Chapter 214 – Orochimaru's Submission, Madara's Ruthless Confidence
But... Orochimaru had not expected that the Fifth Hokage—Uchiha Yuta would become so terrifyingly powerful.
Not only had he resurrected an unknown version of the Ten-Tails, but he had also personally killed the mysterious entities behind the two terrifying chakra signatures that descended from the heavens.
That kind of power—was monstrous.
Even Orochimaru, once a Sannin of Konoha and one of the most feared rogue shinobi in the world, found himself struck with admiration... and a little fear.
What made Orochimaru marvel even more was Uchiha Yuta's ten years of silence.
For a full decade, he endured silently, hiding his strength, until that fateful night—the Uchiha Clan Massacre. That was when he erupted in thunderous fury and slaughtered the entire Konoha high council in one strike. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Shimura Danzō, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado—all dead.
Such clean, decisive, merciless action—it left even someone like Orochimaru astonished.
> "If I had possessed such power," Orochimaru mused quietly, "I would never have waited so long. But Uchiha Yuta... He endured, planned, and executed with precision. Ruthless and patient."
That kind of patience was terrifying.
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"Lord Orochimaru, what should we do now?"
Kabuto Yakushi hesitated for a moment and then asked seriously, "The Fifth Hokage—Uchiha Yuta—has become an unstoppable force. The Shinobi World is changing. Maybe... permanently."
Orochimaru's expression darkened.
He understood Kabuto's implication clearly. It meant: Madara Uchiha might be irrelevant now. And siding with him could be a mistake.
But it was too late.
> "Forget it," Orochimaru finally said, shaking his head with a half-smile.
"We've already boarded Madara Uchiha's ship. There's no getting off."
> "I believe in Madara Uchiha," he added, with a hint of resignation.
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BOOM!
A ripple of spatial distortion tore through the room—four figures appeared out of thin air.
Uchiha Madara, Uchiha Obito (the masked man), Black Zetsu, and White Zetsu had arrived in Orochimaru's lab.
The moment they materialized, Kabuto's eyes widened in horror. His knees gave out and he collapsed to the floor, drenched in sweat.
> "They came this fast?" he thought in disbelief.
"If Lord Orochimaru had voiced any doubt... we would both be corpses already."
As Kabuto trembled, Madara remained cold and silent.
Obito shot a glare at Kabuto and let out a cold snort.
That was enough. Kabuto fainted from fear.
> "What a worthless coward," White Zetsu said with disdain.
"This one dares speak against Madara-sama behind his back? He's lucky he's still alive."
White Zetsu turned toward Orochimaru.
> "You made the right decision."
---
Orochimaru gave a twisted smile.
> "Now that Uchiha Yuta is the dominant force in the world... I wonder, Madara-sama, do you still have a plan to deal with him?"
> "No plan," Madara said with a calm yet chilling smirk.
"We proceed as always."
His tone brooked no argument.
In truth, Madara Uchiha knew how powerful Uchiha Yuta had become. Possibly even beyond his own level. But surrender? Admit defeat?
Impossible.
Madara was Madara.
Even if the world itself turned against him, he would burn it down with his own hands.
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> "Very well," Orochimaru muttered, twitching slightly at Madara's overconfidence.
Deep down, he wanted to scoff.
> "This old relic still thinks he's in control... but once you board this pirate ship, there's no getting off. I'll play my part... for now."
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> "Enough talk," Madara said sharply.
"The plan begins now. You and your Sound Village will follow our orders."
> "Understood," Orochimaru replied, suppressing his inner hesitation.
He knew what this meant. The Fourth Great Ninja War was on the verge of erupting.
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> "Let's move," Madara said.
With another flicker of spatial chakra, Madara, Obito, Black Zetsu, and White Zetsu disappeared once more.
---
The lab fell silent.
> "You can get up now," Orochimaru said with a smirk.
> "Lord Orochimaru... Uchiha Madara is terrifying," Kabuto whispered as he sat up, wiping cold sweat from his brow.
"I thought I was going to die."
> "Heh..." Orochimaru chuckled softly, his golden eyes flashing.
"Do you really think your little tricks weren't noticed by Madara? He simply didn't care. You're not worth his attention."
Kabuto was silent.
And in his silence, a single truth echoed.
> "The weak have no rights."
Kabuto clenched his fists in frustration. But he didn't argue.
---
> "So be it," Orochimaru said coldly.
"Let the two gods clash. Let Madara think he controls the board. But soon... he'll see that the king he tries to move has already risen."
He looked into the distance, to where Uchiha Yuta stood—beyond reach.
And he smiled.
> "I wonder, who will laugh last?"
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To be continued...
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