And so… Ryūchi Cave ended up becoming the most popular of the three training grounds.
Even then, the number of people who could pass the trials was extremely small.
But Orochimaru—he was unique.
He didn't pass the trial for Sage Mode.
Orochimaru dropped out midway.
Yet he wasn't eaten—instead, he caught the attention of the Ancestor.
According to the Ancestor, Orochimaru's behavior was extremely snake-like, practically a natural-born snake charmer.
And he also made for a decent "public advertisement" for Ryūchi Cave.
But now… the result was—
This guy not only milked the Ancestor for all kinds of forbidden knowledge, he even copied parts of their unique "Dragon Sage Transformation" technique… and turned it into a curse mark experiment.
That curse mark experiment… was essentially a diluted knockoff of Sage Mode.
So naturally, they all looked down on him.
Refused to pass the test, but still wanted power?
Nothing in this world was that easy.
And now… this troublesome Orochimaru had made himself at home in her lair.
Tanokami Hime felt her patience reach its absolute limit.
"If you're that bothered, I could help out."
Just as Tanokami Hime was about to erupt, a voice came from inside the lair.
"!!"
The ease and confidence Orochimaru had shown while dealing with Tanokami Hime immediately froze.
"You really don't learn, Orochimaru. Still hiding out here?" Black Zetsu popped its head out.
With the White Zetsus scattered all over the Shinobi World for intel gathering, tracking someone down was child's play for Black Zetsu.
Just like that, it had found Orochimaru again.
Turns out… Orochimaru still hadn't left this training ground. That, Black Zetsu hadn't expected.
"…" Orochimaru.
"While I'm here, might as well deliver some good news," said Black Zetsu. "Since you've been missing for so long… your Sound Village just got wiped out—completely—by Mei Terumi of the Hidden Mist."
"…" Orochimaru.
…Damn it!
"So what—you came all this way just to tell me that wonderful little 'update'?" Orochimaru said, face unreadable.
"Of course not," Black Zetsu replied. "You need to perform Edo Tensei again."
"The last Uchiha Madara got defeated by Kitahara Kaede. So we need a new one."
"…" Orochimaru.
"…" Orochimaru.
Orochimaru hadn't forgotten how badly Uchiha Madara had scared him last time. That's why he ran to the Ancestor's domain in the first place.
And now the Ancestor was…
Asleep.
"…" Orochimaru.
Plus, even though Orochimaru had left the Descendant Chat Group, he had once been a member—he knew well…
Kitahara Kaede—that guy could not be messed with.
Even Uchiha Madara, someone on par with the First Hokage, couldn't stand against him.
"If I help you perform Edo Tensei on Madara again…"
"What's in it for me?" Orochimaru asked.
"You wanted immortality, right?" Black Zetsu replied. "It's not true immortality, but I can get you a thousand-year body that doesn't decay."
"…" Orochimaru.
"…" Orochimaru. "Are you scamming me?"
"You can think it over. But I'm in a hurry right now. If you refuse… I can just send your location to Kitahara Kaede."
"Because…"
"I'm also in the chat group now," Black Zetsu added with a slight smile.
"…" Orochimaru.
He instantly remembered the flaming pile of Konoha people in the group chat…
Sure, the First Hokage was dead—but Orochimaru still had his body.
Dangerous!
"I'll need to inspect the goods first," Orochimaru said.
"No problem."
"But not now!" Black Zetsu barked.
"…" Orochimaru.
Orochimaru understood—if Black Zetsu really was in the group, he could relay everything to Kitahara Kaede in a flash.
And with the First Hokage's body in hand, Orochimaru would instantly become a wanted man in Konoha.
Tobirama Senju wouldn't let him get away with using Edo Tensei again either.
Plus, the fact that it was his Edo Tensei that had revived Uchiha Madara last time…
That would definitely be held against him.
"…"
"…Fine. I'll do it."
At last, Orochimaru fulfilled Tanokami Hime's deepest wish—by walking out of her den with Black Zetsu.
Shortly after—
"Forbidden Technique: Edo Tensei!"
Orochimaru clapped his hands together and formed the hand seals.
And as always—he left behind nothing but an empty skin where he had been standing.
A clean self-sacrifice escape.
But—Uchiha Madara opened his eyes.
"This is…"
"Huh?"
"Again with this Orochimaru?"
The newly summoned Madara noticed Orochimaru's discarded vessel lying on the ground.
"Just keep your Edo Tensei stable," Black Zetsu quickly said.
Orochimaru running off was within expectations. In fact, Orochimaru's survival instinct was probably stronger than anyone else's.
If there was even a chance of dying, he wouldn't stick around.
So next time, this place wouldn't work. Since Orochimaru had been found here twice, he wouldn't stay again.
And then—
"Ancestor!!"
"Orochimaru, you bastard!!"
"Thief!!"
A flustered, panicked scream came from inside the den he had just left.
Apparently, during his resurrection, Orochimaru had kidnapped the sleeping White Phosphorus Snake Sage (aka the White Snake Sage) and escaped with her.
"…" Black Zetsu.
Of course.
You really couldn't overestimate Orochimaru. His survival instincts outclassed anything else—and now he had even abducted the White Snake Sage.
"Hm?"
The freshly summoned Uchiha Madara was confused.
…
"So that's what happened."
Madara didn't get it—but Black Zetsu explained the parts he was allowed to tell him.
Like how, according to the original plan, it went to the Moon—and found that something was definitely off.
Living on the Moon were descendants of the Sage of Six Paths' brother, Ōtsutsuki Hamura.
Over the centuries, their lineage had dwindled down to a single branch family member—Toneri.
It tried to persuade Toneri, failed, and was dragged back to the Shinobi World by him.
But Toneri had already been defeated by Kitahara Kaede.
Right now, the situation was: Black Zetsu had discovered a massive Tenseigan on the Moon—and wanted Uchiha Madara to retrieve it.
"…" Uchiha Madara. "You're so troublesome, Black Zetsu."
"…Wait, what did you just say?"
"Ōtsutsuki Toneri was defeated by Kitahara Kaede?!"
"So that means—the guy I fought earlier… wasn't Hashirama?!"
"…" Black Zetsu.
"…" Black Zetsu.
Madara was usually fine—even when you tried to deceive him, he'd fill in the blanks himself and reduce suspicion.
But—
The moment Hashirama came up, everything derailed.
Seriously, what was up with these two?
Whenever Hashirama was mentioned, all logic just flew out the window.
Black Zetsu sighed.
"The latest intel confirms—Senju Hashirama was never reanimated."
"…" Uchiha Madara.
"…Then tell me about that Tenseigan on the Moon," said Madara.
"Hm?"
Black Zetsu hesitated a moment.
??
Madara just… changed the subject?
"So you're saying my current power isn't enough to beat Kitahara Kaede."
"Fine, then I won't fight him yet," Madara said. "I'll get the Tenseigan first."
"I used to think the Rinnegan was the ultimate…"
"But now there's something even above the Rinnegan—the Tenseigan…"
"So if I get it, maybe then I'll be able to beat Kitahara Kaede."
Uchiha Madara said.
"…" Black Zetsu.
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