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Although Sasuke and Naruto had returned to Konoha, Kitahara Hitoshi hadn't yet sent them out of the village. The reason was simple. They had been assigned a mission, and while it involved the Sage of Six Paths, the mission hadn't been completed.
Big Pillar Hanhan muttered, "In other words, Kitahara Hitoshi really wanted to bring back the books of the Uzumaki clan?"
Senju Tobirama responded, "Probably. After all, Shukaku hasn't signed a summoning contract yet. Although he isn't very strong, it's a matter that needs completing."
The not-very-strong Shukaku was speechless.
And now, the Sage of Six Paths finally understood that Kitahara Hitoshi had clearly known what he wanted to do with Naruto and Sasuke's souls. The strange part was that he hadn't been seriously targeted or treated as someone important—it was handled so casually that it left him with complicated feelings.
Just like that.
"Toad Maru…" the Sage of Six Paths called out.
But Kamamaru didn't respond.
Outside the human world, within the moon's orbit, the gravitational pull had separated him from Toad Maru, leading to a delay in their respective Planetary Devastation techniques. Toad Maru had drifted farther from his Planetary Devastation site.
As a result, the Sage of Six Paths found that he couldn't reach Toad Maru.
"Toad Maru…?"
He opened and closed his mouth in silence.
He remembered the sensation when he encountered Toad Maru's Planetary Devastation in the moon's orbit. Only then did he understand what it felt like when his mother had been sealed. And still, he had it better than her—at least he could speak.
When his mother had been sealed, no one spoke to her.
His current situation was truly absurd.
So for now, all he could do… was nothing.
The small group remained the usual Konoha clique, with Ashura's chakra passed on to both Senju Hashirama in the previous generation and to Uzumaki Naruto in this one. Both had chosen to believe in and support Kitahara Hitoshi.
So could he rely on Indra's inheritor instead?
Uchiha Madara had slashed the moon. Sasuke was now determined to seal him.
The Sage of Six Paths felt powerless.
So, he chose silence. Meanwhile, in the group livestream, Kitahara Hitoshi had already sent Naruto and Sasuke out on their tasks and had moved on himself.
"Here is…"
"Never been to this place, but the environment seems good."
The group members noticed that Kitahara Hitoshi had arrived at the sacred training ground—Ryūchi Cave.
Namikaze Minato commented, "Ryūchi Cave is as famous as Mount Myōboku. Back then, Jiraiya-sensei took me to Mount Myōboku, but Ryūchi Cave was always nearby. Orochimaru trained in Ryūchi Cave. So why is Kitahara-kun going there now?"
Senju Tobirama replied, "What else? Ryūchi Cave—Orochimaru. He's looking for Orochimaru. Isn't it just to retrieve Big Brother's body?"
Big Pillar Hanhan chuckled. "Oh? So I'm finally going to be dug out from the dirt? Is it my time?"
Namikaze Minato hesitated, "Um… maybe."
Senju Tobirama responded, "Minato, don't feel down. Once Big Brother is unearthed, I'll suggest to Kitahara Hitoshi that we deal with your issue too. Although the Reaper Death Seal isn't a technique I created, it's a forbidden jutsu from the Uzumaki clan. As long as Big Brother agrees, I can bring out Big Sister-in-law as well."
Big Pillar Hanhan was shocked. "This… Are you saying you'll unearth Mito too?"
Tobirama's record blinked in. "What's this? Uchiha Izuna, what's your opinion? When my brother was first tricked by Senju Hashirama into founding Konoha, wasn't he always single?"
Senju Tobirama responded dryly, "I'm still single."
Tobirama's record replied, "But Hashirama married."
Senju Tobirama replied, "Marriage is normal. If he hadn't married my lovely granddaughter—"
Big Pillar Hanhan interrupted, "Huh? Why does that statement sound weird?"
Senju Tobirama answered, "Nothing strange about it, Big Brother. Aren't we family?"
Big Pillar Hanhan agreed, "Yes."
Senju Tobirama continued, "So your granddaughter is also my granddaughter."
Big Pillar Hanhan nodded, "Well, yes."
Senju Tobirama concluded, "Then it's only right."
Tobirama's record interrupted, "Enough, you two brothers."
Big Pillar Hanhan added, "Don't worry, Izuna. If I get brought back, I'll help you ask Madara to find your body."
Tobirama's record scoffed, "Oh? I don't agree to that."
Senju Tobirama stated, "Only a dead Uchiha Izuna is a good Izuna."
Tobirama's record exploded, "Come on! So you were always aiming to kill me, huh!"
Senju Tobirama tried to explain, "That was a misunderstanding at the time. But the current Konoha really can't handle you. Unless you walk the right path… and help arrest your brother."
He continued, "Your brother is now a traitor to Konoha. And with the masked man who possesses the Mangekyō Sharingan, as Minato described, there's no separating him from Uchiha Madara. So, Uchiha Izuna—"
Tobirama's record interrupted again, "It's none of my business. This Konoha is not my village. Oh, I get it now. You're trying to use me… to get to my brother!"
Tobirama's record laughed, "Good one! You're trying to make us brothers fight each other."
He sneered, "You always say the Uchiha are evil, but aren't you the most evil one now?"
He concluded, "You, Senju Tobirama, should just be renamed Uchiha Tobirama."
Senju Tobirama: Rejected.
Big Pillar Hanhan: Okay, you all stop arguing. I probably won't be able to come out.
Senju Tobirama: Huh?
Big Pillar Hanhan: Look.
Dazhuzi Hanhan: Orochimaru is not in Ryūchi Cave.
The big pillar muttered for a while. The crowd shifted their gaze toward the center of the video and saw Kitahara Hitoshi arrive at Ryūchi Cave.
From the narration of the rebel snakes and Ten Thousand Snakes, it was clear Orochimaru fled to Ryūchi Cave after the Chūnin Exam. However, not only did he treat the snakes like tools, he also broke his promise to offer sacrifices.
Eventually, the White Snake Sage appeared and granted him time. But dissatisfaction turned into frustration, and after being caught by Kitahara Hitoshi, Ten Thousand Snakes exposed Orochimaru's trail without hesitation.
It had also observed that Orochimaru had unearthed Uchiha Madara. In the end, Orochimaru fled with his ancestors. When Madara attempted to cleave open Mount Myōboku with a sword, the White Snake Sage's three high-ranking subordinates, worried about collateral damage, also fled.
The ordinary snakes followed suit, but Ten Thousand Snakes was blocked by Kitahara Hitoshi when trying to escape and was forced to return to Ryūchi Cave.
In other words, after everything, Orochimaru still managed to escape. And Madara's Impure World Reincarnation was still tied to him.
Onoki: As expected, whenever the ninja world is in chaos, it's always Konoha's doing.
Onoki couldn't help but complain. Too many powerful figures came from Konoha. The two children of the Sage of Six Paths, the originators of the ninja world who inherited his chakra, were reincarnated in Konoha. The strongest tailed beast, the Nine Tails, was also in Konoha. And now, these prodigies also emerged from Konoha. Is that even fair?
Aside from Konoha, were the other ninja villages just for show?
Iwagakure was truly born in a harsh era.
As Onoki sighed, Kitahara Hitoshi, under the guidance of Ten Thousand Snakes, arrived at two locations tied to Orochimaru.
One was the dwelling of the White Snake Sage. The other belonged to Tian Xin-Shen Ji, one of the White Snake Sage's confidants.
"Seriously…" Kitahara Hitoshi followed Ten Thousand Snakes to the White Snake Sage's cave. He immediately created a Wood Style clone, handed it a sealing scroll, and instructed it to go inside and clean up while he remained outside to gather intel.
"I heard the snakes in Ryūchi Cave are fond of the Transformation Technique. Is that true?" Kitahara Hitoshi asked.
Ryūchi Cave wasn't well known to most of the ninja world. Orochimaru's infamy stained its reputation. However, in the Boruto timeline, the cave had more presence.
From the White Snake Sage down to its followers, many enjoyed transforming into human form. Rumor said the three subordinates were especially beautiful.
"Yes," Ten Thousand Snakes replied. "Or… do you want me to transform?"
Transform?
Kitahara Hitoshi paused. "No, that's unnecessary. Just keep an eye on the cranes."
Ten Thousand Snakes grunted.
A mere Summoning Beast couldn't compare with a tailed beast, right?
In truth, Ten Thousand Snakes wasn't foolish. The reason it contracted with Orochimaru in the first place was because Orochimaru wasn't like normal humans. They had a trade-based relationship. But even then, it didn't trust Orochimaru.
Take the last incident—Orochimaru had clearly known danger was near yet forced it to carry Danzo's explosive feast. Simply ridiculous.
Now that Kitahara Hitoshi had blocked its escape and was forcing it to help hunt down Orochimaru, Ten Thousand Snakes had started thinking of switching allegiances. Orochimaru's favor wouldn't pay off for at least a year.
But Kitahara Hitoshi, though still young, gave off pressure no weaker than Orochimaru—perhaps even stronger. Orochimaru wasn't even worthy to carry his shoes. He didn't fulfill promises either.
So naturally, Ten Thousand Snakes started thinking it might be better to serve a new boss.
"Sealing Technique!"
After leaving the White Snake Sage's cave, Kitahara Hitoshi headed to Tian Xin-Shen Ji's dwelling and gathered Orochimaru's experimental gear.
As expected, Orochimaru had left piles of documents and unclaimed equipment everywhere. A generous scientist indeed.
Big Pillar Hanhan: Oh... looks like we won't find Orochimaru.
Big Pillar Hanhan: But… he doesn't seem disappointed.
Senju Tobirama: Hm.
Senju Tobirama: Strange. He seems more pleased about acquiring Orochimaru's data and equipment.
Namikaze Minato: This...
Namikaze Minato: I think the First Hokage may have misunderstood.
Big Pillar Hanhan: Huh?
Namikaze Minato: I don't think Kitahara-kun came here to retrieve your body from Orochimaru.
Namikaze Minato: His real goal was likely the research materials Orochimaru left behind.
Big Pillar Hanhan: He wants to read that many books? All that research means…
Senju Tobirama: Big Brother, you blockhead. You still haven't figured it out?
Senju Tobirama: Before, Kitahara-kun had Sasuke and Naruto experience a genjutsu equivalent to reading for sixty years. Those books weren't just casually absorbed—they left imprints, and he turned that into genjutsu training.
Senju Tobirama: This knowledge didn't appear from thin air. He's actually a true scholar.
Senju Tobirama: Big Brother, did you really think someone could become that powerful through talent alone?
Big Pillar Hanhan: Then...
Senju Tobirama: Yes. It's because he excels at learning.
Senju Tobirama: Talent plus knowledge—that's how someone truly becomes powerful.
Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei: If that's the case, I can vouch for him.
Senju Tobirama: Oh? Why's that?
Fifth Mizukage Terumi Mei: Wait a bit.
Terumi Mei paused, and as everyone stared curiously, she suddenly appeared in the live broadcast.
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