Jōnin. Our entry will inevitably draw their attention. Once surrounded, and with the local garrison providing endless reinforcements, escape will be difficult."
"Then what's the plan, Itachi?"
"We observe first," Itachi said. "I noticed something and want to confirm it."
"What is it?" Jūzō asked.
Itachi's eyes fixed on a shop not far away. "Our clan's former business properties are crawling with rogue ninja. I want to confirm why."
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