"They're here!"
Amidst the snowstorm, four figures emerged!
Upon seeing them, Uchiha Obito instinctively wanted to use Kamui to teleport away, but two figures instantly appeared beside him!
"Again with this move!"
Uchiha Obito deeply resented the Flying Thunder God Mark on him, but he had no ability to remove it, so he could only enter the void state to dodge!
"Izanagi!"
Uchiha Obito didn't expect to defeat them.
Over the past few years, Uchiha Obito had thought of countless methods, even utilizing the Yin-Yang Release Black Rod left by Uchiha Madara. The Yin-Yang Release Black Rod was somewhat useful against the Reanimator, but it's inadequate against four Hokage...
In that case, staying is pointless.
Staying here would only mean getting beaten.
Uchiha Obito quickly formed the hand seals for Izanagi, and during the invincible time granted by Izanagi, he used the Mangekyo Sharingan to enter the space-time.
Of course.
It's quite troublesome.
Because Uchiha Obito had to appear from time to time.
If he disappeared from the Ninja World, the four Hokage, who had long since been buried and nailed down in their coffins, would go to the Land of Rain to investigate the Akatsuki Organization's information.
"He escaped again."
Senju Tobirama expressionlessly retracted his kunai.
"Let's go."
Namikaze Minato wasn't an exception to this.
These Hokage had long since gotten used to the days of pursuing Uchiha Obito, leaving the area on their own, waiting for the next opportunity to sense Uchiha Obito's whereabouts.
The chase after Uchiha Obito by these Hokage entirely depended on the speed of White Zetsu Ao. As long as White Zetsu Ao could relay messages quickly enough among them, the cycle of Uchiha Obito being pursued and let go would be shorter.
Root Base.
Akihara Kagura was twenty-one years old.
In these two or three years, Akihara Kagura had acquired a lot, basically learning all of Uchiha Obito's inheritance from Uchiha Madara, as well as the Wind Release Jutsu and Water Release Jutsu from the Hidden Sand Village and The Hidden Mist Village.
To be serious...
If the ninjas from The Hidden Sand Village, The Hidden Mist Village, and Konoha fought with Akihara Kagura, they would find that Akihara Kagura could always use the same techniques as them, even more absurd than Kakashi Hatake, who has a Sharingan and masters thousands of Ninjutsu.
"Lord Kagura!"
The sound of high heels approached, and Karin hurriedly reported, "Uchiha Sasuke sent a message, Orochimaru's lab has a new result!"
In three years, Karin too had changed significantly.
The girl, taken into Konoha, had already become a poised young lady, preferring tight-fitting ninja attire, holding files and scrolls, shuttling back and forth in the Root Base.
"What result?"
Akihara Kagura casually took the scroll from Karin's hand, frowned after reading it, "Why is Orochimaru researching puppets? Puppets that can operate independently... did he actually create artificial intelligence inside them?"
Can this thing be reliable?
Akihara Kagura glanced over it and tossed the file back to Karin, "Seal Orochimaru's new result in the Forbidden Technique Room of the Root, and wait for the channel information from Kabuto before issuing an order prohibiting Orochimaru from using this result."
"Got it."
Karin nodded and went to place the scroll in the Forbidden Technique Room after a while.
Over the years, Orochimaru had sent several experimental results, most of which Akihara Kagura sealed directly in the Forbidden Technique Room as Kinjutsu, prohibiting anyone from accessing them.
"There's one more thing."
Karin suddenly asked, "Lord Kagura, Uchiha Sasuke wants to challenge Orochimaru. He believes he now has the power to defeat Orochimaru..."
"Then let him challenge first!"
Akihara Kagura didn't seem to oppose Uchiha Sasuke challenging Orochimaru, planning to help eliminate potential threats: "Consider it a trial for him. Once he succeeds in the challenge, let him come back to resolve the Curse Seal left on him by Orochimaru..."
"Also..."
Akihara Kagura closed her fingers together, softly adding, "Inform Uchiha Sasuke that I will also let Orochimaru know about this matter, as Orochimaru is our ally too; at least let him have some preparation..."
"Okay."
Karin adjusted her glasses and continued, "The intelligence from the Root also reports that Jiraiya seems to be bringing Naruto back to the village..."
"I see..."
Akihara Kagura furrowed her brow in thought and suddenly said, "Then let Sasuke act quickly, maybe they'll have a chance to meet..."
"..."
Karin felt Uchiha Sasuke might not want to meet.
The Land of Grass.
Orochimaru's experimental base.
Uchiha Sasuke idly played with his kunai, which had a fan-shaped symbol engraved on it. The ninja who once defected from Konoha had grown into a handsome sixteen-year-old youth.
And also...
Orochimaru is quite good at raising kids.
Uchiha Sasuke is doing well in Orochimaru's base, and with diligent training, he has become quite muscular and strong, with his arms showing firm muscle.
"Sasuke, what are you doing here?"
A young man with a mouth full of shark teeth, carrying a Decapitating Carving Knife, saw him and casually stuck the knife into the ground: "Want to go have some fun with me?"
It was the traitorous ninja Hozuki Suigetsu from The Hidden Mist Village.
Ever since Hozuki Suigetsu defected to Orochimaru, he didn't become one of Orochimaru's experiments but instead became one of his underlings.
Because the Sound Four were abandoned and died in Konoha, along with Kaguya Kimimaro's illness and death, Hozuki Suigetsu and Uchiha Sasuke became Orochimaru's reliable accomplices.
Quite naturally.
These two who can't stand each other also participated in the joint Chunin exams back in the day and are essentially ninja of the same generation.
Whenever these two meet, they always have a fight to determine a winner. Hozuki Suigetsu, repeatedly losing and fighting without admitting defeat, is not someone with thin skin, nor does he care about losing face, so every time he sees Uchiha Sasuke he wants to test his progress.
"You're not my opponent..."
Uchiha Sasuke slightly raised his head and looked at the Hozuki Suigetsu before him: "No matter how many times, the result is always the same..."
"You're more arrogant than I am..."
Hozuki Suigetsu grinned, kicked his Decapitating Carving Knife, flipped his wrist forcefully, and swung his knife at Uchiha Sasuke!
"Fool..."
Uchiha Sasuke lifted his kunai, easily blocking the Decapitating Carving Knife. He slightly turned his head to look at the knife that his kunai had effortlessly blocked!
All of this...
was like fate.
Once, this Decapitating Carving Knife was easily blocked by his teacher, Kakashi Hatake, using a kunai. Later, a new master wielded it, but now the master has been easily blocked by him!
"You've gotten stronger..."
Hozuki Suigetsu lightly smiled and praised, pressing down on the Decapitating Carving Knife with his hand, exerting force towards Uchiha Sasuke!
"Fool..."
Uchiha Sasuke looked at Hozuki Suigetsu, feeling like this guy's intelligence had never grown. His silhouette suddenly disappeared from his spot!
"Is it the Flying Thunder God again?"
Hozuki Suigetsu couldn't help but sneer, but his gaze suddenly turned serious, as he swung his Decapitating Carving Knife in a circle around him!
"A fool is always a fool..."
Uchiha Sasuke's silhouette appeared above Hozuki Suigetsu, and a surge of lightning struck Hozuki Suigetsu's head, immediately sending his body sprawling to the ground with electric shock.
"Ah... Ugh..."
Hozuki Suigetsu's body trembled violently.
"Did Suigetsu lose again?"
A tall figure in a cloak emerged from the depths of the base. He glanced at the fallen Suigetsu and couldn't help feeling a bit sympathetic: "Why does he always want to challenge Sasuke..."
"Not too bright, maybe..."
Uchiha Sasuke kicked Hozuki Suigetsu aside, stood up by himself, and left the base, as if wanting to go out and train.
Outside Orochimaru's base.
As Uchiha Sasuke walked to a tree, a hand suddenly appeared from the tree's shadow and handed him a note.
"Kagura-sama approved my actions..."
"However, won't Orochimaru know about my plan to kill him? This makes ambushing impossible, but it's no issue, Orochimaru is no longer a match for me..."
Uchiha Sasuke lowered his head to glance at the note in his hand, seeing the news that Naruto Uzumaki is returning to Konoha at the end, he just sighed heavily.
No matter what...
At least Akihara Kagura is willing to support him in challenging Orochimaru.
For the past two or three years, Uchiha Sasuke has been here, training and studying with Orochimaru, and no one in this base is his match. He even believes his power has long surpassed Orochimaru!
No wonder Uchiha Sasuke has this confidence.
Three Tomoe Sharingan, Flying Thunder God Jutsu, and the derivative technique of Lighting Release: Chidori, along with the kenjutsu and other techniques he's been practicing all these years, make dealing with any village's Jonin a breeze, and Uchiha Sasuke is confident he can defeat Orochimaru!
Late at night.
While Orochimaru was still conducting experiments.
The news from Akihara Kagura was sure to reach Kabuto first.
Kabuto, holding a scroll, approached Orochimaru: "Orochimaru-sama, the news from Kagura, your developed puppets need to be sealed away..."
"Sealed again?"
Orochimaru frowned, seemingly dissatisfied with this approach: "Everything I develop gets sealed in the Forbidden Technique Room..."
"Perhaps it's being cautious of being too dangerous for ordinary people..."
Kabuto casually glossed over the matter, gently bringing up the situation within the base: "By the way, Orochimaru-sama, I've noticed something; Uchiha Sasuke's recent behavior seems strange, I suspect he might be planning to assassinate you..."
"Is the little Uchiha fledgling finally growing up?"
Orochimaru laughed, seemingly quite anticipating Uchiha Sasuke's actions, and extended his tongue to lick his lips: "Perfect timing, the three-year Immortal Rebirth term is over, and I need to switch into his body..."