Chapter 176 You Want to Forgive Me on Behalf of Those Who Died by My Hand?
In theory, Shadow Guard members should be constantly guarding the Kage's side. But theory often remained purely theoretical. Regardless of which village's Kage, none liked keeping their Shadow Guard constantly constrained at their side—they only summoned the Shadow Guard when needed.
For instance, at this moment—the time was 8:56 AM. Hatake Kakashi and eleven other Shadow Guard members had all completed assembly on the rooftop terrace of the nearest tall building outside Orochimaru's estate.
Of course, they still didn't know why they'd been summoned. But the order calling them had instructed combat readiness, indicating the upcoming mission would likely involve battle.
Combined with this assembly location, those whose minds worked quickly already felt bad premonitions emerging.
The next moment, Minato turned around, looking at the Shadow Guard he'd personally assembled. "Kakashi, Shisui, Takuma—combat may break out at Orochimaru's estate shortly. If you see Orochimaru attempting to flee, don't hesitate. Immediately move forward to intercept. The rest will assist Kakashi, Shisui, and Takuma from the sides."
Among his Shadow Guard members were jonin, special jonin, and chunin—abilities varied widely. Among them, Uchiha Shisui, Hatake Kakashi, and Hyuga Takuma, as jonin, possessed the greatest strength. The others' abilities were somewhat lesser.
As soon as these words fell, everyone was shocked, pupils trembling.
Orochimaru... fleeing?
That was Orochimaru—the Third Hokage's student, one of the Legendary Sannin, once a strong candidate for Fourth Hokage. How could such an important figure flee?
Everyone exchanged glances, seeing the inescapable shock and panic on each other's faces. They felt considerable pressure. Orochimaru's status wasn't merely exalted—he was also among the village's top experts. Wanting to intercept and snipe such a powerful figure—the pressure was extraordinary.
Uchiha Shisui's brow furrowed tightly. He wasn't afraid of combat, but was somewhat confused about what had happened, while also worried about the village's situation. "Hokage-sama, may I ask what crime Orochim—what crime Orochimaru has committed?"
He'd almost habitually addressed him as "Orochimaru-sama" by reflex.
Hearing this, Minato pressed his lips together. "Orochimaru and Shimura Danzo grave-robbed the First Hokage's tomb. Moreover, the two conspired to secretly capture village residents and children for illegal human experimentation."
After deliberating thoroughly, he still told everyone the truth.
He was uncertain where today's situation would ultimately lead, but one thing was certain—what Orochimaru had done definitely couldn't and shouldn't be concealed.
Of course, considering the poor impact, they certainly wouldn't publicize it widely. But the village's major clans and numerous jonin definitely needed to be informed. Orochimaru still had many supporters who'd need to be managed afterward. In any case, revealing the news now posed no problem.
"What?"
"This—this..."
"Actually attacking comrades in the village! Orochimaru deserves death!"
The Shadow Guard members were shocked and horrified. Their respect for senior Orochimaru vanished completely in this moment, leaving only deep revulsion.
This was the fruit of Konoha's education.
Or rather—except for the former Hidden Mist Village, which encouraged internal conflict among village members and trained elites through survival-of-the-fittest methods, the other four Great Shinobi Villages' internal educational philosophy centered on treasuring comrades and believing in bonds.
If a ninja who couldn't complete missions was trash, then someone who didn't treasure comrades was worse than trash!
Therefore, hearing now that Orochimaru had committed such universally condemned acts, their reactions were this intense.
Watching the righteously indignant group, gratification colored Minato's face. Though the Third had fallen short in handling the Uchiha clan and other matters, he'd done quite beautifully in ideological education. The Will of Fire had thoroughly penetrated hearts—even among the Uchiha clan existed figures like Uchiha Shisui.
He secretly pondered that after handling Orochimaru's matter, he could find an appropriate time to release the Third from Konoha Hospital back home to peacefully enjoy his remaining years.
Uchiha Shisui spoke up at this point, volunteering actively. "Hokage-sama, since Orochimaru committed such evil acts, why not let me enter the estate and capture him!"
His eyes had already turned crimson, filled with extreme confidence.
With just one command from the Hokage, he could capture Orochimaru alive.
Minato was momentarily stunned.
Honestly, even if he acted personally, he didn't dare claim he could definitely capture Orochimaru. Yet Uchiha Shisui dared boast such claims before him. Did he not know how formidable Orochimaru was?
Or did Uchiha Shisui possess abilities even Minato himself didn't understand?
Various thoughts passed through Minato's mind. His expression unchanged, he said, "Your intention is appreciated, but I've already assigned this matter to Jiraiya-sensei. Perhaps he can persuade Orochimaru to voluntarily surrender. Of course, that's the ideal state. Shisui, you all must still prepare to intercept Orochimaru."
Hearing this, Uchiha Shisui and others acknowledged in unison.
Since the Hokage's decision was made, as Shadow Guard members, they simply needed to follow orders.
Moreover, they could hear Minato's meaning—he apparently didn't expect Jiraiya to successfully persuade Orochimaru to surrender. Combat should be unavoidable.
Inside Orochimaru's estate.
Though the courtyard was quite spacious, though it was early morning with the sun rising, after entering, Jiraiya felt exceptionally dark and cold. The air circulated with an indescribable frigid taste.
Perhaps it related to Orochimaru planting bamboo groves throughout the courtyard. Even in winter, they remained lush and verdant. The tall bamboo blocked sunlight, casting down large patches of shadow.
"Orochimaru!"
Jiraiya rushed to the basement, kicking open the door. What met his eyes was Orochimaru wearing a white lab coat, long black hair falling to his waist, back turned.
Simultaneously, he saw this room's shelves holding many bottles and containers. Some were empty. Some held shriveled materials whose original forms were unrecognizable. But some contained pale green liquid, soaking various human tissue samples inside.
Seeing all this, Jiraiya's heart turned ice cold.
He stared intently at Orochimaru's back, roaring like a lion. "Why? Tell me, Orochimaru—why is this?"
Orochimaru turned around, holding a beaker containing dark red liquid. He looked smilingly at Jiraiya standing in the doorway. "Why what? Jiraiya, you're still the same as always! Once emotions overtake you, you can't even speak clearly."
Fury blazed even more fiercely in Jiraiya's eyes. "Orochimaru, don't evade the issue. You say I'm the same as before, so you definitely know what I'm asking."
"That's true enough."
Orochimaru nodded, setting the beaker on a nearby table. The smile on his face unchanged. "I do indeed know what you want to know. You want to ask why I'd cooperate with Danzo, why I'd experiment on village people, right?"
"But my answer is destined to disappoint you. No one forced me. I did all this voluntarily. Life is too fragile, yet I want to learn all the world's ninjutsu, master all the world's truths. For this, I did all these things."
Saying this, Orochimaru's smile was radiant. He looked at Jiraiya, extending his hand in invitation. "How about it? Jiraiya, won't you join me in attempting to conquer death!"
Jiraiya stared blankly at this close friend, familiar yet strange. Beneath that familiar shell was truly no longer that soul who'd grieve for comrades' sacrifices, but a monster twisted beyond human recognition.
After a moment, deep pain and sorrow appeared on his face. He murmured, "Orochimaru, you've truly gone mad!"
"As expected, even you can't understand this, Jiraiya."
Orochimaru gently shook his head, showing no disappointment on his face, as if everything was within his expectations. "Jiraiya, enough nonsense. State your purpose!"
"You didn't come just to say such useless words, did you?"
Jiraiya closed his eyes momentarily, then reopened them filled with resolve. "Orochimaru, go surrender! Though you've committed grave errors, you've also rendered distinguished service to the village. I..."
"You want to forgive me on behalf of those who died by my hand?"
Orochimaru's interruption plunged Jiraiya into silence.
Watching the speechless Jiraiya, Orochimaru's face showed pity, mockery, and numerous emotions. Even he himself couldn't clearly distinguish his feelings in this instant. But ultimately, his face bore a sneering smile. "Jiraiya, you have no right to forgive me on anyone's behalf. I don't need others' forgiveness either. I long ago decided to sacrifice everything to pursue this world's truths!"
Fury again surfaced on Jiraiya's face. "Orochimaru, since your mind is broken, I can only use my fists to awaken your conscience!"
The instant his words fell, he pounced forward like a maddened tiger.
Orochimaru remained composed, raising his hand to block, easily deflecting Jiraiya's attack.
Their hand-to-hand skills were comparable—students taught by the same teacher. Though each had strengths, their physical combat abilities truly had no major differences.
After fighting over ten exchanges, Orochimaru lost patience. He immediately swept his sleeve wide. Dozens of gray-black snakes burst from his sleeve opening, mouths gaping wide, exposing fangs, about to bite Jiraiya.
Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
A unique technique Orochimaru developed combining Ryuchi Cave's Summoning Technique.
Jiraiya was entangled by the serpent swarm, sharp fangs piercing his body. But the next second, the Jiraiya in the snakes' mouths—facial features and entire form twisted, transforming into mud and sliding away.
"Earth Clone?"
Orochimaru was unsurprised, recalling the serpent swarm and looking down at his feet. Simultaneously, hands emerged from the earth, grasping his ankles and directly pulling him down into the ground. In the blink of an eye, Orochimaru's body was completely buried underground, only his head exposed above the surface.
This was—
Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique.
But Jiraiya, reappearing on the surface, hadn't yet had time to celebrate when he saw the Orochimaru he'd trapped in earth also had distorted, blurred features, transforming into soft mud.
This was also an earth clone.
Jiraiya's mouth twitched. He turned his head toward the human-shaped shadow in the room's corner. "Orochimaru, are you planning to resist to the bitter end?"
"What?"
Orochimaru's voice carried some surprise. "Jiraiya, surely you're not planning to persuade me to surrender without resistance?"
Watching the silent Jiraiya, he couldn't help shaking his head. "I must retract my earlier words. You haven't remained completely unchanged over these years. You've become more naive than before, and more stupid!"
Jiraiya remained unmoved. "Orochimaru, you can't escape. Perhaps I alone can't capture you, but Minato is definitely waiting outside right now. Even if you can flee from my hands, you can't escape Minato's pursuit. Surrendering is your only way to survive."
Orochimaru laughed mockingly. "Jiraiya, people change. Even an idiot like you has changed. Do you still think I'm the same as before? Minato is indeed a genius. If fighting directly, naturally I alone can't withstand so many village elites surrounding me. But if I want to leave, no one can stop me!"
The next instant, his golden pupils suddenly turned crimson. Pitch-black tomoe spun wildly within—three tomoe in each eye.
Jiraiya was shocked and horrified. "Sharingan? You..."
He'd completely failed to anticipate this development—never imagining he'd see the Sharingan in Orochimaru's eyes. Caught unprepared, their eyes met. He fell victim to Sharingan genjutsu, his consciousness uncontrollably sliding toward the abyss, mind and body completely severed into two unrelated entities.
He struggled desperately to disrupt his own chakra, attempting to break the Sharingan genjutsu. But the reason the Sharingan made the entire shinobi world wary was precisely because this damned genjutsu wasn't so easily broken!
Watching Jiraiya stand rigid as a wooden puppet, Orochimaru did nothing, simply walking past Jiraiya's side without looking back, heading toward the door. His figure quickly disappeared through the doorway, leaving only Jiraiya standing motionless in the laboratory.
Orochimaru openly emerged from the estate, standing at the main gate and looking left and right. The next second, Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Shisui, and Hyuga Takuma appeared before him.
"Minato, you won't act personally?"
Orochimaru glanced at the three before him, then looked smilingly at Minato standing on the opposite building's roof. "You think they alone can handle me?"
Minato's expression was grave. Looking at Orochimaru before him, he felt something was wrong. "Orochimaru, where is Jiraiya-sensei?"
Hearing this, Orochimaru smiled and answered, "That idiot Jiraiya is currently standing punishment."
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