"A better solution? Don't tell me you're thinking of using the Impure World Reincarnation to bring Nagato back."
Ning Feng rolled his eyes at Orochimaru.
As far as he knew, Orochimaru didn't possess any technique capable of truly resurrecting the dead.
Impure World Reincarnation merely defiled the souls of the deceased.
"No, of course not."
Seeing the increasingly unfriendly looks from Konan and Yahiko, Orochimaru licked his lips and stopped being mysterious.
"We can wait until later... and then force Uchiha Madara to use the Rinnegan's resurrection technique."
"Force Madara to use the resurrection technique?"
Ning Feng, Konan, and Yahiko were all stunned.
That's right.
Since Madara had been able to force Nagato to use the Rinne Rebirth Technique to revive him, they could just as easily force Madara to use it to resurrect Nagato.
"The Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique doesn't really have any restrictions... as long as Madara is under our control."
Ning Feng nodded slightly, acknowledging Orochimaru's idea.
"Can... can that really work?"
Yahiko's face lit up with joy.
If it was possible, then all three of them could survive.
Konan also let out a long sigh of relief.
A future where no one had to die was the outcome she wanted most.
"Orochimaru, I didn't expect you to know about techniques unlocked by the Rinnegan."
Ning Feng looked at him in surprise.
Orochimaru hadn't researched the Rinnegan deeply enough yet, so he had never questioned Ning Feng about it.
Since Ning Feng had never mentioned it, where had Orochimaru learned that the Rinnegan could perform the Outer Path: Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique?
"It's merely speculation."
Orochimaru let out a hoarse laugh.
He had long held theories regarding the Rinnegan.
Nagato's death had simply allowed him to glimpse some of its secrets through Madara's methods.
The abilities of the Rinnegan...
Were truly beyond ordinary imagination.
To wield power over life and death...
That might very well be the Rinnegan's greatest ability.
It could restore the dead completely, unlike the shortcut that was Impure World Reincarnation.
Had Ning Feng, after awakening the Rinnegan, also gained control over life and death?
The thought made Orochimaru's gaze toward Ning Feng grow even more respectful.
The powers granted by the Rinnegan were simply unbelievable.
"Then it's settled. We'll force Madara to revive Nagato later."
Ning Feng turned toward Yahiko and Konan.
"You don't need to learn that technique anymore. Controlling Madara won't be difficult."
"...Understood."
Yahiko looked at the scroll in his hands with mixed emotions before finally nodding.
Konan also released a long breath and nodded quietly.
"Orochimaru, what are you really here for?"
After leading Orochimaru some distance away, Ning Feng finally asked.
Based on what he knew about him, Orochimaru definitely hadn't come just to discuss Nagato's fate.
That suggestion had merely been an idea he happened to mention after overhearing the conversation.
"As expected of Lord Feng. You saw through me immediately."
The corners of Orochimaru's mouth curled upward.
His snake-like tongue slowly swept across his lips.
In the shadows, his golden snake eyes gleamed with fascination.
"Ryūchi Cave informed me that Kabuto has already visited them and mastered Sage Mode."
"Ryūchi Cave? Sage Mode?"
Ning Feng glanced at Orochimaru in surprise.
Ryūchi Cave was the domain of the White Snake Sage.
Kabuto had actually obtained its inheritance more than a decade earlier than in the original timeline?
"Ryūchi Cave, Mount Myōboku, and Shikkotsu Forest are known as the Three Great Sage Regions. Ryūchi Cave naturally possesses its own Sage Mode as well."
A trace of nostalgia entered Orochimaru's voice.
"I once visited Ryūchi Cave myself and coveted Sage Mode."
"The Sage Mode of Ryūchi Cave is no weaker than Mount Myōboku's. Furthermore, Kabuto combined it with the research I once conducted on Curse Marks and improved upon it."
The more Orochimaru spoke, the more admiration appeared in his eyes.
In a sense, Kabuto's creativity with techniques had been nurtured under him.
The fact that Kabuto had successfully improved Sage Mode was perhaps the greatest affirmation of his previous research.
"He improved it?"
Ning Feng raised an eyebrow.
That was likely the same as in the original story—combining Ryūchi Cave Sage Mode with Jūgo's Curse Mark to create a version with continuous natural energy replenishment.
Combined with techniques like White Rage Technique and Inorganic Reincarnation, Kabuto's raw combat power was already approaching the peak of Kage-level strength.
He had likely surpassed Orochimaru entirely through Sage Mode.
"I never imagined that child would actually pass Ryūchi Cave's inheritance trial."
Orochimaru spoke with a hint of emotion.
He had once gone there himself.
He had desired Sage Mode as well.
Unfortunately, Ryūchi Cave's test was brutally simple.
They directly injected senjutsu chakra into the candidate's body.
If you survived, you gained Sage Mode.
If you failed, the backlash of senjutsu chakra killed you.
Orochimaru himself had nearly suffered that backlash.
Instead, he used the experience to further develop the path of the White Snake form.
What initially seemed like misfortune became an opportunity.
From then on, many of his techniques evolved toward serpentine transformations.
Even his Eight-Headed Serpent techniques advanced significantly.
Kabuto managing to master Sage Mode had been completely unexpected.
"Then who guided him to Ryūchi Cave?"
Ning Feng asked.
At the same time, his vigilance toward Kabuto rose another level.
A Kabuto who had mastered Sage Mode possessed far greater influence over the battlefield.
Ning Feng was certain that Sage Mode would significantly strengthen Kabuto's control over his Edo Tensei army.
That meant those reincarnated shinobi could unleash even more of their original strength.
And there were thousands of them on the battlefield.
In other words, Kabuto hadn't merely strengthened himself.
He had strengthened his entire faction.
If they continued underestimating him, trouble would inevitably follow.
In the original story, even Uchiha Sasuke and Uchiha Itachi together had nearly fallen to Kabuto.
While this Kabuto might not yet be as powerful as his Fourth Great Ninja War counterpart, and Ning Feng himself was undoubtedly stronger than the Sasuke and Itachi who fought Kabuto back then...
He still had no way of locating Kabuto's hideout.
The enemy remained hidden while they stood exposed.
In fact, despite being stronger than Madara now, he remained locked in a stalemate simply because he couldn't find them.
"We'll have to intensify the hunt."
Ning Feng rubbed his forehead.
The current situation had become far too complicated.
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed.
Claim early access on Patreon: patreon.com/c/LuneWriter
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:
💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter
🔷 200 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.