After dealing with the hidden danger within Kimimaro, Orochimaru turned his attention to Nagato. "Are you going to tell me about what happened here?"
"I..."
Nagato was momentarily speechless.
His relationship with Konan was more than just simple 'companions'; they had truly faced life and death together, knowing each other completely and understanding one another perfectly.
Such a close bond shouldn't have warranted any secrets, but this time, Nagato sensed danger.
The Otsutsuki clan in the stars, figures so terrifying that even Orochimaru felt wary... If he were to reveal his secret plans with Orochimaru, what if something went wrong in their power struggle? Konan might become the perfect leverage. Instead, it would be safer if she remained unaware of these secrets.
"I've always greatly admired your close companionship with Konan..."
Orochimaru spoke, a hint of emotion flashing in his eyes.
"However, such a relationship not only stems from spiritual bonds but also from a certain degree of 'equality'... Once you recovered your body and stood up in a stronger form, something was broken."
"Why would a person with healthy legs need a crutch?"
Orochimaru's words hit home, making Nagato flinch, his eyes showing clear hesitation.
He had understood the differences between people, the distinctions in talent, since he was a child, when he, Konan, and Yahiko were taught by Jiraiya-sensei. Later, when he accompanied Yahiko and Konan in establishing the Akatsuki organization and working for peace, he stayed behind them partly because of their relationship. A strong and capable person, as long as they displayed their talents, would naturally become a leader. Nagato didn't want to be a leader; he wanted to be Yahiko and Konan's friend, and for that, he was willing to remain unknown, hidden in the background. His own strength, which was no less than anyone else's, gave him confidence that he wouldn't be overlooked.
He immediately understood Orochimaru's analogy of a 'crutch and a person' and deeply empathized with it, as he had actively played the role of the 'lame one.' But was there still room to be 'lame' now? Would continuing to act as they had before lead to another tragedy like Yahiko's?
"You can think about these matters further when you go back."
Orochimaru was merely offering a brief suggestion as a senior. He couldn't entirely dictate Nagato and Konan's choices, and they would have to bear the consequences themselves. His gaze then shifted to Kimimaro. "Don't return to the Land of Iron for now. You'll go to Konoha for a while, and I'll continue teaching you Senjutsu training."
"Yes."
Kimimaro responded. Despite the good news, his face remained as cold as ever, showing no joy. Even now, Orochimaru had only agreed to teach him Senjutsu, offering no promise about whether Haku could be saved. He understood that the other party wasn't even interested in fooling him. He would save them if he could do it easily, and he wouldn't show any mercy when facing Otsutsuki Isshiki. In such a situation, all he could do was become stronger, to display his potential in a way that might increase his value in the other person's eyes, perhaps leading to more consideration in future choices.
Kimimaro knew his current thoughts were somewhat wishful, but it was all he could do. With that in mind, Kimimaro suddenly thought of something and looked up to ask, "Lord Orochimaru, aren't you returning to Konoha?"
"There are some things I still need to handle."
Orochimaru gazed in the direction of the setting sun, a golden glint flashing in his eyes.
...
Inside the underground palace, Jigen stepped out of a purplish-black portal. The middle-aged man waiting in the hall immediately asked, "Jigen, what just happened?"
His name was Amado. While not a powerful ninja, he was extremely skilled in scientific research, a true genius. Because of his deceased daughter, he was now forced to obey Jigen's orders, but as the person in charge of all experiments, he had a say in most matters.
"Orochimaru seized an opportunity and forcibly summoned me."
Jigen looked at Amado and nodded slightly. "But you don't need to worry about this. He won't affect our plan; instead, he might be of some use." For a thousand years, he had acted cautiously and had no interest in cooperating with the lower beings of the ninja world. However, now that Orochimaru had shed his inferior genes and was eager to become his subordinate, it wasn't impossible to go along with it.
"Orochimaru... I know of him, but how could he possibly be of use to you?"
Amado certainly knew of this 'Konoha Sannin.' He had even been attacked by Orochimaru's subordinates before because he possessed certain technologies. But he had already learned some of Jigen's background; even if Orochimaru was a big shot in the ninja world, he was nothing compared to Jigen.
"Although the probability is very small... this planet has indeed produced a legendary figure. He has become an Otsutsuki-like existence."
Jigen sat back down on the stone throne, one hand propping up his chin, his gaze fixed ahead, but his pupils unfocused.
"I am very interested in his evolutionary technology. If it can be applied to new 'vessels,' it might elevate me further." The Otsutsuki clan was born with only spiritual power, eroding native races and transforming those bodies into something akin to 'gods.'
However, this method of transformation was not without its drawbacks. Compared to spiritual power, the physical body had always been the clan's weakness. As far as Isshiki knew, only by devouring Chakra fruits and evolving to a very high level could the gap between the physical and spiritual be somewhat bridged. Now, Isshiki saw a possibility in Orochimaru. Lower beings could never enhance their spirits first; it must be the body affecting the soul.
"This is truly unimaginable..."
A flicker of shock crossed Amado's eyes. Had he been out of touch with the ninja world for too long? How could such earth-shattering changes have occurred?
Few people in the ninja world understood what the Otsutsuki were truly like, yet Orochimaru had achieved a leap in life. Suppressing his shock, Amado listened impassively as Jigen recounted their transaction, a dark glint appearing in the depths of his eyes. Orochimaru was too confident... this was like prying flesh from a tiger, and it would interfere with his own plans. Should he find an opportunity to warn him? Amado pondered these thoughts, his expression unchanged, and continued to ask, "Then, should the current experiments continue?"
"..." Jigen deliberated for a moment and then nodded. "Don't stop the replication process, but leave the experimental subjects for now."
"I understand." Amado responded and then turned to leave the hall.
Watching Amado depart, Jigen sat on the stone throne and slowly closed his eyes.
...
In the far west, on a coastline, the battle between two giant beasts had just ended. Orochimaru frowned slightly as he watched the small White Snake completely sink into the seabed, a sense of helplessness washing over him.
"Orochimaru, fighting underwater is disadvantageous for me."
The White Snake Sage coiled its tail, licking the remnants from its lips with its red tongue. "If you want to feast like this again, it will be difficult."
Having digested the natural energy absorbed last time, she had grown considerably in this past week, her progress surpassing that of the previous hundred years. And this time's harvest was no less than the last. However, if the battle took place in the ocean, let alone gaining such a harvest, winning would be a struggle. The pressure of the deep sea, the darkness without light... and most crucially, the power of Ninjutsu. Strictly speaking, the White Snake Sage was a 'land dragon,' not a 'water dragon.' The control over the ocean exerted by White Snake-style Senjutsu was far inferior to that of Daichi.
"You don't need to worry about that. It will be out of here sooner or later, within a month at the longest, or half a month at the shortest..."
Orochimaru's eyes reflected the sea. The deeper it went, the more profound it became, and his gaze was similarly deep. "There is no light down there."
What he needed to consider more was how much physical form the small White Snake's spirit could support, and how to reduce the damage it caused and prevent its life-devouring nature from running rampant once it came ashore in the future. The former would be resolved with the Akatsuki soon, as the small White Snake's expansion speed was rapid. The latter would require careful consideration based on future circumstances. The White Snake Sage, however, did not care about these things. She only knew that today's battle would not continue. "Then I'll go back first." Digesting this natural energy would take more than a week.
"Wait a bit longer; I'll need your help with some things later."
As Orochimaru spoke, he created a Shadow Clone and flew towards the far west. Before long, it passed over the small White Snake at the bottom of the sea.
"What are you doing? Scouting for information? Or looking for new land?" the White Snake Sage asked, looking puzzled.
Orochimaru gazed ahead. "I just want to see how many days' journey it is from here to the mainland."
Being underwater is different from being on land. The small White Snake would remain conscious for a long time, and its path would be highly unpredictable. This required prior arrangements, preferably guiding it in the direction he desired. To do this, he needed a thorough understanding of the situation ahead.
The White Snake Sage continued, "Then what about me? Why are you keeping me here?"
"Don't be impatient. You'll understand later." Orochimaru sat cross-legged above his head, beginning to meditate. "It won't take long, but it will take about a day. You can also digest your gains from this trip."
Seeing this, the White Snake Sage began to meditate. In reality, where she practiced had little impact. She had been accustomed to meditating in Ryūchi Cave for a thousand years. "The changes that will occur will become clear after the Akatsuki are dispatched," Orochimaru said, closing his eyes and entrusting the task of monitoring the small White Snake to Genie Lamp. However, at this moment, he was unaware that someone was sending him a message to the Hidden Rain Village.
...
Land of Water, Kirigakure.
The death of the Fourth Mizukage after his tailed beast was extracted had plunged this nation, which had just ended its internal strife, into further chaos. However, at this moment, Kirigakure had regained peace, all disputes strangely ending. Meanwhile, in a burrow beneath the Mizukage Building, Hiruko's experiments were proceeding methodically, resulting in the cultivation of deformed bodies.
"..."
Leaving the twisted, mutated monster and reattaching himself to the fungal body created by the small White Snake, Uchiha Madara opened his eyes, his Mangekyo Sharingan fixed on Hiruko.
"I've arranged all the resources you requested, and all the steps are proceeding according to your plan, but this is the seventh failure... Do you think I'm easy to fool?"
Under the gaze of those eyes, Hiruko felt immense pressure, sweat beading on his forehead and trickling down.
"...Although some time and effort have been wasted, during this period, I have figured out the problem." Hiruko knew very well that this person was not Yakushi Kabuto. While he would allow Hiruko freedom to act, if results were not produced for an extended period, he would not offer any understanding but would resort to his preferred method: violence.
"The problem?" Uchiha Madara frowned, waiting for Hiruko to continue.
"Yes."
Hiruko lowered his head slightly, avoiding Uchiha Madara's direct gaze. "Although your spiritual body is very powerful, in essence, it is like water without a source, a tree without roots. It cannot provide the... energy needed for the body's growth."
"In simple terms, is it because the Chakra isn't enough, not strong enough?"
"Chakra..." Uchiha Madara's gaze shifted to the large cultivation tank. "Aren't these precious materials enough?"
"A body comparable to the 'God of Shinobi' is simply too strong."
Hiruko praised Senju Hashirama's body subtly. Seeing the slight softening in Madara's expression, he continued, "There was an issue with the previous calculations. These materials are only enough to perfectly fuse the First Hokage's cells. Now, new Chakra is needed." Danzo had used most of his resources to obtain another Mangekyo Sharingan, even including the data from that surgery. Hiruko naturally disdained the crude surgical process that relied solely on chance, but some of its content was worth referencing, the most important point being energy. From an ordinary ninja to a Kekkei Genkai user... mastering uncontrolled power was a form of evolution, and this required a push.
Hiruko guessed that Orochimaru's rapid growth was due to becoming a Sage, with the aid of natural energy. However, this method was not suitable for everyone. At least, it did not seem suitable for Uchiha Madara's situation. Hiruko slightly raised his head and looked at Uchiha Madara solemnly. "Currently, the only entity with enough Chakra to support your evolution... is a tailed beast."
"Tailed beast..."
Uchiha Madara was not surprised by this answer but found it difficult to manage. Currently, seven tailed beasts were sealed within the Outer Path Statue, and the Four-Tails, which might have been lost, was likely dead and in the process of revival. The only one remaining was the Nine-Tails.
Of the tailed beasts, the Nine-Tails, with its immense Chakra, could clearly satisfy his requirements. However, the Nine-Tails was... in Konoha.