Elsewhere, in Night City's Underground Laboratory.
Unlike the chaotic battlefield, the laboratory was utterly quiet, with only the hum of machinery echoing through it.
The Demonic Statue of the Outer Path stood in the center of the laboratory, its face hideous and its eyes tightly shut.
Orochimaru stood before the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, gazing up at its enormous form with a faint smile on his lips.
"Heh heh, finally here?"
Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned around, his smile deepening a little.
Three figures had appeared behind him at some point.
Kou stood at the front, holding the mangled remains of the White Zetsu who had been guarding this place in one hand and the already-dead Shennong in the other.
Naruto and Sasuke stood half a step behind him.
Unlike Naruto, who was looking around curiously, Sasuke kept his gaze fixed on Orochimaru, his eternal Mangekyō Sharingan filled with wariness.
His hand already rested on the hilt of the sword at his waist, as though he was ready to strike at any moment.
Kou first glanced at the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path, reassuring himself, then shifted his gaze to Orochimaru's face and couldn't help frowning.
Clarity had already returned to Orochimaru's eyes.
But unlike his pathetic state five years ago, just before Kou had brought him under control with his Mangekyo, Orochimaru now seemed perfectly composed.
It was as though he was facing not an enemy who had used him as a tool for five whole years, but an old friend he hadn't seen in ages.
"It really has been a long time, Kou."
As Orochimaru looked at Kou's six-tomoe Rinnegan, genuine amazement flashed in his eyes.
"Although I already heard from that man that you'd awakened the Rinnegan, seeing it with my own eyes