The atmosphere in the Underground Base remained heavy, but the focus had shifted from old grudges to the imminent threat. Tobirama Senju's words were like alum dropped into murky water, allowing their tangled thoughts to begin settling.
The violence in Sasuke Uchiha's eyes had not faded, but it seemed to have found a more concrete, far greater outlet. He no longer fixated on taking immediate revenge against the dead men before him. Instead, he locked the hatred that threatened to consume him onto the unknown being called the "Sacred Lord." It was he, along with his lackey Obito, who had dragged Itachi, the Uchiha Clan, and Sasuke himself into this boundless vortex of darkness.
"That 'Sacred Lord'... where is he?" Sasuke's voice was icy, edged with an impatient need to find his target.
"Calm yourself, young Uchiha," Tobirama said, coolly dampening his anger. "Rage will only lead you into his trap again. He exists beyond the physical boundaries we understand, more akin to a contamination of the underlying rules, exerting his influence through vessels like Obito and scattered 'God Tree Remnants.' Searching blindly is pointless."
He surveyed the Hokage present before his gaze finally settled on Orochimaru, openly scrutinizing him. "What we need now is intelligence, strategy, and a consolidation of our strength. Orochimaru, how far has your research into this dark power progressed?"
A flicker of interest crossed Orochimaru's golden eyes, and he licked his lips. "Heh heh heh, as perceptive as ever, Second. Indeed, the structure of this power is quite... fascinating. It possesses both the corrosive properties of energy and a certain vitality found in living organisms. It can even distort natural energy. I have collected some samples, but I still cannot fully decipher its core, particularly the way it connects to a will." He paused, giving