Return or Defect?

"Orochimaru, how unusual. You actually accepted this mission of your own accord..."

The "Sannin Squad," not yet known by the name Sannin, was moving northwest along the border between the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain.

Their mission was to search for Yuzuru and bring him back safely.

Orochimaru paid no attention to Jiraiya's incessant chatter. Ever since the war had begun, his personality had been quietly changing.

As a child, Orochimaru had been taciturn and unconventional, with a depth of thought far beyond his peers. But in most respects, he had still been no different from any other child.

After the war began, Orochimaru witnessed far too many deaths. He grew increasingly withdrawn and cold... Well, if you asked him, he wasn't cold. He simply cared about people in a way that wasn't quite normal.

For instance, during this war, the Sannin had once been trapped deep behind enemy lines. The three of them were isolated, and Jiraiya had been seriously injured. With no hope of escape, Orochimaru had prepared to help end Jiraiya's life. His reasoning was that being captured would be horrific, and there was no way to escape with Jiraiya, so it was better to let him die. It would be best for everyone.

Then there was the first time Orochimaru met Yahiko and the others. After lamenting how pitiful the war orphans were, he immediately decided to set them on the happiest path possible... Since living was a misfortune, death was good fortune.

Well, all one could say was that Orochimaru had come close to saving the Shinobi World from disaster.

"Could a Chunin really break out of the Land of Rain?" Tsunade asked doubtfully.

"We have to believe in the potential of a ninja, Tsunade," Jiraiya said optimistically. But he had good reason, too. "If the intelligence is accurate, last night really was a good opportunity to escape the Land of Rain."

The northern battlefield in the Land of Rain was practically like a nuclear war zone. Who would pay attention to a rat scurrying around in the rain?

Both of his teammates had noticed Orochimaru's change. Jiraiya had been keeping a close eye on him and wanted to say something, but then he abruptly turned to look in a certain direction.

He even stopped walking without realizing it.

"Jiraiya, what's wrong?"

Seeing his reaction, the other two immediately grew alert, thinking he had sensed an enemy.

"Is someone there?"

"No, it's just..."

Jiraiya had trained in Senjutsu at Mount Myōboku since childhood. His aptitude had held him back, and he hadn't yet mastered Sage Mode, but he had no trouble sensing Natural Energy.

Now, he could feel a dense mass of Natural Energy moving nearby.

Before long, Yuzuru emerged from the shadows beneath the bushes and appeared in their line of sight.

Yuzuru had never expected these three to come and meet him. But he wasn't the one they were concerned about; it was the intelligence he had obtained about the Jinchuriki's movements.

The Jinchuriki were too dangerous for Konoha to ignore.

"Are you Yuzuru?" Jiraiya asked.

"Yes, Lord Jiraiya, Lord Orochimaru, Lady Tsunade." Yuzuru named them one by one to prove that he really was a Konoha Ninja.

Tsunade merely thought Yuzuru looked familiar. People couldn't remember how many slices of bread they'd eaten, and likewise, Tsunade couldn't remember how many ninja she'd treated.

Yuzuru glanced at Orochimaru beside him. For some reason, Orochimaru gave him a very bad feeling. It even reminded him of being ambushed in the Tailed Beast Rampage instance.

Could Orochimaru suddenly snap? This was only the Second Shinobi World War... Had the lunatic already gone completely off the rails?

If things turned violent, his return might turn into a defection... Yuzuru couldn't figure out what Orochimaru was thinking, but he was still preparing for the worst.

"You saw Hanzō of Amegakure fighting the Iwagakure Jinchuriki?" Jiraiya continued.

"I can't be certain, Lord Jiraiya. I couldn't get too close to the battlefield, so I can only guess that Hanzō was involved."

"Why?"

"I can't tell how many Jinchuriki took part in the battle, but the Jinchuriki seemed to have been pushed into a corner. He—or they—released at least five Tailed Beast Balls. As far as I know, only Hanzō could have done something like that," Yuzuru said.

His theory had little evidence to support it, yet the conclusion was highly convincing. It was much like how, during the Nine-Tails' Rampage, the Fourth Hokage had seen the Masked Man and concluded that he was Uchiha Madara.

Because, in people's minds, only Madara had the Sharingan power to control the Nine-Tails.

"So the Jinchuriki was out of control... Hanzō of Amegakure. Yes, he's the only one who could have done it."

"In ninjutsu, taijutsu, and elemental techniques—especially Water Release—Hanzō has no weaknesses. His strength is beyond what ordinary ninja can imagine."

Jiraiya accepted Yuzuru's theory outright. He didn't think it was a problem that Yuzuru hadn't approached the battlefield. Expecting a Chunin who had only recently been a Genin to get close enough to scout a battlefield of that level was asking far too much.

But...

This Chunin named Yuzuru really was unusual. What was going on with the Natural Energy within him? Had he been affected by it accidentally, or was he deliberately accumulating it?

"After all, he was the one who started this war. Having strength that surpasses the rest of the Shinobi World is the bare minimum," Tsunade agreed.

The Hanzō of this era was not quite like the one Yuzuru knew from the story. The later Hanzō had been very powerful, but not overwhelmingly so. The Hanzō of today, however, was practically the big boss...

"Whatever the case, let's get out of here first."

"Understood."

After that brief exchange, Yuzuru followed the three of them as the squad began withdrawing from the Land of Grass.

With these three, he should theoretically be safe—unless...the danger came from within their own team.

Jiraiya glanced at Yuzuru and felt that the Natural Energy within him seemed to be accumulating more and more. Wouldn't that cause a problem?

Then he looked at Orochimaru and kindly asked on his behalf, "By the way, how can you use summoned snakes..."

"Jiraiya."

Orochimaru cut Jiraiya off, his gaze fixed on Yuzuru.

"It seems you're ready. Then let me see what you can do." Orochimaru still had some honor; he warned Yuzuru before attacking.

Yuzuru was taken aback. What did he mean? Was he testing whether Yuzuru qualified to have a Summoning Contract with Ryūchi Cave?

Orochimaru had some honor, but not much. The moment he finished speaking, he attacked...

Ninja Art: Shadow Snake Hand!

His hand seals were so fast!

Orochimaru flicked his sleeve, and a mass of long snakes swiftly coiled toward Yuzuru. But Yuzuru didn't dodge in a panic. Instead, he let Orochimaru restrain him.

Feeling the poisonous snakes breathe against him and the pressure of his bones and muscles being squeezed, Yuzuru remained calm.

"Lord Orochimaru, I'm only a Chunin. I'm not qualified to fight you."

"No. My instincts are never wrong. I can sense danger from you... As a fellow summoner with a contract to Ryūchi Cave, let me see what makes you special."