Chapter 187: Konoha's Great Purge
"Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu!"
Still in the same hall as before.
Kabuto Yakushi found another prisoner, and Orochimaru skillfully performed the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
Tadpole-shaped markings spread out, quickly crawling over the prisoner, whose hands and feet were bound and mouth sealed.
The prisoner's eyes were filled with terror, and muffled sounds escaped his mouth.
Then, a large amount of white dust, freed from the pull of gravity, floated upwards, enveloping the prisoner's entire body, transforming him into a white mummy.
However, the mummy did not change. It was unlike previous uses of Impure World Reincarnation on Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, where their souls were summoned back from the Pure Land, their outlines emerged, and color was gradually added.
This mummy trembled violently, then collapsed on its own, with countless white dust particles falling away.
Seeing this, Orochimaru, Uchiha Sasuke, and the others were all slightly stunned.
"What's going on?" Uchiha Sasuke frowned, looking at Orochimaru.
Orochimaru didn't answer, but frowned as well.
Then, he turned to Uchiha Sasuke and asked, "Are you sure you killed Uchiha Obito?"
"What do you mean?"
"The Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu cannot fail, unless someone can seal off the Pure Land's gate," Orochimaru explained. "Even the God of Shinobi, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu can still summon his soul back. A mere Uchiha Obito, his soul is simply unable to resist the summons of the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu."
"Now that the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu has failed, there are only three explanations."
"One is that he hasn't died yet, and his soul hasn't entered the Pure Land."
"Two is that this head doesn't belong to Uchiha Obito; without the proper medium, a soul naturally cannot be summoned."
"The third possibility is..."
His voice paused slightly, and Orochimaru's eyes narrowed. "Someone else who also mastered the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu summoned Uchiha Obito's soul back first."
"The Akatsuki leader?" Uchiha Sasuke uttered the name.
The final battle between the puppet army and the Impure World Reincarnation army had shocked the entire ninja world.
Both ninjas and ordinary people knew that besides Orochimaru, there was another person in this era who had mastered the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu.
Uchiha Sasuke, unaware that Uchiha Madara also knew the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, subconsciously assumed that Nagato had revived Uchiha Obito.
After all, no one knew more clearly than Uchiha Sasuke whether Uchiha Obito was truly dead.
The opponent had even used Izanagi, and his soul was controlled by Sasuke's Spirit Transformation Jutsu, which was how the Wood Clone had managed to seize the opportunity.
He was completely dead, but now he was alive again.
Thinking this, Uchiha Sasuke's expression was very displeased.
Then, without a word, he created a black hole and entered it.
Hatake Kakashi snapped out of his daze and quickly followed him.
Looking at where the black hole disappeared, Kabuto Yakushi couldn't help but complain, "What arrogant guys."
"The Uchiha clan all have this kind of personality," Orochimaru didn't care at all, and he said with a perceptive smile, "They are an arrogant and strength-worshipping clan. They look down on those weaker than themselves, yet they adore those stronger than themselves. After awakening their eyes, this personality becomes even more pronounced."
"Extreme arrogance makes the Uchiha clan disdain to lie; all their thoughts are displayed on their faces, very simple."
"Interacting with such simple people, while sometimes frustrating, can also be very comfortable, as there's no need for scheming."
"As long as Izayoi-kun is around, Sasuke-kun will be Konoha's strongest enforcer, a trustworthy partner for us."
Kabuto Yakushi nodded in vague understanding.
"Continue packing, Kabuto."
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru."
Uchiha Obito felt as if he had just fallen asleep, dreaming of his childhood goddess, only to be shaken awake before he could say a word.
His eyes closed and then opened, and he found himself transported from the Kamui dimension to the mountainous region of the Land of Rivers.
Before him was not the cold and ruthless Uchiha Sasuke, but a displeased Uchiha Madara, looking at him with an expression of disappointment.
"I... I'm revived?" Uchiha Obito said, his expression dazed.
"You're overthinking it. You've only been revived by my Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu," Uchiha Madara ruthlessly shattered his hopes.
"Impure World Reincarnation?"
Uchiha Obito looked down at his hands, recalling the battle with Uchiha Sasuke, and murmured, "So, I really did die at Sasuke's hands?"
"To die at the hands of someone two generations younger than yourself, you truly are useless," Uchiha Madara reprimanded him with displeasure. "Even that junior, Uchiha Itachi, who hasn't transplanted Hashirama cells, is stronger than you, an elder with nearly infinite dōjutsu power. You didn't think your Kamui was invincible, did you? Now look, you encountered an ability similar to Kamui, one that could even counter it, and you couldn't even last until I returned; you were directly eliminated."
Uchiha Obito ignored Uchiha Madara's scolding and asked, "Is this my body, or a White Zetsu clone?"
"It's a White Zetsu clone. Your corpse is likely gone," Uchiha Madara said. "If not for the cursed seal still retaining some of your flesh and blood, I might not have been able to revive you with Impure World Reincarnation."
Uchiha Obito was silent for a moment, then softly said, "Thanks."
"You can say thanks too?" Uchiha Madara was slightly surprised, then as if thinking of something, he raised an eyebrow. "It seems you saw someone in the Pure Land."
Uchiha Obito didn't speak, because Uchiha Madara had indeed guessed correctly.
He hadn't expected that Rin would be waiting for him in the Pure Land.
If he hadn't known the truth about the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Uchiha Obito might have dared to meet Nohara Rin.
But after learning the truth of the Infinite Tsukuyomi, Uchiha Obito both wanted to see Nohara Rin, his sensei, and his sensei's wife, yet dared not face them.
Because he wanted to apologize to them, but also feared they wouldn't forgive him.
Just as awakening Kamui was a desire to escape this world, Uchiha Obito now still held a mentality of avoidance.
"Since you're alive again, continue working," Uchiha Madara continued to dangle the carrot. "The Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu also has an advantage: infinite chakra and dōjutsu power. You no longer need my Yang Release assistance and can continuously search for alternate dimensions. Once Ōtsutsuki Isshiki is dealt with, and I become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki, I will revive you and all those you cherish at once."
Hearing this, Uchiha Obito's black eyes, unique to the Impure World Reincarnation, finally brightened slightly.
Then, a black hole appeared, and the two vanished from the mountainous region of the Land of Rivers, continuing their search for the alternate dimensions hidden behind the real world.
This event was nothing more than a small interlude for Izayoi and Uchiha Madara.
At their level of strength, the ninja world was merely a playground.
The battles between the Five Great Shinobi Villages and Kage-level shinobi were nothing more than children's games.
If Uchiha Madara hadn't harbored noble intentions, desiring to create a world of perpetual peace, he could have easily become a world-ruling demon king with his power.
Unfortunately, he was too benevolent, seeing beyond temporary peace and desiring permanent peace.
Although the truth of the Infinite Tsukuyomi shattered his dream, after dealing with Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, he only needed to become the Ten-Tails' jinchūriki to conduct other peace experiments.
So no matter how tumultuous the ninja world became, Uchiha Madara's targets remained only Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, Ōtsutsuki Toneri, and even Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, who was sealed on the moon.
Aside from Izayoi, all members of the Ōtsutsuki clan were Uchiha Madara's enemies.
And his actions perfectly aligned with Izayoi's wishes.
Since the Sage of Six Paths hadn't emerged to explain everything to Uchiha Madara, Izayoi decided to play along, letting Uchiha Madara become his pawn to search for traces of Ōtsutsuki Isshiki.
Apart from the shrinkable Ōtsutsuki Isshiki, only the cunning Sage of Six Paths could make Izayoi feel a hint of apprehension.
So, after Uchiha Sasuke began working, Izayoi also became busy.
He attached Uchiha Obito's right eye to Shimura Danzo's eye sockets, giving him the Dual Kamui.
Then, he had a Wood Clone transform into Ōtsutsuki Toneri, using the Yin Kurama as a power source. With Shimura Danzo, the clone used Kamui to search for the locations of various alternate dimensions.
Aside from when the mood struck him, Izayoi's main body rarely went to the Hokage office, preferring to stay at home and cultivate his Sage's Body.
With his aptitude upgraded to Transcendent Aptitude (Rainbow), Izayoi finally understood the true importance of the upper limit of talent.
When his aptitude was still Six Paths Aptitude (Red), even with the complete Yin-Yang Release and chakra beads, Izayoi's progress in transforming his cells to contain physical energy, spiritual energy, and natural energy was incredibly slow.
After all, there are 130 trillion cells, and even if he could modify a trillion a day, it would still take 130 days.
And a trillion is so many, it's impossible to modify that many in a single day.
Therefore, even powerful individuals like Izayoi and Ōtsutsuki Hagoromo required a long time to achieve a rainbow-level Sage's Body.
But now, Izayoi felt that modifying cells was incredibly easy, at a rate many times faster than before.
If before it was like digging by hand, now it was like using an excavator—effortless.
It wasn't until the Third Stage of the Chunin Exams in August that Izayoi's main body finally took a break.
This was because the leaders of the ninja villages, led by Nagato, had arrived in Konoha.
Izayoi's invitation was no different from calling a Five Kage Summit.
It was just that the older generation, led by Ōnoki, couldn't bring themselves to come.
The older, the wiser.
It was also fortunate they didn't come, otherwise they would have to face not only Izayoi's demeanor but also Nagato's.
Kurotsuchi, Darui, and Gaara, who came in their stead, were like minor characters; although they had a place, they didn't have much presence.
Even Terumī Mei wasn't much better than them.
What was even more frustrating was that they didn't dare to have any complaints.
Because Izayoi and Nagato, seated in the center, both possessed the strength to easily obliterate them.
Konoha's ninja forces and Nagato's Impure World Reincarnation army also had the power to defeat them.
The three who hadn't yet taken over the position of Kage naturally had no choice but to endure.
"Uchiha Obito, was he revived by your Impure World Reincarnation?"
When the Third Stage of the Chunin Exams officially began, Uchiha Sasuke appeared as Izayoi's personal guard and asked Nagato.
"No, I no longer manage these things," Nagato said with a gentle smile, not hiding anything. "My Impure World Reincarnation army has already been handed over to Uchiha Madara; he also knows the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu."
After speaking, Nagato added, "By the way, Uchiha Itachi has left the Akatsuki. When he came to see me, half his hair was already white, and his chakra was very weak."
Uchiha Sasuke didn't speak, remaining expressionless.
"Continue watching the match," Izayoi said with a slight smile.
With two overpowered combatants presiding, no outsiders dared to cause trouble.
The Third Stage of the Chunin Exams began very smoothly and ended just as smoothly.
The ultimate victor, naturally, was Hanabi.
Daily biting Izayoi, absorbing not only Izayoi's chakra but also the life energy from the Grerl Stone, Hanabi's current chakra reserves and strength far surpassed Hinata's at the same age, and even Hinata, who graduated two years ago, was slightly inferior.
Furthermore, having received Izayoi's guidance, Hanabi had long mastered the art of combining gentleness and hardness. Whether in her fist strikes or chakra bursts, she could switch between soft and hard power.
What seemed like mere Tenketsu jabs were, in reality, terrifying chakra explosions.
Even though Hanabi hadn't yet mastered the instant-kill Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists, each of her moves was incredibly lethal.
Izayoi had also taught Hanabi the Super Hurricane Consecutive Spheres, which she had already mastered.
Ajisai, who reached the finals with her, was defeated in just a few rounds.
Hyūga Hanabi's name not only spread throughout Konoha but would likely spread throughout the entire ninja world in the coming days.
After many years, Konoha had once again produced a genius who graduated early and was promoted to Chunin in the same year.
More importantly, she was also the Sixth Hokage's only disciple.
All ninja villages had listed her as someone not to be provoked.
Hanabi could now walk sideways in the ninja world.
After the Chunin Exams concluded, the three Kage candidates, led by Gaara, along with Terumī Mei, left immediately that same day without delay.
Only Nagato remained in Konoha, wanting to reunite with Jiraiya.
Izayoi naturally didn't refuse.
A few days later, a piece of news shocked Konoha and quickly spread throughout the ninja world.
Because... Izayoi had pardoned Orochimaru's crimes, revoked his S-rank rogue ninja bounty, and even recalled him to Konoha to serve as the head of the Scientific Technology Department.
Recalling the culprit behind the Konoha Crush plan and the murder of the Third Hokage to Konoha, even if Konoha was Izayoi's personal domain, his actions would cause immense public outrage, potentially affecting his reputation.
Therefore, Izayoi pulled out the long-dead Konoha hero whose name was carved on the Memorial Stone... Lord Danzo.
Then, he blamed all of Orochimaru's crimes on Shimura Danzo.
After the Wood Release experiments, it was Danzo who forced Orochimaru to continue experiments, even placing cursed seals on Root members and ordering his subordinates to capture children for Orochimaru's experiments.
After being discovered by the Anbu, he played along and shifted the blame onto Orochimaru, turning Orochimaru, who had the potential to become the Fifth Hokage, into a rogue ninja.
Not only that, but he also continuously used Orochimaru's student, Mitarashi Anko, to blackmail Orochimaru into making deals, and even used Hashirama cells and the Sharingan to create a special arm, etc...
Orochimaru was so angry that he collaborated with Ōtsutsuki Toneri, who was disguised as the Akatsuki leader, to return and seek revenge on Shimura Danzo and demand an explanation from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
As a result, his esteemed teacher, swayed by his close friend's deception, decided to use the Reaper Death Seal, sacrificing himself to take Orochimaru down with him, simply because they disagreed.
From beginning to end, Orochimaru never intended to kill Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Now, Orochimaru had atoned for his sins through meritorious service, and the Sixth Hokage chose to pardon him.
As for what meritorious service he rendered, that remained confidential.
Almost on the day the news spread, Mito Kadomatsu and Koharu Utatane, who had cursed seals implanted in their bodies, came out to support Orochimaru, affirming the high command's explanation.
They were members of the Elder Council, companions of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shimura Danzo, and former Konoha elders. Their support carried significant weight.
Thus, public outrage shifted to the deceased Shimura Danzo. Following the release of a list of missing children, the 'parents' of those children conveniently appeared at the Hokage's office, weeping.
Uchiha Sasuke, serving as the Anbu Commander, was ordered to lead the Anbu in investigating the Shimura clan.
A great purge, applauded by various ninja clans, began to sweep through Konoha.
As various crimes and evidence, both real and fabricated, were revealed, everyone stopped focusing on Orochimaru's return and shifted their attention to Shimura Danzo's deeds.
Not only did he implant cursed seals on his subordinates and establish the Root organization that only obeyed him, but also the Wood Release experiments, the assassination of the Third Hokage, the Nine-Tails Attack, and the Uchiha clan massacre—all these incidents bore his shadow.
When the 'evidence' was revealed, Shimura Danzo's name was immediately scratched off the Memorial Stone, stripping him of his title as a Konoha hero.
Even his grave, which held no body, was dug up and his tombstone shattered.
As for the Shimura clan, they became the target of public scorn, being expelled from the central district of Konoha by Uchiha Sasuke.
Many elders of the Shimura clan were even arrested by Uchiha Sasuke and taken to the Anbu's exclusive prison, where they were tortured to reveal more of Shimura Danzo's crimes.
When this news spread, the villagers immediately applauded.
The ninja clans, though also applauding, secretly wiped sweat from their brows.
Who said the Sixth Hokage wasn't skilled in politics?
He could even clear the name of Orochimaru, who killed the Third Hokage.
He played politics better than anyone.
The Sarutobi clan, Mito clan, and Utatane clan all trembled in fear.
Fearing that this fire would burn them!
For this, Yuhi Kurenai even specially visited him, playing the "teacher-student" card.
This purge lasted until the end of August.
When Orochimaru and Kabuto Yakushi returned to Konoha, they both looked dazed.
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