Chapter 213: Now, It's Just You Left
Uchiha Dali calmly withdrew his arm.
The spot where Orochimaru had just bitten him rapidly healed under the power of Wood Release, the wound closing at a speed visible to the naked eye, and in the blink of an eye, it was as if nothing had ever happened.
Seeing this, Orochimaru's pupils shrank slightly, then he grew excited.
"I never imagined your constitution would be this powerful… such an astonishing recovery ability—I've only ever seen it in one other person."
At this moment, he thought of his former comrade, his fellow member of the "Legendary Sannin"—Tsunade.
That woman was terrifying, not only possessing monstrous strength but also unmatched medical ninjutsu, with an incredible healing ability.
And the reason she had such formidable medical ninjutsu was that she was the granddaughter of Senju Hashirama, the First Hokage, whom later generations hailed as the "God of Shinobi."
Orochimaru never expected Uchiha Dali's recovery ability to be so monstrous as well.
His eyes gleamed with a strange light, as if he had just discovered an unbelievable treasure.
But Uchiha Dali looked completely unbothered.
"Enough idle talk, Orochimaru. Go back to Konoha. I'll arrange a research base just for you."
As he spoke, Uchiha Dali laid his hand on Orochimaru's shoulder.
In an instant, both of them vanished from sight. When they reappeared, several other figures were already standing before them.
Orochimaru was taken aback. "These people are…"
Other than Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, the only ones he recognized were Uchiha Obito and White Zetsu.
But when he looked closely, he realized that Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato seemed familiar.
"I see… so it's you three."
"Heh… have you joined Akatsuki as well?"
Orochimaru's mind was sharp and his memory keen. He quickly recalled where he had seen them.
It was during the Second Great Ninja War.
In a village in the Land of Rain.
At the time, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato were just little brats. Orochimaru had originally planned to kill them on the spot, but in the end, Jiraiya took them in.
Though so many years had passed and they had changed in appearance, Orochimaru still recognized them instantly.
And given the current situation—with Obito and White Zetsu also present—there was only one explanation.
They were members of Akatsuki too.
"They are now my subordinates. Just like you, they've pledged loyalty to me, so I brought you over to get acquainted."
Uchiha Dali explained to Orochimaru.
Hearing this, Orochimaru was stunned once again.
Obito and the others also wore strange expressions.
"It seems our little group is getting livelier and livelier…" White Zetsu said with a playful grin.
Konan, Nagato, and Yahiko remained silent.
They felt nothing in particular toward Orochimaru, but since Uchiha Dali had invited him into the team, they had no reason to object. They would simply get along as needed.
As for Obito, he himself was a Konoha defector just like Orochimaru.
Since Uchiha Dali had forgiven him, naturally he had no standing to criticize Orochimaru.
Besides, compared to these side matters, what weighed most on Obito's mind was the question of reviving Nohara Rin.
He looked at Uchiha Dali, his eyes filled with expectation but also a hint of unease, unsure how to bring it up.
Uchiha Dali immediately saw through his thoughts.
"I'll ask you a question first."
He turned toward Obito.
"What question?"
"Did Nohara Rin love you?"
"This…?"
Obito froze. He hadn't expected that question.
Uchiha Dali continued, "I heard from Minato about what happened between you, Kakashi, and Rin."
"If Rin were resurrected and chose Kakashi instead of you, what would you do?"
He asked the question with a teasing smile.
Obito thought for a moment, then answered seriously, "I just want to see Rin again. I haven't thought that far ahead."
"But now that you've raised this possibility, I have no choice but to consider it carefully. Lord Dali, if Rin can be resurrected, if I can see her again… then no matter what happens, it won't matter. Even if she chooses Kakashi, I won't regret it…"
Though his words sounded resolute, anyone could hear the trace of unwillingness and unease in his heart.
But Uchiha Dali didn't care.
He nodded seriously. "When it comes to feelings, no one else can help you, and such things can't be forced."
"Since that's how you feel, then let's go."
"Go? Where to?"
Obito's heart tightened.
He had a faint guess, and unease began creeping in.
Sure enough, Uchiha Dali said, "Back to Konoha, of course."
"What about the Eight-Tails?" Uzumaki Nagato asked immediately.
"Oh, I almost forgot that guy's still here."
Uchiha Dali looked at him. "Undo that sealing technique."
Nagato didn't press further. At his words, he immediately released the Chibaku Tensei that had imprisoned Killer Bee and the Fourth Raikage.
The moment he finished weaving hand seals, Uchiha Dali disappeared.
"Rumble…"
The massive sphere of rock and earth formed by Chibaku Tensei began to collapse, crumbling apart as dirt and stone rained down.
From within, the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki Killer Bee and the Fourth Raikage A fell, both unconscious.
Just as they were about to hit the ground, Uchiha Dali caught them and used his chakra to awaken them.
When they opened their eyes and saw that it was Uchiha Dali who had saved them, both Killer Bee and the Fourth Raikage were stunned.
"Uchiha Dali… why?"
The Raikage swept his gaze over the state of the Hidden Cloud Village.
What had once been a prosperous village was now in ruins, scarred and broken.
Every building had collapsed into rubble.
The shinobi had suffered devastating losses.
Kumogakure was finished.
And yet, it was Uchiha Dali who had just saved them.
"The unification of the ninja world is at hand. Join my ranks as well. Wouldn't it be wonderful for us all to witness the birth of a peaceful world together?"
Uchiha Dali extended his invitation to Killer Bee and the Fourth Raikage.
But upon hearing this, the two of them remained silent.
"So that was your purpose all along?" Killer Bee asked after a moment of silence.
"Akatsuki has already submitted to me, and now they serve Konoha."
"In the entire ninja world, the only ones left opposing me are the Land of Lightning."
"If you refuse unification, I won't hesitate to erase your entire land from the map."
Uchiha Dali said lightly.
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