The grander its birth, the more devastating its downfall.
[Susanoo], a mighty warrior manifestation, seldom appears in Konoha. But whenever it does, even after briefly demonstrating the caster's power, the result... is instantaneous 'dismemberment.'
At that moment, for Haseo, there was hardly any technique that could truly be called "Absolute Defense." Uchiha Itachi's [Susanoo], while not shattering on contact, still couldn't withstand Haseo's attacks—not to mention that Itachi's [Susanoo] hadn't even reached its completed form yet.
Haseo still had one last battle left. Yet his opponent wasn't someone like Uchiha Itachi... Since receiving news from Sunagakure, he had been gathering strength, both mentally and physically, preparing himself for the perfect state. Unfortunately, all this preparation hadn't been for Itachi.
"I really must say, you're a figure who has left behind countless legends. Seems like I overestimated myself...
A ninja's destiny is either being sacrificed by others or sacrificing oneself, but for me... ultimately comes down to feeling confused about what I'm even doing anymore.
What is the meaning of life? What does death signify..."
"Your questions are ones nobody can answer. Even wise men who've experienced much, or philosophers immersed in complex thinking, cannot provide an exact definition of so-called 'meaning'... Not to mention people like us—killers soaked in blood.
The rise and fall of ninja villages? The glory of ninjas? No matter how much you pursue such meanings, it's hard to escape a certain cycle... That's what fate is.
We're all just drifting along, so why bother pursuing lofty philosophical heights?"
"That actually makes some sense."
That actually sounds somewhat relieving... Everyone is bound by the title of 'ninja.' If someone like Haseo saw himself as nothing more than drifting along, then even the greatest figures were nothing more than specks of dust riding the tide of history.
"Well then...
That'll be the end of our conversation."
Haseo cracked his knuckles and summoned a flicker of [Lightning Arc].
...
At the same time Uchiha Itachi and Uchiha Obito infiltrated Konoha, somewhere in the Land of Water—
"If the intelligence we received is accurate, then the operation against Konoha becomes redundant."
"Hehe, you could call it diversifying risks and increasing efficiency. As long as one piece of intelligence is correct, or either action achieves success, it counts as victory—we're after nothing but the Nine-Tails, this is already our final step, Hashirama."
"That's true, but would that ninja called Orochimaru really hide in a place like this? A damp, gloomy place like a snake's den... Normal people surely wouldn't stay here."
"Precisely, because the person we're looking for isn't normal to begin with."
The ninja known as Orochimaru is quite an eccentric individual...
In the past decade, he hasn't left behind any clear traces of activity. So even for us, tracking him here through mere scraps of clues has been extremely difficult."
Recently, Orochimaru had been as quiet as a dead snake. But even if he were hibernating, there would still be signs of breathing... Orochimaru would never abandon those "interesting" experiments—in fact, human experiments—and inevitably, he'd need test subjects.
Through a concealed opening, they entered a cave plunging at an exaggerated angle deep underground. Regardless, such narrow subterranean spaces definitely suited Orochimaru's style.
Footsteps echoed continuously within the confined underground passage—steady, hollow, and unusually clear in the night's silence. After walking downward for quite some distance, beams of light gradually came into view.
No longer rough from digging, the walls became smooth and slightly decorated. At intervals, torches burned in wall sconces.
As the tunnel flattened out, door after door—each one sealed tightly shut—appeared before the Ninja God.
"Well… let's proceed carefully—one room at a time."
With that, Hashirama took two steps forward and pushed open the nearest door.
Then the next.
By the time he opened the innermost door, finally, he saw someone standing with their back to him, busily occupied at an operating table—in the dim underground space, only this room was exceptionally bright.
Orochimaru must have sensed the sudden presence of a stranger in the cavern. Yet right now, two scalpels continued dancing nimbly between his agile fingers. He paused briefly, then resumed.
"So you finally tracked me down?
Please wait a moment. We'll speak once I finish this little task."
At this moment, Orochimaru remained fully immersed in his research work... Hmm, actually, this wasn't truly Orochimaru himself, but rather Kimi-no-hebi.
After that, indeed followed an excruciatingly long waiting period.
Only after Orochimaru recorded a massive amount of data did he finally turn around, gloved surgical hands raised before him, smeared with blood.
"Apologies for the wait... I do hate being interrupted mid-experiment."
Orochimaru's voice cut off abruptly because he spotted a black-haired man casually sitting cross-legged at the doorway, completely relaxed yet obviously bored, twitching a dried straw between his lips.
Both have long black hair, yet Orochimaru felt no kinship with the man whatsoever.
He swiftly darted backward, landing behind the operating table, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the man while watching him warily.
"That reaction... Were you expecting someone else? Didn't think it'd be me, did you? Only just figuring that out? Have ninjas really become this careless? Adorably so, if I may say."
One moment composed, the next utterly flustered—it was quite a transformation. From Hashirama Senju's perspective, Orochimaru's reactions were genuinely entertaining… That earlier composure had probably just been an act.
"Heh... I thought only some self-absorbed joker who's into telling bad puns could find this place."
A cold sweat trickled down Orochimaru's cheek.
He often lost track of time while immersed in his experiments, but thinking back now, Haseo would never stay quiet for so long without saying a word... Even if he didn't forcibly interrupt his work, Haseo at least would have been complaining nonstop.
Orochimaru had unconsciously assumed the only one who could find him was Haseo, but reality always brought surprises — pleasant ones too.
"May I ask your identity... Could it possibly be Lord Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage?"
The First Hokage's appearance wasn't particularly distinctive, but Orochimaru is still Orochimaru through and through. After all, he'd once attempted to dig up the First Hokage's grave.
If he hadn't mistaken the tomb back then, he probably wasn't mistaken about the person now either.
Still, he couldn't comprehend how someone who had been dead for decades had returned to life, and looked surprisingly youthful as well... This looks like a vibrant young man.
"Oh, what a delightful thing indeed! Even now there are still people who can instantly recognize me... It seems I'm not entirely forgotten after all."
Someone like Hashirama Senju could never be quickly forgotten by people.
"While I'm quite curious about how the First came back to life... Well... The first question should naturally be:
What could the First possibly want with someone like me?"
After asking this question, Orochimaru hesitated momentarily, suddenly recalling something Haseo had once warned him...
"The First...
Surely didn't come here because of the Nine-Tails?"
With a soft clinking sound from his armor, Hashirama slowly stood up.
"It appears you really are an intelligent person."
Of course, Orochimaru was smart — not just smart...
He's already a walking corpse.
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