The Three Ninja Meet

Days passed, but no matter how much Jimo helped, Naruto still couldn't compress his power into the Rasengan with just one hand—not completely.

"Looks like there's no way around it unless Naruto makes peace with the Nine-Tails..." Jimo said with a headache.

On the final day of their bet, Jiraiya and Tsunade were gone all night.

Jimo went next door and saw the window wide open. Shizune was lying facedown on the floor, unconscious.

"Shizune!" Jimo shook her, rousing her from her deep sleep.

"Ow!" Shizune clutched her stomach.

"How did you end up passed out here?" As soon as he asked, Jimo suddenly realized that Tsunade had probably gone to meet Orochimaru...

"Quick, we have to find Lord Jiraiya!"

Shizune staggered over to the window. A Kunai was embedded in the outer wall.

"Jimo!"

Jiraiya was leaning against a wall not far away, his face pale.

"Lord Jiraiya?"

"Quick! I need you to cure this poison!"

Shizune hurriedly helped Jiraiya inside.

"Jimo, you were right... I let my guard down..."

Jimo had warned him earlier to be extremely careful whenever he went drinking with Lady Tsunade. Jiraiya had thought he was being overly cautious. He and Tsunade were close friends—why would she poison him?

But Jimo had been right. Tsunade had given him a drug that disrupted the flow of Chakra. It was colorless and odorless, making it impossible to guard against.

The four of them hurried toward the meeting place Tsunade and Orochimaru had agreed on.

"Will Grandma Tsunade agree to it?" Naruto asked.

"Hard to say... If Orochimaru really can bring those two back to life..." Jiraiya said, his expression grave.

He couldn't accept that answer, and he wanted even less to kill his old friend of many years with his own hands.

"Don't worry! Lady Tsunade definitely won't agree!"

Jimo said confidently.

"How can you be so sure?" Seeing Jimo so confident, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel a little more at ease. The kid had made a lot of good calls along the way. He could only hope he was right this time, too...

"Lady Tsunade may have lost heart after losing something precious, but she loves Konoha no less than anyone here! She's a descendant of the First and Second Hokage! How could she not love the village those two gave their lives to build?"

Worried that his presence might change the course of events, Jimo summoned the Flying Nimbus and went on ahead.

"Hurry up and catch up. I'll go ahead and stop Orochimaru!"

With that, Jimo became a streak of golden light and raced into the distance.

"Tsunade, have you made up your mind?" Orochimaru asked with a sinister smile, watching her from the clearing.

"I... can treat you... but you must leave the village alone..."

A trace of sadness showed in Tsunade's eyes.

Just as Tsunade reached out to touch Orochimaru with her Chakra, a Kunai shot between them.

Kabuto Yakushi appeared atop the city wall.

"Why? Why betray me now?!"

Orochimaru's expression darkened, and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Is this your answer, Princess Tsunade? You actually want to kill me?"

Seeing Tsunade remain silent, Orochimaru pressed on, unwilling to give up.

"I truly do want to bring them back to life. After all, one of them was my very first student! Besides, I promised not to lay a hand on Konoha!"

"When you said you could bring them back, I really was tempted for a moment... Their dreams meant enough to them that they were willing to give their lives to fulfill them. I truly wanted to see them again..."

Tsunade paused.

"But you said it yourself... Everything with form must eventually fade... But the wishes of the dead will never fade!"

A few days earlier, Jimo had spoken with her in private.

"Lady Tsunade, Orochimaru's technique really can bring the dead back from the Underworld..."

Jimo told her. He had experienced it firsthand, having seen the First and Second Hokage after they were revived through Impure World Reincarnation.

"But are puppets with controlled minds really them? Immortality is against the natural order... You're a medical ninja, too. Of course we hope people can live without sickness or hardship. But the dead are gone. We shouldn't disturb their rest in the Underworld..."

"Looks like negotiations have failed... Then I'll just have to make you do it!"

Before he'd even finished speaking, Tsunade had already charged at them.

"Come on, Orochimaru!"

Kabuto and Orochimaru fought as they retreated, leading Tsunade into an open area.

Kabuto swallowed a Soldier Pill and formed Chakra Blades in both hands.

The next moment, he suddenly sprang out from behind Tsunade.

Tsunade's leg gave way, and she fell to the ground.

Kabuto had just severed the muscles in her leg...

"The Medical Ninjutsu you invented is quite useful in battle, too!"

Kabuto licked the blood from the corner of his mouth and gave her a vicious smile.

Before he could attack again, Tsunade punched him and sent him flying.

"Incredible... You can still fight back even with injuries like that. No wonder you're one of the Three Ninja, renowned alongside Lord Orochimaru..."

Gradually, Kabuto felt that something was wrong with his body.

Tsunade had just attacked his nervous system. He couldn't control his own movements.

While Kabuto was regaining control of his body, Tsunade used Medical Ninjutsu to heal the muscles and heart vessels he had just severed.

"Don't underestimate me..."

Kabuto staggered to his feet, leaving Tsunade stunned.

He'd regained control of his body that quickly...

"You have a fear of blood, don't you...? I'll make your blood... spray everywhere..."

Kabuto pulled out a Kunai and charged at Tsunade, only to be sent flying by a figure that suddenly appeared.

"Oof! I made it..."

Jimo's figure slowly emerged from the dust, still holding the pose from his punch.

"Lady Tsunade, leave this one to me..."

Jimo held his hands in front of him, palms cupped like flower petals. A blue sphere of light slowly appeared between them and began to grow.

"Kamehameha!"

A massive Shockwave slammed toward Orochimaru and Kabuto, carving a long trench through the ground.

"I'd love to see the Three Ninja fight, but I don't want to deal with all that trouble..."

Two brown snakes suddenly appeared in the distance. Orochimaru and Kabuto stood on their heads, staring at Tsunade and Jimo.

"Uh... This is going to be a problem..."

Jimo watched the giant snakes slithering closer.

"Heh heh, this is where Lord Jiraiya makes his grand entrance!"

Jiraiya's hearty voice came from behind them. He quickly formed Hand Seals and performed the Summoning Technique.

After a cloud of smoke...

Gamakichi hopped out.

The scene was extremely awkward.

"Lord Jiraiya... Why don't you go rest somewhere?" Jimo quipped.