Chapter 218.1 : Escape!!

After bidding farewell to Uchiha Sogetsu, the Anbu responsible for the investigation returned.

The Anbu, wearing a bird-like mask, kneeled on one knee and said in a deep voice, "Lord Tobirama, as per your request, we have carefully examined the key areas. We found signs of intrusion at the sealed 'Root' headquarters. The interior has been damaged, and it appears something may be missing."

"As expected, Orochimaru was just a decoy!" 

Senju Tobirama's gaze sharpened, and his presence exuded an intense pressure, causing the hard ground around him to crack.

At that moment, his last lingering doubt about the previous battle was finally resolved.

No wonder Orochimaru's words and actions had felt so off from the beginning—he had used himself as bait to divert Konoha's attention.

While everyone's attention was distracted, someone else had snuck into the Root headquarters to steal something!

Damn it!

A vein popped on Tobirama's forehead, and he clenched his fist in frustration.

At the same time, he cursed himself internally for being so foolish—had he been dead for too long? How could he have missed such a simple trick?

"Danzo, Root, missing item..." Sarutobi Hiruzen murmured those words, his expression shifting slightly as his eyes narrowed. "Could Orochimaru be connected to the Aurora Order? Was he deliberately drawing our attention to allow his accomplices to take something else?"

"No, I don't think it has anything to do with the Aurora Order."

Tobirama calmly analyzed the situation and shook his head. "If it were related to the Aurora Order, they would have taken it when the 'Dark Saint' arrived."

"But if it's not the Aurora Order, why would Orochimaru target Root?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was puzzled, his face full of confusion. After all, Root had strong ties to the Aurora Order, and aside from those crazies, who else would be interested in that place?

"Unless... Danzo and Root are hiding a secret that neither we nor the Aurora Order know about."

Tobirama furrowed his brow, his mind racing as if tangled in a mess of threads with no clear lead. "But the problem is, how did Orochimaru learn about a secret that even the Aurora Order doesn't know?"

"Sensei, do you think it's possible that..." Sarutobi Hiruzen hesitated.

"Speak."

Tobirama snapped, urging him to continue.

"Could it be that there's another mysterious organization we don't know about?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen said seriously, "One that's hidden in the shadows, much like the Aurora Order, and Orochimaru and his accomplices are part of it?"

This possibility couldn't be ruled out; in fact, it seemed quite likely!

If not, it would be impossible to explain Orochimaru's actions, which defy common sense.

"Let's issue a bounty," said Senju Tobirama, rubbing his temples. Things seemed to be getting more complicated.

He looked at his older brother beside him, and his thoughts went back to the day shortly after Uchiha Sogetsu was killed. The souls of the two brothers were suddenly pulled into a dark space.

In that pitch-black space, they encountered the legendary Sage of the Six Paths.

The 'Sage of the Six Paths' gave them an instruction: find the source of the abnormal phenomenon that was disrupting the destiny of the ninja world and causing chaos.

"What is the abnormal phenomenon?" 

This was the question he had asked the Sage of the Six Paths at the time.

But the answer was something Tobirama couldn't comprehend. The Sage had responded: "The shadow that manipulates the threads of fate, the will that disturbs the order of the ninja world, an unknown existence from deep in the stars, slowly awakening from its slumber."

End of the memory.

Senju Tobirama rubbed his temples and muttered softly, so only he could hear, "Could the Sage of the Six Paths be referring to the 'True Creator' worshiped by the Aurora Order?"

---

In a slightly dilapidated house.

The special incense spread a faint smoke, as if it had a consciousness, drifting above the bed.

Candles were lit at each of the four corners of the bed.

A young man lay on the bed, eyes tightly closed, with a slight smile on his face, as if he were dreaming.

Suddenly, the candles at all four corners went out.

At the same time, a figure seemed to appear out of nowhere, gradually becoming solid.

The young man in the dream groggily opened his eyes and saw a man standing at the foot of his bed. The man had long black hair, a tall and slender frame, an exceptionally handsome face, and pale golden eyes resembling vertical snake pupils. His entire presence radiated a cold, sinister aura.

"O-Orochimaru-sama?!"

The distinct eyes and the chilling presence made the young man instantly recognize the figure as Orochimaru.

"Tch, so troublesome," Orochimaru said, glancing lazily, then using a body flicker technique to appear by the young man, swinging his hand to strike at his neck.

Bang!

The young man's vision went dark, and he fainted again.

After dealing with this small nuisance, Orochimaru surveyed the room again. His gaze landed on the incense and the candles, and he bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your help, Mr. Adam."

The incense smoke floating in the air circled around him before slowly dissipating.

It seemed that the existence had received his gratitude.

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