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"Go after him."
After a long silence, Orochimaru gave this order dryly.
Immediately, the two team members brought by Orochimaru responded in a low voice and disappeared one by one, chasing after the Amegakure shinobi's retreat.
With such a result, it is natural to pursue further. Even if there will not be much merit, what should be done must be done. This is a major event to inspire the morale of the crowd, and it cannot be sloppy.
Orochimaru and Nawaki, on the other hand, were a little silent at this moment.
The former was because of Ishigami Hara's words. Compared with himself, he found that he, a senior, seemed to have nothing to praise in front of him.
The latter, on the other hand, was more frightened by the huge forest and rough wood and was still in shock. This shock also contained some bitterness that ordinary people could not understand.
Why is it not me who awakened Wood Release?
I am the grandson of the First Generation and the heir of the Senju clan.
As if sensing Nawaki's inner emotions, Orochimaru gently patted Nawaki's shoulder, but did not say much.
Ishigami Hara, looking at the depressed Nawaki, smiled slightly.
"Nawaki."
The latter looked up, his expression slightly confused.
"Are you envious?" Ishigami Hara asked.
"What, what?"
Nawaki was startled, and then his face was a little erratic, and his words were not so firm.
"How could it be, it's nothing, I just, I'm just happy for you."
"Want to learn? I'll teach you."
Ishigami Hara's next words made Orochimaru and Nawaki stunned, especially the latter, who widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Really, really?"
Ishigami Hara smiled and nodded.
Orochimaru smiled, couldn't help licking his lips, and patted Nawaki's shoulder again, and didn't say anything again, but this time the meaning was completely different.
After Nawaki reacted, his expression was very pleasantly surprised.
"Are you serious?"
Ishigami Hara nodded again, and then said: "I have mastered Wood Release. This bloodline is no longer a secret to me."
He glanced at Orochimaru, and then stared at Nawaki and said: "You have the bloodline of the Shodai, and you have five attributes. Although it is difficult to learn Wood Release, it is not impossible."
Orochimaru's smile faded. He could feel the meaning of Ishigami Hara's gaze. He was silent for a while, and then turned his eyes to the side.
Ishigami Hara's meaning was very simple, that is, to tell Orochimaru clearly that he could not learn Wood Release bloodline, at least it was impossible at this stage.
Do you want to ask does Orochimaru want to master Wood Release?
That must be what he wants, at least Orochimaru at this stage does, but his identity does not allow him to have too many ideas at this time.
Thinking of this, Orochimaru couldn't help but feel helpless. He was really careless to be seen through by a young man.
"Great!"
Nawaki was extremely excited, grabbing Ishigami Hara's shoulders, jumping and jumping, showing the nature of a young man.
...
In the dark of a valley, there was a roar, and a man smashed the big rock beside him, letting the stone chips fly, and his eyes were scarlet, with anger and anxiety in them.
"Damn it!"
This person was naturally Uchiha Madara, who had left the battlefield early. He had come here to observe Ishigami Hara, a special existence who possessed both the Byakugan and Sharingan. Unexpectedly, he witnessed an incredible scene unfold.
His younger brother, Uchiha Izuna, was inside that person!
With Uchiha Madara's keen vision and vast knowledge, he could not mistake the power of his younger brother, Uchiha Izuna. The one who had fought Hanzō of the Salamander at the beginning was undoubtedly Izuna, not the boy.
But in the end, when Madara looked at the other party, Izuna had disappeared.
No!
To be precise, Izuna had been deprived of control over the boy's body.
It was at that moment that Uchiha Madara became certain—the solemnity in the eyes during the final moment of eye contact wasn't Izuna, but the boy himself.
In other words, his younger brother, whose soul was trapped in the boy's body through some unknown means, could still influence and drive his power.
This was unacceptable to Uchiha Madara!
For a moment, he wanted to act directly, but he restrained himself. For the sake of his own plans, Uchiha Madara did not move recklessly.
But the more he held back, the angrier he became, like a burning fire consuming him from within, filling him with fury.
No one could understand the bond between Uchiha Madara and his younger brother Izuna. It was a deep connection forged through shared battles and mutual support—a genuine bond that could not be desecrated.
Now, Izuna, who had died for Uchiha, was trapped inside that boy's body, like a prisoner. How could Madara ever accept such a thing?
"White Zetsu!"
At his command, a pale figure stumbled out from the side.
"Lo.. Lord Madara, I didn't provoke you, don't kill me..."
White Zetsu stammered.
"Shut up!"
Uchiha Madara turned sharply, glaring at White Zetsu, who quickly covered his mouth.
Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Madara spoke in a heavy tone: "Go find the location of Iwagakure's two Jinchūriki and report back to me. Then go and deliver a gift to Hanzō of the Salamander. Give him the flesh and blood."
"Yes, yes, Lord Madara."
"And."
Uchiha Madara looked at the sky, suppressing his rage. After taking another deep breath and pondering for a moment, he added: "Pass the information of him to the people of Kumogakure. I will go to Kirigakure in person."
"Hehe, Lord Madara, if this happens, Konoha will be in serious trouble?" White Zetsu asked with a sly grin.
"Go and do it."
"Understood, Lord Madara."
White Zetsu accepted the orders and left, hopping away.
Uchiha Madara glanced at the battlefield once more, his Sharingan's three tomoe spinning slightly before his figure vanished.
Moments later, another figure appeared, with long fiery red hair blowing in the wind. In the left eye, three tomoe swirled before condensing into a triangular pattern and stabilizing.
"Sure enough, he has left."
Within the body, Uchiha Izuna's Chakra was vibrating, as he sensed his brother Uchiha Madara's residual presence in the area.
"Don't worry, I will let you meet him, but not yet."
Ishigami Hara gazed in the direction where Uchiha Madara had gone, but he had no intention of pursuing him.
"Also... thank you for the power you gave me. I will treasure it."
As he spoke, the pattern in his Byakugan completely faded away, as if it had never been there. No matter how much Uchiha Izuna's Chakra stirred, it had no effect.
As for the voices of Uchiha Izuna in his head, Ishigami Hara simply chose to ignore them.