Tsunade looked at the direction Jiraiya flew away, then at her own fist, her expression uncertain and surprised.
In her shame and anger, she hadn't held back with this punch, just like the 温Izumi street incident back then.
But obviously, this time it didn't have any effect, as if she had hit a piece of tough leather.
And, she hadn't expected Jiraiya's sneak attack to succeed, even if she was lost in memories and a little distracted, this shouldn't have happened.
For a moment, Tsunade's mood was a bit complicated. In the few years since she'd last seen them, not only Orochimaru, but Jiraiya had also changed quite a bit.
While she was stuck in the past, her old friends had left her behind.
This was only natural, and Tsunade had a vague feeling deep down, but when it was actually confirmed before her eyes, she realized she didn't want to accept it.
'Do you want to keep wasting your talent, keep being stuck in the shadow of Nawaki and Dan's deaths?'
Suddenly, Orochimaru's words from that day flashed in Tsunade's mind, and she was shocked again.
"Tch..."
As an outsider, Orochimaru coldly watched and knew how Jiraiya had done it.
"Hiding your presence, a sudden attack... You went into Sage Mode just to do something like this?"
"Hahaha..."
Jiraiya jumped out of the forest and met Tsunade's dark gaze, laughing awkwardly, "It's been a while, I was just too excited."
In the past, he needed the help of the Toad Sages Shima and Fukasaku to enter Sage Mode, but they obviously wouldn't join him in messing around.
Of course, he wasn't the kind of person to take advantage of Tsunade just because of his abilities, really.
He was just trying to comfort her when he saw her looking dejected.
But now it seemed like he had messed up.
Jiraiya didn't dare to look at Tsunade anymore, he scanned the crowd, paused for a moment on Aoi and Karin's red hair, and finally landed on Orochimaru,
"Orochimaru, what you did in Kusagakure has been exposed, the old man wants me to ask you for an explanation."
"I have nothing to say about that."
Orochimaru waved his hand, telling Shisui, Kakashi, and the others who were watching to leave first.
Then he looked at Jiraiya, "Although Whirlpool Country is gone, the Uzumaki clan is still an ally of the village, I'm just fulfilling the alliance agreement."
"That's the reason, but it's not like you at all."
Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru, his eyes flashing with suspicion, "You wouldn't happen to be interested in the Uzumaki clan's healing abilities too, would you? Let me say this first, Konoha is not Kusagakure."
"Heh... If that were the case, I wouldn't be making such a big show of it."
Orochimaru glanced at Karin and her mother and smiled, "Wouldn't it be better to imprison them in an underground lab?"
Aoi held Karin, and her body trembled slightly. Orochimaru's words were very frank, but she also saw a sense of being in control.
Before Jiraiya could say anything else, Orochimaru smiled and said, "If you're worried, how about you take care of them? Naruto also has Uzumaki blood."
Jiraiya frowned, this was indeed a good idea for the safety of Karin and her mother, but on the other hand, Naruto's safety was even more important, after all, these two weren't native to Konoha...
"I'll take responsibility if anything happens."
Orochimaru made a straightforward guarantee.
Having lived for so many years, he considered himself to have some ability to judge people, and he had some understanding of people's desires.
In Aoi's heart, Karin was the most important thing in the world, as long as he had her safety in his hands, he wouldn't have to worry about her having any ulterior motives.
Speaking of this, Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya again, "I guarantee she won't have any other thoughts about Naruto, and you better be the same, you're old enough to be Aoi's elder."
Jiraiya was stunned for a moment before realizing the meaning behind Orochimaru's words, and immediately felt uneasy.
He glared with wide eyes, exasperated, "Who would have such thoughts? Orochimaru, are you doubting my character?"
He was answered with two cold laughs, and Jiraiya was immediately embarrassed.
"Aoi and Karin are temporarily in your care then."
After laughing, Orochimaru disappeared on the spot, leaving Jiraiya and Tsunade staring at each other.
The two of them had been assigned roles clearly, one as a healer, the other as a landlord.
...
After arriving at the underground lab, Orochimaru took out the core of the Third Kazekage puppet from a scroll and released the Four Symbols Sealing with a wave of his hand.
Almost instantly, the Third Kazekage revealed himself. He looked at Orochimaru's hand stuck in his chest, his stern brows slightly furrowed as he controlled the iron sand floating in the air.
The dim yellow light of the chandelier mixed with the faint blue light of the spirit, adding a bit of life to the lab's original darkness.
The Third Kazekage looked at Orochimaru and said in a deep voice, "What do you want me to do?"
At this time, he could easily get rid of the restraints of the puppet core and enter the Pure Land in accordance with the call of his spirit, but he made no attempt.
Orochimaru wasn't the kind of person to be kind, nor would he fail to leave behind a way to control him.
"You're really calm, as expected of the Third Kazekage."
Orochimaru said with admiration, but didn't directly make his request. Instead, he performed an Impure World Reincarnation in front of the Third Kazekage.
Of course, it was only a half-finished product.
But the effect was still significant, and the expression on the Third Kazekage's face visibly darkened. He knew very well that this was a threat.
Even if you enter the Pure Land, I have a way to summon you back.
"There's no need for that, I don't have any ill intentions towards the Kazekage. I'm only doing this so that future communication can go smoothly."
Orochimaru smiled slightly, as if he didn't notice the iron sand rising from the ground.
"What do you want me to do?"
After a moment of silence, the Third Kazekage slowly spoke.
"It's very simple, I will separate a part of my Chakra soul, you will take it to the Pure Land, in exchange, I will not attack your spirit again."
Orochimaru smiled, but the words he said were so insane that even the knowledgeable Kazekage was shocked.
The Third Kazekage stared at Orochimaru and said in a deep voice, "What are you trying to do?"
"Heh... Although it has nothing to do with you, it seems like you'll refuse if I don't explain."
Orochimaru licked his lips, "It's very simple, what I seek is eternal life, and in order to achieve this goal, I need that soul to die in my place."
"Madman!"
The Third Kazekage blurted out.
Orochimaru smiled, "So, is the Kazekage willing to help this madman?"
After a long silence, the Third Kazekage finally spoke, "I'm not sure if I can do it."
"Don't worry about that, you definitely can."
Orochimaru's tone was very certain, although, in reality, this was just an attempt during a window of opportunity, and he didn't have much confidence in it himself.
But what if, by some miracle, it actually worked?
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