The group slowly walked out of the conference room, but the scene outside was somewhat surprising.
In the rain, dozens of figures clad in black robes were engaged in fierce combat with the Rain Ninja.
Even more bizarrely, after those enemies were pierced by Kunai and shattered by Ninjutsu, their broken bodies wriggled and reformed like liquid, returning to normal in the blink of an eye.
Meanwhile, Konan and Sasori were being attacked by three masked enemies.
The Paper Shuriken drew a graceful arc in the air, but could only temporarily repel the enemy. The puppet strings wrapped around the neck of an enemy, but the body was torn apart and then instantly reformed.
"This is..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi stopped smoking his pipe, his brows furrowed deeply, and he didn't continue speaking.
Just as everyone was filled with surprise and doubt.
The men in black robes suddenly stopped moving in unison, and a slightly hoarse voice came from the rain.
"Don't be nervous, everyone! It's just a little trick to liven things up. After all, the opening of a new era always needs some entertainment."
Orochimaru slowly walked out, a faint smile on his pale face.
Orochimaru... what are you doing here?
Raikage A's eyes narrowed, his fists clenched, ready to strike at any moment.
In front of everyone, Orochimaru gave a graceful bow.
He tossed aside the Konoha Forehead Protector with the slash, then took out a Forehead Protector with musical note symbols and put it on.
Through the puddles on the ground, the brand-new Otogakure Forehead Protector reflected a cold light.
" Orochimaru, the leader of the Otogakure, is here to attend this United Nations. How about adding me to the Council seat?"
Upon hearing Orochimaru's self-introduction, Hiruzen Sarutobi's pipe trembled slightly, and he stared at him with a complex expression.
I see!
Some time ago, Orochimaru offered to do Konoha a favor, agreeing to assist Konoha in completing a project that could counterbalance strategic weapons.
In exchange, Konoha needs to revoke his status as missing-nin.
I initially thought this was a signal that Orochimaru wanted to return to Konoha, but I never expected... he actually created his own ninja village and came here.
Orochimaru gently stroked the Otogakure Forehead Protector and continued, "I know that to join the Council and become a decision-maker, one must either be from a major ninja village or possess a strategic weapon capable of changing the landscape of the Shinobi World."
I don't know if this is enough!
Snap--
Orochimaru snapped his fingers lightly, and hundreds of black coffins slowly rose from the ground, neatly arranged in the rain.
The coffin lid was covered with eerie incantations, which gleamed with a ghostly green light as the rain washed over it.
" The Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's pupils suddenly contracted, and the pipe in his hand fell to the ground with a 'clatter'.
I recognized those undead people before, but I didn't recognize any of the ninjas in the crowd, so I wasn't sure.
But now... he's certain.
Orochimaru used one of Konoha's forbidden techniques, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu, which can summon the souls of the dead back from the Pure Land and grant them immortality.
But this is only theoretical.
The Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals is just some experimental data and cannot be considered a technique at all.
Could it be that Orochimaru further improved upon it?
Thinking of this, Hiruzen Sarutobi's face instantly turned extremely ugly, and he didn't even bother to pick up the pipe that had fallen to the ground.
" Orochimaru, stop this forbidden technique immediately! Do you know what you're doing? If these dead get out of control, the entire Shinobi World will be plunged into disaster!"
Orochimaru ignored his teacher, slowly raised his hand, and smiled.
"Now, please allow me to introduce the Otogakure's 'strategic weapon'."
As he moved, the lid of the frontmost coffin collapsed with a crash, revealing the figure standing inside.
"That's... the First Lord!"
"And the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju!"
" The Third Raikage!"
" The Second Tsuchikage, Mu!"
" The Third Kazekage!"
One by one, powerful figures who once dominated the Shinobi World emerged from their coffins. Their faces were covered with strange cracks, and their eyes were empty yet contained a chilling power.
" The Impure World Reincarnation dead possess immortality and unlimited Chakra," Orochimaru explained. "Although their strength is not what it was in their prime, they are still a formidable Immortal Army."
"Now, do you all still believe that the Otogakure is not qualified to join the Council?"
A deathly silence fell over the scene.
Konan was even more shocked; she never expected Orochimaru to have such a trump card.
This forbidden technique, capable of summoning the dead, completely overturned his understanding of Ninjutsu.
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face was as pale as paper. He knew better than anyone how terrifying these dead were, especially the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
The man known as the ' God of Shinobi '...
"You bastard, how dare you... how dare you desecrate my father's remains!"
Raikage A roared like a thunderclap, his entire body instantly erupting with a ferocious burst of Lightning Release Chakra.
" Orochimaru, you are challenging the bottom line of the entire Shinobi World! Master Mu is the senior I respect most!"
Ōnoki was equally enraged; his small body trembled with rage, and his hands had already begun Hand Seals.
As for Hoshino, he remained calm and indifferent, completely unconcerned about whether the Third Kazekage was being controlled by Orochimaru.
In his eyes, this person was just a stranger. If he really wanted revenge, he would go after Sasori, who killed the Third Kazekage.
Despite the rage of the two Kage Level warriors, Orochimaru maintained a calm smile. He simply raised his hand, and the Third Raikage and the Second Tsuchikage immediately stepped in front of him.
"Please calm down, both of you. I understand your anger, but this is precisely one of the conditions I'm proposing for cooperation."
"Cooperation?" The Raikage's fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "You call this cooperation?"
Orochimaru calmly explained, " The Otogakure is willing to undertake a special project, the ' Pure Land Return Plan.' I am willing to remove the constraints on those Impure World Reincarnation technique, allowing them to gain free will."
"Just like doing business, you can 'hire' these dead people to work for your village. Of course, you'll need to pay them accordingly."
Hiruzen Sarutobi finally lost his temper and roared, "Absurd! Are the souls of the dead commodities to be bought and sold? Orochimaru, you have utterly fallen!"
"Degeneration?"
Orochimaru chuckled lightly, "Sensei, you're still so old-fashioned. The Shinobi World is about to undergo a major upheaval; we need to break away from conventional ways of thinking."
Just then, Pain, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up and asked, " Orochimaru, to what extent can your so-called 'removal of restraints' achieve?"
"Restores the memories and personality from their previous life, retaining only the characteristics of immortality and unlimited Chakra. Of course..."
Orochimaru paused meaningfully, "How long they can stay depends on the quality of the offering."
Upon hearing this, the Raikage and Ōnoki hesitated slightly amidst their anger.
His father's heroic figure was right before his eyes, and Ōnoki knew all too well the power of the Second Tsuchikage's Dust Release.
If they could be resurrected...