Outside a hidden underground base, a battered, mud-covered figure staggered into the facility.
Who was this person?
It was none other than Orochimaru, who had not appeared for more than fifty chapters and had survived Chinatsu 's devastating "World Nuke Technique."
Within the shinobi world, if anyone deserved the title of the hardest person to kill, Orochimaru undoubtedly ranked among the very top. Thanks to his forbidden techniques, especially the Living Corpse Reincarnation Technique, numerous substitution methods, and his snake-like regenerative abilities, he could constantly abandon damaged vessels and transfer his soul into new bodies. Whether appearing as a man, a woman, or even a grotesque serpentine form, Orochimaru always found another way to survive.
Chinatsu 's World Nuke Technique had only destroyed one of his vessels.
Although he looked extremely miserable, he had ultimately escaped with his life.
"Cough… cough…"
"I never expected the recovery from Living Corpse Reincarnation to take this long."
"Uchiha Chinatsu …"
"I truly underestimated you."
"What a terrifying ninjutsu…"
"…Could there really be some unimaginable existence hidden within that girl?"
Orochimaru muttered to himself. However, after personally witnessing Chinatsu 's overwhelming strength, his obsession with obtaining her body had only grown stronger.
Possessing both the Sharingan and Wood Release, while seemingly having an affinity for all Five Nature Transformations, Chinatsu possessed a body that completely defied common sense. Even Orochimaru, who had spent decades researching bloodline limits and forbidden techniques, began to suspect that there was an unknown secret hidden within her.
Could there possibly be a more perfect vessel in the entire shinobi world?
Orochimaru didn't believe such a body existed.
In fact, he felt that Chinatsu herself shouldn't exist according to the laws of the ninja world.
Yet it was precisely because her body was so perfect that he couldn't devise a reliable method of taking it.
Fight her head-on?
Orochimaru had absolutely no desire to experience another World Nuke Technique.
Launch a surprise attack?
Against an Uchiha who possessed the Sharingan—and according to recent intelligence, perhaps even the Mangekyō Sharingan—the success rate of an ambush was pitifully low. Besides, Orochimaru didn't have an endless supply of replacement bodies to waste testing his luck.
As he continued walking through the underground passage, Orochimaru silently pondered countless possibilities for obtaining Chinatsu 's body.
"Perhaps… I can make use of those Akatsuki fellows."
"I hate to admit it, but those lunatics are anything but ordinary."
"Especially their leader…"
"He's like a bottomless abyss. Even I can't determine the limits of his strength."
"If they join forces against Chinatsu… even she should have a difficult battle, shouldn't she?"
The more Orochimaru thought about it, the more feasible the idea seemed.
Although carrying it out would be difficult, the reward was simply too tempting.
Compared to obtaining Chinatsu 's perfect body, every risk seemed worthwhile.
After returning to one of his hidden laboratories and replacing his damaged vessel, Orochimaru spent several days recovering. Once his injuries were concealed well enough that outsiders could no longer tell he had recently suffered severe damage, he immediately headed toward the Akatsuki's secret hideout.
However…
The moment he arrived…
Orochimaru froze.
His expression looked almost identical to Obito's when he had first discovered the abandoned Akatsuki headquarters.
He slowly scanned the enormous cavern before him.
Not a single person remained.
"What's going on?"
"There's no one here?"
"Even if the members are usually scattered in pairs while carrying out missions, someone should still be guarding the base…"
"So why is it completely empty?"
An ominous feeling suddenly rose within Orochimaru's heart.
Just as he prepared to search the hideout more carefully, an overwhelming wave of chakra pressure suddenly spread from deeper inside the mountain.
Even Orochimaru instinctively took half a step backward.
"This chakra…"
"It's from the Uchiha Clan…"
"…But whose chakra is it?!"
Cold sweat immediately formed on Orochimaru's forehead.
He had encountered the chakra of several Uchiha throughout his life—Itachi, Sasuke, Obito, and even Madara's remains.
Yet this chakra felt different from every one of them.
It was colder.
More ancient.
Far more oppressive.
Without the slightest hesitation, Orochimaru abandoned all thoughts of retreat and quickly rushed toward the source of that terrifying chakra.
Even if it meant sacrificing yet another vessel…
He had to discover who possessed such an astonishing Uchiha aura.
That chakra was colder, denser, and far more domineering than any Uchiha chakra Orochimaru had ever encountered.
His golden snake-like pupils narrowed.
Without another moment of hesitation, Orochimaru immediately rushed toward the source of that chakra.
Even if it meant sacrificing yet another vessel, he had to discover who possessed such an overwhelming aura.
Following the chakra deeper into the Akatsuki hideout, Orochimaru eventually discovered a concealed chamber that even he had never found despite having once been a member of the organization.
Inside the chamber stood two figures.
One was a masked man whom Orochimaru immediately recognized as Obito Uchiha.
The other stood motionless before a completed summoning ritual, clad in crimson Warring States-era armor with his eyes tightly shut, as though waiting to awaken.
"…This is…"
"Impure World Reincarnation… Edo Tensei?"
Orochimaru's pupils contracted.
As the creator and greatest modern practitioner of Edo Tensei after Tobirama Senju, he recognized the ritual immediately.
Impure World Reincarnation was a forbidden technique originally developed by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. By sacrificing a living body and using the DNA of the deceased, it summoned the soul of the dead back into an immortal body formed from dust and ash. The resurrected individual possessed limitless stamina, regenerated endlessly from most injuries, and could continue fighting without fear of death unless the technique itself was released or sealed away.
Watching the ritual unfold before him, Orochimaru had no intention of interrupting it.
Instead, he watched with the curiosity of a researcher.
If Obito encountered any problems while performing Edo Tensei, Orochimaru would not mind offering a few pointers.
After all…
No one in the current shinobi world understood this forbidden technique better than he did.
Moments later, the last traces of the summoning formula disappeared.
The ash covering the resurrected body gradually solidified into living flesh.
The immense chakra filling the chamber stabilized.
Then…
The armored man's closed eyes slowly opened.
His Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan swept calmly across the room before finally resting on Obito.
"…Impure World Reincarnation."
"So…"
"Obito…"
"Has our Eye of the Moon Plan already been completed?"
Madara Uchiha spoke in an indifferent tone, as though asking about something that had already been decided long ago.
Obito scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"Uh…"
"About that…"
"I'm sorry."
"It failed."
Madara remained silent for a full second.
"…Hmm."
"Then tell me the next stage of the plan."
He paused.
"…Wait."
"…Failed?"
"You said…"
"…It failed?"
Even Madara Uchiha froze completely.
For a brief moment, he even suspected there was a flaw in the Edo Tensei that had affected his hearing.
He had spent decades arranging every piece on the board.
He had awakened the Rinnegan, transplanted it into Nagato, chosen Obito as his successor, manipulated countless events from the shadows, and carefully paved the road toward the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Minor deviations were acceptable.
Unexpected variables were acceptable.
But complete failure?
That possibility had never entered Madara's calculations.
"Explain."
Madara's voice instantly became much colder.
"Tell me everything that happened after my death."
Although he barely restrained himself from grabbing Obito by the throat, the killing intent leaking from his body caused even the surrounding air to become heavy.
Obito could only recount everything honestly.
Beginning with Nagato's growth…
Then the Akatsuki's operations…
The failed Tailed Beast captures…
Pain's assault on Konoha…
And finally…
The appearance of Uchiha Chinatsu .
At first, Madara nodded repeatedly.
Obito had executed nearly every step according to plan.
Some parts had even exceeded Madara's expectations.
However…
The moment Obito mentioned Chinatsu 's name…
The expressions of both Madara and Obito became incomparably ugly.
Madara slowly turned his head.
"…You're telling me…"
"…that one Uchiha girl…"
"…destroyed the plan we spent decades preparing?"
His fists slowly clenched.
Boom!
A terrifying pressure erupted from Madara's body.
The overwhelming presence of the legendary leader of the Uchiha Clan, who had once stood shoulder to shoulder with Hashirama Senju during the Warring States Era, instantly filled the chamber.
Even Orochimaru couldn't help narrowing his eyes.
"What frightening chakra…"
"If this is Madara Uchiha…"
"No wonder he was called Hashirama Senju's only true rival."
An ordinary person would probably have remained silent under such pressure.
But Orochimaru had never been ordinary.
Instead of keeping quiet, a playful smile slowly spread across his face.
Since Madara and Obito both intended to eliminate Chinatsu …
Why not give them another surprise?
He casually raised one hand.
Immediately, both Obito and Madara looked toward him.
Madara frowned.
"Who is this?"
Obito answered immediately.
"Orochimaru."
"He was once a member of the Akatsuki."
"…Ironically, after everyone else defected, he's practically the only member who hasn't betrayed the organization."
Madara gave a slight nod before calmly speaking.
"Very well."
"What do you wish to say?"
"I'll hear it."
Orochimaru smiled faintly.
"I think…"
"Both of you have greatly underestimated Chinatsu."
After deliberately pausing for effect, he calmly delivered the sentence that completely overturned both of their expectations.
"Chinatsu possesses Wood Release."
"…Did either of you know that?"
Silence instantly filled the chamber.
Both Madara and Obito stared blankly at Orochimaru.
For several seconds, neither of them spoke.
Then…
Their expressions changed dramatically.
"…She…"
"…She can use Wood Release?!"
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