Orochimaru stared at Itachi, his inner state far less calm than his outward appearance suggested.
Even he himself couldn't say why, but when facing Itachi directly, especially seeing that indifferent expression on Itachi's face, he felt somewhat uncertain in his heart.
Itachi looked at Orochimaru and said, "Hand over the Nine-Tails!"
"Just relying on a few of you, I'm afraid it won't be that easy to make me obediently hand over the Nine-Tails!" Pausing, Orochimaru continued, "I've already told my conditions to 'B'. If you want the Nine-Tails, you have to trade what I want with me!"
After speaking, Orochimaru carefully observed Itachi.
He wanted to confirm through Itachi whether 'B' and these Akatsuki members like Itachi were in the same group, so as to plan for the next step.
However, after listening, Itachi remained expressionless, not even a fluctuation in his eyes, making it impossible to judge any useful information from his reaction.
Subsequently, accompanied by a burst of caw caw crow calls, the flock of crows that formed Itachi's body suddenly scattered and flew away!
Orochimaru's face darkened.
Undoubtedly, what appeared here was only one of his Shadow Clones, and Itachi obviously judged this point as well, so he didn't waste energy tangling here.
Orochimaru's Shadow Clone leaped to the top of the tree canopy and observed the battlefield.
The 'Impure World Reincarnation bodies' of the First, Second, and Fourth Hokage were currently entangled by Sasori and Deidara, and Yakushi Kabuto was fighting with Juzo Biwa. The battle situation was largely in a stalemate.
Logically speaking, according to the characteristics of the 'Impure World Reincarnation bodies', unless someone could break the deadlock, such a stalemate was beneficial to him.
But with Itachi's appearance, the intention to retreat sprouted in his heart.
Because Itachi was the person who could break the deadlock!
Moreover, Itachi's appearance meant that there might be other members of the Akatsuki organization nearby. After all, the Akatsuki organization generally operated in groups of two, so once the number of personnel exceeded two, it was very likely a major operation that the Akatsuki organization was determined to win, and the number of members participating in the operation would be difficult to estimate.
Having made up his mind, Orochimaru's Shadow Clone immediately sent out a signal to retreat, then vanished into white smoke with a poof.
Almost at the same time Orochimaru sent out the signal, there was an immediate change on the battlefield.
Yakushi Kabuto, who was tangled with Juzo Biwa, summoned several large snakes, using these large snakes to pin down Juzo Biwa, while he himself quickly withdrew and retreated from the battlefield.
The First Hokage's 'Impure World Reincarnation body' activated 'Wood Release' with full force, suppressing the Third and Fourth Kazekage human puppets controlled by Sasori on the field.
Using the cover of 'Wood Release', the Second Hokage used the 'Flying Thunder God Technique' to flash to the First Hokage's side, taking the First Hokage and retreating from the battlefield. And the Fourth Hokage similarly used the 'Flying Thunder God Technique' to flash to Orochimaru's main body, taking Orochimaru and retreating from the battlefield.
Whether it was Yakushi Kabuto in 'Sage Mode', or the Second and Fourth Hokage using the 'Flying Thunder God Technique', their movements were shockingly fast. This resulted in the battlefield being in fierce confrontation one moment, and completely silent the next.
As the battle on the ground came to an abrupt end, Deidara in the air controlled the clay bird to land on the ground.
Jumping in front of Sasori, Deidara said, "Sasori-brother, I thought you were done for just now!"
"Even if you die, I won't die!" Snorting, Sasori glanced around, his face gloomy, "I didn't expect 'Impure World Reincarnation' to be so tricky, miscalculated!"
Deidara agreed, "Yeah, worthy of being the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf, un!"
Even as arrogant as Sasori and Deidara, after experiencing the fight just now, they had to admit the strength of the three Hokage of the Hidden Leaf.
On the other side, Itachi and Juzo Biwa met up.
Walking to the place where he had just burned Orochimaru with 'Amaterasu', Itachi noticed a crack on the ground leading underground.
Juzo Biwa squatted down to check, "Seems to be some kind of Substitution Jutsu."
Itachi said, "This is a Substitution Jutsu developed by Orochimaru simulating snake shedding, which can withstand almost any ninjutsu, but there should be a price."
Juzo Biwa asked, "So he really got hit by your 'Amaterasu' just now?"
"Mhm!"
Itachi nodded lightly.
In his eyes, any ninjutsu had flaws. Orochimaru used this special 'Substitution Jutsu' to dodge the fatal blow of his 'Amaterasu', and must have paid a considerable price.
Subsequently, the two came in front of Sasori and Deidara.
Deidara complained, "Hey hey, you guys are late, un!"
Juzo Biwa curled his lips, "Obviously you guys started too early!"
Sasori said with a gloomy face, "My informant rebelled. This was a trap carefully set by Orochimaru, but this is also good, saving us from searching all over the Ninja World for them!"
Itachi raised a question, "Why did he set a trap to plot against us?"
Juzo Biwa said, "Yeah, shouldn't he be hiding from us right now?"
"Orochimaru mentioned 'B' to me before, it should be that 'B' made some transaction with him!" Pausing, Sasori said, "As for the specific reason, everything will be clear once we catch that guy!"
"Then what are we waiting for now?"
Deidara urged the group while jumping onto a clay bird nearby.
Sasori temporarily put away the Third and Fourth Kazekage human puppets, and retrieved the fragments of his body and 'Hiruko', then jumped onto the clay bird, "This place isn't far from the Land of Fire. We can't tangle with that guy Orochimaru for too long. This time we'll make a move after Hiruko and Ranmaru arrive, aiming to win in one battle!"
Itachi and Juzo Biwa said nothing, jumping onto the clay bird that brought them...
...
On the Hidden Leaf Elite Team's side.
Because Orochimaru had established the Hidden Sound Village in the Land of Rice Fields, the first stop for the elite team was the Land of Rice Fields, Orochimaru's lair.
But before the elite team even entered the territory of the Land of Rice Fields, Jiraiya received a transmission from the Land of Rice Fields.
Obviously.
The great battle between Orochimaru and the Akatsuki organization involved both a sea of trees and a sea of sand. The commotion was too great, perceivable from over ten miles away. So the Hidden Leaf's intelligence network in the Land of Rice Fields quickly captured this important message, and transmitted the intelligence without waiting for the battle to end.
Passing the intelligence he finished reading to Kakashi beside him, Jiraiya said, "Found Orochimaru!"
Hearing this, Kakashi breathed a sigh of relief.
Not only him, everyone in the elite team had joy on their faces. Finding a person in the vast Ninja World was a drudgery. Now that the target was clear, they could pounce straight over and fight a quick battle.
In the crowd, Sasuke gritted his teeth, "Orochimaru, this time I definitely won't spare you!"
With the grudge of being implanted with the 'Cursed Seal' by Orochimaru previously, plus the grudge of being severely injured by Yakushi Kabuto in 'Sage Mode' during the last pursuit, Sasuke was prepared to settle it all at once!