Jiraiya let Minato help him up and said, "Uchiha Madara is not someone we can face head-on. Sage Fukusaku said that above the three tomoe Sharingan is the Mangekyo Sharingan, right?"
Jiraiya looked at the Third Hokage.
At this point, nothing could be kept hidden anymore.
The Third Hokage nodded slowly. "That's right. Above the three tomoe Sharingan is the Mangekyo Sharingan. Legend has it that it's the strongest heavenly eye that sees through the three realms—the 'God's Eye' of the Uchiha Clan."
"The Second Hokage once told us that we must strictly supervise the Uchiha and be wary of any Uchiha who awakens the Mangekyo Sharingan."
Jiraiya nodded. "But the Uchiha Madara we fought didn't have the Mangekyo Sharingan. His eye sockets were empty."
The Third Hokage was shocked. "What? No Mangekyo? This... how is that possible?"
To wipe out the Sannin without even having a Mangekyo... that was simply impossible!
Jiraiya's Senjutsu was no joke.
Who in the current Ninja World could still be a match for Sage Jiraiya? Even the Third Raikage would have to avoid his sharp edge!
Jiraiya slowly revealed the truth: "Because Uchiha Madara has Wood Release!"
"What?!"
"...How can such a Ninjutsu exist in the Ninja World?"
Orochimaru dragged his battered body through the forest, fleeing in a pathetic state. He wasn't dead!
Yes, Orochimaru was an unkillable cockroach; how could someone like him be killed so easily?
Although the Wood Golem was on par with a Perfect Susanoo, Orochimaru managed to survive. He was just in bad shape, with one arm broken.
He had to find a Medical Ninja to treat his injuries as soon as possible.
Jiraiya was dead, Tsunade was captured alive, and all of Orochimaru's pride had been shattered by a single punch from the Wood Golem.
What did immortality matter? In the face of Wood Release and the Sharingan, everything else was just chickens and dogs.
Now, Orochimaru's mind was filled with Wood Release and the Sharingan; he had completely become a supporter of bloodline theory.
Only the bloodlines of the Senju and Uchiha could allow him to reach the peak; only Wood Release and the Sharingan were the ultimate mysteries of Ninjutsu.
In the original story, Orochimaru only came to this realization after being taught a lesson by Itachi.
Now, subdued by Madara's power, Orochimaru had realized it early—and even more thoroughly.
Bloodline. Only bloodline was everything.
He only regretted that his parents weren't Uchiha or Senju!
After Orochimaru returned, he was going to give his father a good lecture in front of his memorial tablet.
'Dad, why didn't you marry an Uchiha or Senju wife back then?'
Innate factors couldn't be changed, so Orochimaru would change his fate later in life. What did it matter if he didn't have the Senju or Uchiha bloodline?
The Uchiha and Senju people were right there in the Village. If I can't get it, I'll steal it; if I can't steal it, I'll snatch it. I must have you.
The answer provided by Uchiha Madara was right there; Orochimaru just had to copy it.
Escaping the forest, Orochimaru looked back toward the direction of Madara's base.
"Just wait, Uchiha Madara. I will come back for revenge."
Orochimaru still had thoughts for the Village and still wanted to be the Hokage. Moreover, Jiraiya had entrusted him with a request before he 'died'.
To protect the Village.
Orochimaru thought of the Edo Tensei.
The only one who could deal with Uchiha Madara was the First Hokage, Hashirama!
That was the answer!
Then Orochimaru just needed to find a way to resurrect Hashirama.
And the Edo Tensei was the key for Orochimaru to resurrect Hashirama.
"Heh heh! Only I can save Konoha. Only I am fit to be the Hokage. Sensei, I will prove that I am the one who is right."
Past the forest was a wooden bridge. Just as Orochimaru was about to cross, a familiar figure blocked the edge of the bridge.
"Orochimaru, trying to slip away?"
Ryou held the Gunbai in his left hand and the Kama in his right, wearing a set of white heavy Ninja armor.
At this moment, Ryou was fully decked out in top-tier gear.
Orochimaru froze. This scene felt familiar!
That's right, not long ago, Orochimaru had blocked Ryou at Kannabi Bridge. Now the roles were reversed.
Fate truly was a fickle thing!
Orochimaru sensed his own condition. Right now, even a Chunin could kill him.
Let alone Ryou, who was holding the Uchiha sacred treasure and Madara's Shinigami scythe.
But Orochimaru was incredibly proud; even in this state, he wouldn't beg for mercy like Ryou had.
"Fine, fine, Ryou. I didn't expect the day would come when I'd fall into your hands!"
"Indeed!"
Ryou said with some emotion, "The tides turn every three months. Never look down on a youth who can't afford gear!"
Ryou didn't believe Orochimaru would be killed by Madara so easily. A person like Orochimaru was the type whose villainy would keep him alive for a thousand years.
"Enough talk, Orochimaru. I won't take your life. Hand over the summoning scroll for Ryūchi Cave and let me sign it, and I'll let you go."
Orochimaru realized, "The summoning scroll for Ryūchi Cave! Ryou, so that's what you're after. What, are you not satisfied with the Uchiha Clan's Ninja Cats?"
Satisfied? He was beyond dissatisfied.
Ryou's Ninja Cats were all useless; it was like raising a bunch of ancestors. They had little skill but huge tempers.
If they weren't satisfied, they'd hiss. Ryou had wanted to change his summoning beast for a long time.
Actually, it wasn't just a matter of compatibility with the summoning beast; Ryou's main goal was to plot for Senjutsu.
Ryou felt that Madara's cursed seal was still inside his body. To solve it, he could only consider Senjutsu.
After all, in the original story, Six Paths Obito could absorb any Ninjutsu except for Senjutsu.
This proved that Senjutsu far exceeded ordinary Ninjutsu.
Ryou wanted to learn Senjutsu to escape Madara's control.
But there were only three sources of Senjutsu in the Ninja World: Mount Myōboku, Shikkotsu Forest, and Ryūchi Cave.
Ryou was an evil cultivator, known as a 'Taimanin' in the Ninja World. Orthodox forces like Mount Myōboku and Shikkotsu Forest would definitely not accept an evil Ninja like him.
Only Ryūchi Cave accepted anyone, so Ryou set his sights on the Ryūchi Cave summoning scroll.
He planned to use the scroll to establish a connection with Ryūchi Cave and then find a way to go there to undergo the White Snake Sage's trials.
Orochimaru sneered, "Ryou, looking at you, it seems you aren't that loyal to Uchiha Madara. Why don't we join forces?"
"As long as you let me go back to Konoha to be the Hokage, I can clear your status as a rogue ninja. When the time comes, the position of Captain of the Konoha Police Force will be yours."
"Pah!"
Ryou said disdainfully, "Orochimaru, do you really think that Village chief position is a treasure? Now that Uchiha Madara is resurrected, the Hokage is definitely the most high-pressure job right now."
"Orochimaru, stop the nonsense. Hurry up and hand over the summoning scroll, or I'll poke your backside!"
"..."
Orochimaru's expression darkened. Being threatened by a guy like Ryou, who had absolutely no Ninja decorum, was definitely the most humiliating thing.
But Orochimaru had no other choice; he still wanted to live.
However, he didn't trust Ryou. "Ryou, how can I trust you? You're a man with no credibility to speak of."
Ryou immediately swore an oath: "Orochimaru, if I lie to you, my whole family, no, my whole clan will die out."
"Pah!"
Orochimaru spat at Ryou.
"Orochimaru, you're really confused. If I kill you, the summoning scroll will still be mine."
Ryou brandished his sickle and charged forward.
"Wait, wait—"
Orochimaru finally gave in. He quickly spat out the Ryūchi Cave summoning scroll from his mouth.
Ryou found it a bit disgusting, so he created a Spore Clone to wipe it clean before taking it.
Ryou opened Orochimaru's summoning scroll and saw a long list of names inside.
At the very end were two names: one was "Orochimaru," and the other was Orochimaru's disciple—"Anko Mitarashi."
Ryou bit his finger and signed his name, Ryou, after "Anko Mitarashi."
There are four steps to the Summoning Jutsu: first, write your name on the contract scroll, then press your blood onto the name.
When performing the technique, bite the finger used for the contract, convert Chakra into space-time teleportation formula energy, and form the five seals: Boar — Dog — Bird — Monkey — Ram.
After completing everything step by step, Ryou activated the Summoning Jutsu.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
Ryou felt a connection with Ryūchi Cave.
With a 'poof', a brown snake from Ryūchi Cave appeared. Its head was as large as a room.
The giant brown snake saw Ryou and lowered its head toward him.
Ryou was instantly overjoyed; it worked. He had signed a summoning contract with Ryūchi Cave.
Seeing this, Orochimaru said, "Satisfied? Now you should let me go!"
Ryou nodded, then closed the summoning scroll and threw it back to Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, we can cooperate in the future. You aren't loyal to Konoha, and I'm not loyal to Madara either."
"I think we can put on an act. You provide me with intelligence on Konoha, and I'll provide you with intelligence on Madara."
"When the two sides clash, you give me some military merit, and I'll give you some too. We can help each other level up as genius youths, how about it?"
Orochimaru took the scroll, swallowed it back into his stomach, and nodded. "Fine, we shall cooperate."
Orochimaru turned and walked past Ryou.
Ryou suddenly grabbed his shoulder from behind. "You and I are like old friends at first sight, yet you're leaving. Since we're about to part, my friend, let me see you off."
Hearing these words, even with Orochimaru's thirty-plus years of Ninja experience, his face instantly turned pale with terror.
Oh no, this bastard Ryou is going to backstab someone again!
"Chimera Technique: Heaven-Absorbing Demonic Art! Absorb!"