"Finally, this day has come, the day when that kid Nagato grows up..."
Before he could finish his sentence, Uchiha Madara felt something was wrong. His pupils darted around as he examined his slightly raised hands,
"What is this?"
His body wasn't made of bones, flesh, and blood, but something far stranger, like sand and stone, or perhaps like plants.
As the thought flashed through his mind, Uchiha Madara let out a long sigh, "It seems something unexpected has happened..."
Awakening from the joy of being resurrected, Uchiha Madara finally sensed several presences around him, especially two terrifying beasts, both in size and Chakra, one in front and one behind.
But Uchiha Madara's gaze turned to his side. His eyes didn't linger for even a second on White Snake Sage and the little White Snake. He stared at the other man, also just awakened, a man in red armor, and his heart trembled, "Hashirama..."
He never imagined he would see him again, and in this way too.
"Is that Madara?" Senju Hashirama's eyes regained clarity, a hint of emotion flashing through them, followed by a hearty laugh, "I never thought I'd see you again after dying."
"Big brother, I doubt we're in the land of the dead."
Behind Hashirama, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, spoke, "This is the ninja world. We've been resurrected by the things behind us through strange means."
Coming back from the dead was incredible for ordinary ninjas, but Tobirama wasn't surprised at all. He himself had ways to summon the dead to fight.
Uchiha Madara glanced at him, his tone filled with deep disgust, "Tobirama... So you're here too."
"What's so strange about that? Isn't Izuna here as well?" Senju Tobirama's expression remained unchanged as his gaze fell behind Uchiha Madara.
Hearing this, Uchiha Madara's face grew even more somber.
He hated Tobirama and was happy to see him summoned and controlled by others. He and Hashirama were strong, so this trouble was nothing; in fact, it was a good opportunity. But Izuna was different.
He hadn't protected his brother once in his life, and now he had to witness him in danger again. He was truly incompetent.
"Big brother..." A flicker of surprise flashed in Uchiha Izumi's eyes.
Among the four, he was the most clueless about the current situation, still believing that time was before the founding of Konoha, during the period of war between the Senju and Uchiha.
He had been gravely wounded by Tobirama in a battle. On the brink of death, he had given his eyes to Madara, hoping to help him achieve the Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan.
Now, regaining his sight, although the Senju brothers, who were powerful enemies, were somehow here, his most admired big brother seemed fine. His heart stirred, and he couldn't contain himself.
Uchiha Izumi suppressed his emotions and asked, "How did we get here? The clan, how is the Uchiha Clan doing..."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Madara's face became even more troubled. Izuna had asked him to take good care of the clan before he died. How could he now tell his brother about the past when he and the clan had abandoned each other due to differences in ideals?
"Hahaha... Izuna, the Senju and Uchiha have long since cooperated to establish a village. You should be in Konoha right now."
Senju Hashirama let out a few laughs, actively bailing Uchiha Madara out, and said with a smile, "If you have time, I can tell you all about it."
He could feel the urgency from the contractor behind him, urging him to quickly fight the strange giant snake in front of him. There probably wouldn't be much time for further conversation among them.
"Is this true?"
Hearing Hashirama say this, Uchiha Izumi felt a mix of emotions, unsure of how to feel.
"It's been fifty or sixty years since you died..." Uchiha Madara finally turned to look at his brother, "A lot has changed."
"If you want to know, I'll tell you later, but for now..." Uchiha Madara's gaze turned to the half-man, half-snake monster in front of him. "Let's defeat it together first."
He could feel that if he delayed any longer, his current body would lose control and fight in a way he didn't want.
"I understand."
Izuna replied. The two pairs of brothers stopped communicating, their gazes all turning toward the giant female serpent person slowly approaching them.
"This aura... it's the White Snake Sage of Ryuchi Cave..."
Senju Hashirama's expression became more serious, "Even creatures like this have appeared. What has happened to the ninja world..."
Before his words could even land, a surge of Senjutsu Chakra flowed into the ground from behind. He clasped his hands together and shouted, "Sage Art: Wood Golem!"
Instantly, countless trees and vines grew from his palms, forming a solemn wooden statue sitting cross-legged on the desert. The numerous hands that grew from its back fanned out like a peacock's tail, numbering over a thousand at a rough count, ready for combat.
Uchiha Madara's expression darkened slightly upon seeing this. He recalled the great battle in his lifetime, where Hashirama used this very technique to secure victory, defeating the Susanoo fused with the Nine-Tails in one blow.
What surprised him even more was that Hashirama was willing to go all out.
Even though he was being controlled now and acting under duress, instead of trying to break free from the other party's control, why would he help them defeat a powerful enemy?
He was unaware that Senju Hashirama, having mastered Senjutsu, was very familiar with the three great Sage's territories and knew the White Snake Sage's temperament well.
And a powerful White Snake Sage, who was restlessly staying out of Ryuchi Cave, was clearly not good news for the ninja world or for Konoha, a major threat that needed to be dealt with.
For the safety of Konoha, he hadn't spared Uchiha Madara, and now his killing intent was resolute; he intended to at least heavily injure it.
As for the strange snake behind him... Senju Hashirama had no intention of letting it go either, but he would deal with them one by one.
Moreover, upon seeing him attack the White Snake Sage, Madara, with his personality, would surely find a way to solve the problem of their being bound by a contract.
After so many years as enemies and friends, they had that much understanding between them.
Rumble...
The earth trembled. A fierce wind kicked up sand and dust as hundreds, even thousands, of giant hands unleashed their power, striking the colossal female serpent towards them.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A high wall made of sand and stone rose abruptly, only to shatter under the pounding of the massive hands.
However, with the giant wall absorbing the most intense collision, the Senju's power was significantly weakened.
The female serpent, wielding a golden hammer, swung it incessantly, smashing each giant hand head-on.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
Thunderous roars followed one after another. Amidst the flying sand and wood chips, the serpent woman was slowly advancing. The stone hammer she raised forcefully broke through the countless wooden hands, as if she were about to smash the Wood Golem in the next moment.
"This is truly unbelievable... There are still such powerful individuals in the ninja world."
From atop the Wood Golem, Senju Hashirama's brows furrowed, his fighting spirit soaring even higher. Yet, no matter how much he intensified his attacks, he couldn't stop her advance.
With the near-infinite Senjutsu Chakra behind him as support, he clearly felt he was even stronger than when he fought Madara in his lifetime. He never imagined he would still be at a disadvantage.
Furthermore, he noticed that the ground beneath the Wood Golem was becoming increasingly muddy, and his body was sinking deeper, making him harder to control.
No matter how powerful a creature, if it cannot float, it must rely on the earth for support and power. If it sinks into a mire, it will be unable to exert its strength.
Given the Wood Golem's size, it wouldn't sink so deeply in a short time, but its offensive power was inevitably diminishing.
The booming sound grew nearer, and the flying wood chips even reached Senju Hashirama's front. His heart tightened. He suddenly grabbed his right wrist with his left hand, channeling all his Senjutsu Chakra into it, and activated "Great Forest Technique."
The Wood Golem extended its right hand, which had remained unused, and a black mark of the character '座' appeared on its palm. It lunged with lightning speed towards the half-snake not far in front of it.
This technique, a fusion of Wood Style and Sealing Jutsu, was a Ninjutsu he had spontaneously created during his battle with Madara, originally used to isolate the Mangekyo Sharingan's control and subdue the Nine-Tails. Such a powerful technique was being used here for a lesser purpose, but it was quite fitting for the current situation.
However, the serpent woman seemed to have anticipated this. She agilely retreated backward, evading the direct grab of the Wood Golem's hand. She withstood several blows from the wooden hands and swung her golden hammer directly at that special hand.
Bang! Crack!
The wooden hand exploded into splinters, wood chips flying everywhere. Some even shot back like spears, striking the wooden Buddha and leaving behind damaged marks.
Senju Hashirama's expression darkened. From the serpent woman's movement path, he foresaw a hammer strike aimed directly at him. He made a swift decision, activating the "Enclosing Technique" and sinking his body into the Wood Golem.
But after a moment, he sensed that the enemy hadn't approached further but was actually retreating.
Senju Hashirama's mind raced, and he emerged from the Wood Golem again. What greeted his eyes was an astonishing sight.
He saw meteors falling from the sky, one after another, striking the area where the serpent woman was.
And that serpent woman continued to meet them head-on, smashing the falling meteors with her hammer.
The spectacle was grander than his previous battle with Uchiha Madara. After all, at that time, their Chakra, though immense, was finite. Powerful techniques were key to victory, not this kind of casual display.
"This guy, to be this powerful."
Senju Hashirama didn't hold back, watching the serpent woman, who was still not at a disadvantage even under the combined efforts of him and Madara. His brow furrowed deeply.
Such strength was truly terrifying. If they couldn't defeat her today, she would likely become a significant threat later.
However, to Hashirama's surprise, the female serpent, without any signs of defeat, endured the meteor attacks and retreated out of the Wood Golem's attack range.
"What is it trying to do?"
As Senju Hashirama pondered the opponent's intentions and considered whether to pursue, a light chuckle echoed. It wasn't a voice that matched the female serpent, but rather a low, magnetic male voice.
"First Hokage, Lord Senju Hashirama, is this how you greet a junior? You're being a bit too serious."
Orochimaru revealed himself within the crystal on the White Snake Sage's forehead, a smile playing on his lips. "Even if you don't think much of your disciple's disciple, if you truly defeat me here, I'm afraid I won't be able to explain myself to Teacher Sarutobi."
Senju Hashirama then realized that within the White Snake Sage was a... youth with an aura almost identical to hers?
What surprised him even more was that this youth seemed to be a Konoha Chunin and somehow related to him.
The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, floated forward and stood beside Hashirama, looking at the young man and asking, "Who are you to Hiruzen?"
"The Third Hokage is indeed my teacher. My name is Orochimaru. The First and Second Hokage passed away early, so perhaps you haven't heard of me..."
Orochimaru's gaze shifted to Uchiha Madara, whose face was frozen. The corners of his mouth pulled to the sides. "But I'm sure Mr. Uchiha Madara has heard my name."
This statement carried immense information, causing the faces of Hashirama, Tobirama, and Uchiha Madara to change.
In the perception of the first two, Uchiha Madara had died at the Valley of the End, killed by Hashirama himself. Tobirama had even conducted some research on his body. The latter immediately understood that after his death, perhaps Obito or Zetsu had slipped up and revealed some of his actions.
"What exactly do you mean by that?"
Before Senju Hashirama could finish his sentence, an urgent request came into his mind, urging him to attack quickly.
Compelled, the Senju's Wood Golem began to punch again, but its power was far less than before, posing no threat at all.
The White Snake Sage easily blocked, while Orochimaru continued their conversation,
"You two believe Madara-sama died at the Valley of the End, but in reality, he deceived everyone with a certain method and, over the next few decades, managed to evolve his Eternal Mangekyo Sharingan into the higher-level 'Rinnegan'..."
The information, which could be considered highly secret, was nonchalantly related by Orochimaru. Both Hashirama and Tobirama, and even the White Snake Sage, listened with keen interest.
But for Izuna, it sounded quite strange. He looked at his big brother with admiration.
Uchiha Madara's face grew progressively worse. He cursed Black Zetsu and Obito inwardly for being unreliable. They were only tasked with guarding Nagato until he grew up, yet an outsider knew so much. It was such a waste of the Mangekyo Sharingan's 'Kamui' and his innate ability to conceal himself.
"...Regardless, Madara, you wanted to be reborn through Nagato, but your chosen subordinates are unreliable..."
Orochimaru blinked and smiled, "Your resurrection plan, after your death, was essentially doomed to failure."
"So what?" Uchiha Madara summoned meteors to fall, saying coldly, "Thank you for sharing so much information, which allowed me to immediately understand the current situation..."
Boom!
Amidst the collision of the golden hammer and the meteors, Orochimaru's voice was clear, "No need for thanks. I'm just curious about one thing... How much of the Rinnegan's ability do your eyes, made of this fungus-like sand and stone, possess? If it's convenient, could you demonstrate?"
"..." Uchiha Madara fell silent. A smile suddenly appeared on his face. He avoided the question, instead saying, "With such a powerful individual appearing in the ninja world, it seems the future will be quite exciting."
"Thank you for your praise."
Orochimaru licked his lips and smiled, "However, the ninja world currently seems too small. The exciting parts within it may not be easily shared. I will do my best to ensure you don't see tomorrow's sun."
"Oh, then give it your best shot."
Uchiha Madara glanced back at Hashirama and Izuna, his eyes suddenly shining brightly.