Uchiha the Madman: He embodies truth and obliterates reality.

Chapter 68 Calculations in One's Mind

"What's going on? Who is this man?"

Sasuke glanced at Orochimaru, then turned to Danzo beside him and asked, "Isn't it you, Danzo, who's supposed to teach me how to become stronger?"

Seeing Sasuke raise a question, Danzo calmly explained, "He is Orochimaru, one of the legendary Sannin of Konoha. In some ways, he is more suitable than me to teach you how to become stronger."

The Legendary Sannin of Konoha?!

Sasuke's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

The reputation of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha was so great that even young Sasuke had heard of them. When he was still a child, he had heard his father, Fugaku Uchiha, tell him about the deeds of the Legendary Sannin.

Sasuke was captivated by the story of the three legendary Sannin of Konoha fighting Hanzo, the leader of Amegakure, on a rainy night during the Third Shinobi World War.

And now the three legendary Sannin of Konoha are right in front of him? And they're going to teach him?

Sasuke sensed something was amiss; Danzo's words were far too idealistic.

"If he really is one of the Legendary Sannin of Konoha..."

Sasuke hesitated, "Why would he teach me to become stronger? I've never even met him before."

To keep Sasuke calm, Danzo continued to persuade him: "Don't worry about the details. Don't you want to become stronger, Sasuke? The opportunity is right in front of you. Whether you can seize it or not is up to you."

"Don't you want revenge against Itachi Uchiha?"

Danzo's words struck a nerve with Sasuke.

Although he had a bad feeling, Sasuke couldn't resist the temptation of being personally taught by the legendary Sannin of Konoha. His desire for revenge overwhelmed all his reason.

If Sasuke misses this opportunity to become stronger, he doesn't know if he'll ever have another chance to become stronger in the future.

"Fine! Let the Legendary Sannin of Konoha teach me how to become stronger!!" Sasuke's eyes revealed a deep-seated hatred.

Sasuke is willing to give anything to avenge himself against Itachi Uchiha!!

"interesting."

Hearing Sasuke's resounding words, Orochimaru became extremely interested in the black-haired boy before him. Not because he could possess Sasuke's body, but because of the boy's unwavering resolve and the deep-seated hatred within him.

Most people would likely have suffered an emotional breakdown after the Uchiha clan was massacred. But Sasuke was quite the opposite. He not only didn't lose his courage, but also yearned to avenge himself against Itachi Uchiha, which is commendable.

Orochimaru sighed inwardly, "It's such a pity that I possessed you like this... Where can your whirlwind reach, Sasuke?"

Hmph. Orochimaru chuckled to himself.

Next, Orochimaru carefully examined the somewhat immature Sasuke opposite him, pondering whether to possess him now or later.

The Sasuke in front of me is still a child; he is indeed too young.

Orochimaru wanted a mature body like Itachi Uchiha's, not a mere child's body. If he were to possess Sasuke himself, his body would rot away in three years at most, and he wouldn't be able to grow to the same level as Itachi, which clearly didn't meet his expectations for possession.

Judging from the current situation, Sasuke needs to grow for a few more years before he is ready to possess another body.

The conditions for possession were not suitable, and Orochimaru's growing admiration for Sasuke ultimately led him to abandon his plan to possess Sasuke.

Orochimaru thought to himself: It seems I have no choice but to wait. Judging by the time, Kabuto should be finishing the construction of the underground shelter soon.

Orochimaru already had a plan in mind regarding how to deal with Sasuke.

Since he couldn't possess Sasuke's body right now, he planned to nurture Sasuke first. Before the meteorite fell, he would transfer Sasuke and himself to the underground shelter built by Kabuto, so they could avoid the impending meteorite crisis together.

After the crisis, he sought an opportunity to possess Sasuke's body.

Having figured this out, Orochimaru smiled kindly and said gently to Sasuke, "Don't worry, Sasuke! I will help you become stronger and take revenge on that Uchiha Itachi."

"Become stronger than anyone else." Orochimaru's tone was sincere, like an elder genuinely concerned about Sasuke's growth.

"Yes, thank you, Lord Orochimaru."

Hearing Orochimaru's words, Sasuke sincerely thanked Orochimaru.

He didn't care what the man in front of him wanted from him; as long as he could help him take revenge on Itachi Uchiha, that was enough.

"You're welcome, Sasuke-kun. That's what I was thinking too. Uchiha Itachi is also an enemy of Konoha."

As Orochimaru spoke, he thought to himself: Taking revenge on that Uchiha Itachi is what I want to do too; he is also my enemy.

Orochimaru has never forgotten the grudge Itachi Uchiha inflicting on him by cutting off his arm, and he will get his revenge sooner or later. However, it's uncertain whether he'll have that opportunity before the crisis.

"Shall we begin now?" Sasuke asked tentatively.

Orochimaru was about to agree when Danzo interrupted him.

"Orochimaru, you come outside with me first. Sasuke, you stay here."

With that, Danzo walked out of the secret room.

Although Orochimaru couldn't figure out what Danzo wanted to say to him, he still followed Danzo out of the secret room.

After leaving Sasuke alone in the secret room, Danzo and Orochimaru went outside in the corridor to talk.

"Lord Danzo, what do you want to say to me?" Orochimaru asked respectfully.

"It was agreed upon beforehand."

As soon as Danzo finished speaking, several Root ninjas hidden in the shadows in the corridor immediately handed a scroll to Orochimaru.

"The Book of Seals!"

Upon seeing the enormous scroll in his hand, Orochimaru immediately recognized it.

This document records the forbidden techniques of the First and Second Hokage, including the Impure World Reincarnation technique invented by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.

Orochimaru believed that with the help of this Book of Seals, he would soon be able to fill in the gaps in the Impure World Reincarnation technique.

In the corridor, Danzo stared at Orochimaru and said calmly, "I've given you everything you wanted. Now it's time for you to do something for me."

"What can I do for you, Lord Danzo?" Orochimaru nodded slightly.

"It's nothing," Danzo said calmly. "I just need you to find a way to stop the meteorite from falling."

Orochimaru smiled and shook his head, replying, "Lord Danzo, isn't that asking too much of a question?"

"However, there might be a solution..."

Orochimaru paused, then continued, "Why not revive the previous Hokage and the others? Perhaps they can find a solution to the meteorite crisis."

"No way!" Danzo rejected Orochimaru's suggestion without even thinking.

Danzo knew very well that if the previous Hokage and the others were resurrected, they might discover what they had done.

If his secret were exposed, his teachers Tobirama Senju and the First Hokage might not understand him, and might even ruin his plans.

Everything I did was for Konoha!

Danzo felt a sudden surge of loneliness, a sense of being misunderstood by others. Perhaps those who walk the right path are destined to bear this kind of pressure!

Even if it means bearing the burden of sin, he will continue to move forward for the future of Konoha.

Chapter 69 Danzo's Ambitions

"Lord Danzo, are you really not going to seriously reconsider?"

Orochimaru's attitude seemed exceptionally sincere: "Given the impending apocalypse, I feel it is necessary for us to seek external help and utilize some special means. What do you say, Lord Danzo?"

In the end, Orochimaru gave Danzo a deep look.

"Don't think I don't know what you're up to, Orochimaru!" Danzo stared at Orochimaru with a cold look in his eyes and said in a deep voice, "You want to resurrect the Second Hokage and the others, don't you? Don't even think about it! If the previous Hokage and the others knew what I've done, they would definitely settle accounts with me before the end of the world."

Danzo looked at Orochimaru and coldly questioned, "Do you want to destroy me, Orochimaru?"

"I didn't mean that, Lord Danzo. I just wanted to suggest that you do it this way, since you also want to find a solution, don't you?" Orochimaru shook his head calmly.

Danzo seemed to see through everything. He continued, "You'd better give up that idea, Orochimaru. Don't blame me for not warning you, otherwise... you know the consequences."

"How could I dare disobey Lord Danzo's orders?" Orochimaru bowed his head respectfully.

"Others simply don't understand my painstaking efforts. Everything I've done is for Konoha. So what if I bear a bad reputation? As long as Konoha can survive, it's all worth it."

Danzo sneered, then removed the bandages, revealing the crimson Sharingan that had been hidden in his right eye.

"Um!!"

Orochimaru suddenly raised his head and met Danzo's Sharingan eyes.

"Submit to the power of the Sharingan!" Danzo's eyes glowed red in the darkness.

Immediately afterwards, the pattern of the three-tomoe Sharingan appeared in Danzo's pupils, and finally slowly merged into a giant tomoe.

"Could this pattern be... the Mangekyou Sharingan?"

Upon seeing the Sharingan in Danzo's eyes, Orochimaru could no longer remain calm.

And in that very instant—

Danzo moved, arriving beside Orochimaru in an instant at a speed invisible to the naked eye.

"So fast..." Orochimaru's pupils contracted.

Before anyone knew it, Danzo was holding a kunai, and before Orochimaru could react, the kunai pierced Orochimaru's heart.

"How dare you..."

Orochimaru's mouth was bleeding, and he was in excruciating pain. He never expected that Danzo would dare to make a direct attack.