The Road to the Future

Orochimaru looked helplessly at his friend beside him. After ordering two bowls of ramen from Teuchi, he brushed away the hand resting on his shoulder.

"Not yet."

"Pretty much already. People are calling you Fifth Hokage-sama now. What's wrong, Hokage-sama? Don't tell me you've become so cold and distant after becoming Hokage. That would really break my heart."

Seeing that this guy was still fooling around, Orochimaru sighed inwardly. He could not help but remark to himself that Jiraiya had always been this unreliable. No wonder he had kept failing in his pursuit of Tsunade.

Tsunade did not like guys like this.

At last, the ramen was served and placed before Orochimaru and Kabuto, though Kabuto's portion was smaller.

Picking up their chopsticks and breaking them apart, master and disciple began to eat.

It had to be said that Ichiraku Ramen really did taste excellent.

Ramen made with true focus and care would taste rich and delicious even to the pickiest person.

"Phew, I'm full! So full!" The man beside them placed another huge bowl atop the towering stack of empty bowls.

He patted his swollen belly, looking utterly content and satisfied.

"Jiraiya-sama, were you satisfied with your meal?" Teuchi asked with a smile, his eyes narrowed.

The man called Jiraiya-sama waved his hand. "Satisfied, satisfied. It still tastes just like I remember. No, it's even more fragrant than I remember. Teuchi, you've improved."

"Hahahahaha! You flatter me, Jiraiya-sama. As long as you're satisfied, that's all that matters." Teuchi laughed heartily.

Finally, Orochimaru and Kabuto finished their ramen. After draining their soup in one go and setting down their bowls—

"What brought you back this time?"

Picking at his teeth, Jiraiya said, "You're about to become the Fifth Hokage, so of course I came back to celebrate."

"And you'll leave after the celebration?"

"What? Can't bear to part with me?" Jiraiya asked in a teasing tone.

Yet there was a trace of anticipation in his eyes.

Only a little, though. He knew Orochimaru was not the type to say anything heartwarming.

That smug snake would probably mock him again.

Still, having an argument with him would not be bad either.

Come on, Orochimaru. Lord Jiraiya was ready! This time, he would make him regret it!

"I really do hope you'll stay."

"I knew it... Huh?"

"Stay and help me, Jiraiya."

Orochimaru made the rare, solemnly earnest request.

"..."

Jiraiya stood there dumbfounded, feeling as though he had fallen into a dream.

That smug bastard Orochimaru was making such an earnest request of him?

Had he finally acknowledged him?

For a moment, Jiraiya did not feel the joy he had expected. Instead, he felt somewhat melancholy.

"...People change after becoming Hokage, don't they?"

"People always change."

"That's right, people always change. You, me, Tsunade, and even the old man... But some things won't change. Orochimaru, I don't want to stay and help you fight for power. That isn't what I want."

That was right. In Jiraiya's eyes, Orochimaru was probably asking him to stay in order to consolidate his power.

After all, with the support of one of the Konoha Sannin and Orochimaru's good friend, Orochimaru's position as Hokage would undoubtedly be more secure.

But Jiraiya truly despised those tricks of power and politics.

"You're still so naive, Jiraiya," Orochimaru said with a sigh.

Jiraiya curled his lip.

He stood up.

Feeling bored now, he no longer wanted to bother with Orochimaru. He wanted to find somewhere to be alone.

"I know you long for peace. What if I told you that I want you to stay and help me make this world more peaceful?"

His footsteps halted.

Turning around, Jiraiya sat back down.

"Explain yourself, you stinking snake!"

"My teacher and I have a plan."

Orochimaru stared unblinkingly at Jiraiya, who was now looking at him with some seriousness.

"This plan would be even better with your help."

Some time later, Orochimaru walked out of Ichiraku Ramen. Inside the shop, Jiraiya sat with his head lowered, distractedly deep in thought.

"Why does it have to be me?" Earlier, he had asked Orochimaru that question.

"Only you would take this matter seriously. I trust you. You won't let it spiral out of control. More than anyone else, you long for peace to arrive, and you won't allow anyone to desecrate any possibility of bringing about peace."

"For peace? I don't believe you'd be that kindhearted."

"Creating your dream with your own hands is better than losing yourself in the illusory dream called prophecy."

"Are you worried about me, Orochimaru?"

"If you insist on seeing it that way."

"...You're right, Orochimaru. I won't let anyone desecrate any possibility of bringing about peace. It's rare for the old man to make such a resolution. Since you're doing something like this, I really can't just stand by and ignore it. But let me make this clear: if I get involved, I won't care about the so-called interests of the village's factions! If something happens during this process for the sake of profit and it makes me unhappy, Orochimaru, I won't hold back!"

"Perfect."

Orochimaru's smile turned sinister.

"I can't stand the village's rotten factions either. Jiraiya, feel free to wipe them out."

"Uh, Orochimaru, aren't you being a little too extreme..."

Seeing Orochimaru's mocking smile, Jiraiya realized what was happening.

"You stinking snake! You're asking for a beating!"

They had a rare bout of horseplay. It felt like they had returned to the past, and it made him nostalgic.

In any case, remembering everything that had just happened, Jiraiya covered his face with one hand to hide the smile spreading across it.

It felt as though the entire world had come alive.

A feeling of boundless yearning for the future.

Just like when he, Orochimaru, and Tsunade had been young together.

Tsunade.

He slumped onto the table and wiped away the tears that had overflowed from his eyes without his noticing, moved beyond control.

Honestly, he was already this old.

But he really wanted to shout out loud.

Tsunade! I miss you so much!

If you came back too, and joined us, the three of us—Tsunade, me, and Orochimaru—could carry our boundless hopes for the future and keep stumbling forward together in this world...

"Orochimaru-sensei seems to be in a good mood."

As they continued down the road, Kabuto looked at Orochimaru beside him. The words in his heart remained unspoken.

Yes, Orochimaru was indeed in a good mood.

He was not especially kindhearted, nor did he especially long for peace.

But neither did he reject continuing down the road to the future with those bound to him.