Somewhere in the Naruto world, a dark and damp underground location.
The enormous Gedo Statue stood like a slumbering demon god in the center of the space. Countless pipes and vine like substances extended from the statue, connecting to the withered figure seated on a stone throne in the center.
Uchiha Madara.
His eyes were tightly closed, as if he had fallen into an eternal slumber alongside the giant statue.
However, when a pure white figure slowly rose from the ground like a bubble surfacing from water, Madara's head, covered in long white hair, moved slightly. His eyelids lifted, revealing a pair of eyes with distinct black and white.
"Lord Madara. Tobi is back."
White Zetsu, Tobi, called out in his unique, somewhat comical and exaggerated tone, his body wriggling a few times like seaweed.
"How did things go?"
Madara's voice was very low, carrying a kind of indifference borne of enduring many vicissitudes.
"Report, Lord Madara. You asked me to pay attention to any interesting things happening in the ninja world. Tobi did find something."
Tobi said, gesticulating animatedly. "It's about a kid from Konoha named Sora."
"Sora?"
There was not the slightest ripple in Madara's eyes. This name was utterly unfamiliar to him.
"Yes, yes."
Tobi nodded vigorously.
"I heard he's a kid around thirteen years old. Anbu codename 'Green Snake'. Some time ago in the Land of Lightning, Kumogakure mobilized a huge operation to capture him. Even the Eight Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B, was dispatched. It's said that in the end, even the Third Raikage himself rushed over personally."
"Oh?"
Madara's eyebrow moved imperceptibly. "And the result?"
"He got away."
Tobi spread his hands.
"The specific process isn't too clear. We have too few people in the Land of Lightning. By the time we got there, the battle was almost over. But based on information later gathered from Kumogakure, that kid finally transformed into a kind of half human, half dragon monster. He could even fly. He just flew away from the sky. The Kumo ninja now privately call him 'Azure Dragon'."
As he spoke, Tobi also roughly simulated using chakra the half beast form of Sora he obtained from the memories of Kumo ninja. A blurry humanoid form covered in scales, with dragon horns on its head and a tail behind it.
"Half human, half dragon. Flight ability?"
Madara looked at the blurry image. A trace of extremely faint surprise flashed in his eyes, but it immediately returned to a state of ancient stillness without a ripple.
This form was indeed somewhat peculiar. It was not any known Kekkei Genkai.
"Lord Madara, should we pay a little attention to this kid?"
Tobi moved closer, his tone carrying a probing note.
"To be able to escape from such a lineup at thirteen years old, his potential seems quite extraordinary. And that form, it always feels a bit strange."
"No need."
Madara cut off Tobi's words indifferently. His voice carried a kind of aloofness that looked down upon all living beings.
"It's merely some newly emerged, seemingly relatively peculiar Kekkei Genkai. The power is acceptable, but before true power, it is insignificant."
His gaze seemed to penetrate through layers of rock, seeing the moon hanging in the night sky.
Before his Rinnegan, before the Eye of the Moon Plan he had schemed for decades, what Azure Dragon, White Tiger, what Kekkei Genkai, were all just specks of dust on the path to peace.
At most, it would be just another brute like the Third Raikage.
Even without the Rinnegan in Nagato's eyes, during his prime, Uchiha Madara, either he or Hashirama alone, was enough to suppress the entire ninja world, making the Four Great Nations not dare to step over the line.
What waves could a mere kid with some special ability possibly stir up?
What he focused on now was only Nagato, who inherited his eyes, and the plan's executor he selected. Uchiha Obito.
They were the key to the plan.
"Eh? Really don't need to pay attention?"
Tobi seemed somewhat disappointed, but quickly became cheerful again. "Alright, alright. If Lord Madara says no need, then no need. I'll just continue to keep an eye on that crybaby Obito."
"Hmm."
Madara closed his eyes again. "Ensure he grows according to the predetermined trajectory, witnessing the darkness he should witness."
"Understood."
Tobi gave an irregular salute. His body began to slowly sink down, but he started muttering about other things.
"But speaking of which. Lord Madara, how exactly is poop formed? What does it feel like to poop? I really want to know. We White Zetsu don't need to poop. It feels like we're missing a lot of life's pleasures."
The corner of Madara's mouth twitched almost imperceptibly. He did not respond to Tobi's nonsensical question and fell completely silent.
The Gedo Statue still stood silently. Only Tobi's muttering about "poop" gradually dissipated in the vast underground space.
...
At the same time, at the Konoha frontline camp against Iwagakure, on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.
Orochimaru was alone in the tent belonging to him. His golden vertical pupils flickered with a restless light.
He had been waiting for over twenty days.
According to his original estimation, Kumogakure mobilizing elites including the Eight Tails Jinchuriki and Muchi, and possibly even the Third Raikage, to capture "Green Snake" Sora, should have been a sure thing.
Even if the process had some twists, there should have been definite news by now.
Whether it was news of success or failure.
However, there was nothing.
The Land of Lightning seemed like a stagnant pool of water. No information about the outcome of this capture operation circulated.
This was extremely unusual.
Kumogakure blocked the news. Why?
A thought uncontrollably surfaced.
Did Kumogakure want to take it all for themselves? They caught Sora, discovered the secrets on Sora's body, so they violated the transaction agreement, wanting to monopolize that coveted power and body?
A flash of malevolence passed through Orochimaru's eyes.
This was not impossible.
That extraordinary recovery power and vitality on Sora's body, that pressure that scared Manda out of its wits, was an irresistible temptation for anyone pursuing power and longevity.
Those muscle brained brutes in Kumogakure might very well have such thoughts.
"Hmph. It seems I need to confirm it personally."
Orochimaru muttered to himself in a low voice, his hands quickly forming seals.
He planned to summon a small snake and send it into the Land of Lightning to investigate. With the stealth and mobility of snakes, it should be able to avoid Kumogakure's vigilance and obtain some information.
"Summoning Jutsu."
Chakra was infused. The technique formula appeared on the ground.
However.
Poof.
A faint puff of white smoke flashed. Nothing appeared on the ground.
The summoning. Failed?
Orochimaru was stunned for a moment. His golden vertical pupils abruptly contracted.
How was this possible?
He formed seals again, mobilizing chakra more intently.
"Summoning Jutsu."
Poof.
Still only a useless puff of white smoke.
This time, Orochimaru's expression completely changed.
It wasn't a problem with chakra. Nor a problem with the technique formula.
This feeling. Was the summoning contract unilaterally severed? The contractual connection between him and Ryuchi Cave became vague and distant, as if forcibly blocked by an invisible power.
"Ryuchi Cave."
Orochimaru's voice became extremely hoarse, carrying a trace of incredulous shock and anger.
This sudden change made alarm bells ring loudly in his heart.
Why would Ryuchi Cave suddenly sever the contract with him? He asked himself, he had not done anything to anger the White Snake Sage.
Unless.
A figure suddenly flashed in his mind.
Sora.
That kid who, just with a low roar, scared Manda into trembling.
At the time, he suspected that the power on Sora might be related to the "dragon" mystery pursued by Ryuchi Cave.
And now, he had just collaborated with Kumogakure to scheme against Sora, and Ryuchi Cave immediately severed his summoning contract.
If there was no connection between these two things, Orochimaru absolutely did not believe it.
"Could it be. Ryuchi Cave chose him?"
Orochimaru's heart sank bit by bit. A cold chill rose from his spine.
If this was really the case, then the situation had completely exceeded his control.
No news from Kumogakure. Unknown whether Sora was dead or alive.
Ryuchi Cave unilaterally terminated the contract.
Not only might he have lost the coveted body of Sora, he even lost one of his greatest assets. The summoning creatures of Ryuchi Cave.
Failed to gain an advantage and instead suffered a loss.
Orochimaru forced himself to calm down. His brain began analyzing rapidly.
No news from Kumogakure did not necessarily mean success. It could also mean failure, blocking the news to save face.
Ryuchi Cave terminating the contract did not necessarily mean completely abandoning him. It could also be a warning. Or. Could it be that Sora and Ryuchi Cave reached some kind of agreement?
Regardless, he had to figure out Sora's current situation as soon as possible.
Orochimaru took a deep breath, suppressing the irritation and unease in his heart. He walked to the tent entrance and called a name hoarsely.
A man wearing ordinary ninja attire, but with sharp eyes and a capable aura, appeared soundlessly before him, bowing his head respectfully.
"Lord Orochimaru. What are your orders?"
At Orochimaru's level, he naturally had his own trusted forces. The man before him was one of his trusted subordinates placed on the frontlines.
"You set out immediately, quickly return to Konoha."
Orochimaru's voice was icy and urgent.
"Find a way to check clearly whether the Anbu's 'Green Snake' Sora has recently appeared in the village, or if there is any definite news about his mission return. Remember, be careful, do not attract attention. As soon as there is a result, report back to me through the fastest channel immediately."
"Yes. This subordinate understands."
The man accepted the order without hesitation. With a flicker of his figure, he quickly disappeared into the shadows outside the tent.
Orochimaru stood in place, looking in the direction his subordinate departed. His golden vertical pupils flickered uncertainly in the shadows.
He felt as if he had fallen into an invisible net. And the one weaving the net was very likely that kid he originally thought was already in his grasp.
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