The sky was overcast.
Torrential rain poured down.
Ninjas covered the area below the cliff, packed together like a mass of black army ants. Not even the violent wind and rain could extinguish their enthusiasm for the Sharingan.
The Uchiha squad was completely surrounded.
"That old bastard is far too biased. We're all S-Rank rogue ninjas, but when he dealt with me back then, he didn't make such a grand spectacle."
Orochimaru stood atop his Summoning Snake, arms folded across his chest as he looked down on the battlefield with contempt. After speaking, he turned and cast a sidelong glance at the primeval forest behind him.
Orochimaru's Summoning Snake complained:
"What are you dissatisfied about?
"You can go back and discuss it with that old bastard Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Have him issue an order.
"Tell him to send the ninja forces guarding Konoha's northwestern border to target only you, Orochimaru."
"Heh."
Orochimaru chuckled softly, ignoring his Summoning Snake, which understood nothing of human humor.
He glanced sideways at the main battlefield ahead and the nearby cliffs, then the corners of his mouth lifted.
There were two familiar Chakra signatures over there.
The Three Legendary Sannin had been separated for a long time.
Ever since Orochimaru had defected from Konoha and joined the Akatsuki Organization, the three of them had never reunited. Back then, Jiraiya had sworn that he would bring him back to Konoha.
Yet Orochimaru had been on the run for so many years without even seeing Jiraiya's shadow.
Presumably, after leaving Konoha, Jiraiya had immediately resumed his journey to find the Child of Prophecy, casting his former close friend completely out of his mind.
And now, they had encountered each other here.
"Go over to the cliff!" A trace of anticipation appeared in Orochimaru's golden eyes.
"You're not going