69novels Chapter 416 Orochimaru's Experiences
Chapter 416 Orochimaru's Experiences
At that moment, Naruto gained a deeper understanding of his senior, Nagato. He realized that Nagato was not a simple enemy, but an individual with a complex background and emotions. Nagato's existence made Naruto reflect on the cruelty of war and the price people pay in their pursuit of peace. At the same time, it strengthened his own belief in protecting peace.
Konan silently gazed at Nagato's lifeless body, a profound and indescribable sorrow welling up within her. The trio they had grown up with were now reduced to a solitary figure facing the world alone. At this moment, she had no time to consider the changes Akatsuki would undergo without Nagato as their leader. Her only wish was to bring Nagato and Yahiko's remains back to their homeland, to give them a proper burial.
Konan was confused and bewildered by Nagato's choice. Was his decision right or wrong? However, since Nagato chose to believe in Naruto and entrust his faith to him, Konan was willing to respect Nagato's wishes. Perhaps, this was a reluctant compromise. After all, they had gone through countless hardships together and shared a deep bond.
On this silent battlefield, Konan stood quietly, her gaze fixed on the distance, as if trying to see their homeland through the endless void. There, their laughter, tears, and beautiful memories lay. Though the future was uncertain, Konan firmly believed that, no matter what, they must bravely move forward and find their own path. And the figures of Nagato and Yahiko would forever be etched deep in her heart, becoming the driving force that propelled her onward.
With the final battle concluded, Konoha Village is about to begin comprehensive reconstruction. The once prosperous village is now completely destroyed, leaving only ruins and a massive crater. This is a testament to the fierce battle and a challenge that Konoha must face in the future. However, despite the village's destruction, the people of Konoha have not been discouraged. On the contrary, they have begun preparing reconstruction plans with unwavering confidence. Working together with one heart and one mind, they believe that a new Konoha will soon rise again.
Just then, the villagers of Konoha gathered in the direction Naruto had gone. They were filled with gratitude, hoping for the safe return of their hero who had saved the village. Although the village had been destroyed, the people of Konoha remained hopeful. They knew that as long as there were brave and fearless heroes like Naruto, Konoha would surely rise again. At this moment, the villagers waited quietly, anticipating the reappearance of that familiar figure before their eyes.
Just then, Orochimaru had silently arrived at the outskirts of Konoha. When he witnessed the devastation Konoha was in, he was utterly shocked. He never expected that Pain, possessing the Rinnegan, would have such immense power, capable of destroying Konoha to such an extent. At that moment, a fierce fighting spirit ignited within him, and he couldn't wait to follow Pain's trail and confront him.
Orochimaru was brimming with confidence in his current strength. Since reaching the Golden Core stage, he could clearly feel that he had surpassed human limits and entered a transcendent realm. Moreover, he had sensed that mysterious power of rules during his journey. If he had the opportunity to come into close contact with this power, it would bring immeasurable benefits to his future growth.
Furthermore, Orochimaru would never forget that Jiraiya had died at the hands of Pain, the leader of Akatsuki. Jiraiya was one of Orochimaru's few comrades, and although their pursuits and ideals had diverged, their bond remained. They had fought many battles together and faced countless hardships together; these memories were deeply etched in Orochimaru's heart. Even though they had now parted ways and gone their separate ways, he could not forget their past friendship. Therefore, when he learned that Jiraiya had been killed by Pain, Orochimaru was filled with anger and grief. He was determined to avenge Jiraiya and make Pain pay the price. This desire for revenge stemmed not only from his remembrance of Jiraiya but also from his longing for those beautiful times they shared. He could not tolerate Jiraiya's sacrifice in vain.
Gazing at the ruins of Konoha, a rare flicker of emotion crossed Orochimaru's eyes. Perhaps his feelings for Konoha had shifted due to the actions of Hiruzen Sarutobi and the others, but Konoha was still, after all, his home. In this world of war and turmoil, it had provided him with a safe and stable environment to grow up in. Although everything had changed, those memories would forever remain in his heart. His affection for Konoha was arguably the part of Orochimaru's emotions he found hardest to sever.
Orochimaru concealed himself and slipped into the ruins. He had already noticed that most of the people of Konoha were converging in one direction, which was probably his target. By secretly listening to the conversations of the Konoha survivors along the way, he had also gained a general understanding of the village's situation.
When Orochimaru heard that Naruto Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, had stepped forward to confront Pain head-on and utterly defeat him, saving Konoha, a slight, disdainful smile crept onto his lips. He inwardly mocked those who had once treated Naruto as a monster, subjecting him to various forms of humiliation and isolation. Now, as this boy they considered a monster successfully confronted and defeated Pain, becoming a hero of Konoha, they began to praise and worship him. This contradictory attitude struck Orochimaru as utterly ridiculous.
Orochimaru knew all too well that Konoha Village, under Hiruzen Sarutobi's years of rule, had become incredibly hypocritical. They valued only power and victory, caring nothing for a person's true nature. Years ago, they considered Naruto Uzumaki an omen of doom because the Nine-Tailed Fox was sealed within him. However, when he demonstrated his immense strength and saved the village, their opinion immediately changed, hailing him as a hero. This transformation deeply impressed Orochimaru with the hypocrisy and selfishness of humanity.
Orochimaru couldn't help but recall his own past as a member of Konoha, but his thirst for power and strength had led him down a path contrary to the village's values. He understood that Konoha's values were not what he sought, hence his departure. Now, witnessing Konoha's treatment of Naruto, he was even more convinced that his choice had been right. Despite his disdain for Konoha, he continued to observe its every move. After all, Konoha possessed many powerful ninjas, some of whom intrigued him. He knew that more stories would unfold in Konoha in the future, and he would continue to observe them closely.
Upon learning of Pain's defeat and Konoha's victory, Orochimaru's face flashed with regret. He sighed inwardly, lamenting that if he had arrived at Konoha sooner, he might have witnessed Pain's immense power firsthand. After all, based on the intelligence relayed to the training grounds, Orochimaru was well aware of Pain's terrifying strength and mysterious abilities. Missing that opportunity filled him with deep regret. If he had arrived earlier, he might have been able to personally confront Pain, proving his own strength and even gaining insight into the power of rules he wielded. However, it was now too late. He could only silently regret wasting time on his journey and be astonished by Pain's defeat.
Orochimaru frowned, his gaze grave as he recalled his recent experience. At that time, he had keenly sensed an extremely powerful force of rules suddenly descending upon Konoha. This mysterious and powerful force filled him with unprecedented shock and fear. He knew that such a force of rules was far beyond the capabilities of ordinary ninjas in Konoha. Even the Nine-Tails, with its immense energy, could not contend with such a powerful force. After all, he had personally witnessed the Nine-Tails' power, but this force of rules far exceeded its capabilities. He had a relatively clear understanding of the Nine-Tails' strength, but this situation was entirely different. Where did this mysterious force of rules come from? Why did it appear in Konoha? These questions lingered in Orochimaru's mind, causing him to fall into deep thought.
Orochimaru gazed intently into the distance, as if trying to see through the void to that unknown world, and muttered to himself, "It seems that many other changes have occurred, and I need to investigate them thoroughly!"
He pondered to himself, puzzled as to how the Nine-Tails could contend with such an unparalleled power of rules. Even with his current strength, he could clearly sense the immense power of those mysterious rules; how could the mere Nine-Tails possibly withstand them? There must be many unknown secrets and variables hidden within.
Orochimaru knew that this world was full of endless mysteries and dangers, and that every subtle change could have enormous consequences. Therefore, he decided to personally investigate and uncover the truth behind these mysteries. Only in this way could he better understand the nature of this world and make full preparations for his future.
"Let's see what this new Konoha hero, Naruto Uzumaki, is like before making any decisions. Besides, according to these Konoha ninjas, Hokage Tsunade seems to have fallen into a coma while protecting the villagers. I need to check on her condition. After all, she's one of my few remaining comrades!" Orochimaru's thoughts raced, and he couldn't help but recall the trials and tribulations he had shared with Tsunade. Back then, they were young, full of passion and ideals, but now everything had changed.