The Slug Sage blushed rarely and didn't state it clearly: "Anyway, it's just something very evil. Let's not talk about it. Lord Hashirama, I want to ask you for a favor!"
Hashirama stood at attention: "Please speak, Founder!"
The Slug Sage said: "Uchiha Ryou is heading to Ryūchi Cave to seek Senjutsu from the White Snake Sage. I want Lord Hashirama to help me deal with him."
"What?!"
Orochimaru was surprised: "That brat is already this strong and he's still not satisfied? He wants to learn Senjutsu too?"
Tobirama's expression darkened: "Brother, we must stop this evil Uchiha. He has implanted your cells; he likely even transplanted your talent for practicing Senjutsu!"
"If he learns the Senjutsu of Ryūchi Cave, he'll become a second you."
Hashirama shook his head: "No—such a thing would be dishonorable."
Tobirama was furious: "Brother, even now do you still consider Madara your close friend? Madara is currently threatening the entire Shinobi World, and Ryou, his accomplice, must be eliminated."
Orochimaru helped Tobirama this time: "First Hokage, I must tell you some news. That brat Ryou is extremely lecherous; he isn't faithful to Tsunade."
"What?!"
The Senju brothers were enraged simultaneously.
Especially Tobirama: "Good brat! Marrying the princess of my Senju Clan wasn't enough, you dared to go out and cheat!"
Hashirama couldn't believe it entirely. He asked the Slug Sage: "Founder, is what Orochimaru said true? Has that brat Ryou really failed Tsunade?"
The Slug Sage nodded: "Yes, that brat is the most evil Uchiha I have ever seen. Women are just his playthings. Lady Tsunade is still under his control even now."
Tobirama raged: "Brother, what did I tell you? The Uchiha are all frigid, yet such a lecherous freak appeared. He is evil by nature."
Hashirama also became somewhat angry: "That brat, how dare he fail my Tsunade. He truly needs a proper lesson."
Tobirama was pleased: "Brother, let's go. We'll head to Ryūchi Cave right now to intercept him."
"No—"
Hashirama shook his head: "Wait until he passes the White Snake Sage's trial and finishes his Senjutsu training. I want to test his mettle!"
"Brother, you—"
Tobirama was anxious. From Orochimaru's intelligence, Ryou's power was already infinitely close to Madara and Hashirama.
If he learned Senjutsu, wouldn't he be a second Madara, or like his own brother?
How could his brother have no sense of the bigger picture?
Hashirama didn't say much to Tobirama: "Tobirama, say no more. I'm going to follow the Sage to practice Yin-Yang Release!"
Tobirama sighed.
The Slug Sage led Hashirama into the mist, leaving Orochimaru and Tobirama staring at each other.
Orochimaru hid his hand seals in his sleeves, ready to counter Tobirama's Flying Thunder God at any moment.
Without Hashirama, no one could control Tobirama!
Tobirama found a spot to sit nearby and said to Orochimaru: "Orochimaru, tell me in detail again what major events have happened in the Shinobi World during the years my brother and I were gone!"
The information obtained previously was mainly a brief summary from Orochimaru on the way; he hadn't been able to explain in detail.
Orochimaru nodded: "Fine! I will explain it carefully to the Second Hokage!"
...
Konoha, Root.
After Kabuto integrated Orochimaru's white snake cells, symptoms of albinism appeared on his body. The Root experimental personnel checked Kabuto's physical condition.
Seeing no side effects, Danzo went to fetch the Forbidden Jutsu scroll for Edo Tensei and let Kabuto learn it.
Kabuto studied the Edo Tensei very seriously.
He was very smart and knew his greatest value was learning this Forbidden Jutsu called Edo Tensei.
If he couldn't learn it, Danzo would dispose of him.
On the other hand, Kabuto had doubts about the news Danzo told him—that his adoptive mother, Nono, had been killed by Ryou.
But he had no channel to verify it.
He could only climb up step by step, become stronger, and then investigate the truth of the matter.
If it really was Ryou who killed her, he would find a way to take revenge.
If not, then he would find a way to rescue the Director, as well as everyone from the orphanage.
Root was too dark; this wasn't a paradise where one could eat their fill, but a dark underground world.
They had to leave.
Danzo nodded as he watched Kabuto seriously studying Edo Tensei.
Kabuto wasn't a blank slate.
He had a foundation as a Shinobi. Being able to learn Medical Ninjutsu, which requires extremely high chakra control, proved he had the talent to become a top-tier Shinobi.
Such a person would be a talent no matter where they went.
However, Edo Tensei was a difficult Forbidden Jutsu; Kabuto couldn't possibly learn it with just one glance.
Unless he was the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths.
While Kabuto studied Edo Tensei nearby, Danzo sat in his main seat, pondering how to defeat Madara.
The Shinobi Allied Forces was just a smokescreen; the real weapon to deal with Madara was Edo Tensei.
The First Hokage, the Second Hokage, Sakumo, Duy...
Danzo thought of many, and finally almost forgot the Third Hokage's father—Sarutobi Sasuke!
Danzo was speechless: "That Orochimaru, how can he do just anything?"
But on second thought, Orochimaru had even robbed the graves of the First and Second Hokage; what else wouldn't he do?
"Orochimaru's father, I remember he was the previous generation's successor of Ryūchi Cave, right?"
Danzo stroked his chin and pondered for a moment.
Then Danzo looked at Kabuto, who was learning Edo Tensei, and sneered in his heart. Once Kabuto mastered Edo Tensei, he would have him reincarnate Orochimaru's parents.
To see if this venomous snake truly had no human feelings.
And Ryou's parents—this fellow's parents were once elites of the Uchiha, heroes who died on the battlefield.
When the time came, he would reincarnate them too, to see if this traitor had truly lost all humanity and no longer cared even for his own parents.
And Madara's parents, brother, relatives—
Danzo gradually realized: I can't beat you, but I can call your dead relatives to fight you.
Reincarnate all the heroic spirits of the Uchiha Clan. Seeing their ancestors besieging them, could those two evil Uchiha still remain calm?
The damage might not be great, but the insult would be extreme.
Perhaps just having their ancestors stand there would be enough to make them die of shame.
While studying Edo Tensei, Kabuto stole a glance at Danzo's expression and suddenly felt a chill.
The expression on that old bandaged man, Danzo, was truly terrifying.
Danzo was only thinking these wicked thoughts in his heart; he couldn't expect his enemies to have a sudden realization of conscience.
One must always face reality.
Danzo took out a scroll. Kabuto peeked at it; this Ninjutsu scroll was called—'Reverse Four Symbols Sealing'.
Kabuto didn't know what it meant.
While looking at the scroll, Danzo educated Kabuto: "Kabuto, to you, what is a Shinobi?"
Kabuto spoke the answer he had heard from Nono: "The Director once told me..."
"A Shinobi is not just a tool that only knows killing and missions, but someone who protects those children who have lost their support, and guards the light in their eyes."
Danzo snorted: "Foolish talk. A Shinobi is one who stands in the darkness, carrying all the filth alone, silently protecting the Village."
"To protect the Village, a Shinobi can become a shadow; to achieve the greater good, no matter how despicable or cruel the means, they can be done."
"To be despised by the world and blackened by the masses—it doesn't matter. As long as the Village can continue and the country exists forever, I am willing to fall into the deepest hell."
"Kabuto, if I unfortunately die in battle, you will inherit the will of Root and continue to protect Konoha in the darkness with my will!"
Kabuto was speechless. Danzo's words sounded very grand, but was treating my companions as experimental subjects also for protecting the Village?
Lord Danzo, that's enough!