"So, you learned the Flying Thunder God Technique?"
Besides Senju Tobirama, Rasa and Orochimaru were also staring at Chiba in shock.
Chiba had already been incredibly powerful. Now that he had this Forbidden Jutsu, the Flying Thunder God Technique, which maximized his mobility, wouldn't he be even harder to deal with?
That innately evil Senju Tobirama... Rasa could not help cursing inwardly.
He had never sincerely submitted. He had merely been forced into submission by Chiba's terrifying strength.
Before he could even think of a way to deal with Chiba, he discovered that Chiba had become even more difficult to handle?
Both the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu and the Flying Thunder God Technique were Forbidden Jutsu invented by Senju Tobirama.
At that moment, Rasa only wanted to say that Kinkaku and Ginkaku had done well back then.
If Senju Tobirama had been allowed to keep living, who knew how many more Forbidden Jutsu he might have created to strengthen Chiba?
"Interesting."
After recovering from his shock, Orochimaru instead looked somewhat excited as he once again washed his face with his tongue.
He did not care about all those other messy matters. He only cared about immortality.
When he first learned from Chiba that the Ninja World possessed a Karma far more perfect than Living Corpse Reincarnation, he had not fully believed it, but he had greatly desired it.
However, when Chiba told him that the Otsutsuki Clan, who possessed Karma, all had Rinnegan and were immensely powerful, Orochimaru worried that it would be difficult for him to study that clan.
But if Chiba was strong enough, and the entire Ninja World became his strength, then Orochimaru believed that even the so-called Otsutsuki Clan would not be his match.
When the time came, Orochimaru would naturally be able to study the Otsutsuki Clan's secrets without issue.
Setting the Otsutsuki aside, even Hyuga Chiba before him seemed to possess quite a few secrets that interested him.
"Demonstrate my value?"
Orochimaru glanced at Hyuga Chiba and took the matter even more seriously.
Whether he wanted to study the Otsutsuki Clan's Karma or attempt to touch upon the secrets of the Tenseigan, he was destined to first earn Hyuga Chiba's trust.
"Alright." At that moment, Chiba seemed to sense something and said to Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama, "If you want to return to Konoha, leave Sunagakure now."
"You can also take the opportunity to learn about the situation from a few Konoha juniors first."
"Then, before you see Konoha's changes with your own eyes, you'll be mentally prepared."
Just moments ago, through the Tenseigan's penetrating vision and farsight, both far stronger than the Byakugan's, Chiba discovered that Kakashi and the others were nearly at Sunagakure.
This included Sasori and Deidara, two Akatsuki members who were clearly heading straight for Sunagakure.
Moreover, whether it was because the Byakugan could already see it or because Chiba's Tenseigan was unusual, he could even see Zetsu and Obito hiding underground with perfect clarity.
If Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama left Sunagakure now, they might run into Kakashi, Sasori, and the others.
I really want to see what happens when Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama meet Kakashi and the others, as well as Sasori's group.
Chiba thought to himself with great interest.
"Konoha juniors?" Senju Tobirama's brows furrowed slightly when he heard Chiba's words. He nodded and said, "I understand."
"My brother and I will return first and see what Konoha is like now."
"...Alright." After hesitating for a moment, Senju Hashirama nodded as well.
Unlike Senju Tobirama, he genuinely believed Rasa's theory that everything Chiba had done was to unite the Ninja World's strength against the Otsutsuki Clan.
However, Senju Hashirama still felt that Chiba's methods were too radical.
If he wanted to unite the Ninja World's strength, couldn't he just explain it properly to everyone? Why did he have to use such forceful methods?
Senju Hashirama believed that Chiba was too young, under too much pressure, and had a somewhat skewed understanding of the Will of Fire.
As an elder, he ought to share the burden of the younger generation and help Chiba return to the right path.
Collecting the Tailed Beasts would be simple enough. At worst, he could go kowtow and beg the various Kage once more.
Though he did not really understand why gathering those nine Tailed Beasts, whom Madara and he could beat into submission and treat like pets, would give Chiba the power to fight the Otsutsuki Clan.
Still, after being away for so many years, Senju Hashirama truly missed Konoha.
Especially after he had vaguely sensed that something seemed to be wrong with Konoha now.
And so!
Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama left Sunagakure.
"Chiba-kun, people brought back through Impure World Reincarnation can indeed move far away from the caster, but Sunagakure is still too far from Konoha. This will shorten the time they can remain in this world."
Watching Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama's departing backs, Orochimaru reminded Chiba.
"Isn't that perfect?" Chiba shook his head unconcernedly. "Once they return to Konoha, they probably will not be able to stay long before their souls return to the Pure Land."
"Even if they want to do anything else, they won't be able to."
"If we need them in the future, we can simply reincarnate them again."
"However, I hope you can optimize the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu as soon as possible, allowing those reincarnated through it to retain as much of their peak strength from when they were alive as possible."
If possible, Chiba even wanted Orochimaru to reincarnate both Otsutsuki Hagoromo and Otsutsuki Hamura to help him deal with Ōtsutsuki Isshiki and the others.
Unfortunately, performing Impure World Reincarnation required a portion of the target's body.
Otsutsuki Hagoromo and Otsutsuki Hamura had existed far too long ago. Finding even a part of their bodies was practically impossible.
Even if they were truly reincarnated, there was no guarantee that other problems would not arise.
Chiba had not forgotten that Hagoromo's old soul still governed the Pure Land.
"I'll do my best."
Orochimaru did not know what Chiba was thinking. Upon hearing his instructions, he nodded directly.
Seeing this, Chiba stopped paying attention to Orochimaru and instead said to Rasa, "First, handle Sunagakure's affairs. Then go outside the village and greet a few uninvited guests."
No matter what, Kakashi and Sasori's group had come for Chiba.
He did not intend to rely on Senju Hashirama and Senju Tobirama to do anything to Kakashi and the others.
And Rasa was now considered Chiba's subordinate, as well as the legitimate Kazekage.
In Chiba's view, having him meet Kakashi and Hyuga Nozomu in his stead, or probe Sasori and Deidara's intentions, was entirely reasonable.
"Alright!"
Upon hearing the words "uninvited guests," Rasa formed a few guesses of his own.
Perfect. He could take this opportunity to spread his earlier theory about Chiba being a "savior" to those "guests."
Before you continue