The white snake before everyone was only half a meter long and as thick as two fingers. For Uchiha Obito and the others, it could be crushed effortlessly.
But none of them did that!
Rather than killing the white snake, everyone was far more curious about why Orochimaru had suddenly appeared here and what his purpose was.
"Heh, killing me isn't that simple."
Orochimaru paid no mind to the mockery in Kakuzu's tone. His voice was calm and casual.
Having said that.
The white snake turned its head directly toward Sasuke, who was not far ahead, completely ignoring everyone else.
Seeing this, Uchiha Obito and the others exchanged subtle glances. Orochimaru had come looking for Sasuke?
Interesting!
"Orochimaru."
The Mangekyo Sharingan in Sasuke's eyes rotated slowly as he gazed coldly at the white snake before him.
Ever since obtaining the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan, the only enemies Sasuke truly cared about numbered just a few. Orochimaru was certainly not among them — and this was merely a paltry white snake at that.
"Sasuke-kun, interested in a gamble? Or shall we say — a chance to avenge Itachi?"
The white snake spoke in a somewhat raspy voice, its tone carrying a hint of amusement.
The moment those words were spoken!
Uchiha Obito, Kakuzu, and the rest all narrowed their eyes slightly.
Hidan's face showed a look of disdain. He was about to say something, but Uchiha Obito stopped him with a single glance.
While everyone's attention was focused on the white snake.
Black Zetsu, who had been lurking at the very rear with a low presence while possessing White Zetsu, suddenly revealed a faint, enigmatic smile.
Orochimaru was far more useful than expected.
He hadn't expected things to be ready this quickly!
Joy flashed through Black Zetsu's eyes. Everything about the Sage of Six Paths, about Indra Ōtsutsuki and Ashura Ōtsutsuki — it had all been information he had deliberately leaked, pretending to be unaware while Orochimaru coaxed it out of him.
And Orochimaru's efficiency had not disappointed him. In such a short time, everything needed was already prepared.
"Yuto's power is too strong, and there are too many variables. In a situation like this, borrowing the chakra of Indra's and Ashura's reincarnations might be enough to break the current deadlock."
"Only in the chaos of muddied waters would he find a chance to revive Mother."
Black Zetsu thought silently, glancing sideways at Uchiha Obito from the corner of his eye.
This grand show had only just begun. It hadn't reached its climax yet!
By this point, the white snake had already relayed to Sasuke essentially the same information Orochimaru had told Naruto.
"Interesting."
Sasuke's gaze remained cold, but he uttered a single word and then walked directly toward the white snake.
"I hope you're not trying anything, Orochimaru!"
If it meant avenging Itachi, what was the harm in taking a gamble?
Besides, the Sasuke of today had nothing to fear from any tricks Orochimaru might attempt.
"Heh, don't worry. At a time like this, I'm in no mood for tricks."
The white snake gave a low chuckle, its voice raspy as it spoke, then slithered directly toward Sasuke.
Before the white snake even reached Sasuke, Sasuke had already reached out, grabbed it, and lifted it onto his arm.
The white snake paused for a moment, then gave a low laugh and sank its fangs into Sasuke's arm. The Hashirama Cells within its body began to transfer into Sasuke.
In that instant, just like Naruto, Sasuke's consciousness blurred for a brief moment.
Drip!
The sound of a water drop suddenly rang in Sasuke's ears.
Sasuke's eyes snapped open, and he found himself in a strange space. Beneath his feet stretched a vast, still surface of water dotted with faint ripples.
Before Sasuke could collect himself, a familiar and excited voice suddenly rang out from behind.
"Sasuke!!"
Sasuke was startled and quickly turned around. He saw Naruto standing not far behind him, looking at him with a face full of surprise.
"So it's you, Naruto!"
Sasuke's face clearly showed surprise, and his tone was complex as he spoke.
Naruto ran over with an excited expression, quickly reaching Sasuke's side, still beaming with surprise as he looked at him.
"Sasuke, what is this place? Why are you here?"
Naruto asked excitedly while looking around in confusion.
Sasuke glanced at Naruto with an expression that said he couldn't be bothered to answer, and likewise began observing their surroundings.
It wasn't that Sasuke didn't want to answer — he didn't know what this place was either.
Drip!
Another drop of water fell.
In that instant!
A figure with two horns on his head, coffee-colored hair, wearing a white robe with six black magatama-shaped patterns on his chest, appeared floating cross-legged in the air before them.
"How utterly dispirited you two look, new arrivals."
The Sage of Six Paths looked at the dumbfounded Sasuke and Naruto with an expressionless face.
"Who are you?"
Sasuke narrowed his eyes slightly, his face cautious as he looked at the Sage of Six Paths.
At those words, the Sage of Six Paths fell into an unusual silence for a moment. After a long pause, under Sasuke's increasingly impatient gaze, he slowly spoke:
"That is indeed a question. Whether the name the world knows me by matches the name I would give myself… I have some concerns about that."
"I am the embodiment of peace and order. My name is Hagoromo!"
A trace of detachment and aloofness flickered deep in the Sage of Six Paths' eyes as he looked at Sasuke and Naruto, but it was quickly masked by a placid gaze.
For a moment, the atmosphere fell into an odd silence.
Amidst this awkward tension, after quite a while, Naruto suddenly scratched his head.
"Anyway, I don't understand any of what you just said. Who exactly are you?"
Naruto tilted his head back and let out an annoyed voice.
The old man had rambled on about so much — who was he? Why not just say it plainly?
Compared to Naruto's thick-headed obliviousness and complete lack of understanding.
Sasuke had caught on during the Sage of Six Paths' speech. In particular, he noticed at this moment that the Sage of Six Paths' eyes were the Rinnegan.
So that's it!
"You're the legendary Sage of Six Paths!"
A flash of disbelief crossed Sasuke's eyes as he looked at the Sage of Six Paths with a stunned expression.
The Sage of Six Paths?
Naruto was taken aback, his face likewise showing an incredulous look. So this was the Sage of Six Paths the Pervy Sage had mentioned before?
"That's not a wrong way to think of it."
The Sage of Six Paths glanced at Sasuke and gave a slight nod.
"Because of the gap between eras, there can be enormous differences in perspective. When meeting those who have been reincarnated, one feels the dislocation of time."
"I have studied some of this era's language and culture, but language and culture are nuanced and ambiguous…"
The Sage of Six Paths rambled on, looking like a fussy old man. Yet beneath his words lurked an extremely subtle, almost imperceptible sense of condescension — a lofty, superior attitude.
"Can't you just speak plainly so normal people can understand?!"
"And we don't have time to sit here listening to you ramble — even if you are the Sage of Six Paths!"
Veins bulged on Naruto's forehead as he spoke irritably.
Sasuke's eyelid twitched as well. This old man was far too long-winded. Could he just get to the point?
"Oh, is that so?"
"In any case, my name is Hagoromo, and I am the Sage of Six Paths who founded Ninshū!"
Seeing Sasuke and Naruto growing impatient, the Sage of Six Paths shifted his tone and spoke calmly.
"As for this place — in your terms — it can be called a special spiritual space."
"Normally, the two of you would not meet in the same spiritual space. But both of your bodies contain the same faint trace of chakra, which has connected you together."
The same chakra!
Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances, and the same person simultaneously came to mind.
Orochimaru!
[
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