The sky is red.
The world is in black and white.
The world under Uchiha Itachi's Tsukuyomi seems devoid of life.
Orochimaru, with his head lowered, still has a cold smile hanging from his lips, showing utter disdain for Uchiha Itachi's methods, not fearing in the slightest the pain of a ninja blade piercing his body.
"Itachi, is this the extent of your genjutsu?"
One of the Three Legendary Sannin of Konoha, how could he possibly fear such an illusory torture?
If this young Uchiha Itachi thinks this would make him afraid, then he is greatly underestimating his senior, isn't he?
"Truly worthy of being Orochimaru."
Uchiha Itachi, unfazed, pulls out the ninja blade and stabs Orochimaru again, blood splattering anew, yet his voice remains calm.
"There's something you forgot, everything in the world of Tsukuyomi, including time, is under my control. This is just the beginning, we are to experience seventy-two hours here, and in the time to come, I will continue to stab your body with this blade, the pain of being pierced by the ninja blade is just as real as in reality..."
"Seventy-two hours?"
Orochimaru's pupils suddenly dilated.
If it were just a stab or two, Orochimaru wouldn't care much, but seventy-two hours? How many times does Uchiha Itachi intend to stab him?
"As I said, the time of Tsukuyomi is under my control."
Uchiha Itachi, indifferent to his thoughts, pulls out the ninja blade again and slowly plunges it into his chest: "Not even a second has passed in the world of Tsukuyomi, Orochimaru can feel the length of life here..."
As Uchiha Itachi moves, one after another, illusions of Uchiha Itachi approach, raising their ninja blades, all stabbing into Orochimaru, blood flowing from the wounds!
Yet...
These illusions of Uchiha Itachi, like emotionless machines, coldly stab Orochimaru one after another!
"Ah!"
Orochimaru finally cries out in pain!
This Tsukuyomi illusion is like a nightmarish interrogation for Orochimaru.
Orochimaru has no idea when it will end, unable to count the time of his torture, with only the caster, Uchiha Itachi, knowing the exact flow of time.
Until Orochimaru doesn't know how many times he has been stabbed, only feeling the pain of being pierced by the ninja blade, he hears Uchiha Itachi's voice.
"One second has passed."
Uchiha Itachi, calm and indifferent, utters words that chill Orochimaru's heart: "Seventy-one hours, fifty-nine minutes, and fifty-nine seconds to go..."
"Only one second has passed?"
Orochimaru feels the pain he just experienced, the injuries he suffered in that single second surpassing all the injuries he has endured in his life by far!
Yet...
Has only one second passed?
For the first time through such torture, Orochimaru feels the length of life, yet he can only stand helplessly crucified, watching as countless ninja blades stab into his body one after another!
"Ah..."
Orochimaru's pained moan echoes in this black and white world.
In the real world.
When Uchiha Itachi finally releases Orochimaru from the Tsukuyomi illusion, Orochimaru's body involuntarily falls to the ground, gasping for breath, his forehead covered in cold sweat, his arms still trembling...
"Such a level of genjutsu…"
Orochimaru's voice was trembling, the pain in his brain still present, rendering him unable to recover from the agony: "How is this possible…"
"Nothing is impossible."
Uchiha Itachi looked down at Orochimaru, who was lying on the ground, with two kunai flashing in his hand, seemingly intending to do something more to Orochimaru.
"You brat…"
Orochimaru stared at Uchiha Itachi and let out a low laugh: "You actually want to kill me here?"
"Of course not."
Uchiha Itachi watched Orochimaru and slowly shook his head: "But, at least, I'll give you a profound lesson, so you won't harbor any more covetous thoughts…"
Fortunately.
Their confrontation was interrupted by someone else.
The arrival of Sasori of the Red Sand, with his Hiruko puppet, said coldly: "Bullying your senior just after joining the Akatsuki organization?"
Uchiha Itachi's hand flicked, and he instantly retracted his kunai.
Upon seeing Sasori's arrival, Orochimaru's eyes flickered with disdain. Sasori's arrival indeed saved him, but it also made him feel humiliated.
Sasori was definitely going to mock him, right?
"Can you still stand? Or can't you?"
Sasori's Hiruko puppet crawled to Orochimaru's side, noticing that Orochimaru couldn't stand up, and even extended its tail to wrap around Orochimaru's body, dragging him away from there.
"It seems I have to thank you…"
Orochimaru was being dragged by Hiruko, looking somewhat embarrassed.
"No need to thank me."
Sasori dragged Orochimaru to a mountainous staircase in front of the Akatsuki organization's base, then suddenly stopped, apparently wanting to do something else.
Orochimaru was still wondering why he stopped, but then turned his head to see the staircase, his expression suddenly changing: "Wait, what are you trying to do!"
Sasori suddenly took off the ring from Orochimaru's hand, loosened Hiruko's tail, and threw Orochimaru directly onto the mountainous steps, letting Orochimaru roll down the steps!
"What are you trying to do!"
Orochimaru gritted his teeth as he tumbled down!
"I'm actually saving you."
Sasori's Hiruko puppet responded in a hoarse voice, continuing coldly: "This is to save some face for you, considering we once carried out missions together."
"I'm now going to see Pain, to report that you wanted to kill a newcomer to the organization, betraying Akatsuki. I've wanted to kick you out of Akatsuki for a long time…"
"Run…"
"Today is your chance to escape…"
"From tomorrow on, I will hunt you down. Enjoy the remainder of your time, for your eternal life can never compare to my eternal art…"
"Bastard!"
Orochimaru could only curse resentfully!
Still suffering from the aftereffects of the Tsukuyomi illusion, Orochimaru had no strength to resist and rolled down the cliff, not even having a chance to grab a lifeline!
That bastard Sasori…
To think he would take advantage of this moment to attack him!
Orochimaru was well aware that in his current state, there was absolutely no possibility of escaping the pursuit of Sasori of the Red Sand. He had to find a way to save himself!
Orochimaru tumbled down the mountain and hastily released a small white snake clone from beside his feet, sending it to quickly bring Yakushi Kabuto to save him.
Sasori of the Red Sand glanced at Orochimaru rolling down the steps and slowly turned around to head towards the base. He still had to report Orochimaru's defection to Pain.
Uchiha Itachi also witnessed this scene.
This newcomer who had just joined the Akatsuki organization understood the relationship between the members of the organization and felt the competitive corporate culture within the Akatsuki.
"Newcomer," Sasori looked at Itachi and calmly taught him a lesson: "If you lose to another newcomer in the future, Orochimaru's fate today will be yours."
Itachi lowered his head.
Inside the cave of the Akatsuki base.
Pain, without hesitation, agreed to Sasori's request and retracted Orochimaru's ring.
In Pain's view, Sasori, who had truly faced hardships, was one of their own. Orochimaru, at best, was just a pawn that could be discarded at any time.
"Since Orochimaru wants to betray the Akatsuki, then it's up to you to take care of him, to prevent him from leaking information about the Akatsuki."
"Okay," Sasori nodded.
Pain even proactively asked Sasori for his opinion: "During this period, Konan will look for a more suitable partner for you, Sasori. What do you think?"
"The stronger, the better," Sasori did not make any troublesome demands.
In the Land of Rain.
Inside a hidden cave.
Yakushi Kabuto was obediently waiting for Orochimaru but instead of Orochimaru's arrival, he received a message from the small white snake sent by Orochimaru, asking him to come for a rescue.
When Kabuto reached the foot of the Akatsuki base following the small white snake, he saw Orochimaru covered in blood and even his clothes were torn and tattered. Orochimaru had bruises all over his body from rolling down the mountain steps and could only lie motionless in a patch of grass…
Orochimaru was in too much of a sorry state…
Where could one see any semblance of the legendary Sannin of Konoha?
Because Orochimaru's brain was still suffering from the aftereffects of the Tsukuyomi genjutsu, he couldn't even perform the Orochimaru-Style Body Replacement Technique, and even moving his fingers was difficult.
Kabuto was puzzled.
What exactly happened?
How did Orochimaru end up like this after such a short time?
When they parted, he had made him promise not to move and said he would quickly retrieve Uchiha Itachi's Mangekyō Sharingan, but when they met again, why did he look like a beggar thrown out?
"Lord Orochimaru!"
Kabuto's eyes slightly narrowed, but ultimately, he didn't take any action. Instead, he quickly crouched beside Orochimaru, his face filled with worry as he used medical ninjutsu to heal his wounds.
"Kabuto."
Orochimaru finally saw his savior.
At this moment.
Orochimaru even felt somewhat fortunate that the person by his side was Yakushi Kabuto.
Because Yakushi Kabuto is a medical ninja, he can help heal injuries; due to Yakushi Kabuto's strength not being very strong, he is still within his control.
"First, take me away from here."
Orochimaru, looking at Yakushi Kabuto's worried face, commanded in a deep voice: "Find a place to hide first, Sasori, that bastard, will come chasing after us tomorrow..."
"Yes."
Yakushi Kabuto immediately carried Orochimaru on his back and asked softly, "What exactly happened? Did Sasori and Lord Orochimaru have a conflict?"
"..."
Orochimaru slowly closed his eyes.
He really didn't want to talk more about it. How could he say that he was instantly killed by a genjutsu from Uchiha Itachi, and then tortured in a genjutsu world for three days and nights?
"Let's go first."
Orochimaru didn't want to mention this painful memory, just instructing: "Now I can't concentrate to use ninjutsu, I'm no match for Sasori..."
As for Akihara Kagura...
Orochimaru could only set that aside for now.
The most pressing matter now is to evade Sasori's pursuit. He doesn't think Sasori is the type to show mercy, probably treating him like a toy that can be played with at any time!
Yakushi Kabuto took Orochimaru to a hidden cave.
Orochimaru still lay on the ground unable to move, the aftereffects of Tsukuyomi were too severe, even causing greater damage to his soul that had been through reincarnation.
"Lord Orochimaru, it's time to take your medicine."
Yakushi Kabuto took good care of Orochimaru.
In fact, through his own diagnosis, Kabuto understood that Orochimaru was affected by Uchiha Itachi's Tsukuyomi because he had seen the case with Uchiha Sasuke when he was in Konoha.
Of course.
Kabuto didn't deliberately mention it.
Kabuto knew very well when Orochimaru could recover and what treatment to use for recovery: "Lord Orochimaru, your injury will need at least one more month..."
"I understand."
Orochimaru took out a scroll and threw it to Kabuto: "Now I'm teaching you a little trick, it contains a precious item..."
"What?"
Kabuto opened the scroll, which was written with three words.
"Third Kazekage."
Orochimaru was not in the mood for riddles, softly talking about his achievement: "I have completed a jutsu formula, Edo Tensei, a jutsu that can resurrect the dead..."
"Resurrect the dead?"
Kabuto's palm tightened.
At this moment, Kabuto immediately understood why Akihara Kagura had him infiltrate Orochimaru's side; just this jutsu alone held considerable value!
"I got a little material from that bastard Sasori, successfully summoned the Third Kazekage, just release what's inside the scroll when that bastard Sasori comes after us, try using the Third Kazekage to stop Sasori's pursuit. The only trouble is my spirit can't control the will of the Third Kazekage..."
Orochimaru droned on about the flaws of this jutsu. He originally had difficulty controlling the will of the Third Kazekage, and after being hit by Tsukuyomi, it became even harder.
"However... this is only temporary."
Orochimaru, looking at Kabuto, continued in a deep voice: "As long as my injuries heal, and I perfect this jutsu a bit more, in the future I could obtain even more powerful individuals..."
"Even..."
When Orochimaru said this, his mouth could even smile: "Reviving the legendary God of Ninjas, the First Hokage Senju Hashirama for my use, and the resurrected Edo Tensei can use endless chakra..."
"That time..."
"Your concern, Kagura, will not be my match."
"Too bad..."
"Since conspiracy is not an option, then I will have to use other means."
This is Orochimaru's trump card.
Once the Edo Tensei is perfected in the future, it will become Orochimaru's trump card to once again be able to suppress Akihara Kagura and obtain Akihara Kagura's body.
After praising his own forbidden jutsu, Orochimaru began to paint a grand picture for the only subordinate who could help him: "Follow me closely, Kabuto. Just perfect this jutsu, and I will be able to easily eliminate the troubles Kagura brings you."
"That would be best."
Kabuto slowly lowered his head.
Finally…
There's hope!
Is this the jutsu that Kagura needs?
Late at night.
When Orochimaru was sleeping.
Yakushi Kabuto went to the river to fetch water and encountered Sasori of the Red Sand, who had come to pursue Orochimaru. He voluntarily disclosed his own information.
"Mr. Sasori…"
"Now I am Lord Orochimaru's physician. Under my treatment, I can only ensure that Lord Orochimaru's mental injuries would be forced to heal within a maximum of three months…"
"…"
Sasori of the Red Sand felt odd.
Yakushi Kabuto's professional standards as a medical ninja are worrying! If it weren't for your treatment, Orochimaru might recover faster!
"What do you need me to do?"
Sasori looked at Kabuto, who took the initiative to speak: "Should I go easier or harder when I strike to kill Orochimaru?"
"It would be best…"
"To leave Lord Orochimaru with nothing to rely on."
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Sasori and took the initiative to remind him: "By the way, Lord Orochimaru has a corpse puppet in his possession that seems capable of combating Mr. Sasori…"
"That kind of thing poses no threat to me."
Sasori confidently shook his head. He didn't even need to use the power of the Asura Path, which is not something the current Orochimaru could handle: "I was Orochimaru's teammate, and I roughly know what that thing is. You don't need to worry."
"Then, Mr. Sasori, can you eliminate that corpse puppet?"
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Sasori, voicing his own opinion: "Force Lord Orochimaru into a desperate situation where he cannot use ninjutsu, forcing Lord Orochimaru to teach me that forbidden jutsu in order to escape your pursuit…"
"It can be done."
Sasori nodded and handed Kabuto a small bottle: "My puppets are all highly poisonous. This is the antidote I've prepared. Keep it to save your life, and you might as well learn to concoct the antidote, in case I accidentally harm you while pursuing you…"
~~~
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