The ritual ended, and the wind gradually grew quiet. Gravel and stones fell to the ground, gathering into a sandy plain.
The sky was a vast expanse of blue, and sunlight shone unobstructed on Daichi, with heat steadily rising.
And within this shimmering heat, two small black dots in the distance, one above the other, were swiftly approaching their targets.
Bang!
A tall, robust figure landed on the sand, creating two large craters. Behind him, Kazekage Rasa, along with Queen Roran and her daughter, landed steadily.
The latter first glanced at the scorched object, barely resembling a person, then looked at the figure before her, hesitating to speak.
While beings like the Genie Lamp could tell that Orochimaru wasn't completely dead and was undergoing a fundamental, complex transformation within, from a ninja's perspective, or even Jiraiya's in Sage Mode, he showed no signs of life whatsoever.
"No way, that Orochimaru actually..."
Even now, Kazekage Rasa found it hard to believe.
Despite the massive disturbance from Roran earlier and the unimaginable energy fluctuations in the sky just moments ago, which confirmed the danger of the experiment, it was still Orochimaru.
Having witnessed his terrifying form amidst the sand whirlwind, Rasa felt a wave of almost blind trust.
Maybe, maybe Orochimaru had some backup plan...
Rasa thought this, but Jiraiya's heart sank to the bottom.
He didn't know much about this ritual, but he knew Orochimaru had given it his all, and naturally, there was no backup plan...
"Minato and the others are gone, and now Orochimaru is going too..."
The thought of this possibility sent tremors through every nerve in Jiraiya's body.
Ninjas valued life lightly and death profoundly. Accustomed to combat and struggle, there was no room for distraction on the battlefield. They would risk anything – their own lives, the lives of loved ones, the lives of comrades... All their pain was reserved for memorial services, to be buried with their bodies.
After all, one had to look forward and couldn't drown in sadness.
The grief he felt upon suddenly learning of Minato and Kushina's deaths had long since faded, leaving only a lingering sorrow in his heart. As more and more comrades departed, this sorrow sank deeper into his bones.
Now, Orochimaru...
Jiraiya thought this, his vision blurring slightly.
*Crack...*
Suddenly, a sound like tearing silk rang out. A fair, tender little hand tore through the charcoal-like flesh and emerged.
The sunlight was strong at this moment, shining on it, making it crystal clear like jade, emitting a strange white light.
"This..." Jiraiya, living up to his reputation as a top ninja, instantly sensed the vibrant life force before him, and his sorrow caught in his throat.
This transformation happened too quickly. The emotions that had been building up couldn't be fully released, and were immediately replaced by joy. His nose and eyes wrinkled together, creating an extremely strange expression.
But regardless of what Jiraiya or anyone else thought, the figure deemed dead had stood up.
And with his movements, more tearing sounds followed. The outermost charcoal flesh peeled away, revealing fair, rosy skin beneath.
"..." Orochimaru examined his new body, a satisfied smile appearing on his face.
This surgery had gone greatly awry, and the result was naturally not perfect, but at least the transformation was complete, although it came at a considerable price.
If Otsutsuki Kaguya swallowing the Chakra Fruit meant her own transformation into the progenitor of Chakra with the power of a complete Divine Tree, then for him, it meant obtaining a seed, a seed of Kekkei Mōra level.
This wasn't necessarily a bad thing and was quite remarkable, but to be honest, it was merely the result of choosing the lesser of two evils.
Separating the small White Snake cost him ninety percent of his flesh. This meant little to Orochimaru; he never pursued a large physique, viewing it as a burden. However, after that, forcefully performing the 'Sun Breathing' to supplement the final portion of energy needed for his transformation cost him greatly.
The fire of the sun didn't just burn his body; it also seared his spirit. The fact that he could endure the fire and survive was partly due to luck.
"The White Snake, symbolizing 'luck and rebirth'..."
Orochimaru licked his lips and couldn't help but chuckle.
In any case, the outcome wasn't bad. As long as the seed received sufficient nourishment, it would eventually grow into a towering tree.
If he could obtain this seed, which had undergone an essential sublimation, even the White Snake Sage and the Slug Sage would not hesitate.
"Now, I also have the means to communicate with them..."
A golden glint flashed in Orochimaru's eyes as he unconsciously immersed himself in his schemes. However, a gasp interrupted his thoughts.
When Queen Roran's daughter, Sara, met Orochimaru's gaze, her face immediately flushed crimson. She quickly covered her mouth and turned her head away, not daring to look at him.
Queen Roran beside her pursed her lips, her cheeks also feeling a bit warm.
She had been married for many years, and while not exactly accustomed to seeing a man's body, she was not unfamiliar with it. Moreover, this was just a young man's body, and although he was indeed handsome, it shouldn't make her heart race.
Could it be because she knew this body contained a mature soul?
With this thought, Queen Roran, Saiya, turned her head, no longer looking in Orochimaru's direction, just like her daughter.
"..."
Seeing the expressions of these mother and daughter, Orochimaru suddenly realized he was not wearing any clothes.
If he were still in his half-human, half-snake form, it wouldn't have mattered. Even without clothes, due to cultural and aesthetic differences, others wouldn't find it strange.
But now that the small White Snake had departed and he had returned to his human form, being naked like this was indeed improper.
So, Orochimaru turned his gaze to Jiraiya. "Get me some clothes."
"...What did you do, you scoundrel? Was it plastic surgery?"
Jiraiya snapped back to attention, pulling out a scroll to find clothes while grumbling, his expression quite displeased.
Orochimaru had been handsome even in his youth, and Jiraiya had always seen him as an obstacle to winning Tsunade over. He had a somewhat cold demeanor, and the scent of blood on him had detracted from his appeal.
But now, that aura had melted away, and his presence felt completely different. Yet, his appearance had somehow improved... perhaps by a little. It was simply unbearable.
"Just his face is enough to make young girls blush and grown women's hearts pound, making them want to pounce on him... This kind of thing only happens in those novels..."
Jiraiya's face was filled with envy and resentment. Sara, who was the subject of their conversation, shot Jiraiya a glare for his loose talk.
Thus, a slightly awkward atmosphere settled over the sandy ground.
But among these people, Kazekage Rasa was unaffected by the mood. He subtly observed Orochimaru from head to toe, constantly pondering one question:
—How strong is this guy now?
With his eyesight, it was easy to see that Orochimaru's chakra reaction was almost nonexistent. Yet, strangely, he felt an immense life force emanating from him, comparable even to a Tailed Beast's.
But how was that possible?
The oppressive aura of a Tailed Beast was inseparable from its vast chakra. Even before, it was only after seeing Orochimaru's true form that he could confirm his power.
But now, with such a slight presence, and looking like a mere teenager, how could he exude such pressure, like a slumbering beast of prey?
His mind raced with thoughts, but as Orochimaru glanced in his direction, they all vanished.
Rasa, the Kazekage of Sunagakure, not the strongest but known for his ruthless and decisive nature, subconsciously lowered his head.
This action was from the heart, with no trace of reluctance.
A powerful being who could reverse death and turn back time was not someone he could afford to offend. Even the 'God of Shinobi' of that era probably couldn't achieve this level.
Of course, his submission was also because Orochimaru had shown no malice towards Sunagakure Village so far. On the contrary, he had provided much help. If Rasa himself were a Sand ninja, Orochimaru's surgical enhancements to ninja capabilities and financial aid to the village in its time of need would have qualified him to compete for Kazekage.
If he had acted like Pain towards Konoha, then even a true 'god' would not be spared by a ninja.
"Heh..."
Sensing Rasa's apprehension to some extent, Orochimaru smiled slightly, unconcerned.
Although he now possessed the power of only a seed, his current level was vastly different from before.
Furthermore, because this power originally belonged to him, in a certain sense, it was even superior to that of Otsutsuki Kaguya.
Orochimaru was certain that while he might not be able to defeat the Sage of Six Paths now and might still be sealed, it would be impossible for anyone to take this power away from him.
However, given the extreme scarcity of natural energy in the ninja world, let alone growing into a towering tree, it would be difficult even for the seed to sprout.
"...Perhaps I can make a move on the Great Sage Faculties later."
Orochimaru's thoughts churned, and he suddenly focused on what was beneath him. "But for now, I should feast on this leftover."
His lips parted, and a powerful surge of air gathered, drawing in all the earth energy remaining in his body after the destruction of the dragon vein's consciousness, into his serpentine mouth.
"..."
Jiraiya's eyes widened as he witnessed this.
While Rasa could see everything he could, and even more, it was only now that he truly felt the extent of Orochimaru's growth.
"I'm completely outmatched by Orochimaru now..."
Jiraiya sighed inwardly, then immediately thought, "With his current strength, the village shouldn't suffer the same tragedy as before."
He wasn't a belligerent person. Apart from being the 'Child of Prophecy,' his concerns were his village and his loved ones.
At this moment, he even harbored a faint hope, wondering if Orochimaru could defeat Nagato with absolute force, or even capture him, and if there might be a chance for reconciliation.
Of course, this was just wishful thinking. After Nagato's sudden assault on Konoha, the animosity between them was irreconcilable.
As a Konoha ninja, he might be able to protect and teach orphans displaced by the great powers' conflicts, but he had no standing to absolve someone who had slaughtered hundreds of thousands of villagers.
"What a shame..." Jiraiya sighed inwardly, the shock of Orochimaru's immense power quickly fading, leaving only congratulations for his friend's advancement.
He had always known Orochimaru's aspirations.
"..."
Orochimaru's lips closed, having already absorbed the earth vein energy within a radius of tens of miles.
The oasis, which had originated from the dragon vein, was now like water without a source or a tree without roots, and was likely to dry up soon.
Orochimaru knew this well, but what he had just done was merely a parched man taking a small sip of water.
"This won't do..."
He looked up at the largest source of natural energy in the sky, his brow furrowing slightly.
While he had been reborn from the fire, it didn't mean he had much resistance to solar energy. He had only fought with all his might before.
However...
Orochimaru heard the Genie Lamp's words and turned his head towards the west.
There, a seed, reborn as something else within the same intense fire, had already sprouted.
"...I can look forward to it, though I don't know how much time it will take in the future. For now, I still need to find a way to get some water in this dried-up well of the ninja world."
Orochimaru said this to the Genie Lamp, then looked at the people beside him and said, "This matter is concluded. Let's go back."
He knew the little thing that had separated from him was extraordinary, but because he thought it would take time for it to grow, he hadn't paid much attention to it at the moment.
And the Genie Lamp, out of a desire to watch the show, didn't remind him, or rather, after mentioning it once, it considered its duty fulfilled.
...
Mount Myōboku.
In the most magnificent building, the Great Toad Sage, who looked so old he could barely move, awoke from a deep slumber, a cold sweat beading on his back.
Recalling the terrifying scene he had seen in his dream, the Great Toad Sage hurriedly gave an order to the small toad attendants.
Not long after, the Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima arrived in the hall. The latter complained, "Sir, why such a hurry? I was cooking for our kids' dad."
"...Prophecy, prophecy." The Great Toad Sage spoke slowly. "I, this old toad, had another dream..."
"What's strange about dreaming?" Sage Shima chided unceremoniously. "Your prophecies have only been accurate once for little Jiraiya; otherwise, they're useless."
"That's because a variable appeared." The Great Toad Sage narrowed his eyes, recalling the scene in his dream, and spoke slowly. "I can't see what that variable is, but it has already affected Mount Myōboku."
Shima Sage was about to say something about unnecessary worries when Fukasaku Sage tugged at her, and then said, "Sir, what did you see?"
"A giant shadow... is heading towards Mount Myōboku."
The Great Toad Sage spoke slowly. "It's a monster that the toads cannot resist. Go to Konoha village and ask for help, no matter what, ask them to come and assist us."
"Otherwise, Mount Myōboku might cease to exist."
"Remember, noon in one month... the monster will arrive. You don't have much time."
Saying this, the Great Toad Sage closed his eyes again.
He needed to return to his dream.
---
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