Land of Rice Fields.
Moonlight filtered through the dark forest, casting scattered patches of light onto the ground.
Walking across the dappled shadows, Orochimaru strolled leisurely through the woods.
Suddenly, Orochimaru stopped and looked toward a large tree some distance away. "Whoever you are, come out!"
"As perceptive as ever."
Obito chuckled and stepped out from the shadows behind the tree.
Seeing the masked man with the one-eyed spiral mask, who had once claimed to be "Madara Uchiha," Orochimaru remained wary, but also looked surprised. "You?"
"Don't be nervous," Obito said. "I'm not here to cause you trouble."
Orochimaru's lips curled. "Looks like you're finally willing to work with me!"
"Work together!?"
Obito paused in surprise.
He had indeed come to discuss cooperation, but from the looks of it, Orochimaru had wanted to work with them for some time.
Orochimaru noticed Obito's reaction, too. "What, didn't 'B' tell you about my terms?"
Obito understood at once, then shook his head. "You must have misunderstood. The group with 'A' aren't our allies."
Orochimaru wasn't surprised. He murmured, "So that's how it is!"
Obito didn't dwell on the subject and got straight to the point. "A conflict between us and the Five Great Shinobi Villages is inevitable, and you're no longer welcome among them. That makes the Five Great Shinobi Villages our common enemy! Tell me, what exactly did you ask 'B' for? Maybe I can give it to you."
In the recent battle in the Land of Rice Fields, Orochimaru had proven his strength to both the Ninja Village Allied Forces and the Akatsuki Organization.
Orochimaru had three Kage Level Impure World Bodies—the First Hokage, Second Hokage, and Fourth Hokage—along with Kabuto Yakushi, who had mastered Sage Mode. Even Obito had to take him seriously. That was why they were meeting