So lively and bustling, it's almost dizzying!
They surrounded Raikage.
A black skull.
It permeated the entire venue.
It just didn't extend its reach to the outer perimeter.
The aura, however, spread outwards.
Everyone could feel it.
The immense power that exists within.
"That's... the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, doesn't it?"
Someone pointed to four figures wielding large swords in the field, Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
"Not only that, look at the others, they all seem very familiar."
"Was that someone killed by Goenji?"
Although everyone appeared to be a black skeleton, some of their physical symptoms revealed familiar signs.
Especially the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
A very obvious person carrying a large knife.
"Damn, could it be that he's brought back to life everyone he killed?"
One of the ninjas gaped open.
Their eyes widened in surprise.
If that's really the case, then far too many people have been killed.
Moreover, there are so many skeletons in the area.
"How could that be? Look at that figure, I recognize him, but it wasn't Goenji who killed him."
Some have pointed out that while Goenji wasn't the one who killed someone, his figure could still be seen.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi and the other elders of Konoha saw this scene, their brows furrowed.
Is this Ninjutsu that can revive ninjas?!
This is blasphemy against the dead.
Even in the Shinobi World, not everyone can accept it.
"This scene looks a bit like the Impure World Impure World Reincarnation in the Scroll of Seals!"
After pondering for a while, Minato Namikaze spoke to his companions.
Shikaku Nara: "Hmm, it seems they borrowed some things."
Goenji Hiruzen Sarutobi remembered the Ninjutsu that Goenji had chosen when he was selecting Ninjutsu for him.
At that time, he didn't understand why Goenji used that kind of Ninjutsu.
Impure World Reincarnation is an unfinished Ninjutsu.
For ninjas of their caliber, even as a tactic, it would be a bit too cumbersome.
Now it seems...
The other party improved upon the Impure World Reincarnation and made modifications.
It is more in line with their own tactical system.
Hiruzen Sarutobi: "This kind of technique should be classified as a forbidden technique. We need to make Goenji use it less often in the future... Hmm... there probably won't be many opportunities to use it."
The fact that they used it this time shows that Goenji is very confident in overwhelming everyone.
So Hiruzen Sarutobi realized he had been overthinking things!
Goenji must have his own reasons.
Little did they know, Goenji was simply thinking that he was already invincible anyway.
This Ninjutsu has been developed for so long, but not using it feels like wearing fine clothes in the dark—it's unsettling.
That's why it was used.
"Wow, what an amazing kid! He even borrowed the Impure World Reincarnation Ninjutsu. I feel like he's surpassed the Second Hokage in terms of developing Ninjutsu."
When Orochimaru saw Goenji's Ninjutsu, he immediately thought of something Goenji had asked him for advice before.
It seems that Goenji has achieved some success.
The thing we need to develop is this Ninjutsu right in front of us.
He also remembered that Goenji had obtained some physical information about ninjas from him.
That was intelligence he had been collecting for a long time.
It will probably be revealed in this Ninjutsu.
Jiraiya: "You recognize this Ninjutsu?"
He looked at Orochimaru with curiosity.
Orochimaru: "The Impure World Reincarnation, a new concept for adaptation, and he's already completed it perfectly. Although it differs slightly from my initial ideas, it's still very good!"
He also had his own ideas about the Impure World Reincarnation.
It's not finished yet.
He felt that his idea was the one that met the ideal.
However, Goenji's Ninjutsu philosophy suited him better.
"So you were involved too. It seems you have a good relationship with Goenji?"
Jiraiya thought of the recent information he had about Orochimaru.
He suspected that Orochimaru and Danzo were conducting some kind of secret experiment.
If Goenji also gets involved...
That would be troublesome.
That's not allowed.
Orochimaru glanced at him. "Don't worry, the other person is just asking me for advice. They're not as stupid as you, a loser."
Jiraiya choked!
Tsunade: "I hope what you're saying is true. His thoughts are better than yours; don't let them corrupt him."
Upon returning from out of town, she quickly obtained information about Goenji.
I know he's a very good boy.
If Orochimaru were to corrupt it, it wouldn't be a good thing for Konoha.
Orochimaru: "I've really underestimated Goenji. Is it possible that he's trying to corrupt me?"
From the moment he witnessed Goenji's development of Ninjutsu, he began to contemplate his own path.
No wonder he always followed behind the second generation.
He overlooked something.
Some things he has more to offer than the second generation.
Science!
Although he had been using it, he hadn't delved into it deeply.
Instead, they fell into their own cognitive biases and were constrained by the framework of second-generation ideology.
If, like Goenji, one utilizes scientific knowledge from around the world and specializes in one field, thus multiplying knowledge across many areas, perhaps his research would be even more in-depth.
Of course, this is just an idea.
Orochimaru is not yet ready to implement it.
Everything will begin once he has discovered the path to immortality.
Learning is boundless despite the finiteness of human life.
That's a bit overestimating themselves!
"He corrupted you. It seems you have indeed been affected by him!" Tsunade glanced at Orochimaru with surprise.
This is not something Orochimaru would say.
"It's alright. Those who are accomplished are my teachers; I can learn from their strengths, but I certainly won't adopt their weaknesses!"
Orochimaru chuckled.
As for the shortcomings of Goenji...
He has his own ideas.
For example, marrying a wife at Goenji is a drawback.
As long as people live long, what need is there for descendants? They don't need descendants to inherit their things.
It will also leave you with shortcomings.
Then there's the other person's attitude towards life.
In his view, Goenji did not seem to have any obsession with immortality.
During a previous exchange with Goenji.
It was discovered that Goenji was very cautious about survival and life.
However, he was not obsessed with immortality.
He's a guy who just wants to enjoy the process of life within his limited lifespan.
Like those philosophers in various countries.
They believed that human life is finite.
No matter how long you live, once your thinking becomes fixed, it's the end of your life.
Only with a finite lifespan can one's thinking become fixed, allowing one to enjoy life instead of repeating the same things over and over again.
Only a life like this has meaning.
Orochimaru could understand that too.
Whether it's their master Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya, Tsunade, or certain people in history, their thinking tends to become fixed around the age of 30 or 40, making it difficult for them to break free.
As some children say, you've grown old, like the setting sun.
Orochimaru simply didn't want to agree with that.
He wants to live, to live a long time.
That's the real meaning.