Tsunade and the others looked at Aoba with strange expressions.
They stared at him as if he had lost his mind.
"Aoba, have you been under too much pressure lately?"
Tsunade frowned. "You just rattled off a bunch of nonsense about 'no scallions in my ramen at lunch today' and 'toads can actually breakdance.' What was that about?"
There it is again.
This wasn't the first time Aoba had tried to reveal that he came from another world.
But whenever he tried to speak of a "higher-dimensional truth" that contradicted the foundations of this world or lay beyond what its people could comprehend, some indescribable force intervened.
It was like a game's banned-word filter.
It forcibly twisted his meaning, turning his words into absurd jokes.
It was a kind of firewall-like restraining force.
"Looks like I can't explain it on my own."
Aoba sighed helplessly. "Wait here. I'll get a 'translator.'"
With that, his figure vanished in a flash.
Jiraiya stared at the spot where Aoba had disappeared. Recalling the nonsense he had just said, Jiraiya seemed to realize something.
He was now certain that Yamashiro Aoba was hiding an enormous secret.
A moment later, Aoba reappeared.
This time, someone stood beside him.
It was Orochimaru.
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed at the sight of Orochimaru. Then he glanced at Tsunade and Dan. Seeing how calm they looked, he understood.
So that's how it is...
"Heh heh heh... What an unusually lively gathering."
Orochimaru looked around and found himself surrounded by familiar faces. His signature sinister smile spread across his face.
"So what was so important that you had to drag me out of my laboratory?"
Aoba looked helpless. "It's the same problem as when I 'spouted nonsense' before. I thought you could explain it more clearly."
"Oh?"
Orochimaru's interest sharpened.
Of