Have you no shame???

Soon, after Orochimaru and Sōkyū Hatake picked up speed, the two arrived before a massive lake.

There was also a waterfall above the lake, with two enormous stone statues on either side.

The two enormous stone statues depicted Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha.

The hands of Hashirama Senju's and Madara Uchiha's statues formed the "Seal of Reconciliation." Clearly, this was the legendary Valley of the End!

PS: The Valley of the End is a crucial location in the Japanese manga "Naruto" and its derivative works. Three major battles took place here. The first was the battle between Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, while the second and third were both clashes between Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. The second ended with Sasuke Uchiha winning and leaving. The third was a draw, ultimately ending with Sasuke conceding defeat and joining Naruto in releasing the Infinite Tsukuyomi.

The first happened when Madara Uchiha was leaving the village. Hashirama Senju tried every way he could to persuade Madara Uchiha to stay. He told Madara Uchiha that he saw him as the Hokage's right-hand man and his own brother. He hoped Madara Uchiha would assist him, and that someday the people would recognize Madara Uchiha's strengths. Then, Madara Uchiha would become the Second Hokage.

However, Madara Uchiha had long foreseen that the person who inherited the position of Hokage after Hashirama Senju's death would certainly be Tobirama Senju. In that case, the Uchiha Clan would inevitably be wiped out one day. Understanding this, Madara Uchiha called on the Uchiha clansmen to leave the village with him, yet not a single person was willing to follow him.

Madara Uchiha knew that no one except Hashirama Senju could treat him with sincerity. He then asked Hashirama Senju whether he would give up Tobirama or Madara Uchiha for the village. Hashirama Senju hesitated. Madara Uchiha understood Hashirama Senju well enough to know that this was his limit, so he insisted on leaving Konoha to seek the "true peace" he wanted. Later, Madara Uchiha vanished without a trace, and no one heard any news of him again.

Years later, Madara Uchiha suddenly returned, attempting to destroy the village he had once founded alongside Hashirama Senju. To protect Konoha, Hashirama Senju stepped forward and engaged Madara Uchiha in a fierce battle. Madara Uchiha used the Sharingan's powerful ocular abilities to control the Nine-Tails, the strongest of the Tailed Beasts in combat, to duel Hashirama Senju, while Hashirama Senju fought back with Wood Release ninjutsu in Sage Mode.

This earth-shaking battle was later etched into the world's memory. The fighting continued day and night, changing the terrain of the battlefield. In the end, Hashirama Senju finally defeated Madara Uchiha and killed his former friend, temporarily preserving Konoha's peace. This great canyon later became known to the world as the Valley of the End.

"This is the place. No one will discover us here." Standing on the lake's surface in the Valley of the End, Orochimaru tilted his head up toward Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha above.

Reverence for the two of them showed in Orochimaru's eyes.

"The Valley of the End... This really is my first time here." Sōkyū Hatake looked up at the two stone statues.

Years later, these two stone statues would be shattered by their two successors.

"Yes, the Valley of the End, known as the place where Konoha's two gods parted ways," Orochimaru said with deep feeling. In his day, information about Madara Uchiha had not been so strictly suppressed, so he still knew about these things.

Later on, however, the matters concerning Madara Uchiha had been endlessly covered up.

"This is just the place for the two of us to fight, little Sōkū. Let me see whether your combat strength has improved while I've been away."

Orochimaru flicked his tongue. This really was a good way to test it.

"Sure, let's do it here." Sōkyū Hatake smiled, his right hand already resting on Bakusaiga's hilt.

He knew that against Orochimaru, he would definitely have to bring out his full strength.

"Then let's begin. You can make the first move." Orochimaru kept one hand inside his robe, showing no intention of attacking.

"Then I won't hold back!" Sōkyū Hatake's gaze sharpened, and he drew Bakusaiga from his waist.

"A fine blade," Orochimaru praised as he studied Bakusaiga's blade. This was his first time seeing Bakusaiga, too. Could it be a treasured blade of the Hatake Clan?

"Of course! Wind Scar!" Sōkyū Hatake raised Bakusaiga high, then swung it, sending five streaks of blue-green light straight toward Orochimaru.

"What fierce blade energy!" Orochimaru's gaze sharpened. As a Kage Level fighter, he naturally had his own assessment of the power of Sōkyū Hatake's attack.

In Orochimaru's eyes, Sōkyū Hatake's blade energy was well and truly above Chunin level.

After all, Sōkyū Hatake was still only a six-year-old child who had just started at the Ninja Academy!

"Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" An enhanced version of Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, this ninjutsu increased the number of snakes and offered greater versatility. The many large snakes summoned in an instant took on tasks such as intimidation, restraint, and capture, achieving the effect of multiple consecutive strikes.

Compared with Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, both the quantity and quality were different!

Of course, this was also to counter those five waves of blade energy from Wind Scar!

Boom!!!

In an instant, Multiple Hidden Shadow Snake Hands and Wind Scar collided violently. The intense explosion sent the once-calm lake churning.

A great mass of water droplets flew into the sky, then fell like rain, soaking Sōkyū Hatake's and Orochimaru's clothes.

"Soru!" Seeing the result, Sōkyū Hatake raised Bakusaiga high and used Soru to appear before Orochimaru, bringing Bakusaiga slashing down hard.

"I have to say, your skill is quite useful. Soru!" Orochimaru smiled faintly. He had already learned how to use Soru from Sōkyū Hatake.

Combined with Orochimaru's Kage Level strength, his Soru was even considerably faster than Sōkyū Hatake's!

"Four Black Snakes Formation!" Orochimaru first created three snake clones. Then his original body and the three snake clones took positions to the east, south, west, and north, erecting a transparent purple rectangular barrier that formed hard walls, trapping Sōkyū Hatake inside!

Immediately afterward, Orochimaru swept both hands, and a large amount of purple gas appeared inside the Four Black Snakes Formation. Judging by its color, it was nothing good!

"What the hell? You're even using poison?!" Sōkyū Hatake stared at Orochimaru in astonishment. You're actually using poison against a six-year-old kid like me???

Have you no shame???