Chapter 580: Orochimaru's Deduction
Little Saiken and the other Bijuu sensed the Gedo Mazo fragment.
Then, Little Matatabi spoke first. "It's Gyūki!"
The Two-Tails and Eight-Tails were both Kumo's Bijuu, and they had spent the most time together in recent decades, so Little Matatabi recognized the chakra immediately.
Waiting for Little Gyūki took longer than Ishiro expected. He had to inject four doses of Hashirama cells before it was finally born.
Ishiro didn't need to worry about what came next. He handed the task of shaping Little Gyūki's worldview over to Little Saiken.
The next day, a dazed Little Gyūki voluntarily gave its power to Ishiro.
With this, Ishiro had the chakra of the Two, Four, Six, Seven, and Eight-Tails. Five in total.
Since the Six-Tails was already "part of the family" (Iwa had Nagi's corpse and could reanimate him, or extract the Bijuu from his body if needed, but currently, they just had Little Saiken), Ishiro only needed the chakra of the One-Tail, Three-Tails, and Nine-Tails to complete the set.
Snake Pit Village.
After spending over ten days in Ryūchi Cave, Orochimaru finally returned.
He hadn't gone straight back after leaving Konoha, fearing Ishiro might ambush him. He had already moved all his valuable items and test subjects beforehand.
But after waiting and seeing no movement from Iwa, he returned.
During his time in Ryūchi Cave, Orochimaru hadn't been idle. He had thoroughly removed the Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal from Hiashi Hyūga.
Then, he transplanted a White Zetsu leg onto him.
After some preparation, he performed the Living Corpse Reincarnation, taking Hiashi's body as his own. He spent the dangerous period of weakness recovering in the safety of the cave.
Upon returning to the Snake Pit, he recalled Kabuto Yakushi.
Kabuto returned with Jūgo Tenbin and Kimimaro Kaguya.
Kabuto had left Konoha earlier than Orochimaru, right after dealing with the ANBU, and had been gathering intel ever since.
He immediately briefed Orochimaru on the current situation.
"Lord Orochimaru, it's confirmed. Kumogakure has been breached. The Fifth Raikage died in battle."
"Konoha, Kiri, and Iwa are currently negotiating."
"None of the three parties seem interested in continuing the war. The Iwa army has returned to their various branches."
"However, Sunagakure launched a full-scale assault on Konoha's base in the Land of Wind."
"Suna was decisive. The few Konoha ninja remaining there were wiped out. None escaped."
Jūgo and Kimimaro weren't interested and stayed silent.
Orochimaru frowned.
"Is there a problem with the intel, Lord Orochimaru?" Kabuto asked.
Orochimaru thought for a moment. "There is one problem."
"The Tsuchikage is cautious, but he doesn't hesitate when it counts."
"Back when he was just an Elite Jonin, he dared to infiltrate Konoha and Kiri to steal children."
"So, given the current situation... Iwa turtling up doesn't fit his style."
Kabuto pondered. "You mean... Iwa should be launching a major offensive against Konoha right now?"
Kabuto was excellent at espionage and experiments, but his strategic sense was still developing.
Orochimaru nodded. "Correct. Logically, that's what Iwa should do."
"That's why I stayed in Ryūchi Cave. I thought the final war for the shinobi world was about to start, and I didn't want to get caught in the crossfire."
"But Iwa did nothing. Instead, they incited Suna to attack Konoha."
"Iwa is trying to slowly bleed Konoha dry."
"But opting for a slow, steady approach at a time like this... that's not the Tsuchikage's style."
He paused. "Kabuto, think back to the situations before the previous wars."
Kabuto complied. They analyzed every major conflict since Ishiro took power: the causes, the power balance before and after.
Half a day later, Kabuto said in surprise, "Lord Orochimaru... could the Tsuchikage be... afraid of something in Konoha?"
"Several times now, when Iwa should have targeted Konoha, they went after Suna or Kumo instead!"
"Does Konoha have some forbidden jutsu, or some person, that could make Iwa pay a terrible price?"
Orochimaru smiled. "There was. Now, there isn't."
His expression was strange, as if he had grasped a key point.
"Are you talking about Might Guy?" Kabuto asked.
"Exactly," Orochimaru laughed. "If I hadn't seen him open the Gate of Death in Fugaku's vision and prepared beforehand... I might have truly died in Konoha."
Whether Guy's two kicks would have killed him without preparation was debatable. But if he had been heavily injured, would Ishiro have kicked him while he was down? Absolutely.
In that chaos, even Kakashi might have joined in to finish him off.
"Now that Guy is dead," Kabuto said, "Konoha shouldn't have anyone left who scares the Tsuchikage."
"Logically, he should be launching an all-out attack."
Orochimaru nodded. "Yes. Which means... the thing or person the Tsuchikage fears wasn't Might Guy."
"If I'm not mistaken... Konoha itself probably doesn't even know they have something the Tsuchikage fears."
Orochimaru laughed again. "I'm curious too. The Tsuchikage is likely the strongest person in the world now. Perhaps only Akatsuki's Nagato could match him."
"But even Nagato wouldn't make him this cautious."
"Especially since they have a good relationship."
"Lord Orochimaru, do you know who it is?" Kabuto probed.
"I'm not certain, but I have a guess."
"When I fought Itachi Uchiha in Konoha," Orochimaru said, "I noticed his dōjutsu seemed inexhaustible."
"He was clearly at his limit, but he just kept going."
"I even saw him go blind in Fugaku's vision!"
"But in reality, he didn't. He just... endured."
Kabuto was confused. What did Itachi have to do with Ishiro?
Orochimaru continued, "Think about it. The Tsuchikage took almost the entire Uchiha clan to Iwagakure."
"Later, he even ambushed Shisui Uchiha. So why did he leave Itachi and Sasuke?"
"Sasuke, maybe, because he was in Konoha under Kakashi's protection. But Itachi? He was wandering the world. Why did he escape the Tsuchikage's hunt?"
"Could it be he couldn't find him? Or maybe he spared him out of consideration for the Uchiha in his village?" Kabuto suggested.
Orochimaru shook his head. "The Tsuchikage took some Hyūga blood from me and used it to pinpoint every Hyūga agent outside Konoha."
"With almost the entire Uchiha clan in his hands, how could he not find Itachi?"
"As for the Uchiha in Iwa... they probably want to tear the traitor Itachi to pieces."
"So your second guess is even less likely."
Kabuto thought. "Itachi and Sasuke can't be the ones the Tsuchikage fears."
"That leaves only one possibility. Is there a powerful figure standing behind them?"
He paused. "Could it be... Madara Uchiha? Is he still alive?"
He looked at the empty operating table.
"The White Zetsu clone was captured by Konoha," Orochimaru said. "Black Zetsu said Madara is dead, and that he chose Obito as his proxy."
"If Black Zetsu wasn't lying... then even Obito has been killed by the Tsuchikage."
Kabuto was puzzled. If not Madara, then who?
"Let's ask Black Zetsu," Orochimaru said. "Black Zetsu! I don't think you'll refuse my request, will you?"
Kabuto's eyes narrowed. The last sentence wasn't directed at him.
He scanned the room but saw nothing.
Just then, a black-and-white figure rose from the floor.
"As expected of Lord Orochimaru," Black Zetsu said. "Aside from the Tsuchikage, you are the first person in the shinobi world to discover this secret."
Black Zetsu maintained his "I know everything" tone. But inwardly, he was terrified.
He had guessed who Orochimaru was referring to.
Who else but the Sage of Six Paths?
The thought that the Sage had been watching the world all this time made Black Zetsu's skin crawl.
Was I exposed long ago?
Does the Sage not care enough to deal with me, or is he too weak to do so?
Given what Orochimaru said about Ishiro's fear, Black Zetsu leaned toward the former.
If he's alive, he must have seen me. If he just doesn't care... does that mean my plans are doomed to fail?
His heart was in turmoil.
"Black Zetsu," Orochimaru said suddenly, "tell me about your origins again."
Black Zetsu snapped out of it. He knew Orochimaru didn't trust him. No, Orochimaru never trusted him. This was just the first time he'd been so blunt.
But Black Zetsu was determined to save his mother. He wouldn't tell the truth.
"Lord Orochimaru, I was created by Madara Uchiha using Yin-Yang Release."
"But your guess is correct. Madara also sensed that person's presence."
"In fact, Madara awakened the Rinnegan following that person's guidance."
He tried to muddy the waters with Madara and the Rinnegan.
Orochimaru didn't get angry. He just wanted to confirm his guess.
And he had.
Itachi and Sasuke have a backer.
Connecting this with the "truth of the shinobi world" Ishiro had once told him, Orochimaru was certain: It's the Sage of Six Paths!
The thought of a mythical figure interacting with reality thrilled him.
But as Black Zetsu said, he wasn't the first to notice. Ishiro was.
And knowing Ishiro, he wouldn't just be cowed by the Sage. He would have found a way to profit from it.
"Black Zetsu," Orochimaru asked, "do you have a way to make the Sage of Six Paths appear?"
Black Zetsu didn't react, but Kabuto flinched.
The Sage of Six Paths? Orochimaru thinks the Sage is backing the Uchiha brothers?
Impossible! He's a myth!
Is he real? And... alive?
Black Zetsu didn't want to contact the Sage. He didn't even dare say the name.
When Orochimaru mentioned him, Black Zetsu subconsciously sank halfway into the floor.
This reaction told Orochimaru everything.
The White Zetsu clone didn't know about the Sage. But Black Zetsu does. And he fears him.
This means Black Zetsu's existence, or his goal, opposes the Sage's will.
Interesting.
"That person is connected to the Uchiha," Black Zetsu finally said. "If you do something to Sasuke Uchiha, it should attract his attention."
Orochimaru tapped his finger on the armrest, thinking.
Ishiro hasn't attacked Konoha... maybe because he promised the Sage not to harm Sasuke, his descendant.
Ishiro has likely met the Sage. And Ishiro being Ishiro, the Sage probably bribed him with something.
This thought made Orochimaru itch with curiosity.
He ordered Kabuto to send Sakon/Ukon and the others to Konoha. Mission: Retrieve Sasuke Uchiha.
Seeing Orochimaru was actually going to target Sasuke, Black Zetsu's heart skipped.
"Lord Orochimaru, don't play with fire!" he warned, and fled.
Black Zetsu decided never to return to the Snake Pit. Orochimaru was an idiot for provoking the Sage! The Sage had sealed Kaguya! Black Zetsu was running as far as he could.
When the Sage was alive, Black Zetsu dared to approach Indra because he was in the dark and the Sage was in the light.
But now, he realized the roles had reversed.
I can't stay with Orochimaru. I need a new master.
Edo Tensei was used by everyone in Konoha. Even Kiri has it now. I can learn it. Once I do... I'll revive Madara.
I'll dump all these problems on him! Only the Uchiha idiots are easy to fool. Ishiro and Orochimaru are too difficult.
Black Zetsu's hasty departure confirmed Orochimaru's guess.
"Hehehehe... Hahahaha!" Orochimaru laughed. He was getting close to the truth.
"Lord Orochimaru," Kabuto asked, "is the Sage really alive?"
Orochimaru stopped laughing. "It's likely."
"The Tsuchikage told me many truths. The Senju and Uchiha are the Sage's descendants, inheriting his Yang and Yin Release respectively."
"He hinted that Madara combined the two to awaken the Rinnegan."
"If someone combined ultimate Yin and Yang... how powerful would they be? How could such a being have a short lifespan?"
"I've studied immortality extensively. My Yin Release is nothing compared to the Sage's, yet I can live on by switching bodies. What about him?"
Kabuto shuddered. Right. He's a Sage. The White Snake Sage has lived for who knows how long.
Orochimaru shared his conclusion: The Sage is alive and watching over his descendants.
Why? He didn't know. Maybe just concern for his bloodline.
Then, Orochimaru gave Kabuto another task: Find Tsunade.
She was the only other known descendant. The Senju clan had faded into the populace.
Orochimaru wanted to see if he could use Tsunade to draw out the Sage.
The shinobi world was changing fast. The Joint Chunin Exam had turned into a disaster.
Kumogakure was gone in a day. The second Great Village to fall in recent years. And unlike Suna, which survived as a vassal, Kumo was wiped out.
This wasn't the long, drawn-out war people were used to.
Then, just as people were processing the "Big Four," Suna reclaimed its territory from Konoha and rejoined the ranks of the Great Villages.
The changes were dizzying.
These massive events overshadowed Iwa's dominance at the exams and Konoha's humiliation.
Though the genin fights were forgotten, the Kage battles were not.
The Tsuchikage fighting two Kage at once, suppressing them.
The Mizukage losing an arm and fleeing, only surviving thanks to his guards' sacrifice.
Ishiro's reputation as the "Strongest in the World," proclaimed by his newspaper, seemed real. He was being compared to Hashirama Senju.
The Uchiha name also spread. Sōkai's Susanoo left a deep impression.
Guy's Eight Gates assault was less understood, and since he died, people didn't discuss it much.
Then came the peace talks. Iwa gave Suna the land Konoha had occupied in the Land of Wind!
(End of Chapter)
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