Chapter 145: Itachi Uchiha

As the most formidable subordinate of the Sage of the Six Paths, Itachi Uchiha had rendered meritorious service to his master on countless occasions. For nearly a millennium, Itachi’s presence had been a constant in every war, his dark pupils and crimson eyes gazing down from the starry expanse, striking terror into the hearts of many.

His most legendary feat was the "Final Battle," a conflict a century ago that solidified the peace the world had enjoyed ever since. At that time, Itachi unleashed his full power, manifesting a forbidden ocular technique that could be used only once every thousand years—a superior iteration of Kotoamatsukami, known as the "Super Ultimate Kotoamatsukami."

This technique surreptitiously rewrote the consciousness of a million Otsutsuki, turning them against their own kin. In that engagement, three million Otsutsuki faced off against a mere two million soldiers under the Sage of the Six Paths. The Sage’s forces were generally inferior in combat prowess, always relying on superior numbers to achieve victory; they had never before fought while outnumbered. When the war began, no one favored Itachi, and defeat seemed inevitable. Yet, the moment the "Super Ultimate Kotoamatsukami" was cast, the two million became three million in an instant. The Otsutsuki clan suffered a crushing defeat, with over two million of their own dead. Had the patriarch of the Otsutsuki not emerged to carve a path through the various races of the universe to reclaim his clan's losses, they might have been wiped from existence entirely. When the news broke, the entire universe was stunned: Itachi Uchiha possessed the power to single-handedly rewrite the course of war.

Observing this, Orochimaru offered a faint smile. Itachi had grown rapidly; he had lacked such power during the destruction of Earth a millennium ago. This suggested that those who had survived from that era to the present were likely extraordinary. "Perhaps," Orochimaru mused, "someone has reached my level?" Orochimaru’s strength surpassed the high-ranking members of the Otsutsuki clan but remained below that of their patriarch; perhaps Itachi now possessed such a level of power.

Orochimaru continued reading. The subsequent entries were filled with speculation, marked by words like "alleged" and "suspected." One passage noted, "The remnants of Earth escaped the Sage’s universe, allegedly with the clandestine assistance of Itachi Uchiha..." This indicated that some information remained unverified. Looking further into the remnants of Earth, Orochimaru discovered they were an organization formed by survivors such as Shikamaru and Kabuto Yakushi. They were highly active, constantly assassinating the high-ranking officials who had taken part in the destruction of Earth and repeatedly attempting to strike at the Sage of the Six Paths. While they often succeeded against the former, they failed every time against the latter. Not even the strongest Otsutsuki patriarch could kill the Sage, simply because he could never be located. In the universe, only the name of the Sage of the Six Paths circulated; few had ever seen him in the flesh, and some even doubted his existence, speculating that he was merely a codename.

Orochimaru attempted to find information on Kabuto to contact him, but the surviving Earthlings lived in the shadows, and there was no matching data on the forum. Itachi’s profile, however, was available, complete with his account details and precise location. Yet, Orochimaru chose not to contact him, fearing surveillance by the Sage. Instead, he noted Itachi's location, consulted a cosmic map, and prepared to set off.

Before departing, he needed to understand Itachi's current predicament. A year ago, the Earth remnants led by Shikamaru and Kabuto had launched another surprise attack on the Sage. The Sage had intervened personally, determined to exterminate them, but Itachi had stepped in to stop him. The survivors were spared, and though the Sage was said to be furious, he did not punish Itachi due to his past contributions. However, another subordinate—Sasuke Uchiha—had acted for the "greater good," uncovering evidence of Itachi’s ties to the remnants. Unable to tolerate this, the Sage was preparing to deal with Itachi in the near future. This was the subject of the recent discussions on the forum.

"Sasuke? Acting for the greater good?" Orochimaru exited the forum as the site’s administrators detected his intrusion and began to trace him; he severed the connection proactively, leaving them unable to track him. "Sasuke is not one to betray his brother," Orochimaru thought. There was surely more to the story.

He released the genjutsu he had placed on Torei Myo and his companions, restoring their consciousness. To control someone seamlessly required the power of Kotoamatsukami; Orochimaru did not deem these individuals worthy of such a technique.

"Uh..."
"What happened?"
"..."

Torei Myo and his companions awoke to find their "prey" standing before them, their minds blank as if they had lost a portion of their memories.

"Damn it! Retreat!" Torei Myo shouted, his face pale with terror as he realized they had been trapped in an illusion. The others scrambled to flee, but suddenly, the chakra within them was ripped from their bodies, forming spheres of energy that drifted toward their prey. They were left so weak they could barely stand in the void, let alone escape. They were gripped by primal fear—their strength had been stolen! It was a technique they had never imagined possible.

Orochimaru toyed with the spheres of power. It was amusing; the cultivation method he had created for Earth had become universal. He could siphon the strength of anyone who practiced it, and now, the entire universe had integrated his methods into their fundamental training. It was a perfect ace up his sleeve.

After playing with the energy spheres for a moment, Orochimaru looked at the terrified group and said, "Listen well. I require a servant." He needed someone to handle menial tasks on his journey to find Itachi. He decided to recruit one on the spot.

"A... a servant?" Torei Myo asked, trembling. He realized this was his only chance for survival. Orochimaru’s power left no room for resistance; their only value lay in their utility. The others clearly understood this as well. Their fear remained, but their eyes began to glow with a predatory light as they looked at one another. Since Orochimaru only needed one servant, only one of them could live.

Driven by desperation, Torei Myo turned on the person nearest to him. The man, already on guard, fought back, and soon the others joined the fray. Their seven-man group erupted into a chaotic melee. In the face of self-interest, friends and partners became rivals and enemies. Since most of their strength had been siphoned away, the battle devolved into a primal struggle of biting and clawing. Finally, a blood-soaked Torei Myo emerged victorious.

He stood drenched in gore, one eye lost, a savage grin etched into his bloodied face, still reeling from the slaughter. Orochimaru chuckled softly. "You did well." With a flick of his finger, he sent all seven energy spheres into Torei Myo’s body. Torei’s power surged, escalating several levels beyond what he had ever possessed.

"This..." Torei Myo’s eyes filled with overwhelming ecstasy.

Orochimaru smiled faintly. "Follow me, and I can fulfill your dreams."

Torei Myo, initially harboring some resistance, knelt in the void and bowed his head. "My lord!" His eyes blazed with fervor; he knew his opportunity had arrived.

Orochimaru chuckled again. "Get up. We are going to find Itachi Uchiha."