After locating Orochimaru with the Rinnegan, Obito slipped underground.
The Rinnegan transplant had restored his lost confidence, but Orochimaru was not an enemy he could underestimate.
In a head-on fight, Orochimaru could never match him, but Orochimaru's strength lay in his seemingly endless arsenal of forbidden techniques.
If he failed to finish Orochimaru in a single strike, the man would summon the exceedingly troublesome First and Second Hokage. Under the threat of senjutsu-enhanced Wood Release and Flying Thunder God, he would lose control of the battlefield.
Even Nagato, who had previously possessed the Rinnegan, had failed to take down Orochimaru and the others completely.
Of course, if Nagato had not repeatedly used forbidden techniques like Planetary Devastation, Obito's chances of reclaiming the Rinnegan would have been even slimmer.
In a sense, Orochimaru had actually done him a favor by reincarnating the First and Second Hokage.
As thanks, he would let Orochimaru sink into a beautiful genjutsu and become the perfect assistant for carrying out the Eye of the Moon Plan.
Inside the training ground.
Having finished his training, Gaara silently followed behind Orochimaru. Although he had already adapted to the Cursed Seal of Heaven, he had yet to fully develop its power.
According to Orochimaru's estimates, once Gaara fully developed the cursed seal's power, his strength would rival that of the Five Kage.
Though Gaara was wary of Orochimaru, he would not reject power so readily within his reach.
Suddenly, Gaara stopped. Sensing a faint disturbance underground, he looked at Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, there seems to be a ninja moving underground!"
Orochimaru smiled, paying it little mind. "That's a ninja your father assigned to watch us."
Gaara shook his head and said seriously, "That's dozens of meters underground. Apart from the Fourth Kazekage and me, no one can hide that