Uchiha's personal opinion

"Therefore, Mount Myōboku must be listed as an enemy force to warn the village's ninjas not to make contact with it, lest they bring disaster upon themselves!"

Another Uchiha ninja from the police department added.

Amidst the various opinions, the participating ninjas imposed increasingly more restrictions on Mount Myōboku.

Orochimaru and Tsunade's expressions grew increasingly grim.

It wasn't that they didn't want to speak up, but given the proportion of ninjas present, it wouldn't matter if they did. Once the meeting minutes were formed and entered the voting stage, they would be forcibly passed by a majority vote.

As for other ninjas from non-Uchiha factions and former Hokage factions, most adopted a wait-and-see attitude, ultimately taking Hatake Sakumo's statement as a guide for their personal opinions.

"...Then so be it. Based on Governor Tokuko's proposal and everyone's vote, it is now proposed to list Mount Myōboku as an enemy force of the village and inform all registered ninjas. Let's vote on this matter first."

After everyone offered their opinions, Sakumo Hatake summarized the discussion and asked for a vote.

As Tsunade and Orochimaru had predicted, it ultimately passed with a majority vote.

"There's also... regarding the sustainable use of the sacred land's summoned beasts..."

Sakumo Hatake pondered for a moment, “I think this item doesn’t need to be discussed. I would like to ask the Konoha Hospital, which is under the jurisdiction of Tsunade, and the research institute where Orochimaru works to jointly come up with a plan to implement a continuous experimental sampling plan for the captured Mount Myōboku toads without endangering their lives.”

The so-called sustainable experimental sampling refers to how to maintain the life of the toads of Mount Myōboku while continuously slicing them for research and extracting Sage Chakra, so that they can be used as experimental consumables for a long time.

"The village is governed by Jonin..."

Uchiha Tokumitsu added, "If we make progress in researching the Sage Chakra of the toads of Mount Myōboku, it will be included in the village's secret archives, and the Jonin can exchange for it based on their individual strength and contributions..."

However, Orochimaru held a conservative opinion regarding whether the village's public research institute was up to that standard.

After all, he was somewhat aware of the phenomenon of public research institutes being filled by incompetent staff.

But this was exactly what Uchiha Tokumitsu wanted.

Whether the village's public research institute can produce anything is not important; it's just a way to shut up the village's ninjas. As long as their own Uzumaki Research Institute can produce reliable results, that's all that matters.

Moreover... the so-called three sacred lands of spirit beasts may not be connected, so dealing with them when the time comes will not be troublesome.

"I still disagree! Such mistreatment of the intelligent spirit beasts of the sacred land will inevitably backfire!"

Tsunade snorted coldly and left her seat in anger.

As for the medical ninjas under her command, they only dared to abstain from voting.

After much hesitation, Orochimaru also abstained from voting.

Although he had a fairly good relationship with Jiraiya, that did not mean he could get along well with Mount Myōboku.

In fact, as early as the Second Shinobi World War, the summoned beasts of the two had often caused trouble for each other on the battlefield, which shows how bad the relationship was between Ryuchi Cave and Mount Myoboku.

"Then proceed in sequence! At that time, please have the hospital and research institute send personnel to the police department's prison to check the physical condition of the captured summoned beasts and formulate a sustainable use plan!"

Sakumo Hatake concluded, "The meeting is now adjourned. The minutes will be submitted to all the Jonin for signature and confirmation tomorrow, and will also be sent to the Senate for backup!"

"...Orochimaru Jonin."

Just as everyone was about to leave, Uchiha Tokumitsu called out to Orochimaru.

"Here's a friendly reminder..."

The smiling Uchiha Tokumitsu appeared particularly hateful in Orochimaru's eyes!

"Even if it's the so-called holy land of summoning beasts, they are still an outcast... It's best to remain somewhat vigilant."

Uchiha Tokumitsu uttered a nonsensical remark before leaving on his own.

Orochimaru frowned, trying to figure out Uchiha Tokumitsu's intentions.

"What...what exactly does he know?!"

Watching Uchiha Tokumitsu's departing figure, Orochimaru felt his thoughts were once again in turmoil.

Chapter 314 Human Supremacy

At night, a worried Orochimaru once again arrived at Ryuchi Cave using the Reverse Summoning Technique.

After the afternoon session of the House of Representatives ended, Orochimaru felt increasingly uneasy.

Uchiha Tokumitsu's attitude towards the Summoning Beast Sanctuary was far too rigid. It was clear to almost all the ninjas present that Uchiha Tokumitsu was pushing the village toward hostility towards Mount Myōboku and all Summoning Beast Sanctuaries...

However, this is also the first time that a force in the ninja world has so clearly expressed its hostility towards a sacred land for summoning beasts that transcends the outer realms.

This is not normal...

According to Orochimaru's understanding, even during the Warring States period, the contracts between summoning beast clans were mostly arbitrary and not necessarily limited to a certain ninja clan or power. On the battlefield, it was common for summoning beasts of the same lineage to fight and kill each other when summoned by ninjas from different factions.

Furthermore, the reason why the summoning beast clan has been able to maintain a relatively aloof state is because it does not have much ambition for the ninja world. It mainly hopes to gain certain benefits from contracted ninjas. Otherwise, those bloodthirsty and sensitive powerful figures during the Warring States period would not have tolerated the existence of the summoning beast clan.

However... it wasn't just Mount Myōboku that had always claimed to be searching for the "savior" and "child of prophecy" of the ninja world; Orochimaru even felt that Ryūchi-dō's attitude was becoming increasingly strange, as if it had begun to have a preconceived stance and could no longer maintain its former detached bystander attitude.

"Come in with me... the White Snake Immortal is already waiting for you."

Princess Tianxin frowned and urged Orochimaru, who was standing in place deep in thought.

"Um……"

Orochimaru then realized what was happening and took a step to catch up with the floating Tashin-hime.

At this point, he discovered another problem with his mental state: he was becoming increasingly prone to daydreaming, regardless of the situation.

"Great Sage, Orochimaru is here..."

It was still the familiar Snake Cave Stone Temple, but this time the White Snake Immortal sitting high on it had transformed into the appearance of an old woman.

"White Snake Immortal, I've arrived."

Orochimaru bowed respectfully.

“Your mental state has deteriorated, and your will and obsessions have become distorted.”

The old woman, who was actually the White Snake Immortal, took a puff of her pipe and said softly.

"……Yes."

Orochimaru remained silent for a while, but finally nodded in agreement.

"The Eight-Headed Serpent Technique is different from ordinary ninjutsu; the foundation of this forbidden technique lies in the embodiment of obsession."

The White Snake Sage exhaled wisps of dragon-shaped smoke, his gaze shifting to the somewhat tense Orochimaru: "But you've been affected by that ridiculous bond with the earthly wanderers of Mount Myōboku, leading to a loss of faith and even mental derangement..."

"How ridiculous!"

The White Snake Immortal reprimanded her mercilessly.

"Orochimaru, do you want immortality or bonds?"

"...immortality."

Orochimaru hesitated for a moment, his face full of struggle, but in the end he chose his original belief.

"Either I live or I'll stay friends!"

"Undying!"

Orochimaru's expression gradually hardened.

"That's fine then..."

The White Snake Sage nodded. "The Eight-Headed Serpent Technique is a method of transcendence, a secret technique capable of transforming into a dragon and achieving immortality. It is far superior to the crude ninjutsu of the ninja world..."

"But precisely because of this, this technique is extremely difficult to master, and since its inception, almost no one has been able to successfully cultivate it..."

"You won't disappoint me, will you... Orochimaru!"

The White Snake Immortal said in a sinister tone.

Orochimaru remained silent.

Although the White Snake Sage had always stayed in Ryuchi Cave, his knowledge of the secrets of the ninja world far exceeded Orochimaru's.

Even his own mental problems could be accurately diagnosed, which shows how deep the White Snake Immortal's understanding of him, or rather, his control over him, was.

"Is it today that the descendants of Indra are determined to punish those toads of Mount Myōboku?"

The White Snake Immortal changed the subject and asked.

"……Yes."

Orochimaru nodded.

There's nothing to hide. Since the White Snake Immortal asked, it means it clearly knows about this matter, so there's no point in trying to cover it up.

Besides, given the relationship between Orochimaru and Uchiha Tokumitsu, they were far from needing to cover for each other.

What is your opinion on this matter?

The White Snake Immortal asked.

"...I'm pleased to see that."

Orochimaru revealed his true thoughts.

Orochimaru didn't actually have a good impression of either Uchiha Tokumitsu or Mount Myōboku behind Jiraiya.

Uchiha Tokumitsu and his clan were the culprits who caused his teacher, Sarutobi Hiruzen, to die and lose his reputation; while the mystical toads of Mount Myōboku had his best friend completely infatuated with them. Therefore, in Orochimaru's mind, neither of them were good people. It would be best if they fought each other to the death.

"You're quite honest..."

The White Snake Immortal took a satisfying puff of his pipe, exhaling smoke rings: "However, your wish should be fulfilled soon... those stinking toads have already decided to oppose Indra's descendants to the very end."

"...What is Indra?"

Although Orochimaru could roughly deduce from the White Snake Sage's words that Indra might be an ancestor of the Uchiha clan, he had no recollection or knowledge of his deeds or life, so he casually asked a question.

"Indra was the ancestor of the Uchiha clan, and his father was Hagoromo Otsutsuki..."

The White Snake Sage casually revealed a secret, and seeing Orochimaru's still indifferent expression of ignorance, he dropped another bombshell: "The so-called Hagoromo Otsutsuki is what you often call the Sage of Six Paths..."

"Six, the Sage of Six Paths..."

As expected, the White Snake Sage was pleased to see the vulnerable expression on Orochimaru's face.

"Otsutsuki Hagoromo founded the Ninjutsu, but it was Indra and Ashura who popularized it. Of course, due to the wars of the Warring States period, history was lost, so not many people know this secret."

The White Snake Immortal said leisurely, "Indra regarded humans as supreme, degraded all living beings into slaves, slaughtered and plundered old gods and evil spirits, and sealed away demons and monsters. Now his descendants do seem to have some of their ancestor's style..."

"Thank you for your guidance, White Snake Immortal..."