Jiraiya was a professional when it came to chasing Orochimaru.
Having grown up together, Jiraiya understood Orochimaru better than anyone else. Some of Orochimaru's behaviors that confused others were entirely transparent to Jiraiya. So, when Orochimaru tried to sneak away unnoticed, Jiraiya quickly caught up and tackled him.
"Don't run, Orochimaru!" Jiraiya grinned in his ear. "That's not like you. You've always been calm and collected about everything!"
Orochimaru pulled away from him with an annoyed expression. "You didn't see me running. I was simply repositioning myself."
Jiraiya chuckled. "Sure, sure. Come on. The old man asked me to bring you back."
"I'm not going," Orochimaru replied flatly, folding his arms.
Jiraiya frowned. "Why not?"
Orochimaru looked toward the battlefield. "It's too chaotic over there. Why should I walk into a mess? I'm better off watching from here—it's more entertaining."
Jiraiya snorted. "The old man asked you to come. I know you feel guilty for killing him back then. I get it."
Orochimaru gave him a sideways glance, amused. "Do you think I care about that? I just find this troublesome. Besides, you do realize I helped resurrect all four Hokage, right? Why should I feel guilty?"
"You really talk too much sometimes," Jiraiya said, grabbing Orochimaru by the collar. "If you don't want to be embarrassed, then stop complaining and just come along!"
Dragged along unwillingly, Orochimaru was brought to the others.
The Third Hokage looked at him and snorted, "Orochimaru… Long time no see."
Orochimaru smiled, a cold, familiar curve to his lips. "It has indeed been a while, Sarutobi-sensei."
Hashirama glanced at the enemies before them—Madara, Obito, and Sasuke. "Let's put old grudges aside for now. Dealing with those three is what matters right now."
The Third Hokage nodded. "Shodai is right."
Jiraiya turned to Orochimaru. "Let's work together. It's been a long time since we've fought on the same side."
Orochimaru's smile became a touch more genuine. "Very well. Let's rekindle the bonds of our long-forgotten master-disciple relationship."
Hashirama then looked at the convulsing, monstrous Gedo Statue and asked, "Naruto, what is that thing?"
Before Naruto could respond, Madara stepped forward. "That is the Gedo Statue—the vessel to contain all the tailed beasts. Soon, it will become the Ten Tails. Once that happens, I can initiate the Eye of the Moon Plan. And finally, our dream will be realized!"
Hashirama frowned, anger brimming in his eyes. "Madara, our dream was to create a peaceful village—a place where children could grow up safely, without knowing war! Not plunging the entire world into an illusion! That's not peace. That's a lie—and you know it!"
Madara scoffed, shaking his head. "You still don't understand. Without the Rinnegan, you're blind to the future. I don't blame you, Hashirama."
Sasuke observed the exchange and finally saw the root of Obito's theatrics—he had inherited it from Madara. The same delusional speeches. The same obsession with saving the world through false peace. Just like Obito had said to Kakashi earlier—it was the same script, recycled.
This whole "false world" excuse for their actions? Sasuke wasn't buying it.
Sasuke clenched his fists. These two are insane. If it comes to it... I'll wipe the whole world clean myself. I'll become the new Sage of Six Paths, control all the tailed beasts, and suppress every nation. Peace through power. My power.
Suddenly, Tobirama Senju could no longer hold back.
"Evil Uchiha!" he growled. "Brother, stop wasting time talking to him! That Gedo Statue is the key to reviving the Ten Tails. If we don't act now, when will we?"
Without waiting, Tobirama threw a kunai and teleported forward with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Madara frowned. "Obito!"
Obito quickly formed a hand seal. "Such wishful thinking. Uchiha Flame Formation!"
A blazing red barrier erupted around the Gedo Statue, blocking Tobirama mid-attack.
"Damn it!" Tobirama cursed. "A barrier?"
Killer Bee spoke through Gyūki, "Yo, Naruto—we gotta move!"
Naruto remained focused, eyes locked ahead. "Not yet."
Obito noticed this. He narrowed his eyes. Again with the 'wait'... What are you waiting for, Naruto?
Ever since Naruto had revealed his identity in Amegakure, Obito noticed a pattern: everything he tried to do was foiled by Naruto. Every plan, every step forward—Naruto was in the way. He had become the thorn that would not leave his side.
Jiraiya yelled, "Naruto! If we wait any longer, that statue's gonna evolve again!"
All eyes turned to the Gedo Statue as it let out a terrifying roar. Its cracked, fanged mouth widened, shifting grotesquely as its body began to morph.
Sasuke looked over his shoulder. "What now?"
Obito answered calmly, "Relax. That's just part of the transformation."
Uchiha Madara turned his eyes to Sasuke. "So, you're Sasuke. A promising Uchiha indeed. Far more courageous than the ones I once knew. You've got fight in you."
He then glanced at the Hokage and continued coldly, "If they had listened to me back then, the Uchiha Clan wouldn't have been wiped out. What's laughable is that the one who did it was one of us. An Uchiha."
Madara chuckled bitterly.
Sasuke flinched.
Because he knew exactly who Madara was talking about.
Itachi.
The man who loved him most. The brother who slaughtered their clan under Danzo and the elders' orders. The brother who bore everything alone for the sake of peace. All because of the corruption at the heart of the village.
Madara's laughter stabbed into Sasuke's soul.
Madara watched Sasuke closely. Got you, he thought. This is where it hurts.
He pressed further. "Sasuke, I know everything about you and your brother. I learned it from Kabuto's Chakra and the residual memory of your revival.
I was once the clan head. To see our people gone—it breaks my heart. But you, me, Obito… we're still Uchiha. The last hope.
Look at them—those Hokage. Always talking about protecting the village. But what did that 'protection' amount to?
Your clan—gone.
Your brother—dead.
Your pain—ignored."
Obito looked sideways at Madara. This guy's pulling all the emotional triggers.
Sasuke's eyes darkened. The Mangekyō Sharingan in his right eye pulsed.
His chest rose and fell.
"I want them all to die!!!"
A wave of murderous intent exploded from him, chilling the air around them.
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