Bab 137: Never Utter That Name!
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Feeling a shift in the conversation, Koushin allowed a small grin to tug at the corners of his mouth. "And now we get to the part where you pretend to want something in exchange for this information? Something that seems impossible but isn't your real goal. You want us to eliminate Itachi, don't you? That's why you're sharing this information with us. But you can't just say that, so you're going to ask for...hmm, either Karin or me, am I right?"
Orochimaru's eyes widened for a moment, before a wild grin spread across his face. "You are too smart for your own good, Koushin-kun," he hissed, the hint of admiration lacing his tone was impossible to miss. A low, cold chuckle followed. "Actually, I wanted to ask for Ino-cha—"
He was cut off abruptly as the once serene space around them seemed to distort, gripped by an unseen force. A potent killing intent unfurled, filling the expanse, saturating it with a torrent of unbridled rage. The pristine white void began to bleed, slowly morphing into a crimson maelstrom, reflecting Koushin's fury.
The atmosphere turned thick and ominous, the sheer pressure of Koushin's anger making it difficult to breathe. Orochimaru found himself taken aback by this unexpected display of hostility, the sardonic smirk he wore vanishing into a look of subtle alarm.
Despite his nonchalant demeanor, Orochimaru could feel the pressure. His gaze flickered, and for the briefest moment, uncertainty flickered in the depths of his golden eyes.
"Look at it, Orochimaru." Koushin's voice was eerily calm, betraying the storm that raged within him. "This is my mind, and what you feel is my true emotions. If you dare to utter Ino's name in such a sentence again, all this wrath will rain down upon you. I suggest you choose your next words very carefully."
There was an uncomfortable silence, the air heavy with tension. Orochimaru, despite his cunning and power, found himself at a loss for words. He had expected many reactions from Koushin, but this raw, powerful surge of emotions was not among them.
Koushin's gaze never wavered. He was not threatening Orochimaru; he was promising him. It was clear to the sly snake that he had overstepped his boundaries. His eyes, usually filled with mischief and danger, held a different shine – respect, perhaps, or maybe understanding. Regardless, it was clear that he had learned something new about Koushin today.
"We are done here." Koushin's voice cut through the mounting tension like a blade. With a dismissive wave of his hand, the pristine white space shattered like glass, the intricate genjutsu dissolving into thin air. They emerged once more in the battlefield, the aura of hostility dissipating with the disintegration of the illusionary realm.
Koushin stood across from Orochimaru, his eyes cold, determination etched into his features. The worried gazes of Ino and others lingered on him, their attention torn between the tense standoff and the unexpected tranquility that had fallen over the battlefield.
"Let's go." Koushin's command was firm, leaving no room for protest. His companions glanced at Orochimaru, expecting a fight, a trap, or some form of resistance. But to their utter shock, the infamous Sannin merely watched them, a perplexed look replacing his usual sadistic grin.
As they retreated, a quiet uncertainty hung over them. No one dared to break the silence until they had put a significant distance between themselves and Orochimaru. They couldn't shake off the feeling of unease, the unexpected withdrawal of Orochimaru too unnerving to be considered a victory.
Halfway back to the village, they spotted a familiar group rushing towards them. Tsunade, Gai, Kakashi, Naruto, and Hinata appeared in their line of sight, their faces etched with worry. As they neared, they slowed their pace, relief washing over them upon spotting Koushin and the others.
"You guys okay?" Tsunade was the first to break the silence, her authoritative voice echoing in the stillness of the night. She studied each of their faces, her sharp gaze taking in their state, reading the unspoken words in their silence.
"We are," Koushin replied, his tone stoic, giving nothing away about the confrontation they had just endured. His hand moved in a swift, deliberate motion, casting forth a thin veil of lightning chakra. It flowed and twisted, delicate as silk, until it formed a dome around them.
His chakra, imbued with the quintessence of Raijin's Calligraphy, outlined intricate symbols and seals across the dome, creating a sight of spectacular beauty and complexity. The air inside the dome vibrated subtly, its soothing hum akin to the gentle strumming of a koto.
As the dome of chakra manifested, expressions of awe registered on the faces of his allies, including the usually unreadable Kakashi. Even though Koushin had tutored him in Raijin's Calligraphy over the past three years, the Copy Ninja had never seen such a unique and intricate use of the technique.
Koushin looked around at their astonished faces and began to explain, "This dome serves as an isolation barrier. Nothing from inside can be observed or overheard from outside. It's a perfect safe haven for us to converse."
His voice echoed softly within the dome, the seals glowing faintly with each word. Tsunade nodded, her gaze reflecting her trust in Koushin's abilities.
"Now that we're secure," Koushin began, his tone carrying an edge of seriousness. "I need to share some critical information with all of you." He cast a glance at Ino, a silent reassurance before he started, "Our earlier encounter with Orochimaru was more than it seemed. He shared something about Itachi, the Uchiha, and Akatsuki."
He paused, gauging the reactions. "Itachi, it seems, may possess the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. And he's the true puppeteer behind Akatsuki's actions."
His words hung heavily in the silence that followed. Kakashi's eyes narrowed, processing the information, while Naruto wore an expression of disbelief. Hinata clutched Naruto's sleeve gently, a worried frown creasing her forehead.
"What is Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan?" Naruto broke the silence, a frown creasing his forehead. Koushin looked at Naruto, his gaze calm but serious.
"According to Orochimaru, Mangekyō Sharingan is not the final stage. There is a stage above, known as Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan," Koushin began, his voice steady. "Awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan comes at a grave cost, that of severe emotional trauma, often involving the loss of someone very close to the user. However, using its power leads to blindness over time."
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