Having left the village, Orochimaru silently gazed back at it in the distance. Memories kept surfacing in his mind: studying ninjutsu under the Third Hokage since childhood, his two companions Jiraiya and Tsunade, and the fragility of life he had witnessed when Nawaki died.
After one last, long look at the village he had once protected, he walked away without looking back.
"Compared to eternal life, these fragile bonds aren't worth mentioning."
"But where should I go now?" Orochimaru murmured.
He considered the many small countries, but most of those bordering the Land of Fire had now come under the Holy Church's control. Orochimaru frowned. Recalling his recent battle with the Holy Light Clerics and their strange Holy Arts, he hesitated. After all, even he, one of the Sannin renowned throughout the shinobi world, had failed to gain the upper hand against them.
Now he was considering entering the Holy Church's territory. Even he had to think that through carefully.
After some deliberation, Orochimaru ultimately decided to first explore the small countries in the direction of the Land of Water.
"Obito, Orochimaru has defected from Konoha!" In the gloomy cave, Black Zetsu slowly emerged from the earth and reported the latest intelligence from Konoha to Obito.
"Oh? Even Orochimaru, one of the Sannin, has turned his back on Konoha?" Obito said coldly.
"Yes." Black Zetsu gave a slight nod.
"Orochimaru, huh? He would be a valuable fighting asset. Nagato has more or less mastered his Rinnegan now, too. Have him bring Orochimaru into the fold," Obito said calmly, standing on the thigh of the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and gazing at the enormous statue.
"As it happens, Orochimaru is currently staying in the Land of Waves."
"Hahaha! It seems Orochimaru is destined to join the Akatsuki!" Obito suddenly