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Uchiha Itachi waited patiently outside.
Though "Root" was not the same organization as the Anbu, its members were selected through equally rigorous standards, and those who participated in the selection were often outstanding talents from prominent clans.
Two Root operatives had entered the building together—surely nothing would go wrong, right?
Itachi gripped his kunai tightly. If any unusual sounds came from inside, he would charge in without hesitation, ready to fight.
Escape?
Even if he had to flee, he would take those two with him. Returning alone was out of the question—how could he face such disgrace?
If word got out, the Uchiha clan's reputation would be ruined.
Soon, agonized screams echoed from inside—not just one, but two.
Itachi immediately sprang into action, rushing toward the old building.
---
Midorima watched as Itachi charged in and asked in surprise, "How did you know he wouldn't run?"
"Was there ever any doubt? The pride of the Uchiha clan wouldn't allow him to desert," Orochimaru replied with a smirk. "Besides, if he fled without confirming whether I was really here, how could he report back to his superiors?"
Midorima nodded. That made sense.
Leaving aside the issue of desertion, returning without verifying Orochimaru's presence would indeed be humiliating.
"But what if he sets the building on fire?" Midorima asked.
"How can he, when we have his two comrades under control?" Orochimaru countered.
"Ah, you really are ruthless," Midorima admitted bluntly.
"No, that's Danzo's idea," Orochimaru said, narrowing his eyes. "Root operatives are valuable research material to me, but to Danzo, they're just tools."
As they spoke, Itachi burst into the building.
The door slammed shut behind him, and the overhead light flickered on.
After a brief moment of adjustment, Itachi took in the scene before him.
The two Root members who had entered earlier were now coiled around by two massive snakes. Atop each snake's head stood a person—one wore a mask and sat cross-legged, while the other, dressed in black, appeared to be a young man.
Which one was Orochimaru?
The masked man, or the youth?
"Hey, you're Uchiha Itachi, right?" the masked man called out.
"And you? Are you Orochimaru?" Itachi shot back.
"Me?" The masked man waved a hand. "Nah, I'm just a spectator. Basically, I'm here to watch you fight him. Don't worry about me—I'm technically a prisoner too. See, he won't let me move because he's afraid I'll run."
Itachi grew even more wary.
"You don't look like a captive. You seem pretty free."
"You know about cursed seals, right? That's how he's keeping me in check."
"So, Orochimaru values you that much?" Itachi's eyes darted between the two snakes, searching for an opening to rescue his comrades.
"Tch… I'd rather he didn't. By the way, why didn't you just set the building on fire from outside? That's child's play for an Uchiha, isn't it?"
"Hmph! I would never kill my own teammates!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, that's the wrong mindset. The mission always comes before comrades. Think about it—if you set the building on fire, at most two people die. But if you die here, the village loses way more. Ever heard of the trolley problem? Never mind, you probably haven't."
Itachi eyed the masked man suspiciously, unsure what to make of him.
If he was working with Orochimaru, why was he giving advice that seemed genuinely helpful? But if he wasn't, why was he sitting so casually on the snake's head?
"Shut up," the young man finally snapped, cutting off the masked man's rambling.
"Oh, one last thing—do you really think these two Root operatives are here to help you? If they hadn't been captured, you wouldn't be in this mess, right?" The masked man shrugged and turned to the young man. "Alright, I'm done. Your turn."
"You'd better watch yourself," the young man growled.
"Hey, I'm not the bad guy here," the masked man retorted, propping his chin on his hand as he observed Itachi.
Meanwhile, Itachi was mulling over the masked man's words.
The only purpose of the two Root members had been to lead him here before recklessly charging inside.
Regardless of their intentions, their actions had undeniably put him at a disadvantage.
Could it be… that this was all part of a calculated plan?
---
"Uchiha Itachi, you can take off your mask now. Since I know your name, it means I've already done my research on you," the young man said, peeling off the disguise on his face to reveal cold, serpentine features.
"What about him? Doesn't he need to show his face?" Itachi removed his own mask.
"Me? I'm just a spectator. You two go ahead and fight—don't mind me." The masked man waved dismissively. "This is a premium VIP seat—hard to come by."
Orochimaru fixed his gaze on Itachi. "The people I take an interest in are usually quite talented. Boy, don't disappoint me."
"Answer me one thing," Itachi demanded. "How did Konoha discover you in a place like this?"
"How should I know? That's a question for you. I was just passing through when you people showed up. I drove off two during the day, and now you're back for more." Orochimaru smirked.
"What's your purpose for being here?"
"That depends on whether you can defeat me!"
Orochimaru's tongue flicked out, and the giant snake lunged at Itachi!
Itachi swiftly formed hand seals and inhaled deeply.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball crashed into the snake's head.
Not daring to let his guard down, Itachi continued retreating even as the flames struck.
Then, dozens of oversized shuriken shot through the fire.
"Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu?!"
Itachi's eyes widened in shock. He barely managed to leap out of the building just as the two snakes smashed through the walls, bursting into the open.
---
Cough cough cough… Damn, that was rough. VIP seats really do come with hazards.
Midorima spat out a few times after removing his mask, then quickly put it back on.
The sudden collapse of the wall had caught him off guard.
Unlike Orochimaru, he didn't have the luxury of openly defying Konoha. Orochimaru hadn't allowed him to fight Itachi for fear that he might escape with the young Uchiha in tow.
True, Midorima didn't know the Evil Sealing Method, but in Konoha, plenty of people did—the Third Hokage, Kakashi, maybe even Tsunade…
It wasn't exactly a rare technique.
Still, even if he had fought Itachi head-on, he probably wouldn't have stood much of a chance.
The Sharingan was ridiculously overpowered—one wrong move and he'd be trapped in a genjutsu.
Better to just enjoy the show.
The battle between Orochimaru and Itachi had reached a fever pitch.
Itachi relied on fire techniques to keep Orochimaru at bay. After unleashing Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu, the giant serpent coiled defensively, shielding Orochimaru from the flames. Seizing the opportunity, Orochimaru leapt from the snake's head and dashed toward Itachi at blinding speed.
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T/N: I need your opinion, which one of this title do you think is better for this book, "Naruto: Planning My Defection" OR "Naruto: Becoming a Mist Village Missing-nin".