The consecutive violent explosions and the tremors from the ground had already alerted the ninjas of the distant Star Village.
The Third Hokage of the Star Village, after calming the panic of the villagers and the eagerness of the ninjas to fight, instructed the Anbu ninjas to guard the village and rushed towards the area where the fire rained down with two trusted subordinates.
That's right, the Star Village also had an Anbu!
During the reign of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, he not only defended the village with his formidable strength but also, with his exceptional wisdom, implemented a series of measures to strengthen the village.
The ninja nations saw that these methods were clearly beneficial for the development of the village and immediately copied them without hesitation.
Konoha founded a ninja academy?
We'll build schools too!
Konoha's academy set the examination rules for selecting Chunin?
We'll hold Chunin exams too!
Konoha established an organization called the Assassination Tactics Special Unit to carry out various high-difficulty missions?
We'll establish an Anbu too!
...
Thus, major and minor ninja villages in the ninja world, too lazy to even think of names, directly followed Konoha's example in implementing various measures in their respective villages.
Although the Star Village was located in a remote area, the village chief, who even called himself Kage, naturally received some news.
Founding schools was a luxury that was not suitable for a small village, but establishing an Anbu was perfectly fine.
Therefore, after selecting a group of Chunin and Jonin who had achieved success in cultivating the Peacock Myōhō, the Third Hokage of the Star Village, following the trend, also established the Star Village's Anbu.
It is worth mentioning that the Star Village's Anbu, in terms of clothing and mask selection, was strikingly similar to Konoha's, except for the colors and patterns.
...
The Third Hokage of the Star Village flapped his blue wings behind him, wearing a straw hat that represented his status as Kage; two Anbu floated beside him, one wearing a bird-head mask and the other a cat-head mask, also flapping their wings and flying in the air.
The traces left by Orochimaru and Roshi's battle had not yet disappeared.
The towering small volcano no longer erupted, but scorching magma still flowed within the crater; Roshi's Flower Fruit Mountain technique covered a large area, and the lava-covered ground reflected the surroundings in a fiery red; the craters caused by the fire meteors outside were still emitting wisps of flame.
The three people flying in the air, looking down from above, easily found the location where the two had fought.
Witnessing the scene in the distance, where the terrain had been completely altered by ninjutsu, the Third Hokage of the Star Village felt a pang in his heart. He slowly hovered in mid-air and made a gesture to stop flying to the two Anbu.
"The strength of the newcomers is very strong; you are not their match."
"Hide yourselves, and I will go and check the situation first!"
The Third Hokage of the Star Village waved away his two trusted subordinates, and with a solemn expression, ascended to a higher altitude, slowly flying towards the fiery red land.
...
"Heh heh!"
"The seal within this human's body doesn't suppress you too strongly. Son, it seems you're doing quite well!"
The spiritual body of the Nine-Tails, following Orochimaru's Yin-Yang Release, drilled into Roshi's body. As soon as it appeared in the sealed space, it greeted the Four-Tails with a playful grin.
The Four-Tails let out a muffled "mm," and without immediately responding to its seemingly mischievous elder brother, turned its gaze to Orochimaru.
After staring blankly for a while, the Four-Tails hesitantly said:
"To have mastered the Yin-Yang Release power of Old Man Sage of Six Paths, no wonder that guy Roshi lost so quickly, his soul even extracted and sealed away."
"Human!"
"You are very strong, I..."
"I am not your match!"
Orochimaru nodded with a light chuckle, waiting for the Four-Tails' subsequent request.
As expected, seeing that Orochimaru showed no intention of responding, the Four-Tails subtly glanced at the Nine-Tails' expression before hesitantly stating its request.
"Being able to be with Kurama, you must truly be a ninja from Konoha, right?"
"Although Konoha and Iwagakure are enemies, but..."
"Could you, on behalf of me and Kurama being both Tailed Beasts, spare Roshi's life?"
"I guarantee that I will not reveal any information about you and Kurama to Roshi!"
Before Orochimaru could respond, the Nine-Tails pouted and snorted with disdain.
"Hmph hmph!"
"Son, you're getting worse and worse!"
"Is such a brainless human worth it for you?"
The Four-Tails was silent for a moment, then slowly shook its head.
"It's not about whether it's worth it or not..."
"Roshi is hot-tempered, but he's the human who has accompanied me the longest."
"For decades..."
"Perhaps I've grown accustomed to it!"
The Nine-Tails was stunned by this, and it couldn't help but recall its past within Mito Uzumaki.
"Decades..."
"Although it's not much, for a sealed Tailed Beast, it is indeed quite long!"
The Nine-Tails murmured and turned its gaze to Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, what do you think?"
With its dark perception, Orochimaru saw through the thoughts of the two Tailed Beasts.
Looking at the Four-Tails with some surprise, Orochimaru suddenly laughed.
"Since Kurama thinks so..."
"Just a mere Jinchuriki who only uses brute force, letting him live isn't impossible."
The Four-Tails felt a sense of relief, but unexpectedly, Orochimaru added another sentence.
"However..."
The Four-Tails' heart sank, and its eyes looked towards the Nine-Tails for help.
The Nine-Tails gave it a reassuring look and gently shook its head.
Orochimaru didn't pay attention to the small interactions between the two Tailed Beasts and said with a light laugh:
"Four-Tails Son Goku, that's your name, right?"
The Four-Tails nodded, looking at Orochimaru in silence.
"When I met Roshi earlier, you heard the request I made to him, didn't you?"
The Four-Tails thought for a moment and hesitantly asked:
"You want Lava Release?"
Orochimaru nodded gently.
Seeing Orochimaru admit it, the Four-Tails was stunned into silence.
It wasn't that it found Orochimaru's conditions harsh.
Compared to the heavy price of its own demise following Roshi's death, Orochimaru's request could be considered humane.
"But..."
"You already possess Yin-Yang Release, so what use is Lava Release, an ability derived from Yin-Yang Release, to you?"
Orochimaru sensed the Four-Tails' thoughts and gently shook its head.
"Don't worry about me having other requests!"
"Whether it's Shukaku or you, there's no difference in front of me."
"I only want Lava Release!"
"As for what I'll do with Lava Release, given our relationship, there's no need to explain it to you for now."
"Isn't that right?"
The Four-Tails fell silent again.
The Nine-Tails was already impatient with this rough-looking but hesitant subordinate. It lunged forward and swiped at the Four-Tails' head, baring its fangs fiercely at it.
"What are you thinking about?"
"This guy is recognized by me, do you think he has any reason to lie to you?"
"Or has your brain been burned by lava from spending too much time with this human?"
The Four-Tails covered its head and shrunk its neck, forcing a wronged expression onto its ferocious face.
"That's not it..."
"Kurama, I trust you completely!"
The Nine-Tails nodded with satisfaction and withdrew the aura that had been suppressing its younger brother.
Orochimaru chuckled and shook his head, stepping forward and extending his palm towards the Four-Tails.
"Then I'll trouble you!"
The Four-Tails was quite surprised by Orochimaru's action and couldn't help but look at the Nine-Tails. The Nine-Tails snorted and turned its head away.
"Don't look at me!"
"This guy knows everything about Tailed Beasts. Being able to exchange chakra by touching fists is nothing!"
The Four-Tails was slightly startled and raised its large palm.
"I truly never imagined..."
"Then... please use my power well!"
"Friend of the Tailed Beasts!"