Djinn didn't know much about the Otsutsuki named Isshiki, who had come to the ninja world alongside Kaguya.
He only remembered that Isshiki wasn't in his prime—currently possessing a man named Jigen—and that he likely wasn't strong enough to be a match for Orochimaru right now.
But to say Isshiki posed no threat at all to Orochimaru… would be dangerously naive.
His strength and status within the Otsutsuki clan exceeded even Kaguya's, and he had been dormant in the ninja world for over a thousand years—who knew what plans he had set in motion?
Just like the Great Toad Sage said in his prophecy: if the "white-haired boy" was just drifting through life, how would he come into contact with someone like Isshiki?
---
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. He didn't blame Djinn for not bringing this up earlier—he understood. The information was unreliable, and Djinn only spoke up now because the prophecy seemed to validate it.
But if the Great Toad Sage's vision was correct—if it had already come to pass, or was soon to—and there really was an Otsutsuki still hiding in the ninja world…
Then things were about to get very interesting.
Orochimaru craved the knowledge in their minds.
Having ascended to a level akin to an Otsutsuki himself, he still knew next to nothing about the true scope of his powers—like interstellar travel, for instance.
Trying to piece together a space-time theory from scratch with only Konoha's sealing corps would take decades. It would be far more efficient to steal what already existed.
Orochimaru had done this time and time again.
While the lamp god and his own efforts contributed to his current strength, it was the legacies of Kaguya and the Sage of Six Paths that made his evolution possible. The former two simply helped him inherit it more completely.
And now—if there was another Otsutsuki still alive—he would claim that legacy too.
---
"The white-haired boy… I'll have to start paying closer attention to any leads."
Having made up his mind, Orochimaru turned back to the Great Toad Sage.
"It seems there's no more to gain by staying in Mount Myoboku," he said with a polite smile. "If you receive any future prophecies, let me know."
The Great Toad Sage gave a subtle nod in reply.
Shima looked confused.
"Didn't you say earlier that you wanted to stay and explore this place?"
"I've already seen enough," Orochimaru replied with a grin. "I won't be doing any deep research for now—but if needed, I'll send for you to visit Konoha instead."
---
His brief exploration had only confirmed what he suspected—Mount Myoboku's value wasn't limited to the toads.
This place had remained undisturbed for centuries. Because of the Great Toad Sage's restrictions, its ecology resembled an era when natural energy and leyline power were abundant.
Take the famous toad oil, for example: it helped even ordinary ninja increase sensitivity to natural energy, but it evaporated and lost potency when taken out of Mount Myoboku.
Orochimaru suspected that other local plants would behave the same—failing to grow or mutating once transplanted. The region's natural leyline resonance likely stabilized these biological traits.
This wasn't just a mystical sanctuary—it was a living biological archive.
He would return for it in the future.
---
Fukasaku quietly tugged Shima back from asking more questions.
Orochimaru pretended not to notice. He turned to the Great Toad Sage with a final smile.
"Then, I'll take my leave."
His gaze passed over Jiraiya, who gave a solemn nod. Together, they exited the mountain.
---
Once they were gone, Shima finally burst out, "Why'd you stop me?! He could've stayed a bit longer. He's powerful—and he's still Jiraiya's old comrade!"
Fukasaku frowned.
"He's not like Jiraiya. He's dangerous. Did you not feel it?"
Then, turning to the Great Toad Sage, he asked in a low voice, "Is that strange snake really connected to Orochimaru?"
The Great Toad Sage, who had seemed asleep, finally stirred.
"Almost certainly. Their natural energy… their aura… It's too similar. No one becomes that powerful so quickly without some kind of link."
He had watched the ninja world for centuries. Even Hashirama and Madara took decades to reach their peak. But Orochimaru had grown to rival the Sage of Six Paths in mere years.
And he was nothing if not pragmatic. He wouldn't have taken the prophecy at face value unless it touched on something he already suspected.
What had transpired in the Toad Hall wasn't just symbolic—it was confirmation. Orochimaru had likely caused the very disturbance they had sensed.
Of course, Jiraiya's presence also helped him leave peacefully.
---
Shima scowled. "Tch, and I actually thanked him!"
"You should thank him," the Great Toad Sage replied. "But Mount Myoboku is the last pure land of the toads. We can't afford the risks he brings. Let him go."
Orochimaru's value was undeniable—but they had missed the chance to form ties with him early on. Now it was too late to treat him like an ally.
"Don't speak of this to anyone else," the Great Toad Sage warned.
"Not even the Sage of the Six Paths himself."
"Understood," Fukasaku and Shima said in unison.
---
Back in Konoha
In a quiet forest clearing, Orochimaru and Jiraiya reappeared in a puff of smoke, stepping from the mouth of their summoning toad.
The toad vanished, leaving Jiraiya frowning.
"You came back so suddenly… Did you get intel on that Otsutsuki?"
"Not exactly," Orochimaru replied calmly. "But like your 'Child of Prophecy,' if that white-haired boy's fate is really to cross paths with Isshiki, then staying on the mountain is pointless. Might as well return to Konoha. Kakashi has white hair, after all… he could loosely fit the role."
Jiraiya laughed.
"That's a stretch, but sure. And to think— the Sage of Six Paths had family? A whole bloodline..."
He had learned many secrets during his time at Mount Myoboku. He wasn't particularly curious—but he was deeply uneasy.
If even the Sage saw normal people as insignificant… what would his kin think of the ninja world?
"Don't dwell on it," Orochimaru said. "Even if the sky falls, there's always someone tall enough to hold it up."
Then, with a burst of chakra, he shifted form using the Transformation Jutsu, masking his younger appearance.
"What's this? You're the tall one now?" Jiraiya laughed, clapping him on the back. Then, with sincerity, he added,
"Whatever the toads think of you—I still believe having you on our side is a blessing for the ninja world."
"You say that too soon." Orochimaru smirked. "I have something to handle. Go see the Hokage—tell him not to worry."
"Got it." Jiraiya nodded. "Just some minor business?"
"Exactly." Orochimaru waved him off and waited until Jiraiya was gone before pulling out a sealed container resembling a Sunagakure artifact.
"Seal—release!"
With a puff of smoke, a sandy, wriggling organism appeared in his palm—the fungus taken from the white snake.
---
"This thing's still incomplete. It's alive, but barely. It only reacts on instinct."
Orochimaru stared at it, his golden eyes glinting. This organism absorbed solar energy directly—potentially a new, renewable energy source for the entire ninja world.
In recent years, chakra and natural energy had been slowing in regeneration—possibly because Orochimaru himself had been absorbing so much.
If he kept growing at this pace, others would inevitably grow weaker.
The Otsutsuki clan likely came to the same conclusion. That's why they became nomads—moving from world to world to harvest fresh sources of energy.
He had once considered raiding the Moon to siphon its power, but the little white snake had revealed another option.
The fungus.
It couldn't be controlled easily, of course. The original snake resisted manipulation without special pupil powers.
Still, perhaps he could domesticate this degraded variant.
He tore off a branch nearby and fed it to the fungus. It devoured the material instantly—leaves, bark, everything.
Its body expanded one-third in size and even began taking on a serpentine shape.
"Incredible..." Orochimaru whispered, licking his lips. The thing reminded him of Hashirama's cells—cancerous, unstoppable, ever-consuming.
This fungus was even more dangerous—it could devour anything organic.
He dared not place it on fertile ground. In a place like the Land of Fire, it could grow out of control within hours.
He cut off a piece and sealed it away. Then, holding the other half in his hand, he narrowed his eyes.
"I may not match the Serpentis in spiritual power… but I am at the Six Paths level."
He poured his chakra into the fungus, overwhelming its spirit. Inch by inch, it succumbed.
But then—nothing.
The fungus crumbled to dust in his hand. It had died. Mind and body, both gone.
"Tch. As expected."
Djinn, watching, chuckled. "Erosion's a tricky thing. The first Hokage cells failed too when you tried. This fungus kills first, then absorbs later—it's not so easily bent. Try something simpler first."
"Maybe. But even if I tried again, I'd probably fail." Orochimaru glanced at the sealed scroll.
"The real challenge is dominating creatures on my level."
"Then how about using White Zetsu?" Djinn offered, pointing down. "They've been stewing inside the Gedo Statue for a thousand years. High-quality test subjects—extremely stable."
_____________________
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