Orochimaru no longer cared about the Sensor Ninjas Shin Uchiha was worried about. His gaze had turned fervent as he looked at him and asked eagerly:
"Shin, could it be that you've already reached the legendary Sage of Six Paths' level?"
By now, Shin Uchiha had completely reined in his aura and looked just like an ordinary person.
At Orochimaru's question, the corners of Shin Uchiha's mouth lifted slightly, and he nodded casually.
"Yes. I reached the six paths level three years ago, and now I'm only one step away from the goddess Kaguya."
Hearing Shin Uchiha's words, Orochimaru's face lit up with understanding, and he murmured excitedly:
"Just as I thought. Just as I thought! I always said there had to be a higher level beyond the First, Hashirama Senju."
Orochimaru could hardly be blamed for saying that. Peerless fighters at the six paths level had vanished long ago. Even the Sage of Six Paths, whose name had survived, had lived so long ago that he was all but regarded as a figure from myth.
The powerful figures Orochimaru could learn about were limited to Hashirama Senju, known as the God of the Shinobi World, and Madara Uchiha, the Asura of the Ninja World.
However, because Hashirama Senju had emerged victorious from his final battle with Madara Uchiha at the Valley of the End, everyone in the shinobi world believed that Madara Uchiha was weaker than Hashirama Senju.
That had made Hashirama Senju the strongest in the shinobi world.
Yet even so, Hashirama Senju's strength had only reached the peak of the super kage level, still falling somewhat short of the six paths level.
Still, Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha were both battle fanatics, the sort of protagonist-like figures who grew stronger against stronger opponents. Even if they faced