Inside a barren cave, Hiruzen and Orochimaru waited out the scorching heat.
"Orochimaru, how many snakes have you released already? Still nothing?" Hiruzen asked impatiently.
"My dear teacher," Orochimaru replied lazily, "finding Uchiha Madara isn't like finding a lost scroll."
Just as the words fell—
Hiss…
A small snake emerged from underground.
Orochimaru's eyes sharpened.
He grabbed it and pulled out a scroll from its mouth.
Hiruzen stepped closer.
"That's Danzō's handwriting."
The scroll contained only four words:
Mountain Graveyard.
Both men smiled.
So that was where Madara was hiding.
Journey to the Mountain Graveyard
Under blazing sun, they traveled across barren terrain.
At one flat expanse, Hiruzen suddenly stopped.
"Something's odd."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow.
"What now?"
"Look around. Perfectly flat land… yet that stone over there stands alone."
Orochimaru sighed.
"Teacher… have you developed paranoia after losing to Drake?"
He casually threw a kunai.
Clang.
The blade struck the stone.
"Just a rock."
Hiruzen nodded slowly.
"…Perhaps I'm overthinking."
They moved on.
The "Stone" Cracks
After they disappeared—
Crack.
The stone split open.
A toad emerged.
Minato.
"Sharp instincts, Third Hokage."
He had perfectly disguised himself using Sage-natural assimilation.
He burrowed underground and continued the pursuit.
Mountain Graveyard — Madara's Lair
Hours later, Minato surfaced again.
He watched from concealment.
Danzō stood outside a cavern, welcoming Orochimaru and Hiruzen.
"So this is it…"
But—
Madara was nowhere in sight.
Suddenly—
A voice spoke behind him.
"What are you?"
Minato turned.
Black Zetsu.
"Mount Myōboku toad?" Black Zetsu frowned.
"I see… you're a survivor seeking revenge against the Fourth Hokage?"
Minato immediately adapted.
"…Yes."
"Good. Anyone with a common goal is welcome."
Just like that—
He was led inside.
Minato internally shook his head.
"No wonder you're destined to lose to my student."
Inside the Cavern
Present:
Danzō
Orochimaru
Hiruzen
"A survivor toad" (Minato)
Heavy footsteps echoed.
An aged figure emerged.
Uchiha Madara
His gaze swept across the room.
"You've made a wise choice."
"I once ruled this world."
"Follow me, and power will be yours."
He gestured toward Danzō.
"Look at Shimura Danzō. Once a stray dog. Now he possesses Wood Release… even the power of the Sharingan."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed.
Hiruzen's expression darkened.
Minato silently observed.
Was Madara sowing distrust?
Or demonstrating dominance?
Hard to tell.
Then—
Madara smiled faintly.
"Come."
"I'll show you my army."
Minato's toad fingers stiffened.
Army?
They followed deeper into the cavern system.
A vast underground space opened before them.
And there—
Suspended in countless cocoons—
White bodies.
Thousands.
No—
Tens of thousands.
White Zetsu.
Madara's voice echoed.
"One hundred thousand."
"This is the force that will reshape the world."
Minato's mind sharpened instantly.
Now.
This was the moment.
If Drake saw this—
The Losers' Alliance would be finished.
He resisted the urge to act immediately.
One more moment.
Confirm everything.
Then—
Reverse summoning.
The countdown had truly begun.
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