Orochimaru Falls into the Trap!

Not long after leaving Orochimaru's soul space, the Will of the Six Paths within Tsunade and Nawaki was also cleansed.

All three could clearly feel as if a massive boulder that had long weighed on them had been lifted.

Their rapidly eroding soul consciousness gradually began to recover.

Tsunade and Nawaki still looked at Hyuga Shin with some curiosity.

They hadn't realized what had happened, only feeling as if some change had occurred in their bodies.

Only the now-lucid Orochimaru understood the general truth, and he seemed utterly deflated.

His expression turned extremely grim; it was obvious his mind was far from calm.

As usual, Hyuga Shin didn't offer Tsunade or the others any explanation, preparing to lead them back to camp.

As for why he had come to this old place to erase the Will of the Six Paths, it was to avoid the Six Paths discovering it and shamelessly controlling other ninjas to interfere.

For now, it seemed effective—no ripples had stirred.

Meanwhile, in the Pure Land, the Sage of Six Paths was absolutely furious!

He hadn't expected Hyuga Shin to be so bold! To actually uproot all the nails he had planted!

And to completely obliterate the part of his will that extended into the ninja world!

This made him realize that Hyuga Shin's existence could entirely affect the promotion and spread of his Chakra system!

This remnant of the Warring States Period had not only successfully altered the fate script he had set but also had deep knowledge of his actions!

What worried the Sage of Six Paths even more was that Hyuga Shin was fully capable of delivering a devastating blow to the Chakra system he had established!

The Sage of Six Paths couldn't control his killing intent! A thousand years! No one had ever made him lose his composure like this!

Even when he had fought fiercely with his younger brother over differing ideals back then, it hadn't enraged him this much.

Hyuga Shin was no longer just an unstable factor—he was the gravedigger of the Six Paths Chakra system!

He absolutely could not be allowed to live!

Better yet, drag his soul into the Pure Land and subject him to daily torture to vent the Sage of Six Paths' fury.

But now, how to deal with Hyuga Shin was indeed a problem.

The inaction of the Three Great Sages also infuriated the Sage of Six Paths.

They had proposed the cooperation in the first place, yet now they turned a deaf ear to his pleas for help.

If not for his efforts, the ninja world wouldn't have reached its current state.

And they, on the other hand, ate the meal and smashed the pot, taking all the benefits.

The Sage of Six Paths felt helpless about this. These native sages' control over the deeper forces of this world far exceeded his expectations.

What frustrated him most was that he couldn't defeat them!

Though his Yin-Yang Release had long reached a transcendent state, capable of reversing life and death, infinite transformations, and boundless power—any jutsu at his fingertips!

But the Three Great Sages completely countered him.

After all, they walked one of the paths of immortality.

At the very least, it was a cultivation method based on Natural Energy.

Though not the Great Dao, it still held absolute suppression over heterodox paths like the Sage of Six Paths.

As the Sage of Six Paths stewed in his anger, a powerful aura suddenly surged from the east of the Pure Land.

It was extremely violent, directly confronting the Sage of Six Paths, who could barely contain his killing intent.

"Hmph! Lately, some things in the Pure Land have been restless again. Do they really think this old man is a soft persimmon? If I can't deal with Hyuga Shin far away, I can still deal with you monsters!"

The Sage of Six Paths' rage skyrocketed. He had been looking for an outlet, and quickly rose into the air, shooting toward the east of the Pure Land.

At the border of Rock Village, Leaf Camp.

After returning to camp, Hyuga Shin parted ways with Orochimaru and the others. The matter was settled.

The rest was left to time.

Hyuga Shin believed Orochimaru wouldn't disappoint him.

With his talent, now free from the Sage of Six Paths' shackles, he would undergo earth-shattering changes!

All Hyuga Shin could do now was guide, continuously watering and fertilizing this perfect seed that was Orochimaru.

To hasten his sprouting, establish his ideals, and usher in his mission and rebirth!

Several days passed. Orochimaru had largely lost interest in handling administrative affairs, even calling on Tsunade to help for a while.

He was pondering the truth of the world!

As Hyuga Shin had said, before this, he was like a frog at the bottom of a well, seeing only a patch of sky.

The ninja world was a massive cage, trapping all ninjas!

If not for Hyuga Shin's guidance and help, he, Orochimaru, would never have had a day of escape from that cage!

Even someone as strong as Hashirama Senju or Uchiha Madara—weren't they the same?

Orochimaru admitted to himself that he did not possess their level of strength, but he was luckier than the two of them.

When his body became completely purified, he could feel a sense of inner freedom filling his entire being.

Perhaps it was truly time to break free from this game of warring ninja villages.

Nothing more than a series of clownish performances, yet they cost countless lives—how utterly pathetic!

Maybe, as Hyuga Shin had said, throughout centuries of chaotic warfare, every era had its strongmen!

It wasn't that no one had ever thought to unify the shinobi world; rather, their minds must have all been tampered with!

"This world has truly fallen beyond redemption!"

"Elder Shin, is this the reason you've persisted all along?"

"The darkness lurking in the shinobi world—how formidable must it be!"

"If the Sage of Six Paths is so powerful, what about the sages of the Three Great Sage Regions? What roles do they play?"

Orochimaru had already begun probing the truth of the shinobi world.

And he was drawing closer and closer.

His thoughts continued to elevate; the pond of the shinobi world could no longer contain this wild horse that had broken free.

He increasingly agreed with Hyuga Shin's ideal of unification.

The more the hidden masterminds opposed something, the more it proved they were on the right path.

That evening, Orochimaru came alone to visit Hyuga Shin.

With his thoughts sorted out, his entire demeanor had changed.

It was a feeling of freedom, like a bird long caged finally escaping to spread its wings and soar.

"You're here? Sit!" Hyuga Shin sat on the tatami inside the tent and gestured to Orochimaru.

"Elder, sorry for the intrusion!" Orochimaru greeted politely.

"Have all your doubts been resolved? Since you've come, ask whatever you want. I won't play riddles with you this time."

Hyuga Shin knew why Orochimaru had come—he must have something to seek.

"Elder Shin, why do you think so highly of me? We shouldn't have known each other before."

Orochimaru didn't rush to ask his questions; instead, he voiced the confusion that had long troubled him.

Though he was indeed exceptional—and he was confident of that.

After all, as a commoner in an era where most relied on clan secret techniques and bloodlines to become strong, he had every right to be proud!

"It's true you don't know me, but how do you know I don't know you?"

"I had my eye on you even before you became one of the Sannin."

Hyuga Shin bluffed without a hint of hesitation, speaking as naturally as could be.

This guy was getting better and better at playing the role of the Great Teacher of Virtue.

Hearing Hyuga Shin's answer, Orochimaru's doubts dissolved, and a smile spread across his face.

The recognition and trust of a strong man were always something worth celebrating and anticipating for the common folk of the shinobi world.

Hyuga Shin had understood this long ago and wielded it with great skill.

"Elder, what are your plans from now on?" Orochimaru asked.

"In this final stretch, I'll try my best to plant seeds of hope for this world."

Hyuga Shin wore a solemn expression, as if he were a great sage worrying over the fate of all beings in the shinobi world.

"Elder, do you already have a plan?" Orochimaru pressed.

"Yes. For now, I'll prioritize research on how to root out and extinguish the Will of the Six Paths."

"Otherwise, any action is pointless—just a laughingstock, working for others' gain."

"And after that?" Orochimaru continued.

"Establish an organization, set an ideal, recruit a group of strongmen, and make an effort to change this twisted shinobi world!"

"I want to forge a unified, perfect shinobi world!"

"Whether it succeeds or not is up to heaven—at least I'll have tried!"

"In darkness, yet my heart faces the light! I hope that will be the epitaph of my life after I die!"

"Will you support me, Orochimaru-kun?"

Hyuga Shin began laying out his plan to Orochimaru and asked for his opinion.

"I will! Elder Shin! Please, let me join!" Orochimaru replied with unwavering resolve.

The new seed had finally sprouted, and the Champion who would slay the dragon had set out.

The day of reckoning was not far off!

Sage of Six Paths! Are you ready to face your judgment?