The Curse of the Great Toad Sage

After arranging the Breathing Technique training for the three, Orochimaru tapped his feet lightly and leaped onto a treetop in one bound.

He glanced at the middle-aged man with white hair half-squatting on a branch and asked, "How long have you been here? Did you hear everything I said about the Breathing Technique?"

"No, no, I just arrived."

Jiraiya shook his head hurriedly, but upon meeting Orochimaru's gloomy gaze, he scratched his head in embarrassment and let out a boisterous, bell-like laugh.

"Hahaha... alright, I've been here for a while. Even if I did hear it, so what? Such a great taijutsu, did you really think you could hide it from me?"

To Jiraiya's surprise, Orochimaru actually nodded. "You really should practice it; the Breathing Technique is very suitable for you."

In truth, Orochimaru was also curious: what changes would occur if Jiraiya, who could practice sage arts, trained the Breathing Technique to the state of Total Concentration Constant?

By then, would Jiraiya still need to summon the two Toad Elders every time he entered Sage Mode?

Hearing Orochimaru say this, Jiraiya straightened his expression slightly and nodded. "Fine."

"You returned very quickly this time." Orochimaru looked toward the Hokage Office Building, a hint of mockery at the corner of his mouth. "It seems the old man is in quite a rush."

"After all, with what happened, the old man has his own difficulties."

Seemingly reminded of something, Jiraiya sighed softly, but quickly composed himself and asked with confusion, "Orochimaru, you're a bit strange today."

The most obvious thing was that he was talking a lot more.

In the past, every conversation between them had been initiated by him.

"Is that so?" Orochimaru tilted his head to think, deciding it was likely because there was one less chatterbox around.

"I get it, you're still thinking about becoming Hokage and want my support."

Jiraiya put on a detective-like expression, shook his head, and said, "I know what you've been doing in the village, but Hokage... you won't get past the old man."

"Hehehe..."

Orochimaru laughed in a sinister, bone-chilling way that made one's back crawl, before speaking slowly.

"Hokage? Ever since Minato took the position, I haven't cared for the seat."

"But you're right about one thing: I do need your help with something."

Hearing Orochimaru mention his student's name, Jiraiya's mood dimmed. "What do you want me to help you with?"

"Stay in the village and look after the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

Orochimaru bared his teeth and licked his lips. "He is the child of Minato and Kushina; coincidentally, he also has some connection to you."

Jiraiya felt a flicker of interest, but after a moment of thought, he shook his head. "No, I can't agree to that."

As he spoke, he asked with suspicion, "Is this what you wanted my help with?"

Orochimaru wore a faint, ambiguous smile. "That's right. As you said, the old man has his difficulties."

"He doesn't trust me, but he trusts you."

This was, of course, not the real reason—or rather, it was only a trivial part of the reason.

Orochimaru hoped to see Naruto, who possessed the Uzumaki bloodline and the Yang-chakra half of the Nine-Tails, grow up quickly to complete his own Sage Body.

Now, he had another reason: to observe what changes would occur in Jiraiya if he practiced both sage arts and the Breathing Technique simultaneously.

If Jiraiya left the village, neither of these could be accomplished.

Jiraiya was slightly stunned, touched by Orochimaru's words. He considered it seriously, becoming uncharacteristically solemn.

"I cannot agree to stay in the village. I must go find the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Great Toad Sage and guide him to make the right decisions for the transformation of the ninja world."

"Are you serious?"

Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya deeply. The look in Jiraiya's eyes now was very similar to his own when he chased after immortality.

For a moment, Orochimaru understood his companion's heart; Jiraiya treated the search for the Child of Prophecy as his life's work.

Orochimaru suddenly recalled the judgment the Genie had made about Jiraiya during a casual chat.

The Genie said that Jiraiya was a qualified ninja who believed in his companions and friends, but the one thing he didn't believe in was himself.

Even though he was revered by the ninja world as one of the Sannin, he had never once thought that he, too, possessed the power to change the world.

"Of course," Jiraiya said with dignity.

Orochimaru spoke out of the blue, "If you had been this persistent with Tsunade, you wouldn't have been beaten to the punch by that guy Dan back then."

Jiraiya's composure shattered in a second. The solemnity on his face vanished, and he began to sigh, "Yeah, but what's the point of saying that now? You can't win against a dead man."

"True. Let's talk business: considering the current situation, stay in the village for a while longer."

Orochimaru still hadn't given up. "In the next few days, the old man is holding a meeting to discuss the reconstruction of the village with the various clans. You should attend as well."

Hearing this request, Jiraiya frowned slightly.

The day after next, at noon.

Outside the Hokage Office Building, Fugaku Uchiha stopped in his tracks. His face was taut, devoid of any expression, and he appeared to be burdened with heavy thoughts.

The Uchiha clan had been having a very difficult time lately.

During the Nine-Tails Incident, although the area ravaged by the beast was near the Konoha Military Police Force building and the nearby clan compound suffered some damage, resulting in the loss of a few ordinary clansmen, the Uchiha clan suffered almost no casualties among its ninjas because they were tasked with evacuating the civilians and did not participate in the battle against the Nine-Tails.

Compared to the tragic state suffered by other ninja clans and civilian ninjas, the Uchiha clan's lack of damage was far too conspicuous.

On top of that, a rumor had begun to circulate in the streets at some unknown point in time.

Decades ago, the village had faced a "Tailed Beast Disaster" where the Nine-Tails was used as a weapon; at that time, the one controlling the Nine-Tails was Madara Uchiha, and after that battle, the First Hokage's lifespan was greatly reduced due to his injuries, leading to his early passing.

It was the same Nine-Tails attacking the village, and the same Hokage passing away.

Driven by those with ulterior motives, the reputation of the Uchiha clan suddenly turned foul.

Fugaku Uchiha let out a faint sigh.

Logically speaking, as the head of the Uchiha clan, he should have stepped forward to clarify the public opinion and issue a military pledge to capture the culprit who controlled the Nine-Tails, thereby clearing the clan's name, but... the one who controlled the Nine-Tails really was an Uchiha clansman.

Moreover, his whereabouts were mysterious.

Fugaku Uchiha had led men to investigate the site where the Fourth Hokage fought him, yet even with the keen observation of the Sharingan, they could not find a single trace, nor could they determine how the opponent had escaped.

They didn't even have the opportunity to eliminate a rogue ninja and draw a clear line in the sand.

Therefore, Fugaku Uchiha dared not speak; such news would only confirm the public opinion and make the clan's situation even worse.

"Hoo..."

Fugaku Uchiha exhaled deeply, suppressing his emotions, and pushed open the doors to the conference room, his gaze sweeping across the hall.

Behind the long table, the Third Hokage sat in the main seat, flanked by the two Hokage advisors, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura.

The other clan heads already seated were also from prestigious Konoha families, such as the Ino-Shika-Cho trio who always stuck together, and the Aburame clan...

Suddenly, Fugaku Uchiha's gaze paused for a moment, landing on a pale-faced man. The man seemed to sense it and returned a sinister smile; beside him sat a middle-aged man with white hair.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya of the Sannin.

Fugaku Uchiha had not expected them to be here today.

"Today's meeting will be hard to endure."

As if to confirm his suspicion, Danzo walked out from the side of the conference room and spread a map of Konoha out on the long table.