[V2] - Chapter 37. Didn't You Said I Could Leave...
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Let's rewind time just a bit.
In order to bring his former close friend back to the right path, to make him understand that money wasn't the most important thing—that there were still many beautiful things in the Ninja World—he, the Toad Sage, Jiraiya, personally infiltrated the demon factory.
"It looks like this is the processing plant shown in the video."
Jiraiya had transformed into a toad, hiding his body as he observed the surroundings…
Especially when he saw those workers still numbly laboring away, his heart grew heavy again. But then his face regained determination. "No matter what! As your friend, I can't just watch you keep going down this road, Orochimaru!"
According to the video heroically leaked by the brave Little White Man 10086, Orochimaru hadn't been here during this time, but rather in the adjacent lab.
As for the other location… it was also a hidden chamber, but the video hadn't captured its contents—no one knew what was inside.
Of course, not seeing the First Hokage in this workshop gave him a sigh of relief.
After all, that was the God of the Ninja World!
And with Impure World Reincarnation making its victims immortal and granting them infinite chakra, Jiraiya definitely didn't want to face the First Hokage right now.
According to his plan…
The first was to infiltrate and investigate the situation, and the second was to subdue Orochimaru and let all the oppressed souls return to the afterlife, which was the most important reason for his infiltration.
As long as he could convince Orochimaru, Impure World Reincarnation would automatically be released!
Finding a concealed spot, Jiraiya quietly restored his human form. He took out his phone, already set to silent, and sent out the message confirming his successful infiltration. Then he turned his gaze toward the direction of the lab mentioned in the video, his eyes serious. "Next… is the most dangerous place."
With that, he didn't hesitate. He hid himself once more and quietly crept toward the lab.
Along the way…
Although Orochimaru had placed many seals and there were plenty of subordinates patrolling, unsurprisingly—
They were all avoided one by one by Jiraiya, the Toad Sage.
Soon, he finally reached the lab.
Staring at the tightly shut door, Jiraiya paused, his expression growing heavier. He knew… the real danger was about to begin. He was also a little worried—after all, no one knew where the First Hokage was. If he happened to be in there too…
Then he might be completely screwed.
But as Orochimaru's close friend, he had the responsibility to bring him back to the right path!
The question was… how to get inside?
Just then—
While Jiraiya was hesitating, the door opened. A ninja, presumably one of Orochimaru's subordinates, came out.
Without any hesitation, Jiraiya hid himself and, relying on his years of ninja instincts, stepped right into a blind spot and leapt through.
Infiltration was successful!
He was now inside Orochimaru's lab. Looking at the messy, foul-smelling laboratory, Jiraiya instantly calmed down—
He had come to the right place.
That familiar scent of Orochimaru…
He knew it far too well.
And sure enough, when he looked up, he immediately saw that familiar figure—
That feminine smile, that slender frame!
At the moment, Orochimaru was seated, seemingly deep in thought.
But Jiraiya didn't act recklessly. He only had one shot at this. He had to take Orochimaru down in one move and force him to release all the Impure World Reincarnation victims. Otherwise… being deep in enemy territory, he'd be in grave danger.
So even though he was emotionally stirred, he held his breath and continued hiding, slowly creeping closer to Orochimaru, waiting for the right moment.
It looked like… Orochimaru was about to escape!
Jiraiya frowned slightly, thinking about the message he had just sent. By now, the Konoha ninja should have arrived in the Land of Rice Fields, which meant, from now on… he had to keep a close eye on Orochimaru.
No matter what—
He must save his old friend!
His eyes flashed with resolve once more. Then he looked at that long-unseen figure with a complicated expression, sighing inwardly: [If only Tsunade were here too, the Legendary Sannin of Konoha would be reunited once more…]
However—
Suddenly:
Ding! Ding!
A familiar sound rang out—
His custom notification tone for important messages.
"Tsunade sent a message!"
This was something he had specifically set up. After all, Tsunade didn't usually contact him much… It wasn't that he was some lovesick simp—he wasn't licking only Tsunade, okay?
So how could he be called a simp?
It was just that if an old friend ever needed his help, he wanted to be able to get the message immediately.
Just like with Orochimaru.
This was a bond—a friendship!
However—
"?!"
Why would Tsunade send a message at a time like this?
Cold sweat broke out on Jiraiya's face, as if he sensed something. He couldn't help but raise his head—only to meet a pair of amused eyes.
"Jiraiya?"
"…"
Was he… discovered?
Jiraiya sighed inwardly. Without hesitating further, he revealed himself.
"Dun dun dun~ A roaming dragon should return to the sea, if the sea does not welcome me, I will come on my own!" But upon seeing Orochimaru's amused gaze, Jiraiya felt a little awkward. He gave a couple of fake coughs and looked at Orochimaru with a complex expression. "Long time no see! Orochimaru!"
"Indeed, it's been a while!" Orochimaru didn't seem to mind at all. He smiled and nodded while looking at Jiraiya. "I didn't expect it'd be you, a toad, who came to find—"
Before he could finish—
"Hold on!" Jiraiya immediately cut him off and pulled out his phone. "Let me check Tsunade's message first!"
He ignored Orochimaru's face, now full of black lines, and tapped Tsunade's profile.
To his mild surprise, it was a voice message. He pressed play.
[You must come back alive!]
That familiar, caring voice instantly echoed out, making the corners of Jiraiya's mouth curl upward involuntarily.
Tsunade still cared about him!
His heart suddenly felt filled with energy again.
But—
"So, what exactly did you come here for?" Orochimaru's smile grew increasingly sinister as he looked at the filthy toad. "Did you come here just to clown around?"
Jiraiya put away his phone, lifted his head, took a deep breath, and looked at Orochimaru with serious eyes. "I came to bring you back, Orochimaru!"
He looked at him earnestly and said with deep meaning: "Stop going down this wrong path! Orochimaru! There are so many ways to make money—why do you even have to eat the ashes of the dead?!"
"…"
Orochimaru's face twitched slightly.
He knew it.
His reputation as a greedy profiteer probably couldn't be shaken off anymore.
Of course, he didn't care!
It was all for his dreams!
"Do you really think I can still go back?" Looking at his old friend, Orochimaru did feel a bit sentimental. But it was already too late for him to return. With a smirk full of disdain at the corner of his lips: "You're still as much of an idiot as ever!"
"I know! Maybe things have gotten a bit out of hand this time, but as long as you sincerely try to make amends, everyone will definitely forgive you!"
Another Orochimaru in another Ninja World was eventually forgiven in the end, so Jiraiya believed this one could be too!
With a sincere expression, Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru: "Come back with me! Tsunade and the old man and I will all help you! Please—trust me!"
After those words, Orochimaru looked at the familiar Jiraiya, and his heart wavered slightly.
What a nostalgic feeling…
He gave a small, amused smile: "You haven't changed at all, Jiraiya."
"So you agree?"
"There is no way I can go back, idiot!" Orochimaru scoffed coldly, shaking his head dismissively. Then he looked back at Jiraiya. "Leave. I'll let you off this time."
"…" Hearing Orochimaru's words, Jiraiya let out a disappointed sigh. "Looks like I'll have to take you back by force then."
Then, he said with a heartfelt tone: "As long as you come back, I'll help you with whatever money you need. I'll bear your sins with you. Then we can train together again like when we were kids, play together, maybe even go dancing—it's really fun! We're old now, we should enjoy life a bit. You know, these days I—"
Suddenly—
He felt a chill rush over him.
Jiraiya shivered and snapped his head up, looking at Orochimaru in confusion. "Orochimaru, you…"
"You'd better not go back." Orochimaru's previously calm expression suddenly turned sinister. He cut Jiraiya off. "Stay here! I almost forgot about what happened last time… but let me remind you—you're dead!"
With that, he formed hand signs—
And immediately…
Two terrifying auras surged forward.
The First Hokage.
The Second Hokage.
"…"
What the hell?
Jiraiya, drenched in cold sweat, looked at the encirclement. He slowly lowered his hands, which were halfway through a hand sign, and gave a sheepish smile while looking at Orochimaru. "Uh… didn't you just say I could leave—?"
"No!" Orochimaru smiled sweetly and shook his head. "I never said that."
"…"
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Read upto [V2] Chapter 100 in patreon.com/kurato6180