Orochimaru truly wants to kill Yakushi Kabuto.
A person who once wasn't even qualified to be his assistant, not to mention being a backup vessel for Immortal Reanimation, Yakushi Kabuto is now pushing him to a dead end.
That bastard Kabuto...
Only fit to help him dig graves and steal corpses!
Now this guy thinks he's become stronger and wants to turn the tables and become the master. He's even daring to force his former superior to become a test subject for the Ten-tailed Jinchuriki...
Orochimaru's expression gradually became serious as he stared intently at Kabuto's actions and asked, "What if I refuse your cooperation?"
"You'll die without a place to be buried."
Kabuto spread his palms open and remarked softly, "Orochimaru, I can expose you right now, drawing the attention of the Five Great Countries to you...
Plus, Uehara Naraku-sama currently thinks I'm faithfully loyal to you. There's a chance he's heading to Ryuchi Cave to create trouble for you. You have no other path, Orochimaru-sama."
"Kabuto..."
Orochimaru's gaze sharpened slightly, his eyes glued onto Kabuto's smiling face, with a hint of eerie murder in his voice: "Aren't you afraid that after I become the Ten-tailed Jinchuriki... I'll kill you?"
"Not afraid..."
Kabuto shook his head with a smile, speaking calmly, "I deceived Uehara Naraku-sama into giving me Uchiha Obito's Kamui Mangekyo Sharingan. No matter how strong you become, Orochimaru-sama, I am confident I can survive."
After saying this, Kabuto adjusted his glasses and continued, "I always prefer to plan thoroughly before executing anything... This is why you were defeated by Uehara Naraku-sama and I successfully escaped his grasp."
"Very well."
Orochimaru nodded, his voice cold as he praised, "Kabuto, you've truly grown quite a bit over the years!"
"I owe it to Orochimaru-sama's tutelage."
Kabuto smirked and continued, "If our experiment succeeds, I wouldn't mind submitting to you again."
He went on, "I'm not joking... After all, the power of the Six Paths Sage is certainly admirable, though such strength might not necessarily pose a threat to me."
"…"
Orochimaru nodded silently.
After contemplating for a while, Orochimaru looked at Kabuto and said, "I agree to your terms, but let me first enjoy my new body!"
"Of course."
Kabuto's smile widened on his face.
Orochimaru's eyes twitched slightly as he slowly clasped his palms together, and the body of the Yamata no Orochi began to rapidly shrink.
In just a few seconds, the Yamata no Orochi transformed into a small white snake, darting towards the body of White Zetsu, entering through its mouth!
White Zetsu's form stiffened for a second.
In the next moment, this White Zetsu started to change appearance.
From appearance alone, this White Zetsu now bore a seven to eight-part resemblance to Orochimaru's past form, clearly indicating he successfully took over White Zetsu's body.
"As expected…"
Orochimaru satisfactorily felt the power within, nodding: "White Zetsu is indeed the most suitable vessel for Immortal Reanimation…"
Besides the chakra within, Orochimaru also felt two peculiar bloodline powers in his body, one naturally being the Wood Release Bloodline.
The other was his eyes.
At this moment, Orochimaru's eyes were a pair of Rinnegan, meticulously scrutinizing his body, clearly extremely pleased with it.
Seeing Orochimaru's gaze, Kabuto continued with a smile, "If Orochimaru-sama is satisfied, let's proceed to extract the Eight-tailed Chakra from the Eight-tailed Jinchuriki and the Nine-tailed Chakra from the Fourth Hokage!"
"…Alright."
Orochimaru took a deep look at Kabuto and spoke softly, "But I still need time to get accustomed to the power of the Rinnegan…"
"There's no such need."
Kabuto calmly shook his head, his smile widening: "Orochimaru-sama just needs to use the Summoning Jutsu to summon the Gedo Statue, and I'll teach you the jutsu to extract and seal the Jinchuriki into the Gedo Statue…"
After saying that, Kabuto spoke again, "Oh, by the way, Orochimaru-sama, make sure to cooperate and not waste each other's time.
Almost forgot to tell you, while Uehara Naraku-sama couldn't control the First Hokage, he defeated him in his near prime alone!
Even with the powers of Rinnegan and the Gedo Statue, you would barely stand a chance against me, let alone defeat Uehara Naraku-sama?"
Staring at Orochimaru, Kabuto spoke deliberately, "Only by becoming the Six Paths Sage can you defeat him, Orochimaru-sama."
"…I will cooperate with you."
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression at this moment curiously resembling Uehara Naraku: "Because compared to what you did, Uehara Naraku's actions make me feel an intense hatred!"
That bastard Uehara Naraku!
Over the years, Orochimaru reminisced every day about his encounters with Uehara Naraku, feeling bullied every time they met!
That bastard Uehara nearly pushed him into a corner!
Especially in the past few years, at the Uzumaki Mask Hall in Konoha, that bastard completely revealed his shameless nature, brazenly expressing that he had been toying with him all along!
That bastard!
Orochimaru turned his head towards Yakushi Kabuto, slowly closed his hands, and formed a hand seal, "Ninpo: Summoning Jutsu! Gedo Statue!"
Summoning the Gedo Statue is the most basic ability of the Rinnegan.
Even if one cannot unlock the hidden powers within the Rinnegan, they can still summon the Gedo Statue, an unconventional summoning item, for battle in the simplest way possible.
In the next moment, the massive Gedo Statue appeared before them!
Orochimaru felt the chakra within the Gedo Statue, a hint of obsession flashing in his Rinnegan, "It's terrifying… With the chakra of just seven Tailed Beasts inside, it possesses an almost unparalleled power…"
For the first time, Orochimaru's face showed a trace of satisfaction, "Kabuto, maybe you're right. If we revive the Gedo Statue and I become the Ten-tailed Jinchuriki, I might really grasp the power of the legendary Six Paths Sage!"
"Of course."
Yakushi Kabuto continued with a smile, "Actually, becoming the Ten-tailed Jinchuriki isn't particularly dangerous, as long as you're resolute enough… Also, I can remind Lord Orochimaru that the Ten-tailed Jinchuriki is an immortal and undying existence!"
"..."
Orochimaru's eyes widened instantly.
Obviously, immortality's allure was greater for him. Why had he worked so hard for all these years if not to seek immortality?
"Immortality…"
Orochimaru slowly turned his head, looking at Yakushi Kabuto and speaking, "Is such a thing really possible? Even the legendary Six Paths Sage has a lifespan that ends…"
"That's the secret I learned from Akatsuki."
Yakushi Kabuto didn't refute but spoke softly, "Whether the Ten-tailed Jinchuriki can be immortal depends on the circumstances… But there's no doubt that a Ten-tailed Jinchuriki can wield all the Ninjutsu in the ninja world – that is definitely possible!"
Yakushi Kabuto glanced at the Gedo Statue, his voice carrying a hint of apology, "The chakra of nine Tailed Beasts is enough for Lord Orochimaru to use any Ninjutsu… This fulfills Lord Orochimaru's former dream."
"..."
Orochimaru remained silent for a while.
At this moment, the atmosphere between the two of them significantly relaxed.
Though Yakushi Kabuto was pushing Orochimaru to risk his life to attempt becoming the Ten-tailed Jinchuriki, if successful, it would grant him immense power.
Moreover, this guy Yakushi Kabuto still remembers Orochimaru's past dreams.
After a while, Orochimaru slowly nodded, "Alright, I understand. Let's begin then!"
After speaking, a smile appeared on Orochimaru's lips, "The Five Great Countries and Uehara Naraku's group… they must be waiting for me to challenge them!"
"Indeed, the entire ninja world is awaiting your return."
Yakushi Kabuto showed a hint of respect, lowered his head, and smiled, "No, rather, the entire ninja world awaits its ruler."
"Hmph, well said."
Orochimaru snorted coldly and smiled, "Then let's begin! Let's first send the Eight-tails into the Gedo Statue!"
"Yes."
Yakushi Kabuto waved his hand.
Standing behind him, Uchiha Obito opened a space-time vortex, and the figure of Eight-tailed Jinchuriki Killer Bee fell out of the vortex onto the ground.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly, as he slowly closed his hands, "Once I revive the Ten-tails and become the Six Paths Sage, I will take back everything lost to that bastard Uehara Naraku!"
"…Yes."
Yakushi Kabuto nodded, adjusting his glasses.
The three Reanimation bodies of Uchiha Obito, Namikaze Minato, and Senju Tobirama remained silent, as there was someone manipulating them from behind the scenes.
A thousand miles away in the Hidden Rain Village.
Uehara Naraku slowly lowered his fingers.
Through the Reanimation Ninja under his control, Uehara Naraku had seen everything happening between Yakushi Kabuto and Orochimaru.
"Yakushi Kabuto's acting is quite impressive…"
Uehara Naraku smirked, chuckling, "Even knowing Kabuto's words are false, just after listening briefly, I almost felt they were true… It's a rather intriguing feeling!"
Since everything is proceeding according to plan, there's no need to worry.
Next, Uehara Naraku's task is to gather with the Akatsuki's group of fools for the Ninja Alliance… Orochimaru, this enemy, is nearly ready, and as the General of the Ninja Alliance, he cannot be late!
Six Paths Orochimaru…
He's truly an anticipated enemy!