Out of the corner of his eye, Uchiha Madara suddenly caught sight of Senju Hashirama mechanically forming hand seals amid the distant forest of trees.
His scarlet eyes instantly lit up, erupting with incomparably fervent battle intent.
"Hashirama!"
Madara shouted excitedly, his voice shaking the heavens.
"Let's have a great battle!"
But then—
When he saw Hashirama's hollow, lifeless eyes and his stiff movements, like those of a puppet on strings—
The fervor on Madara's face instantly froze.
It was replaced by extreme disappointment and disgust.
"What a letdown."
Madara snorted coldly.
"Just a soulless puppet?"
"Lord First's strength is too great."
A hoarse voice carrying a sickly amusement came from behind Madara's side.
Orochimaru stepped forward with elegant strides, his golden snake eyes meeting Uchiha Madara's gaze without hesitation.
"To prevent him from breaking free of his restraints, I had no choice but to erase his consciousness and strengthen my control."
Uchiha Madara glanced sideways and looked Orochimaru over.
"Oh?"
"Are you the caster who summoned me?"
Orochimaru extended his long tongue and licked his lips.
"Lord Madara."
"My name is Orochimaru. I am a disciple of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi."
Upon hearing that name—
A mocking curve formed at the corner of Madara's lips.
"A disciple of that little monkey became a rogue ninja too?"
"How interesting."
Madara turned around to face Orochimaru directly. The pressure in his Sharingan poured down like something tangible.
"You erased Hashirama's consciousness, yet left mine intact."
"Do you think trash like you can control me?"
Faced with this suffocating pressure, Orochimaru merely chuckled softly.
"Hehehe..."
"Quite the opposite."
Orochimaru spread his hands, his pale face full of sinister calculation.
"I have no confidence at all in controlling Lord Madara."
"But I believe..."
Orochimaru's eyes instantly turned icy and menacing.
"Our interests