"Ask him if Orochimaru has been researching the genes of anyone other than the Hokage lately?"
Danzo's seemingly casual yet actually wary question made Yamanaka Fū's heart tighten.
He instantly understood Danzo's concerns.
Orochimaru, that madman, has an almost pathological obsession with powerful genes.
The power displayed by Uchiha Gen'yō has long surpassed common sense. If there is anyone in this world who would be most interested in Gen'yō's genes, it would be Orochimaru.
Once Orochimaru obtains Gen'yō's genes, even just a single hair, no one can predict what kind of even more terrifying monster that madman will create!
By then, their plan to revive the Hokage might very well have become a stepping Orochimaru for Orochimaru!
"I understand, Lord Danzo! I will definitely make him investigate thoroughly!"
Yamanaka Fū nodded heavily, and his figure vanished into the dark passage in a flash.
Three days later.
The Land of Rice Fields, a little-known, eerie cave hidden behind a massive waterfall.
This is one of Orochimaru's countless secret hideouts throughout the Shinobi World.
The cave was completely dark, except for the eerie, chilling glow emanating from the glass tubes on the walls that held a strange green liquid.
The air was thick with the stench of disinfectant and blood, mixed with the putrid smell of rotting biological tissue, making one want to vomit.
Countless venomous snakes of various colors slithered silently across the ground and walls, their cold, emotionless vertical pupils warily watching the only outsider in the cave.
Shimura Danzō.
He stood alone in the center of the cave, leaning on his cane, his face expressionless.
The two "Root" guards he brought were swallowed alive by several giant pythons that sprang from the shadows the moment they entered the cave, without even having time to utter a scream.
Danzo, however, remained oblivious to this.
He simply stood there quietly, patiently waiting for the owner of this place to appear.
He knew Orochimaru was testing his courage.
"Heh heh heh, as expected of Lord Danzo. After all these years, he's still so cold-blooded and ruthless, not even blinking an eye as his own subordinates are eaten like snacks."
A hoarse, androgynous voice, like the hiss of a venomous snake, drifted from the depths of the cave.
Immediately afterwards, a figure draped in a white robe, with a face as pale as a corpse and golden snake eyes, slowly "flowed" out from a dark shadow.
It was Orochimaru!
A mocking, morbid smile played on his lips as he licked his dry lips with his long, snake-like tongue.
"What a rare guest. I never imagined that I, an S-rank missing-nin wanted by Konoha, would have the chance to meet the renowned 'Root' master, Lord Shimura Danzō."
His words were full of undisguised sarcasm.
Danzo's expression remained unchanged. His single eye coldly stared at Orochimaru, and he stated bluntly, " Orochimaru, I'm not here today to reminisce with you."
"Oh? What's that?" Orochimaru circled Danzo with interest, as if examining an interesting experimental subject. "Was it sent by Teacher Sarutobi to clean house? But you don't seem qualified."
" Sarutobi is finished." Danzo coldly interrupted him, stating a fact. "He surrendered to Uchiha Gen'yō, along with Tsunade and Jiraiya. Now they're nothing more than dogs on the moon."
"What?!"
Upon hearing this news, even Orochimaru, whose face remained perpetually pale, showed a genuine shock for the first time!
Teacher Sarutobi surrendered?
That stubborn old man who'd been obstinate his whole life actually chose to surrender?!
What on earth did that Uchiha brat do?!
"Looks like you're a rat hiding in the shadows, not very well-informed." Danzo's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Indeed, you probably don't know that Kumogakure has been wiped off the map, do you?"
Orochimaru's pupils instantly contracted to dangerously small pinpoints!
The Kumogakure has been wiped out?!
Although he had been conducting his own research, he was also aware of the power dynamics among the Five Great Shinobi Villages. The strength of the Kumogakure was definitely not to be underestimated!
It's gone just like that?
Hehehe, hahahahaha!
After a brief moment of shock, Orochimaru suddenly burst into a manic laugh!
His eyes blazed with an unprecedented, intense light!
"Interesting! Absolutely interesting!"
"He surpassed the 'Shadow,' surpassed the ' Six Paths,' and truly reached the realm of 'God'! Uchiha Gen'yō, he actually did it!"
"I should have realized it sooner! How could someone capable of opening those eyes be an ordinary person!"
Orochimaru's body trembled slightly with excessive excitement.
He looked at Danzo, his golden snake eyes filled with inquiry and greed.
"So, Danzo? What brings you here today to find this traitor?"
"Are you trying to use me to deal with that 'new god'?"
"You're being far too naive. I admit his power fascinates me, but I don't want to go and die so soon."
Orochimaru refused outright.
He may be crazy, but he's not stupid.
To be an enemy of a power that can easily wipe out a great nation is not research; it's suicide.
"Of course I know you wouldn't dare," Danzo said calmly, "So I've brought you a bargaining chip you can't refuse."
As he spoke, he took two sealing scrolls from his robes and threw them on the ground.
"What's this?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Open it and you'll see."
Orochimaru reached out with some skepticism and untied one of the scrolls.
Buzz--
A massive, pure, and chillingly powerful Water Release Chakra erupted from the scroll!
Immediately afterwards, a well-preserved male corpse with short silver-white hair and three red marks on his face appeared in the cave!
"This is?!"
Orochimaru froze the moment he saw the corpse!
His golden snake eyes widened as he stared intently at that familiar face that filled him with both respect and fear!
Tobirama Senju!
The Second Hokage!
It's the complete corpse of the Second Hokage?!
"This is impossible!" Orochimaru exclaimed in shock, " The Second Hokage's body wasn't --!"
"Nothing is impossible," Danzo said coldly. "Where there's a will, there's nothing in this world that can't be found. This is a 'treasure' that I spent thirty years acquiring from the descendants of the former Kinkaku and Ginkaku Force."
Orochimaru's breathing instantly became incredibly heavy!
His gaze was fixed on the corpse like that of the most greedy, hungry wolf, unable to look away!
The complete Second Hokage!
what does that mean?
This means he can perfectly extract all of the Second Hokage's genes!
This means he can completely unravel the ultimate secrets of forbidden techniques such as " Flying Thunder God Technique," " Impure World Reincarnation," and " Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags "!
This was the priceless treasure he had always dreamed of!
"And the other one?" Orochimaru's voice was hoarse with excitement.
Danzo didn't speak, but simply gestured for him to open it himself.
Orochimaru's hands trembled as he unwrapped the second scroll.
There was no corpse in the scroll, only a strangely shaped trident Kunai.
However, the moment Orochimaru saw the Kunai, his body trembled violently once again!
Flying Thunder God Kunai!
He would never forget the unique space-time technique above, and the lingering Chakra aura as warm as the Greater Yang!
Minato Namikaze!
"With these, plus your own skills and the cells of the First Hokage I provided to you..."
Danzo's voice, like a devil's whisper, rang in Orochimaru's ear.
"Resurrect three legendary Hokage and assemble an unprecedented ' God-Slaying Legion '."
" Orochimaru, tell me, is there any 'research' in this world that is greater than this?"
"To personally direct an epic drama of 'old gods' challenging 'new gods'—isn't that your lifelong pursuit?!"
Orochimaru let out a wheezing sound, like a wild beast, from his throat.
His reason was completely ignited at that moment!
reject?
How could he possibly refuse!
This is simply the perfect stage tailor-made for him!
I promise you!
Orochimaru suddenly looked up, his golden snake eyes burning with a madness and ambition capable of incinerating everything!
"Make a deal!"
"Very good." A satisfied smile finally appeared on Danzo's face.
The fish has taken the bait.
"Then, it's a pleasure to cooperate." Danzo extended his right hand, which was wrapped in bandages.
Orochimaru glanced at the grotesque arm, a barely perceptible glint in his eyes, and then extended his hand as well.
"It's a pleasure doing business with you."
Two equally cold and filthy hands clasped tightly together in the dark cave.
Thus, a covenant from hell, powerful enough to overturn the world, was established.
"Then, without further ado," Orochimaru said impatiently, "Come with me, Danzo. I'll show you my latest research findings, and our first battlefield for 'Godslaying'!"
He licked his lips, turned around, and led Danzo deeper into the cave.
"To welcome our great ' Hokage Legion,' I've prepared a very special offering."
Danzo narrowed his one eye slightly. "What kind of offering?"
Orochimaru didn't turn around, but instead let out a chilling laugh.
"Hehehe, a 'sacrifice' possessing both the Sage Body and the Sharingan."
He slowly pushed open a heavy door made of massive stone.
Behind the main gate lies an even larger laboratory.
Three enormous coffins were placed in the center of the laboratory.
The first two coffins are clearly engraved with the two characters "chu" and "".
When Danzo's gaze fell on the third coffin, his perpetually unchanging icy face finally changed color completely!
Because the third coffin had no inscription, but it bore a family crest that he would never forget until his death.
A red and white Uchiha Gunbai!
" Orochimaru! You?!" Danzo exclaimed in shock.
"Hehehe." Orochimaru slowly turned around, a bizarre and insane smile appearing on his face.
Do you really think I haven't prepared anything all these years?
"The best way to fight the Uchiha is to use another Uchiha."
"That's right, just what you think."
Orochimaru's voice boomed in Danzo's ears like a demon's pronouncement.
"What lies inside is my most perfect 'collection,' treasured for many years."
"The former head of the Uchiha Clan, the man who awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan-- "
" Uchiha Fugaku!"
"No, that's not right!" Danzo intently at the coffin, his heart pounding in his chest. "No! His body should be—"
"Hehehe, who told you there's only one here?"
Orochimaru's smile grew increasingly sinister and terrifying.
He slowly Earth Flow the coffin, gently patted the lid in an almost boastful tone, and then said something that made Danzo into an ice cave.
"I've already said it, we'll use the Uchiha to deal with the Uchiha."
"Then how can one Fugaku be enough?"
"So I also found him a 'partner'."
"Guess who else is lying in here besides Fugaku?"