Jimo vs. Orochimaru

On his way, Jimo happened to run into Kankuro and Temari, who were escorting Kiba Inuzuka and Shikamaru back.

Both of them had taken quite a beating, and Akamaru had already lost consciousness.

"You?"

Temari recognized Jimo. Neither of them had ever forgotten the oppressive presence they'd felt from him back then.

"You'd better hurry. That kid named Sasuke has already woken up."

After handing the group some Senzu Beans, Jimo set off again to track them down, continuing until he emerged from the forest and reached an open clearing.

The battle between Kimimaro and Gaara had already reached its climax.

"Need any help?"

Jimo watched Gaara struggle to maintain the Shield of Shukaku.

"You'd better hurry after that Naruto kid! I can tell that something about Sasuke has changed."

Gaara looked at Jimo coldly.

"Yeah, Jimo, you'd better hurry and help Naruto!" Rock Lee added from nearby.

"Thanks for that bean!"

Jimo handed out two more Senzu Beans. That left him with none of the beans he'd brought with him, apart from the ones at home that hadn't ripened yet.

"What are we supposed to do without these?"

Rock Lee tried to return the Senzu Beans to Jimo.

"This guy's tough. Don't let your guard down!"

Jimo smiled. "I've got something even better!"

Jimo made his way to the Valley of the End, where the statues of two legendary shinobi faced each other across a waterfall.

Naruto and Sasuke stood opposite each other, one on each side. Both had suffered injuries, though Sasuke was clearly in worse shape than Naruto.

When Sasuke saw Jimo arrive, he shot him a meaningful glance.

With a fellow Konoha shinobi there, he didn't need to hold back so much.

After a string of taunts, Sasuke successfully provoked Naruto into blurting out, "Don't interfere!"

Red Chakra and crimson eyes appeared on Naruto, and the Chakra radiating from him carried an immensely powerful presence.

"The Nine-Tails, huh..."

It was the first time Jimo had seen Naruto in this form. It looked like he'd been holding in quite a lot of anger.

"Heh... Looks like I get to watch another good show!"

A sinister, hoarse voice came from the other side.

A short-haired man stood there, watching the two fight with great interest.

"Orochimaru!"

Those cold eyes made it obvious he was Orochimaru, even though he'd changed bodies and now looked completely different.

"I won't let you take Sasuke back!"

Orochimaru shot his tongue out of his mouth, thrusting it straight at Jimo.

"Damn it! This isn't how it's supposed to go! Why is Orochimaru here?"

Jimo dodged to the side, then sprang high over the waterfall.

The Kamehameha slowly gathered in his hands.

"Triple Rashomon!"

Three enormous gates burst out of the ground. Jimo had to increase the power of his Shockwave to break through them.

"What an interesting technique."

Orochimaru rose from the ruins. The attack seemed to have done little to him.

"His arms! Weren't they supposed to have been crippled by the Third Hokage's Reaper Death Seal...?" Jimo stared at Orochimaru grimly.

Apart from his physical strength and Chakra, which were both considerable, Jimo didn't have much else he could use against this slippery snake who just wouldn't die, no matter how many times he was hit.

"Damn, I should've learned some Sealing Techniques!"

Jimo grumbled, but his hands were already flying through seals.

"I've never actually used this since I learned it! Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!"

A massive water dragon slowly rose from the river. Under Jimo's control, it surged toward Orochimaru.

"Double Kaioken!"

"Young man, you certainly have a lot of secrets! The last time I saw a genius like you was many years ago..."

Watching the Water Dragon Jutsu swell far beyond its usual size, Orochimaru praised him.

While the two were locked in fierce combat, the fight between Sasuke and Naruto had also ended. Sasuke had grown wings in his Curse Mark Stage Two form, allowing him to hit Naruto a split second before Naruto could. Naruto had already used up a great deal of Chakra on the way there, and he passed out from the blow.

"Naruto!"

While Jimo was distracted, Orochimaru's Kusanagi Sword pierced through his body.

"That body of yours is remarkably sturdy! If that kid weren't around, you'd be the perfect vessel."

Orochimaru gave a sinister laugh.

"I hope you'll give me more surprises next time we meet!"

Orochimaru walked over to Sasuke, and the two disappeared beyond the border of the Fire Country.

By the time Jimo woke up again, several days had passed.

Wrapped in bandages from head to toe, Jimo lay in Konoha Hospital. Anko was slumped beside him, drooling so much she'd soaked her blanket. With her eyes all red and swollen, it was hard to tell whether she'd been crying or drooling.

"Ow, that hurts!"

Jimo tried to sit up, but couldn't.

The movement woke Mitaraishi Anko.

"You're awake!"

Anko looked at Jimo, her voice full of both concern and exasperation.

"You idiot! So many people went out there! Why are you the one who got hurt the worst?"

Before long, Tsunade, who'd heard Jimo was awake, arrived at the hospital room.

"Is that wound on your chest from the Kusanagi Sword?"

Tsunade sent everyone else out.

"Orochimaru came in person to take Sasuke... I'm sorry... I was supposed to be there to back them up... but I ended up like this..."

Jimo said dejectedly.

"How's Naruto...? That reckless kid charged straight in. Sasuke didn't even have time to change the direction of his attack..."

He had seen Naruto get pierced by the Chidori with his own eyes.

"You should worry about yourself! The Nine-Tails is looking after that kid, and he's almost completely healed already!"

"Lady Tsunade!"

"What?"

"Could you teach me Medical Ninjutsu? I think I have plenty of Chakra for it..."

A hint of disappointment flickered in Jimo's eyes, but determination quickly replaced it.

"Perfect timing. Sakura wants to learn, too... The two of you can keep each other company!"

After Tsunade left, a group of their companions came to visit. Rock Lee and Choji stood at the front, thanking Jimo for arriving in time.

Choza Akimichi, head of the Akimichi Clan, also came by to thank Jimo for arriving to help before Choji had to eat the Curry Pill.

"Jimo, don't blame yourself too much. You did the best you could in that situation..." Kakashi comforted him.

When Kakashi arrived, the Ninja Dog Pakkun had clearly sensed Orochimaru's presence.

"Still... that was Orochimaru... Surviving was an achievement in itself!" Shikamaru chimed in.

"Is that your idea of comforting someone?" Temari quipped from nearby.

Since Jimo had immediately suggested asking the Sand shinobi siblings who were still in Konoha for help, reinforcements had arrived in time, and Kiba Inuzuka and Shikamaru hadn't been hurt as badly.

Jimo had been the one to suffer the worst injuries this time. Fortunately, his body was so strong that the Kusanagi Sword hadn't broken any bones...

"Looks like I'll have to spend my time in the hospital until the new Senzu Beans grow!"

Jimo smiled at the pile of food on the table.