Looking at the luxurious camp that had appeared out of nowhere, Orochimaru did not hesitate at all and quickly ordered the original camp to be dismantled and relocated.
After dinner, Orochimaru came to Isamu's residence. Seeing that Orochimaru seemed to have something to discuss, Isamu sent Senba away first.
"The unique Wood Release Kekkei Genkai is truly remarkable. Creating so many wooden houses in an instant—sturdy and practical as well. It's honestly enviable!" Orochimaru stuck out his long tongue and licked his lips, clearly showing great interest in Wood Release.
"Enough with the pointless flattery. Since you came here tonight, you must have something to say, right?" Isamu cut straight to the point without wasting words.
"Heh, it's like this. I recently obtained a very special Ninjutsu, but no matter how I look at it, it still feels incomplete. I wanted Big Brother Isamu to help me figure out where the problem lies." As Orochimaru spoke, he carefully pulled a scroll out from his robes.
"An incomplete Ninjutsu? Let me see what kind of technique even you can't figure out!" Isamu took the scroll curiously. It was rare for a Ninjutsu to stump someone as research-obsessed as Orochimaru.
"This… this is… Edo Tensei! How do you have this?" After opening the scroll, Isamu was visibly surprised. Recorded inside was indeed the Edo Tensei, and some sections had already been modified and improved.
"That's right. It's the Forbidden Jutsu, Edo Tensei, recorded within the Scroll of Seals. I secretly memorized it when Hiruzen-sensei allowed me to study the Scroll of Seals after the Second Great Ninja War ended. For some reason, this technique feels strangely familiar to me. Perhaps this is what people call fate!" Orochimaru said calmly.
A strange sense of familiarity? I see. It seems even the Rinnegan's memory extraction isn't perfect. The memories may be gone, but instincts and impressions still remain. For someone like Orochimaru, who once used this technique in the original timeline, it would naturally feel familiar, Isamu thought silently as he glanced at Orochimaru.
"Are you really sure it's okay to meddle with a Forbidden Jutsu that toys with the dead? You should know that Hiruzen Sarutobi values you very highly. If he ever finds out about this, then I'm afraid…" Isamu looked at Orochimaru with a faint smirk. Hiruzen Sarutobi was grooming Orochimaru as the next Hokage, so walking down this path was essentially burying his own future.
"Heh, the Second Hokage did plenty of things just like this, yet he still sat firmly in the Hokage's seat!" Orochimaru chuckled dismissively, not caring in the slightest.
"No, no, no. Senju Tobirama was Senju Tobirama, and you are you. He had the Senju Clan, who founded Konoha, and Senju Hashirama backing him. Hiruzen Sarutobi is neither Senju Hashirama nor capable of protecting you the same way. You understand that, right?" Isamu spoke calmly. Honestly, he still felt it would be a waste for a genius like Orochimaru to leave Konoha, so he wanted to try persuading him one last time.
"I know all of that. But once the arrow leaves the bow, there's no turning back. There's no retreat for me anymore!" Orochimaru shook his head helplessly. His connection with Danzo had already become far too deep. Several years ago, the two of them had already begun conducting human experiments together. At this point, there was almost no way back for him.
"Sigh… what a waste," Isamu sighed softly.
He also understood that Orochimaru was sinking deeper and deeper into darkness. Years ago, Danzo had become interested in the power of Wood Release and had once approached Isamu for help, but Isamu refused him outright. After that rejection, Danzo joined forces with Orochimaru, secretly dug up Senju Hashirama's grave, and began researching Hashirama Cells.
Senju Hashirama probably never could have imagined that after giving everything for Konoha, even his grave would eventually be disturbed by Konoha's own people.
Afterward, Isamu pointed out two flaws within Orochimaru's version of Edo Tensei, and their discussion ended soon after. Although Isamu possessed the completed version of Edo Tensei, he had no intention of handing it over to Orochimaru right now.
After resting for the night, Senba and the supply team departed from the border camp the following morning.
"If you have something you want to ask, just ask it already. Why keep holding it in?" Once they left the border camp, Isamu spoke to Senba, who looked like he wanted to say something but kept hesitating.
"Uh… it's like this, Father. You seem to have a really good relationship with Uncle Orochimaru. You know, Uncle Orochimaru is usually arrogant and hard to approach, so why does he act so differently in front of you?" Senba hesitated for a moment before finally voicing his question.
"Heh, you could say I'm half of Orochimaru's teacher. Naturally, he has no room to act arrogant in front of me. Besides, he and I are in the same boat, so there are many things he's willing to tell me!" Isamu chuckled casually.
"I see. I never expected one of the Sannin to actually be half your student. I really didn't know that. But what did you mean by 'in the same boat'?" As soon as one question was answered, another immediately appeared. Senba looked at his father curiously.
"You probably don't know this, but Orochimaru and I are both…" Isamu suddenly stopped mid-sentence. These matters weren't suitable for Senba to know yet.
"Mm-hmm? Both what?" Senba nodded eagerly, staring intently at his father. He was extremely interested in these kinds of secrets.
"It's nothing. Those are Orochimaru's secrets, and they can't be casually discussed!" Isamu shook his head. The fewer people who knew about his and Orochimaru's ties to Danzo, the better.
"Hmph! Fine then, don't say it. I don't even care anymore!" Seeing that his father refused to speak, Senba turned his head away, pretending not to care.
Isamu didn't say anything further and simply closed his eyes to rest.
Since the convoy was no longer carrying supplies this time, their return trip was much faster. It only took about two-thirds of the original travel time for them to return to Konoha Village, and no fools appeared to block their path along the way.
After returning to Konoha and reporting the mission, Senba and Isamu rested for only one day before immediately accepting another mission. With the Ninja World growing increasingly tense, the village simply couldn't afford to let its Ninjas remain idle for long.
Over the next few months, Senba and Isamu carried out various A-Rank and B-Rank missions, occasionally leading Genin teams on C-Rank missions as well.
After five months of continuous missions, Hiruzen Sarutobi noticed how active Isamu had become and assigned him an important position: commander of a hundred-man unit responsible for defending against the Land of Earth. Isamu did not refuse, since this was something he also needed to participate in. At the same time, he used his influence to have Senba transferred into the Land of Earth defense force as well.
Thus, the father and son were stationed together at the border.