On the battlefield beyond the icy plain, Jiraiya and Tsunade, both in their Sage Mode, coordinated to seal off all of Orochimaru's escape routes.
Using Katsuyu's Senjutsu Evolution technique, Return, Tsunade found that every time she smashed Orochimaru's Edo Tensei body, his regeneration speed slowed down.
After more than ten minutes of fighting, Orochimaru finally had all his senses completely deprived by Jiraiya's suddenly activated Sage Art: Toad Chant, waiting for Tsunade to deliver the final blow and seal him.
Inside the Genjutsu barrier created by the Toad Sage, Orochimaru looked around with interest. Armor-clad and weapon-wielding toad stone statues simultaneously extended their front paws to press against the purple barrier.
"Mount Myoboku's idea of using toad croaks to release a Genjutsu barrier is really something. Could you tell me its principle?"
Orochimaru floated leisurely in mid-air, as if it were Jiraiya who was now trapped in a cage.
"Don't struggle needlessly. The dead have their own world. You should just return to the Pure Land and rest in peace!" Jiraiya sighed and tightened the blockade of the barrier.
"Heh heh heh, who told you I was already dead, Jiraiya?" Orochimaru laughed heartily, spreading his arms and using Chakra to draw countless Cursed Seals in the air.
Seeing that the other could actually turn the tables within his Chakra space, Jiraiya, alarmed, quickly manipulated the surrounding stone statues to spit out chains, firmly binding Orochimaru.
"As long as Cursed Seals remain in the world, I won't die. But that Kabuto bastard did screw me over. He found one of my Cursed Seals hidden in the Land of Rice Fields, used my blood and cells as materials for the Edo Tensei, and forcibly restrained my soul within this puppet!"
Orochimaru, inside the barrier, reached out toward Jiraiya. "So I want to get back at that arrogant brat too. How about it? Want to join forces with me? Jiraiya?"
"Stop spreading misinformation! Your fate is only to return to the Pure Land once more..."
"Haruno Sakura and the others need my help, don't they? Besides, Kabuto has also prepared the Edo Tensei puppets of the eight Tailed Beast's Jinchuriki. And those are Tailed Beasts, you know!"
Jiraiya was interrupted before he could finish speaking. After saying this, Orochimaru said no more, merely staring at Jiraiya with those bewitching eyes.
Of course, Orochimaru's purpose was not entirely due to his reluctance to be controlled by Kabuto. There was also a more important reason: Katsuyu!
The moment Tsunade used Sage Mode, he, who had pursued eternity his entire life, was completely captivated by Tsunade's form.
There was probably no one else in the entire world who better understood what that power to restore cells meant.
—That, damn it, was immortality!
His lifelong pursuit being right before his eyes, Orochimaru immediately decided to jump ship and switch to Konoha's side to pursue broader horizons.
As long as he could achieve immortality, he could also love Konoha!
"You cannot be trusted!" Jiraiya's face showed signs of struggle.
"You know me. Though I have my own demands, I disdain lying. Besides, if it weren't to gain your trust, I generally wouldn't bother explaining these things to an idiot like you."
"Bastard Orochimaru, what did you say!!!"
"Idiot!"
....
Outside the Genjutsu Space, just as Tsunade's Senjutsu Evolution technique was about to pierce through Orochimaru, the surrounding croaking suddenly halted. Orochimaru, having broken free, used the Orochimaru-style Replacement Technique to dodge the attack.
"Jiraiya, you idiot, what are you doing!" Realizing that her own teammate was cooperating with the enemy, Tsunade couldn't help but turn her head and roar.
"Wait, Tsunade, he's not an enemy now. At least, not temporarily!" Jiraiya leaped a few times to stand before Tsunade, grinning sheepishly as he stopped her.
In the distance, Orochimaru began regenerating once more. Seizing the moment when Kabuto's control was focused entirely on the distant battle with Sakura, he formed hand seals and pressed them onto the Manda beneath him.
A Cursed Seal suddenly appeared on the skin of Manda where Orochimaru had pressed. Then, the unsealed Cursed Seal sprayed out a large amount of Senjutsu Chakra, along with the soul and body Orochimaru had buried inside.
The newly reborn Orochimaru opened his mouth wide and swallowed the Edo Tensei Orochimaru before him. After extracting the soul from the Edo Tensei body, he spat out the corpse of an Iwagakure's Ninja and the talisman that had been controlling the Edo Tensei body.
Thus, he completed his resurrection.
"Ah, it's much better experiencing the world with one's own body!" Fully resurrected, Orochimaru stretched and smiled at Tsunade and Jiraiya.
"Disgusting!" / "Pervert!"
His two old teammates commented on Orochimaru's behavior in unison.
"How hurtful. And here I am, trying to help you~" Orochimaru extended his strange tongue and licked his lips. "Well, no time to lose. Let's get to work. First, seize control of part of the Edo Tensei puppets!"
The three exchanged glances and, understanding each other perfectly, charged together toward the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, who had been battered to pieces by Itachi.
…
At the center of the icy plain battlefield, the bodies of Tobirama and Hashirama, who had been continuously using Wood Release and Flying Thunder God to harass Sakura, suddenly shuddered.
To be precise, Kabuto, deep in the cave in the heart of the Land of Water, sensed something wrong.
So, using the voice of the First Hokage, who was still on the battlefield, he reported to Madara: "Not good, Madara-san. Someone has broken free from my Edo Tensei control and is now freeing other Edo Tensei puppets everywhere."
"What?!"
Madara raised his hands, rapidly forming hand seals. His abdomen suddenly bulged, then he leaned forward, opened his mouth, and spat out raging flames.
—Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!
In an instant, an exaggerated sea of flames spread across the sky, tens-of-meters-high waves of fire towering, pressing down with overwhelming force.
It created a moment of space between him and Sakura, enough for a brief conversation.
"I'm sorry, but I cannot simultaneously suppress the First Hokage while maintaining precise control over the other Edo Tensei puppets!" Kabuto's voice came from the First Hokage's mouth.
"What a useless controller. Fine, leave Hashirama to me!" Madara waved his hand arrogantly, telling Kabuto to release control over Hashirama.
Hashirama, having just awakened, found himself free and immediately turned his spearhead, preparing to attack Madara.
But unexpectedly, Madara was faster. He first pierced Hashirama's heart with his palm, then the two Edo Tensei bodies began to fuse. Hashirama was completely absorbed into Madara's body.
Madara's armor shattered due to the surge of Chakra and power. On his right chest, a face of Hashirama protruded.
Clang—!
Sakura's sword light cut through the flames that had nearly covered the entire earth, charging toward Madara.
But when her emerald eyes touched the face on Madara's chest, her charging momentum couldn't help but hesitate.
"Tch," The girl frowned, showing a disgusted expression.
"You sharp-tongued brat. After I defeat you, I'll send you to keep Hashirama company!"
"Hmph, is that any way to talk to a lady? No wonder you ended up alone for life!"
Precisely dancing on the minefield.
Especially in Madara's eyes, this girl was also that bastard Hashirama's direct great-granddaughter generation or something.
'Damn Hashirama, damn life winner!!!'
Feeling a bit stung, Madara fell silent, looking at the beautiful pink-haired girl across from him.
He realized a problem: Arguing with a woman is unwinnable.
"Enough talk. Let's see who's stronger!"