Chapter 882 The Tradition of Killing Sensei
After his physical body had been slain by Shimura Danzō, Orochimaru found himself oblivious to the changes occurring in the Shinobi World. Though he could passively glean information through the Cursed Seal implanted in various individuals, it proved insufficient for him to grasp the overall situation.
Upon returning through Kabuto's body, Orochimaru did learn of the big changes transpiring in the Shinobi World.
He discovered that in a surprising turn of events, Kuroto had ascended to the position of Godaime Hokage of Konoha. However, even with this newfound knowledge, he still lacked a comprehensive understanding of the unfolding events.
Only now, after reclaiming his chakra from Anko's body, did Orochimaru fully comprehend the situation and perceive the predicament faced by Kuroto and the Hokage faction. Realizing this, a chuckle escaped Orochimaru's lips, “Humiliated in such a manner, the Uchiha Clan will not remain silent. Is Sarutobi Sensei prepared to confront three Mangekyō Sharingan users?” he mused. Then, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, as if remembering something overlooked, he added, "Oh… how could I forget? Instead of three, it should be four Mangekyō Sharingan users."
Observing Orochimaru's performance, Kuroto feigned surprise and inquired with a furrowed brow, "What do you mean by four Mangekyō Sharingan users? Aren't there only three? Uchiha Patriarch, Uchiha Shinichi, and Uchiha Shisui?"
Upon hearing Kuroto's astonishment, a cunning smile crept across Orochimaru's face as he responded, "No… no… there are indeed four Mangekyō Sharingan users… another Uchiha has awakened those eyes…" He then playfully continued, "Dealing with four of them… Konoha lacks the strength for such a task. If you wish, I can lend my assistance. My only condition is that I require one pair of those Sharingan for research. Surely, it isn't too much to ask, is it?"
Kuroto was well aware that Orochimaru was referring to Itachi. Apart from the members of Amatsukami, Orochimaru knew about Uchiha Itachi's awakening of the Mangekyō Sharingan. In fact, Orochimaru himself played a pivotal role in Itachi's initial awakening of this power.
However, Orochimaru's desire for Itachi's body and his Sharingan remained an undisclosed secret. Alas, the more Orochimaru coveted the Uchiha clan and their ocular abilities, the more he suffered. This was true in the original canon and remained so in this altered reality—suffering at the hands of Shinichi, suffering at the hands of Itachi, and suffering at the hands of Danzō.
Hearing Orochimaru's proposition, Kuroto shook his head and firmly stated, "There is no need… The current Konoha… does not require your intervention, Orochimaru-Sensei. You should focus on your own endeavors, especially on getting a body for yourself, and refrain from interfering in Konoha's internal affairs."