After releasing the sealing technique, Orochimaru took a step back and raised his head to look at Uchiha Madara above.
This was to demonstrate his sincerity.
"Mm…"
Roshi slowly regained consciousness, letting out a pained groan.
But the instant awareness returned!
Violent Tailed Beast chakra erupted from Roshi's body, instantly forming a Tailed Beast cloak!
Only then did Roshi clearly see his surroundings.
Uchiha Madara?
Orochimaru?
"Run!!" Four-Tails Son Goku roared in Roshi's mind.
Roshi's pupils contracted sharply. His figure launched like a cannonball, tearing through the air as he dashed toward a passage behind him.
"What astonishing speed!"
Orochimaru watched Roshi's movement and let out a low laugh.
He made no move to intercept, simply standing in place and watching the fleeing Roshi as if enjoying a show.
Crash!
The sound of chains clashing suddenly exploded in the air.
Massive chakra chains shot from the Gedo Statue's mouth. Though Roshi had moved first, the chakra chains were faster, catching up to him in the blink of an eye.
Hearing the whistling sound behind him, Roshi's face changed drastically. He tried to dodge to the side.
But the moment that thought formed!
The chakra chains pierced through Roshi's body, then seemed to grasp something, yanking back fiercely.
Four-Tails Son Goku roared and struggled desperately, but it was utterly futile.
The chakra chain effortlessly ripped the beast from Roshi's body and swallowed it directly into the Gedo Statue's mouth.
Roshi plummeted from midair, coughing up blood continuously, and looked toward Uchiha Madara.
"Uchiha Madara… is Onoki already dead?"
Roshi's breathing was weak, but his eyes were wide, clinging to life with unwillingness.
"Onoki?"
"You mean that runny-nosed brat?"
At Roshi's defiant question, Uchiha Madara crossed his arms and spoke indifferently.
As he spoke.
Roshi's life force completely faded, with only one last thought flashing through his mind.
As expected… Iwagakure had already fallen under Uchiha Madara's control.
Onoki was dead too.
Roshi's death did not concern Uchiha Madara or Orochimaru in the slightest.
The moment Orochimaru saw the Four-Tails extracted from Roshi, he withdrew his gaze, knowing there was no need to watch further.
"Lord Uchiha Madara, I wonder if now…"
Orochimaru paused mid-sentence, his tone slightly hoarse.
Uchiha Madara stood atop the Gedo Statue, quietly gazing down at Orochimaru below, a trace of coldness in the depths of his eyes.
"You think that handing the Four-Tails to me qualifies you to make a deal?"
"Knowing full well I am collecting the Tailed Beasts, you deliberately took the Jinchuriki first. Your little scheme was clever."
Uchiha Madara's voice carried coldness and a hint of killing intent.
The moment these words fell!
The previously still Gedo Statue suddenly raised its massive arm and slammed it down toward Orochimaru like a mountain.
"Sage of Six Paths! Indra! Ashura!"
Orochimaru's elongated pupils contracted sharply as he shouted three names.
The Gedo Statue's massive palm froze less than half a meter above Orochimaru's head.
Though the palm did not descend, the terrifying shockwave it generated still sent Orochimaru stumbling back several steps, like a Wind Release technique.
Flying debris cut dozens of wounds across Orochimaru's body.
Orochimaru's face was deathly pale, but inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief, extending his tongue to lick the blood at the corner of his mouth.
The attack had still damaged his internal organs slightly.
"I discovered some interesting information related to the Sage of Six Paths in certain ancient texts and records."
"I wonder if this information qualifies as trade material."
Orochimaru spoke in a hoarse voice.
Having come to Uchiha Madara's territory, he naturally had more prepared than just the Jinchuriki.
Uchiha Madara had the Gedo Statue's arm withdrawn. The Rinnegan in his eyes emitted a profound, faint blue light.
"I hope your information has some value."
A look of interest appeared on Uchiha Madara's face as he looked down at Orochimaru below, speaking in an indifferent tone.
The Land of Demons.
Located in the far northwest of the shinobi world, this place was relatively remote. Being a small nation, its presence in the shinobi world had always been low.
Legend held that the Land of Demons had been home to shrine maidens for generations.
In this era where the shinobi world was dominated by ninja, shrine maidens were more like mythical figures to most people.
Therefore, most people did not believe in the existence of shrine maidens.
Right now.
Yuto wore a leisurely expression, holding a specialty fruit of the Land of Demons in his hand, eating while casually observing the surrounding scenery.
The streets were not particularly crowded, but all the people wore peaceful expressions.
"Hey hey, chase me!"
A boy of seven or eight held a wooden stick, taunting several boys chasing after him as he ran quickly ahead.
Since most of the boy's attention was on the children behind him, he did not see Yuto walking slowly toward him.
In the blink of an eye.
The boy had already charged to Yuto's front, about to crash into him.
Only then did the boy react, but he could no longer stop. He could only watch helplessly as he hurtled toward Yuto.
Just before they collided.
Yuto gently raised a finger and tapped the boy's forehead.
The boy found his body had suddenly stopped. Not only that, the momentum from his charge had vanished into thin air.
Yuto wore a gentle expression as he withdrew the finger from the boy's forehead.
"You, you… what sorcery is this?"
Facing this scene, the boy looked at Yuto with fear on his face.
With just a single finger tap, all the force in his body had disappeared.
The boy stumbled back two steps in fright, lost his balance, and sat on the ground.
Sorcery?
Hearing this word, Yuto's gentle face showed a trace of amusement.
He had been worried that events from the movies in the original story might not exist in reality.
Hearing the boy's words, especially the look of fear on the boy's face when he mentioned "sorcery" – it was clear this country did have shrine maidens.
The children who had been chasing the boy arrived from behind at this moment.
Seeing their companion sitting on the ground, then looking at Yuto standing nearby, they exchanged glances and quickly rushed over, blocking the boy.
"Um… sir."
"Just now, Hirano was running too fast and accidentally bumped into you. We apologize on his behalf."
The boy who stepped forward, clearly more mature than the others, spoke apologetically to Yuto.
In his eyes, it was obviously Hirano who hadn't been watching where he was going.
"Kidai, this person knows sorcery!"
The boy named Hirano, having recovered from his shock, said with lingering fear to Kidai who stood before him.
The moment these words came out.
The faces of the other children changed simultaneously, showing traces of fear as they retreated several steps.
At this moment, other adults from the Land of Demons on the street noticed the scene and began gathering toward Yuto's location.
Hirano's words reached the surrounding civilians, and their expressions shifted subtly.
Yuto felt the stares directed at him, and a look of helplessness crossed his face.
"Just now, that was ninjutsu, not sorcery."
Yuto opened his palms, showing an innocent expression, and spoke gently.
Ninjutsu?
Hearing these words, Hirano and the other children paused briefly. The fear on their faces receded considerably.
Clearly, in their eyes, ninjutsu was far more believable than sorcery.
Seeing this, Yuto couldn't help but silently retort.
In Yuto's view, whether ninjutsu or so-called sorcery, both were things beyond belief.
Though he thought this, Yuto showed no outward sign, simply nodding gently with the same gentle expression.
Hirano and the others breathed a sigh of relief. The bolder boy named Kidai first patted his chest, then looked at Yuto with curiosity.
"Ninja sir, you're not from our Land of Demons, are you?"
Kidai asked with curiosity in his voice.
Hirano and the other children also showed curious gazes.
The Land of Demons had no so-called ninjutsu. Growing up, this was their first time seeing a ninja.
"I am indeed not from your Land of Demons."
"By the way, do you know where your shrine maiden lives?"
Yuto nodded, then asked gently.
Shrine maiden!
Hearing these words, the expressions of relief on Hirano, Kidai, and the other children's faces changed once more.
Yuto could clearly sense that fear and reverence had appeared on their faces.
"Even such young children are afraid. It seems this shrine maiden's position in this country is rather awkward."
Yuto thought silently.
A faint pulse of chakra flickered through Yuto's eyes.
Kidai entered a brief daze, then raised his finger and pointed in a certain direction.
"Thank you then."
Yuto wore a gentle expression, gently patted Kidai's head, and walked leisurely toward where he had pointed.
As Yuto left.
Hirano, Kidai, and the others exchanged silent glances, then turned and scattered in the opposite direction, each heading home.
[
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