Orochimaru patted Anko's head and smiled, then said to Danzo, "Danzo, once we're back up, promote my disciple to Jonin as well."
Beside Danzo, a young Ninja from the Root with the code name 'Kinoe' looked somewhat competitive, as if he wanted to challenge Anko to a match.
Danzo was also quite pleased: "Orochimaru, you really are a genius. As long as the Village's Ninjas are transplanted with White Zetsu cells, the Village's strength can be greatly improved."
"However, this matter must be kept from those evil Uchiha; we absolutely cannot let them obtain the power of the First Hokage."
Danzo saw the huge developmental potential of the White Zetsu cells.
Even though they were both Hashirama cells, Kinoe beside him had inherited the Wood Release, while Anko had inherited the auxiliary abilities of the Hashirama cells.
Recovery, infiltration, disguise, Chakra absorption... which ability was better?
Danzo believed the auxiliary White Zetsu cells were better.
Because Yamato's success was just an isolated case, and Danzo was still keeping that from Orochimaru.
Furthermore, Yamato's Wood Release did not possess the characteristic of absorbing Chakra, and his Chakra was only at the level of an ordinary Jonin.
His path in this life would be doing landscaping projects or building houses.
Orochimaru shook his head at Danzo's suggestion: "Cultivating White Zetsu cells requires a lot of resources, and besides, I have no interest in supporting the weak."
"Even if they become ten times stronger, what's the use? They would still only become lonely souls under Uchiha Madara's blade."
"..."
Danzo was silent for a moment, then asked: "Orochimaru, what exactly do you want to do?"
Orochimaru said: "Don't focus on those useless trash anymore. The most important thing now is to improve high-end combat power."
"I will transplant White Zetsu cells and then find a way to learn Sage Transformation at Ryūchi Cave, using that to enhance the Edo Tensei bodies of the First Hokage and Second Hokage."
"As for that fellow Might Duy... Sakumo, is he really as amazing as you say?"
Orochimaru looked toward Sakumo.
In the Third Great Ninja War, there was another intense battle.
That was the battle between Might Duy and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Back then, Kirigakure used the Seven Ninja Swordsmen as a vanguard to rush into the Land of Fire, preparing to attack Konoha.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen surrounded the young Guy, Genma, and Ebisu.
At the critical moment, Guy's father, Duy, arrived. To protect the three of them, he embraced the resolve to die and opened the Gate of Death, facing the Seven Ninja Swordsmen with the 'Eight Gates Formation,' allowing Guy and the others to take the opportunity to retreat.
In this battle, Duy died in action, and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were reduced to a 'The Lucky Three' of survivors.
The three who escaped also lost the sharp edge of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen; they would tremble with fear at the sight of a green-skinned kappa.
Suikazan Fuguki even had his 'Ninja Way' crushed, falling to the point of betraying the Village and selling intelligence to enemy nations.
It could be said that the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Third War had their organization broken by Duy.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen were all Elite Jonin and had seven special Ninja swords; even for a Hokage, they would not be easy to deal with.
Duy made a great contribution to Konoha.
But why was Might Duy still unknown? Even high-level officials like Orochimaru didn't know about him.
First, Duy was a Genin, and an 'Eternal Genin' at that.
Usually in the Village, he played the role of a clown. Except for Ryou and Sakumo, who knew his strength, no one else knew anything.
Even the Third Hokage didn't know exactly what kind of powerful strength Duy possessed.
He had no reputation, and even fewer people willing to speak for him. Even if Guy had told the truth at the time, no one would have believed it.
Second, Kirigakure Anbu arrived at the time and took back the bodies and swords of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen killed by Duy. Duy's body had also turned to charcoal due to the powerful side effects of the Gate of Death.
It was difficult to find evidence to support that Might Duy could contend with the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
The ones who knew the truth were Guy's team and the remaining 'The Lucky Three'.
The 'The Lucky Three' wouldn't talk, and Guy's group of three alone wasn't enough to make everyone believe that a Genin could defeat the famous Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Third was the decision of the high-level officials. Even if the Anbu investigated clearly and they all knew, they did not publicize it.
They feared the powerful might of the Eight Gates would arouse the greed of others and cause unnecessary trouble.
At that time, Konoha's publicity was focused on Minato. The high-level officials wanted Minato to become the Fourth Hokage, so naturally, they didn't want Duy's achievement to lower the weight of Minato's military exploits.
In the end, it was the prejudice in people's hearts; no one was willing to believe an Eternal Genin could unleash such a powerful technique.
Why him? Why should it be him?
Danzo was one of the high-level officials, so he naturally knew about Duy defeating the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
He called out to Orochimaru: "Orochimaru, my Root has archived the secret files of the battle between Might Duy and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen. Go take a look!"
Orochimaru became curious. Could Taijutsu really have such great power?
A short while later.
Orochimaru, Sakumo, Hiruko, Danzo, and the others all went to the Root.
Danzo took out Duy's file, which contained not only written records but also photographic evidence.
The battlefield struck by the Eight Gates Formation looked as if a meteorite had landed; it was full of pits and hollows, and the surrounding forests and hills had been destroyed.
Orochimaru read it carefully, his pupils turning into horrified vertical slits: "This is impossible! Taijutsu cannot have such powerful might."
Orochimaru was of the Ninjutsu school. Regarding Taijutsu, his impression was of the 'Soft' and the 'Hard' styles.
The Gentle Fist school represented by the Hyuga Clan, and the Iron Fist represented by the powerful physical constitution of the Senju Clan.
But no matter how far they practiced, they couldn't contend with Ninjutsu!
For example, with Tsunade's Monster Strength, a single punch could collapse a mountain. Could your Iron Fist, no matter how hard, reach that level?
But looking at the description of Might Duy's Eight Gates Formation, the power displayed surpassed even a Hokage.
Danzo explained: "The Eight Gates is a Forbidden Jutsu. By releasing the eight pressure points in the human body that restrict Chakra, one temporarily gains immense power."
"Opening the eighth point, the Gate of Death, forms the Eight Gates Formation. At that time, one can obtain a terrifying power dozens of times greater than the Five Kage."
"But the price is death. The human body cannot withstand that kind of violent burning of Chakra and will turn directly into charcoal."
"..."
Orochimaru and Hiruko were instantly stunned.
Sakumo was mentally prepared and didn't seem too shocked.
He took the file from Orochimaru's hand and looked at it seriously: "Duy's Ninja stats were still too low. If he had been a Jonin—no, even just the stats of a Chunin."
"As long as the Eight Gates Formation was opened, Suikazan Fuguki and Biwa Jūzō would have had no chance at all to escape."
The Eight Gates Formation amplifies based on the Ninja's base stats. In the original work, Guy's Ninja stats were that of an Elite Jonin.
So after opening the Eight Gates Formation, he could contend with Six Paths Madara.
But Duy's stats were those of a Genin. When he opened the Eight Gates Formation with Genin stats, the power was naturally inferior to Guy's.
There was also the matter of talent. Duy spent nearly 20 years to master the Eight Gates and opened the Eight Gates Formation at age 35.
Whereas Guy could open the Eight Gates Formation in his 20s. In terms of talent, as the son, Guy was the 'blue that comes from indigo but is bluer than indigo'—surpassing his teacher.
Hearing about the immense power of the Eight Gates, Orochimaru flicked his tongue: "To think such a powerful technique exists. If someone with Hokage-level Ninja stats opened the Eight Gates, wouldn't they be able to kick Uchiha Madara to death directly?"
"If—"
Danzo interrupted Orochimaru.
What Orochimaru wanted to say was that if he learned the Eight Gates himself, wouldn't he be able to easily deal with Madara?
Danzo shook his head: "Impossible. The Eight Gates is a Forbidden Jutsu. Only those with an unwavering will can succeed. There are no shortcuts on this path."
"Look at the simple-minded appearance of Might Duy and Might Guy, and you'll know that they have nothing except Taijutsu."
"To practice the Eight Gates, you must be single-minded. Orochimaru, can you be that still?"
"..."
Orochimaru didn't reply. Who among them could be that still?
Even the two dead men, Hiruko and Sakumo, couldn't be still; they still had deep obsessions with the mortal world.
Orochimaru understood. The Eight Gates was for the kind of fools who couldn't learn anything else. Precisely because the threshold was too high, geniuses weren't willing to waste time on it.
Danzo then said: "Unfortunately, after Duy used the Eight Gates, his body burned to charcoal, making it impossible to obtain his body tissue."
Orochimaru shook his head: "No, as long as a person has existed, they will inevitably leave traces behind."
"Danzo, find a way to go to Duy's home and look for his cells. Even a single strand of hair will do."
As long as he obtained Duy's cells, Orochimaru could grow Might Duy's organs and then attempt to summon Might Duy from the Pure Land.
Orochimaru suddenly thought of a very crucial question.
"Edo Tensei is immortal, so an Edo Tensei body of Duy could avoid the fatality of the Eight Gates Formation."
Everyone immediately looked at each other, seeing the fire of hope in their pupils.
"Duy could keep the Eight Gates open indefinitely!"