Jiraiya had just walked out of the Hokage's office when he came back in. Just as he was about to close the door, he heard a name that immediately caught his attention.
"If you have any news about Orochimaru, please be sure to tell me." Jiraiya rarely dropped his joking demeanor. His face was solemn as he spoke seriously to Ye Wuyue and the others.
Although he knew this was inappropriate, he could not worry about that much for the sake of his dear friend.
Shisui looked at Minato, who nodded.
He knew how obsessed his teacher was with Orochimaru. Even if they did not tell him, Jiraiya would search for clues on his own.
Only after receiving Minato's approval did Shisui continue.
"A while ago, I followed the clues I had found to the Land of Rice Fields to search for the remaining Uchiha rogue ninja. After investigating there for some time, I discovered that something was wrong.
"I learned that children had been disappearing throughout the Land of Rice Fields recently, and people often heard inhuman cries. What felt even more abnormal was that the newly established Otogakure not only refused to accept commissions from the country's villagers, but also prevented them from posting missions with other ninja villages outside the country.
"That made me feel that this village was deeply suspicious. After investigating, I discovered that Otogakure's ninja were secretly conducting human experiments. They had even created many abnormal monsters whose strength and speed were far greater than those of ordinary people. However, they had lost their minds and retained only their primitive desire to kill."
Listening to Shisui's report from the side, Jiraiya clenched his fists. He could guess that Orochimaru was behind all of this. Back then, Orochimaru had defected from Konoha because his human experiments in Konoha had been exposed.
Shisui continued.
"At the time, I felt that the matter was too complicated and that I might not be able to resolve it alone. So I sent a message to Itachi, hoping he could come help me if he had the time. I continued investigating the situation in the village myself."
Shisui looked at Itachi, who continued from where he had left off. "When I received Shisui's message, I was busy. However, the next day, our squad happened to receive a mission to investigate the disappearance of children in the Land of Rice Fields. The clients were a couple from the Land of Rice Fields. After thinking of Shisui's message, our squad accepted the mission."
Sai was completely dumbfounded. He had carefully analyzed the matter at the time and concluded that their squad should not accept the mission. That analysis had been based entirely on his own judgment. He had never expected that the mission had already been assigned to their squad all along, leaving only him in the dark.
Sai now felt a powerful sense of unreality. It seemed to him that everyone was deceiving him.
"After arriving in the Land of Rice Fields, our squad's investigation produced information similar to Shisui's. However, we also learned that foreign ninja in the Land of Rice Fields often disappeared without warning.
"Later, our squad found an underground chamber where the missing children were being held. Several monsters created through human experiments and some Otogakure ninja were guarding it. After rescuing the children, Orochimaru and Uchiha Setsuna, the two S-rank rogue ninja from Konoha, found us at the same time.
"In the end, we joined forces and defeated Orochimaru, while Uchiha Setsuna was killed. However, Orochimaru managed to escape. Before leaving, he even took all of Otogakure's ninja with him. He should be the one who founded Otogakure."
Itachi gave Minato a general report on the mission.
Minato furrowed his brows and pondered for a while. Jiraiya asked impatiently, "The place where you discovered Orochimaru was the Land of Rice Fields, right?"
Shisui nodded.
"No. Orochimaru has gone too far down the wrong path. I have to find him and bring him back immediately."
After receiving the news, Jiraiya immediately prepared to leave, but Minato stopped him.
"Teacher Jiraiya, I understand how you feel right now, but I still hope you can stay in the village for a while.
"According to Shisui's report, Orochimaru has already left the Land of Rice Fields. We have no idea where he went. The shinobi world is vast, and if you search for him now, it will be extremely difficult to find his trail again.
"Besides, the joint Chunin Ninja Exams held by the Five Great Ninja Villages are about to begin. The other villages will definitely use this opportunity to test Konoha's strength, and something could easily go wrong. I hope you can wait until this period has passed.
"And..." Minato smiled gently. "Naruto has been wanting to see you for a long time. He probably still doesn't know your identity. I also want you and Naruto to spend more time together. After all, you were the one who gave him his name."
Jiraiya stopped in his tracks. Minato's words calmed him down. He had been somewhat dazed after suddenly receiving news about Orochimaru.
"Hahahaha, I can't help it if you want me to stay that badly. I'll remain here a while longer this time. I can also help you teach Naruto."
Jiraiya returned to his usual bold and hearty self. He laughed several times before speaking to Minato.
"Then thank you in advance, Teacher." Minato smiled as he spoke to Jiraiya.
After saying this, Jiraiya left the office again, taking Naruto, who had been eavesdropping outside the door, with him.
Ye Wuyue could still hear Naruto repeatedly saying in disbelief, "How is that possible? How is that possible? How could a lecherous old man possibly be the great hero I admire?"
Jiraiya closed the office door behind him. Minato asked Shisui, "What about the remaining Uchiha rogue ninja you mentioned? What does he have to do with Orochimaru?"
Shisui thought for a moment. He was not entirely certain about this matter himself.
"When we fought Orochimaru, we discovered that he also possessed a pair of Sharingan."
"Could Orochimaru have transplanted the Sharingan of your clan?" Shisui thought of his student Kakashi. He had also received a transplanted Sharingan from the Uchiha Clan, though he had only one.
Shisui shook his head. "I don't think so. If someone outside our Uchiha Clan transplants a Sharingan, it will be rejected by their body. Not only will its power be greatly reduced, but they will also be unable to deactivate it, leaving it active and constantly consuming Chakra. The Hokage's student Kakashi is in that situation.
"But Orochimaru is different. He can control the Sharingan freely, activating and deactivating it at will. It's almost as if... he transplanted the entire body of an Uchiha clan member. Although I find that absurd, it's the only possibility I can think of. It would also explain why we couldn't find the last Uchiha rogue ninja."
Even after saying this, Shisui remained somewhat uncertain.
Minato froze for a moment before realizing something.
"You're right. Orochimaru may have completely transplanted the body of that Uchiha rogue ninja."
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