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Ten years—that was no short time!
"Even if it's a minimum of ten years, by the time Uchiha Kagaya awakens the Rinnegan, we would have long realized the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan. So, if you know the Rinnegan evolution method, tell me. Even if I'm forced to tell Kagaya in the end, he wouldn't be able to use the Rinnegan to stop us from activating the Infinite Tsukuyomi."
Black Zetsu couldn't help but chuckle. "You're right."
Black Zetsu knew very well that ten years was an underestimate by Obito—twenty years, at least!
That meant even if Kagaya learned the Rinnegan evolution method now and immediately gathered the chakra of Indra and Asura, he would still need at least twenty more years to awaken the Rinnegan.
Twenty years later? What could happen in twenty years? By then, Kagaya would have long been transformed into a White Zetsu by the Infinite Tsukuyomi!
Obito thought Black Zetsu was a creation of Madara, but Black Zetsu had actually existed since ancient times. So he had a rough idea of how long it took Madara to awaken the Rinnegan.
Thus, after some thought, Black Zetsu spoke. "The method to awaken the Rinnegan is to gather the chakra of both Indra and Asura! As for who Indra and Asura are, you don't need to tell Uchiha Kagaya. Let that kid figure it out slowly."
Obito nodded. "Alright, I understand."
Indra and Asura—Obito knew of them. But in Obito's understanding, both were dead. How could one gather their chakra? But it didn't matter. Obito wasn't the one evolving the Rinnegan; he just needed to relay it to Kagaya later.
Perhaps in the future, that Uchiha Kagaya would search the entire world for people named Asura and Indra.
Afterwards, Obito and Black Zetsu discussed the progress and start time of the Tailed Beast capture plan before disappearing from the place.
Both firmly believed Kagaya couldn't know about ancient history. Little did they know, Kagaya might know even more than both of them combined—he just couldn't recall the Rinnegan evolution method at the moment.
*****
"Cough! Cough! Cough!!!"
Violent coughing echoed. In a dimly lit basement, weak lighting flickered, seemingly ready to go out at any moment.
"Has Sasuke arrived yet?!"
The room contained a bed. On it lay Orochimaru, his hands bandaged.
Although Orochimaru, having not fought Jiraiya and Tsunade, retained some vitality, by now, his body was slowly failing. He desperately needed Sasuke. Otherwise, he'd have to perform the Living Corpse Reincarnation on just anyone.
But a body with the Sharingan was within reach. How could Orochimaru bear to use it on just anyone?
The cooldown for Living Corpse Reincarnation was long—nearly two to three years!
"He should be arriving soon, Lord Orochimaru."
Sitting beside the bed was a person with glasses and white hair—Kabuto, naturally.
Orochimaru's face turned extremely gloomy. A suffocating atmosphere filled the room.
"Soon? Will he arrive today?"
This time, Kabuto didn't reply, merely lowering his head.
"BOOM!"
For an instant, terrifying, extreme killing intent erupted from Orochimaru. But the next moment, it vanished without a trace.
Orochimaru was an extremely rational person. Although the situation fueled his rage to its peak, he still didn't lash out.
Gently closing his eyes, Orochimaru spoke. "Leave. Let me rest. Notify me when Sasuke arrives."
Kabuto stood up. "Understood, Lord Orochimaru."
With that, Kabuto stepped out of the dim room.
The moment the door closed, the immense killing intent that had just vanished once again filled the room. Like a demon descending from hell, terrifying killing intent instantly appeared, even stirring up a gust of wind that extinguished the room's only light, plunging it into dead silence and darkness.
"Hurry, Sasuke. My body doesn't have much time left."
The serpent in the darkness softly flicked its tongue. At this moment, he burned with rage!
Too slow!
However, in stark contrast to Orochimaru...
"Too fast!"
Looking at the unconscious Sasuke before him, Itachi's clone spoke softly.
Due to Konoha's earlier pursuit, Sasuke was ultimately traveling alone towards Orochimaru's location.
But Sasuke was moving far too quickly. Although Itachi hadn't seen Orochimaru perform the Living Corpse Reincarnation technique, he had secretly inquired about it from the Third Hokage. Combined with Itachi's own deductions, Itachi believed Orochimaru's technique must have some drawback. Orochimaru's current state seemed extremely uncomfortable, his chakra highly unstable. He was likely desperate to change bodies. Thus, if Sasuke arrived too quickly, it would be problematic.
Sasuke must wait until Orochimaru was forced to change bodies before arriving!
To this end, Itachi sent a clone to find Sasuke and used genjutsu to render him unconscious. Although just a clone, a clone possessing the Mangekyo Sharingan was something the current Sasuke couldn't withstand.
Within the genjutsu, Sasuke was still traveling towards Orochimaru's location. He didn't even realize he was under genjutsu.
"Sigh..."
Itachi sighed. Who knew if Sasuke following Orochimaru was for good or ill? But at the very least, Itachi truly couldn't feel at ease leaving Sasuke in Konoha anymore. That's why he hadn't stopped Orochimaru from tempting Sasuke.
After all, both in the original story and now, the Third Hokage was dead. The last person in Konoha whom Itachi could fully trust had vanished. Naturally, Itachi couldn't continue feeling at ease about Sasuke staying in Konoha.
Coincidentally, Orochimaru wanted to lure Sasuke—so be it. Itachi truly didn't trust Konoha.
In fact, Orochimaru's side seemed safer. At least Orochimaru had the ability to protect Sasuke, and for the Sharingan, Orochimaru was willing to protect him.
The only issue was, Itachi couldn't protect Sasuke at all times. Initially, Itachi could protect Sasuke from Orochimaru. But over time, inevitably, a day would come when Itachi could no longer protect Sasuke.
When that time came, it would depend on Sasuke himself.
Simply put, the only question was: Could Sasuke's growth rate outpace Orochimaru's? Even surpass Orochimaru?
If not, then sooner or later, Sasuke would be devoured by the serpent beside him!
But there was no alternative now. Itachi never intended to raise Sasuke as a delicate vase. He had to grow strong! For that, he must take risks! If Sasuke couldn't even overcome the hurdle of Orochimaru, how could he protect himself in the future?
Although Orochimaru was strong, many were stronger. Take the Akatsuki—most members could fight Orochimaru. Disregarding Orochimaru's sinister techniques, many within the Akatsuki could defeat him.
After all, Orochimaru's direct combat ability had a noticeable gap compared to the current pinnacle of the shinobi world. Orochimaru's talent lay in research and technology; studying ninjutsu was secondary and his survival aspect.
Just like Kagaya, whose talent focused on speed. Compared to Itachi in other areas like ninjutsu and genjutsu, Kagaya was simply beyond inferior.
So, if Sasuke couldn't even overcome the hurdle of Orochimaru, then...
"Sigh..."