The Sannin and Madara, Collision of the Old and New Eras

The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path punched Orochimaru and Orochi from underground up to the surface.

Madara's base was completely exposed as well. Thousands of the White Zetsu Army guarded the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path like a general and its soldiers.

Orochi finally managed to stop himself, then cursed Orochimaru viciously. "Orochimaru, you rotten snake! Didn't you say we were dealing with some old man? Is this an old man? This is Madara Uchiha!"

"Orochimaru, I'm not staying with you! I'm going back to Ryūchi Cave!"

"Hmph. You came, and now you think you can leave?"

Orochimaru directly took out a Puppet Talisman and used it to control Orochi. This was something Orochimaru had prepared in advance for Hiruko, but Hiruko was driven by his hatred for Liao Wu and no longer needed it, so this Puppet Talisman was just right for controlling Orochi.

In the past, he had still needed to play along with Orochi, but in the current situation, even if it meant falling out with Orochi completely, Orochimaru had to keep him here.

After Orochi was controlled, Orochimaru finally felt reassured, then looked toward the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path in the distance.

Only after leaving the Underground Base did Orochimaru clearly see the monster's hideousness with his own eyes.

Its appearance was that of a giant humanoid. Its body resembled dead wood, and on its back were ten protrusions that looked like logs, giving off a sense of ancient vicissitudes.

There were nine closed eyes on its head, making it look extremely bizarre and mysterious.

"What... exactly is this monster?"

Land of Rain, Akatsuki base.

Nagato was watching Yahiko give a speech to the newly joined Ninjas. The general idea was to unite and change the Land of Rain, this country that was always weeping.

Suddenly, his Rinnegan stirred uncontrollably, as if in the northern region, there was a power calling to him.

Nagato covered his aching eyes.

Seeing this, Konan could not help asking with concern, "What's wrong? Nagato!"

Nagato shook his head, not wanting Konan to worry. "It's nothing!"

Konan walked over and massaged Nagato's eyes, smiling. "Maybe you've been under too much pressure lately. We're about to cooperate with Hanzō. I don't know if he'll accept our Akatsuki."

Nagato blushed a little as he smelled Konan's fragrance. "He should! After all, we've done so much for the Land of Rain."

"Yeah. The Ninja World War is about to calm down, and peace is almost here. The Land of Rain will get better and better."

"I hope so!"

Madara stood on the shoulder of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, feeling the vitality in his body. The White Zetsu fusing into him kept him from being so weak.

But compared to his peak, he was still far, far away. He desperately wanted to feel hot blood flowing through his body again.

And—

Madara touched his lone eye. To Madara, the Three Tomoe Sharingan was utter trash. It simply was not worthy of fitting into his eye socket.

Orochimaru controlled Orochi to sweep away the White Zetsu foot soldiers beside the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path.

The Sannin, together with the Sannin's Summoning Beasts, were not opponents that White Zetsu Clones could handle. Madara gave an order, making all the White Zetsu sink into the earth.

Orochimaru rode Orochi to a spot not far in front of Madara Uchiha and greeted him very politely. "Senior Madara, it seems all of us were wrong. In the battle at the Valley of the End, you were the true victor."

"No one expected you to be hidden so deeply. After all these years, not a single hint got out."

Madara looked at Orochimaru with disdain. "How could a Snake of the Pond glimpse my Grand Ambition?"

Orochimaru grew angry. "I have treated you politely again and again. I never expected you, Madara Uchiha, to look down on everyone like this. No wonder you became a lost dog back then."

"What did you say?!"

Madara's aura converged into one, with no breath leaking out, but Orochimaru felt as if he had been targeted by an Ancient Great Demon.

The most humiliating thing in Madara's life was leaving Konoha like a lost dog, with no one following him.

Orochimaru moved his ears and heard the sound of wind. His momentum immediately surged.

"Madara, I admit that you are a Warring States Legend, but times have changed. I wonder if today's Sannin may ask Senior Madara for a lesson or two?"

"Summoning Technique!"

Jiraiya and Tsunade's voices exploded at the same time beside Orochimaru.

Then, as the smoke dispersed, a blue-white slug as large as a mountain appeared, with Tsunade standing atop the Slug's head.

"Gazing up at the sky with my back to the light, I am Hero Jiraiya!"

At the same time, Jiraiya arrived together with the toads of Mount Myōboku as a full group.

The Toad Three Brothers were there. Gama Bunta crouched in the center, a pipe in his mouth and a katana in his hand, giving off a thick delinquent air.

Gama Hiro was on the left, carrying twin blades on his back. Gama Ken was on the right, holding a forked staff and a shield.

Jiraiya stood on Bunta's head, red Sage Markings on his face, with Sage Fukasaku and Sage Shima standing on his left and right shoulders respectively.

This lineup had appeared once in the Original Work. It was when Naruto made his entrance with reinforcements from Mount Myōboku after Pain's Leaf Village Destruction.

All that was missing was Gama Kichi, and Jiraiya's Toad Army would have been complete.

As soon as Jiraiya appeared, everyone stared at him.

Even Madara looked somewhat solemn. "The same sage aura as Hashirama. Young man, you are qualified to be my opponent."

Orochimaru and Tsunade both looked at Jiraiya.

Deep envy and jealousy filled Orochimaru's eyes. Why didn't he have any talent for Sage arts?

Tsunade felt somewhat emotional. The Dead Last from back then had now walked ahead of everyone.

But now was not the time to marvel at Jiraiya's Sage Mode.

Tsunade looked at the elder across from them, shock impossible to hide in her eyes.

Madara Uchiha—this legendary figure was actually still alive?

Truly, an old man who refused to die was a thief!

"Summoning Technique!"

Another master!!

Everyone stared at the Summoning Smoke that had suddenly appeared.

Ryūchi Cave, Shikkotsu Forest, Mount Myōboku—the Summoning Beasts of the Three Great Sage Regions were all present. What divine being still dared to enter this game?

"How could a class reunion like this be missing me? Tsunade, Jiraiya, Orochimaru!"

The moment that familiar voice rang out...

Tsunade's pupils shrank slightly, and Jiraiya revealed an expression of disbelief.

Orochimaru licked his lips and said with an evil smile, "Liao Wu, you still showed up."

Black Zetsu's shadow returned to Madara's body and said, "Lord Madara, Liao Wu is back!"

Liao Wu loudly showed his filial piety toward Madara. "Ancestor, please step back. Leave the Sannin to your grandson!"

A cold laugh appeared at the corner of Madara's mouth. Liao Wu had still made his choice.

He could only defect to him.

The smoke dispersed, revealing Liao Wu with the Flame Uchiha Gunbai and Moon Ring Sickle on his back, while beneath him—no, on him—the Summoning Beast stood on all fours on Liao Wu's shoulders.

It was the renowned Hachi Sage of the Ninja World.

Forget it. It was just an orange cat wearing a ninja uniform, its claw still gripping dried fish and gnawing on it with relish.

After suddenly appearing in an unfamiliar place, Orange Cat stopped eating the fish and stared somewhat blankly at the four monsters in front of him that seemed like mountains.

"(°ー°〃)."

Liao Wu folded his arms and arranged things. "Fish Ball, I'll deal with the Sannin. You go kill their Summoning Beasts."

Fish Ball, true to his name, was an orange cat who loved eating dried fish.

Back when Liao Wu had raised stray cats, he had trained up a batch of Ninja Cats, and later sent them all to Cat Granny's Empty Zone to be kept.

"Meow—"

Fish Ball grabbed Liao Wu's hair and spoke human words. "Damn Liao Wu, do you think I'm Two-Tails Matatabi? I can't even beat Big Yellow at the village entrance, and you want me to deal with such terrifying giant beasts?"

"If you want to inherit my dried fish, just say it!"

Liao Wu gestured for Fish Ball to lower his voice. "Fish Ball, keep it down. So many big shots are watching. You'll make me lose face like this."

"I don't care! And who told you to defect? The Uchiha Clan removed your name, and Cat Granny even cut our quota in half."

Fish Ball complained.

Liao Wu was furious. "That damned old woman, she actually dared treat my Ninja Cats like that? When the time comes, I'll definitely sell her to the Flower District to receive guests!"

The Sannin: "(;一_一)."

"Ahem..."

Madara coughed twice, somewhat angered by this. "Who told him to come up here? Hurry and drag him down, drag him down."

Sage Fukasaku was somewhat speechless. "Little Jiraiya, this is your former classmate, that Uchiha who developed the Longevity Forbidden Technique?"

"Well..."

Jiraiya also felt somewhat embarrassed. Liao Wu was clearly forcing his way over to sit at the same table as them.

But then Jiraiya looked at Liao Wu with a grave expression. "Liao Wu, you're really something. You actually fooled all of us."

"However, this time, I have to apologize to you. Minato's mistake will be made up for by his teacher!"

Jiraiya and the others should have been glad Madara had not yet been restored to youth by Liao Wu. Otherwise, they would not have had even the slightest chance.

No matter what hidden circumstances lay behind Liao Wu, they had to stop Liao Wu from approaching Madara Uchiha.

Jiraiya had to cut off all the feelings he held for Liao Wu in his heart and kill him completely.