Itachi no unmei -イタチの運命-
(The Destiny of Itachi)
Part 2 : Searching for Orochimaru
I had to retrieve the part of Kyûbi that was sealed inside Minato Namikaze. However, the problem was that he was dead. And worse than that, his soul was imprisoned by Shinigami, the god of death. In other words, it was impossible to revoke his soul.
To solve this mystery... I would need to call on someone who knew death better than anyone else. Who else but him... could help me? I was going to have to face him again. It was difficult enough since I had learned that his goal was to steal my pupils and that he dreamed of destroying Konoha... But did I have a choice?
I then went to the village of sound. A brand new village, which had just sprung up. It was him, the one I intended to visit, its leader.
It was nighttime. In the dark, it was difficult to easily perceive the surroundings. For a normal human, yes, but not for me. My Sharingan gave me extraordinary perception. I could see the location of the main hideout very clearly.
I then entered the underground tunnels. My pupils were on the alert, detecting the slightest suspicious movement. I could sense the chakra of the one I was looking for. It wasn't difficult... No one else had chakra of that nature. And above all, very few people possessed such a large amount of chakra.
I finally reached the door I was looking for. Behind it, the gallery would lead me to the one I was searching for. I was about to enter when suddenly...
— Itachi Uchiha...»
He had spotted me... I wasn't surprised. In fact, I expected nothing less from him.
— What are you doing in my room? Wasn't what you did to me last time enough, young Uchiha?» Orochimaru called out to me, having just silently opened the door.
— I wanted to talk to you.» I explained.
— Hun hun hun...» he chuckled «Don't you think that's a bit bold? You're still as arrogant as ever.»
I didn't answer. I didn't see the point in responding to his provocation. And then... I could see it clearly... He was overflowing with the desire to monopolize me. He wouldn't let an opportunity like this pass him by; he had to agree to let me come and talk to him.
— Still as quiet as ever... So, tell me, what do you want?»
As I had anticipated.
— I need you. For a mission.»
— This mission... Is it on behalf of Akatsuki?»
— Of course .»
— Hun hun hun...! You exclude me, then you come back to kiss my feet... How ironic! Even more so when it's the one who banished me who comes to visit me!» he laughed.
— To tell you the truth, I came here on my own initiative. Pain doesn't know about it.» I explained.
— Oh... Interesting...» he whispered «So, you're unable to accomplish your mission on your own, and you're calling on me?»
I frowned. He was making fun of me. Anyway, whatever, I wasn't going to complain about such childishness... As long as he agreed...
— You're the only one I know who can cheat death.»
He stared at me, a big smile on his lips, his tongue hanging out of his mouth, which he suddenly pulled back in. I could sense it. He wanted me. He wanted my body.
— Tell me more.» he urged me.
I sighed. It was too easy. I could see it... He had something up his sleeve. Again and again... the same goals.
— When he died, the Fourth Hokage sealed only part of the fox demon inside him. The other part... he sealed inside himself...» I recounted.
— Yes,... I know that. I have my sources of information.» he muttered.
— I want the part of Kyûbi that is inside him.»
Orochimaru opened his eyes wide. The smile already on his face widened.
— Oh... That should be interesting...»
— Do you think you can bring him back?»
— To tell you the truth, I don't think so. I can indeed bring back the souls of the dead... But not without their bodies.» he sighed «I need their DNA, but Minato's body is being held captive by the Shinigami. And worse than that, so is his soul, so I can't access it.»
— That's a shame...»
Presumably, he was still capable of bringing beings back to life. What was blocking this... was the fact that Minato was Shinigami's prisoner.
— What if we managed to free Minato from the Shinigami?» I suggested.
— Very interesting...» he laughed.
— Do you think you can do it?» I asked him.
Orochimaru rubbed his chin, seemingly deep in thought. It was obvious that what I was asking him was difficult... And the more difficult it was, the greater the price he would demand in return. Unfortunately, I didn't expect to succeed without a price.
— I want your body in return.»
Of course, I expected that... That old pedophile... He would stop at nothing to increase his power. He wanted my Sharingan, and to get it, obtaining my body was ideal. If he transplanted my pupils, he would have trouble controlling them, not having Uchiha genes. But with my body... It was perfect.
To tell the truth, I didn't particularly care about life. I had already sacrificed everything. On the other hand, I cared about my village and my brother. And I knew that without me... they would be in grave danger. Madara, the Akatsuki, Orochimaru... If I were ever to die, I would have to neutralize them first.
— That's impossible. I can't accept.»
— I Know...» he sighed.
He looked away for a moment. His gaze inspired infinite sadness. This desire for power and knowledge... Had truly become so unhealthy that it had turned into a real form of love.
— In that case... I want Sasuke.» he concludes.
He couldn't have expected me to agree...
— I would like to take him under my wing. I know you have a plan for him... I'm interested. I want to see how he develops. By watching him evolve, I might understand the mystery surrounding the Uchiha clan. And then... I could potentially acquire your dojutsu.» he explained.
— I know it's his body you want.»
— I promise you... I won't touch it while you're alive. During that time, you'll let me train him... Without interfering.»
His promise was sincere... I could trust him, I could see it in his expression. But what bothered me... was that he clearly implied that once I was dead... he could do whatever he wanted... I couldn't bear him doing anything to my brother. So... I would have to kill him before I died.
— All right... I'll agree... But you promise me you'll treat him well, okay? Anyway, I'll always be there... Watching you from the shadows.»
— You have my word.» he promised «Anyway... I know very well what would happen to me if I broke our agreement... Hun... Hun... hun...!»
— One last condition... I would like you to wait for my signal before taking him under your wing. I want to wait for the right moment...»
— As long as he's still young, strong, and has potential for growth, that's fine with me.»
So our agreement was set. But in the end, it didn't bother me that much. As for Sasuke, I already had my plans. I absolutely had to fuel his hatred and desire for revenge... To make him evolve. And Orochimaru was the ideal person to train him. However... If I were to die too soon... I would have to kill Orochimaru first. So my plan was set.
Now, all we needed to know was how to succeed. Orochimaru must have had an idea in mind if he had agreed... So there had to be a way to revoke the souls imprisoned by the Shinigami.
— How and when are we going to proceed?» I asked him.
Orochimaru thought for a moment, then replied:
— As for the "how," it would take a while to explain... But to proceed, we'll have to go back to Konoha. Is that okay with you?»
— Yes...»
— You show very little remorse for someone who cold-bloodedly killed every member of his clan... Returning to the scene of your crime... doesn't that bother you at all?»
— I could ask you the same question...»
— I see...! Hun hun hun! Definitely... on some points, we're on the same wavelength... Killing your own... to perfect your power... We have to go through that, don't we? It's a necessary evil.»
— Of course...»
— I suppose... the next step in your plan... is to confront Sasuke... and kill him. To gain power. But for that, he must first feed on hatred and resentment... To be strong enough to face you.»
— You're perceptive... We understand each other, you and I.»
— Indeed...»
You're dreaming. You and I... we're clearly not meant to understand each other. You've never grasped the meaning of human life... The very definition of inhumanity. The very definition of everything I hate. But that... unfortunately... I could never tell you. My true personality will always and forever remain... in the shadows.
📖To be Continued...📖