Orochimaru stared at the Akatsuki member before him. Truth be told, he was extremely satisfied with the vessel for the Impure World Reincarnation right in front of him. To think it was a human cultivated from Hashirama's cells.
With this, the reincarnated Senju Hashirama would surely possess strength comparable to his peak.
During his time in the Leaf Village, as a disciple of the Third Hokage, he had gained a profound understanding of Senju Hashirama.
He was familiar with every ninjutsu the man could use.
As long as he could reincarnate Senju Hashirama and summon a few more deceased powerhouses of the shinobi world, he felt that an attack on the Leaf Village would be a guaranteed success.
It didn't matter how formidable that guy was—even if he had won the war against the Cloud Village and defeated the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki.
In the face of the God of Shinobi, Senju Hashirama, it was still not worth mentioning.
A single serious strike from Senju Hashirama could easily suppress a Tailed Beast.
Back when Uchiha Madara attacked the village with the Nine-Tails, even someone as strong as Madara combined with the strongest Tailed Beast still lost to Senju Hashirama. That alone proved the true worth of the God of Shinobi.
Seeing that Orochimaru had taken the bait, Black Zetsu stated his demands.
"Help our Akatsuki collect the Tailed Beasts in the Leaf Village, as well as the Tailed Beasts currently in the hands of the Uchiha Madara who has appeared in the shinobi world."
"I believe that since you can summon Senju Hashirama in his prime, such a request shouldn't be an issue for you."
Orochimaru, however, burst into loud laughter, his snake-like eyes locking onto the Akatsuki member before him.
"Your demands are far too excessive. To collect the Leaf Village's Tailed Beasts, I would have to deal with *that* person in the village, and even that Uchiha Madara."
"You want me to risk my life for you just by providing a vessel for the soul of the deceased through the Impure World Reincarnation? Are you joking?"
"Besides, do you really think I couldn't create a body like the one on the ground, made from Hashirama's cells, if I just spent a little time on it?"
Black Zetsu was momentarily left speechless. It seemed things weren't going to go as smoothly as he had hoped.
A portion of the White Zetsu were originally people who had been caught in his mother's Infinite Tsukuyomi in the past, having evolved over a long period of time.
The body in front of them, however, was created by Obito using Hashirama's cells in conjunction with the Gedo Statue.
It could be considered a clone of White Zetsu. Even Orochimaru shouldn't be able to create one so easily.
But given this guy's level of scientific research, and the fact that he had just provided him with the concept, it wasn't impossible for him to create other organisms using Hashirama's cells.
Such an organism could potentially serve as a perfect vessel to reincarnate Senju Hashirama. He didn't want to give up on such a great fighter.
"Easier said than done. I just wonder how much time it would take you to create a human body with Hashirama's cells like this one."
Orochimaru was actually just bluffing. Creating life like this was something he couldn't accomplish yet; he simply didn't want to be used.
In fact, he even wanted to use the Akatsuki member in front of him. From what he knew, the Akatsuki was an incredibly mysterious and powerful organization.
"Since you want to collect the Tailed Beasts, I can naturally agree to your terms, but your Akatsuki must personally enter the fray."
"Your goal is the Tailed Beasts, while I need you to help me deal with Uchiha Ryōsuke. I want his body and his Mangekyō Sharingan."
Black Zetsu narrowed his eyes. This guy wasn't so easily fooled either, actually trying to drag the Akatsuki into the fight.
However, he hadn't expected this guy's target to be that Uchiha Ryōsuke. No wonder he was collecting the bones of deceased ninja in such large quantities.
The one calling the shots in the Akatsuki right now wasn't him, but Obito. Yet, Obito was nothing more than his puppet anyway.
The most pressing matter right now was to collect the Tailed Beasts, revive the Gedo Statue, and obtain the combat power of the Ten-Tails.
When the time came, relying on the Ten-Tails and the massive army of White Zetsu that Obito had produced, it would be enough to wage war against the shinobi world.
"Fine, I agree. However, you must hand over the method for the Impure World Reincarnation."
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes once more. This guy actually wanted his trump card.
"Do you think I would agree to that?"
The other party also possessed Hashirama's cells now. If he gave him the Impure World Reincarnation technique, wouldn't he just summon Senju Hashirama himself?
But Orochimaru wouldn't give this guy such an opportunity. What a joke. Did he really think a few words could be exchanged for the biggest trump card currently in his hands?
Black Zetsu guessed what the other party was worried about. It was nothing more than the fear that he would use this jutsu to summon Senju Hashirama.
But in reality, he only wanted to summon Uchiha Madara. Uchiha Madara was undoubtedly stronger than Senju Hashirama, because he had awakened the Rinnegan.
The only question was how to dispel the other party's wariness.
"Relax, I have no intention of summoning Senju Hashirama."
"Besides, I can let you summon Senju Hashirama first. Once you do, I shouldn't be able to summon him again. No matter how heaven-defying the Impure World Reincarnation is, it can't summon two Senju Hashiramas, right?"
Orochimaru pondered the other party's words. It was true; if he summoned Senju Hashirama first, it would be impossible for the other party to summon him again.
Under these conditions, he could agree to it.
"Alright. Provide me with a large number of vessels for the Impure World Reincarnation, and we will besiege the Leaf Village together. You get what you want, and I get what I want. It truly is a mutually beneficial cooperation."
"Once I summon Senju Hashirama, I will naturally give you the scroll for the Impure World Reincarnation."
Whatever the other party wanted to use this jutsu for was none of his business. As long as he obtained Uchiha Ryōsuke's body, he would surpass Senju Hashirama and become the new God of Shinobi.
"Deal."
Black Zetsu had no objections. They were just taking what they needed.
Following that, right in front of Black Zetsu, Orochimaru used the White Zetsu on the ground to successfully summon Senju Hashirama.
He then threw a kunai into the newly formed Senju Hashirama's body, temporarily wiping out his consciousness.
Only then did he safely admire his masterpiece, his heart filled with immense joy.
The Senju Hashirama he had just summoned didn't feel like a puppet; instead, it was as if the real person had descended.
He didn't look as stiff as the deceased he had summoned previously. This time, he had truly gained an incredibly powerful combat asset.
Black Zetsu looked at Orochimaru. "It's done. It's time to give me the Impure World Reincarnation scroll."
Orochimaru tossed a scroll directly to Black Zetsu. It was already a useless item to him.
Black Zetsu caught the scroll and quickly inspected it.
With his vast knowledge, he could tell if the scroll was a fake. After a simple verification, he confirmed it was genuine.
He couldn't help but marvel inwardly. *'Humans truly are formidable creatures, to even conceive of such a method to revive the dead.'*
He then closed the scroll in satisfaction.
Only then did Orochimaru speak up. "This is my improved version of the Impure World Reincarnation."
"It is much better than the Second Hokage's simplified version of the Impure World Reincarnation."
Black Zetsu was quite pleased inwardly. *'To think a guy like Orochimaru would actually be so kind.'*
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