On the far side of the Moon, outside the underground hollow beneath the Meteorite Crater.
Orochimaru had transformed into a small white snake. The moment he emerged from the rock, he saw a battlefield in utter ruin.
The enormous Meteorite Crater had been blasted apart, with charred cracks and shattered rocks everywhere. Most striking of all, however, was the group of Reanimated Bodies standing in the distance.
Orochimaru's pupils contracted slightly.
Hashirama Senju? Tobirama Senju?
These were the legendary God of Shinobi and master of forbidden techniques!
"Orochimaru!"
A weak but urgent voice rang out.
Orochimaru turned to see Black Zetsu struggling to emerge from the rock. Cracks covered his body, and his chakra fluctuations were extremely faint. He had clearly just been through a fierce battle.
"Zetsu, are you... half-dead?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow.
Black Zetsu ignored his teasing and said gravely:
"Forget about me! Lin Ze is right below us. 'Madara' has become the Ten-Tails Jinchuriki and is fighting him! I need you to undo the Reaper Death Seal immediately and get that half of the Nine-Tails out of the Shinigami's stomach!"
A trace of confusion appeared in Orochimaru's eyes.
The Ten-Tails Jinchuriki?
What was that?
He licked his lips. "Interesting... but what's in it for me?"
Black Zetsu fixed his yellow eyes on him. "Lin Ze's Azure Dragon Body! After the battle, it's all yours to study!"
Orochimaru's heart jolted.
Of course he wanted Lin Ze's body. Otherwise, he would never have died at the Valley of the End back then.
"Not enough," Orochimaru said flatly.
Black Zetsu grew frantic. "What else do you want?!"
Orochimaru spoke unhurriedly. "First, Lin Ze's corpse belongs to me. Second, I want a portion of the Ten-Tails' chakra for research. Third..."
He paused, cunning flashing through his serpentine eyes. "You have