"I did not expect the entire Akatsuki organization to be guarding the Divine Tree. No wonder I could not sense their presence within Otogakure…"
Jiraiya felt somewhat fortunate to have avoided disaster tonight. At the same time, he never imagined that Nagato (the Deva Path Pain) and Konan were both members of Akatsuki, and that Nagato actually possessed the Rinnegan.
Many questions gave him a headache. He thought for a long time but could not figure it out. It was not until Tsunade gently nudged him with her elbow that he suddenly noticed Orochimaru standing at the entrance of Otogakure with several Anbu operatives blocking their way.
Orochimaru's expression was extremely grim at this moment. These two fools did not listen to his advice and went to the Divine Tree tonight after all.
"You are truly seeking death. Otogakure does not welcome you. Leave now." Orochimaru knew he could not let these two cause trouble in Otogakure any longer…
They were two major troubles. Them staying here would only stir up trouble. That explosion earlier was clearly Akatsuki engaging with them.
"Hmph, fine, we will leave. What is the big deal. Go call Shizune for me."
Knowing that gathering intelligence would not be easy, and knowing they could not stay in Otogakure any longer, Tsunade simply let loose.
"Orochimaru, you heartless, ungrateful guy. We are no longer the Sannin. From now on, we go our separate ways."
"Oh…"
Orochimaru responded indifferently. He never cared about the title of Sannin anyway. If Tsunade wanted to cut ties, then let it be a clean break…
"You…"
Orochimaru's casual, dismissive response made her feel a tightness in her chest. A breath was stuck there, neither going up nor down, making her feel particularly uncomfortable…
"Hey, hey, hey, there is no need for this… We are all old comrades. Must we make things so unpleasant?" Jiraiya quickly spoke up to ease the tension.
"You two know very well why you came to Otogakure… I am the Shadow of Otogakure. Given our past relationship, it is already generous that I did not kill you." Orochimaru believed these two were completely overstepping.
"Bastard. Then you come… Mmph…" The furious Tsunade had not finished speaking when Jiraiya covered her mouth.
"Alright, today we overstepped in Otogakure. We will leave, we will leave immediately…"
Shizune had already come out. Jiraiya did not want to see his former companions completely tear apart their relationship, so he could only reluctantly give up the reconnaissance mission. He dragged the cursing, grumbling Tsunade away, dejected…
Orochimaru's actions were actually for their own safety. After all, the area around the Divine Tree was not under his jurisdiction. For Jiraiya and Tsunade to escape from the Akatsuki once did not mean they could escape a second time.
These two were inherently stubborn and unwilling to listen to advice, especially Tsunade. Who knew if she would get a wild idea and go investigate the Divine Tree again, only to end up killed there. It was entirely possible.
Rather than that, it was better to just send them packing.
"Relay the order. From now on, Otogakure will not receive foreigners. Ninja from other villages are strictly forbidden from entering Otogakure, no matter their reason."
During this sensitive period, Orochimaru planned to close the country's borders for a while. Doing this could reduce a lot of troublesome matters, and he could free up his hands to focus on his own research.
Impure World Reincarnation, Living Corpse Reincarnation, Sage Art Cursed Seals. These were all research topics he was very interested in. He had grown somewhat tired of handling too many official duties and felt like retiring.
Summoning Realm, Mount Myoboku.
Mount Myoboku today was as tranquil and peaceful as usual. But with the arrival of an old man, the originally sacred sage land suddenly became noisy.
"G… Great Lord Sage… There is an old man outside who calls himself the Sage of the Six Paths. He wishes to see you." Fukasaku reported this matter to the Great Toad Sage, his face full of tension.
The legendary Sage of the Six Paths had actually descended upon Mount Myoboku today. Fukasaku could not help but be nervous… He never expected this founder of Ninshu to still be alive.
"Let him in…"
The Great Toad Sage spoke calmly. His demeanor was composed and peaceful, as if he had long known the other would come here.
"Gamamaru, long time no see. As expected, you are not dead yet…" Hagoromo Otsutsuki smiled and took the initiative to greet him.
"Old friend, a thousand years have passed since we last met. Is it really appropriate to curse me to death upon our first meeting?" The Great Toad Sage said listlessly.
"Hehe… Having lived so long, you should be able to face life and death with openness, right? Why still care about such things?" Hagoromo Otsutsuki joked with a smile.
"There is great terror between life and death. How many living beings can truly face death with equanimity? The longer one lives, the more one fears death. This is the norm for living beings in this world…"
The Great Toad Sage's response clearly caused Hagoromo Otsutsuki to pause for a moment. But the next instant, he nodded gently, evidently agreeing with these words.
"As for you, you who should have died long ago. Why have you returned to life now?"
"You must know the reason for my return, do you not?" Hagoromo Otsutsuki glanced at him and said helplessly.
"Is it the Demonic Tree…" The Great Toad Sage murmured softly.
"Yes. The Ten Tails has revived, and the seal has loosened. Mother may break the seal and descend upon the ninja world at any time… I cannot stand by and watch her torment living beings."
"It is hard on you, to still be concerned about the safety of the ninja world after being 'dead' for so long…"
The Great Toad Sage smiled and praised him.
"The reappearance of the Demonic Tree in the human world is a calamity. What do you plan to do?"
Hagoromo Otsutsuki pondered for a moment upon hearing this, then spoke. "I plan to awaken Asura and Indra, use their power to defeat those with ambitious schemes, and then re-stabilize Mother's seal."
Hearing this, the Great Toad Sage's expression showed no fluctuation. It seemed as if he had long known the Sage of the Six Paths would do this.
Because he knew that the entire ninja world was their father and sons' playground. For a thousand years, every reincarnation of Indra and Asura had been the main characters of the ninja world, with almost no exceptions.
The so-called cycle of reincarnation was merely an alternative continuation of life. Hagoromo Otsutsuki, Asura Otsutsuki, Indra Otsutsuki, this father and his two sons had never truly died from beginning to end.
"Alright. Is there anything I can do to help you?" The Great Toad Sage knew that Hagoromo Otsutsuki would not come to Mount Myoboku without a reason. He definitely did not come just to chat about old times.
"I previously sensed a sage near the Divine Tree. That person possesses Senju bloodline. I am very curious about how he fully awakened the Sage Body. And how did he cultivate Sage Art to such a profound level? That guy is clearly not very old…"
The Sage of the Six Paths did not immediately ask for help. Instead, he asked about this matter first.
The Great Toad Sage is a prophet. He knows many things, even secrets.
"I have lost the ability to dream. I cannot answer these questions for you…" The Great Toad Sage said, pointing to his tightly closed eyes.
Under the Great Toad Sage's reminder, Hagoromo Otsutsuki finally noticed this abnormality. "Gamamaru, your eyes…"
"Blind. I can no longer glimpse fate or the future…"
Hearing this, Hagoromo Otsutsuki could not help but show great shock.
"How could this happen."
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