A-Gang did not deny it. "Of course. That kind of bond can't be erased no matter what."
A-Gang had heard that Orochimaru was now Konoha's Chief Scientist. This guy had liked tinkering with such things when he was young, and now he had finally been officially recruited.
Otherwise, if he hid in Back Mountain every day to study all those strange, bizarre things of his, A-Gang really would not have been able to stand it.
But although A-Gang had seen Orochimaru in the Torifu Realm last time, the two of them had not really talked much.
The feeling they gave each other was as if they were a little unfamiliar, and that made A-Gang feel somewhat uncomfortable.
After all, they had once been so close.
"I hope his personality has improved a little. I hope he isn't so gloomy anymore."
Jiraiya burst out laughing when he heard that. "Him? He's still the same as ever, but he's changed a lot already. You'll know when you see him."
"Fine. Then I'll go take a look when the time comes."
Time quickly reached the next day. A-Gang had spent quite a long time packing her luggage and such yesterday, so she got up rather late this morning.
By the time she finished washing up, it was already nine o'clock.
But Jiraiya had not arrived yet, so it did not matter.
"You're up, A-Gang. Want some breakfast?"
Mito looked at A-Gang with a beaming smile.
"Is there still some, grandmother? I really am a little hungry."
Mito brought out some pastries she had made, along with a glass of milk.
"This should be enough, right? It's getting late now, so just eat a little to tide you over. I'll make something good for you at noon."
A-Gang immediately smiled when she heard that.