The Sannin's Curiosity (Seeking Follow-ups, Seeking Follow-ups!)

"Orochimaru!"

Walking down the street after finishing his errands and preparing to return to his secret base to continue his ninjutsu research, Orochimaru was stopped by a familiar voice calling out from behind.

Though he felt a flicker of genuine happiness, he maintained a cold, indifferent expression as he turned around to look.

Not far behind him, a white-haired youth was waving enthusiastically with a broad grin on his face.

The one who had called out to him was none other than his teammate and close friend, Jiraiya.

Jiraiya hurried over to Orochimaru's side, raised his right arm, and draped it over Orochimaru's shoulder with great familiarity.

With a look of disgust, Orochimaru swatted his hand away.

"What is it?"

Faced with Orochimaru's cold tone, Jiraiya didn't get angry at all; he had long since grown accustomed to his friend's icy demeanor.

"I heard from Sarutobi-sensei that he found you a disciple!" Leaning to the right, Jiraiya grinned and leaned in close, asking with intense curiosity.

Giving a faint nod, Orochimaru raised his hand again to push Jiraiya's large face away.

"A child from the Shimura Clan, the nephew of Elder Danzo," Orochimaru replied curtly.

"I've heard of that brat. They say he's a once-in-a-generation genius." Jiraiya, who never cared much for the "genius" label, added a hint of teasing to his voice. "I wonder, between you, the former genius, and this Shimura genius, who is the bigger one?"

"Boring." Replying in a cold voice, Orochimaru, still preoccupied with his research, turned around and prepared to leave.

"Hey, hey! Don't walk away, Orochimaru!" Jiraiya called out, following after him.

"What do you think of your genius disciple? Are you excited to be a teacher for the first time?" Jiraiya pressed, keeping pace with him.

Sighing, Orochimaru stopped, looking slightly helpless.

"Jiraiya, Sarutobi-sensei asked me to take him on. I didn't actually want to agree." Orochimaru explained earnestly.

"You don't like the kid? Is this that legendary 'like attracts like'—or rather, geniuses always looking down on other geniuses?" Jiraiya joked.

"No, I just don't know if I have the qualifications to be a proper teacher right now." Orochimaru said, hesitating with a lack of confidence.

Hearing his friend's words, Jiraiya dropped his grin, reached out to pat Orochimaru on the shoulder, and encouraged him with a serious expression: "It'll be fine. You're a true genius, you know. You'll definitely be an excellent teacher."

Faced with Jiraiya's encouragement, Orochimaru's mood improved, and a faint smile touched his lips.

"That goes without saying, you idiot!"

"Damn it, you jerk, Orochimaru!"

Watching Jiraiya's flustered reaction, Orochimaru smiled even more brightly.

"Damn it!"

Thump!

"Ow!"

Jiraiya, who had been shouting, was suddenly struck, clutching his head in pain.

Orochimaru, watching the bump rapidly swell on Jiraiya's head, felt a cold sweat break out on his back.

Tsunade is truly becoming more and more dangerous.

While complaining internally, Orochimaru looked at Tsunade, who was standing behind Jiraiya.

"Finished with your work at the hospital?" Orochimaru asked proactively.

"Of course not, I snuck out," Tsunade replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Orochimaru had nothing to say to her attitude and could only sigh silently to himself.

"Tsunade! You violent woman!" Finally recovering from the pain, Jiraiya stood up, clutching his head, and glared at her.

"Who told you to scream in the middle of the street? You're so noisy, you idiot!" Tsunade crossed her arms and scolded him righteously.

"So violent, no wonder no one wants you," Jiraiya muttered under his breath while rubbing his head.

"What did you say?" Tsunade gave him a threatening look, wrapping her fingers into a fist and squeezing until her knuckles cracked.

Quickly putting some distance between them, Jiraiya ducked to the other side of Orochimaru.

"Everyone is watching, stop arguing," Orochimaru said, skillfully attempting to mediate.

"Hmph!" Tsunade snorted and loosened her clenched fist.

As she did, both Orochimaru and Jiraiya let out a simultaneous sigh of relief.

"What were you two talking about just now?" With the scuffle over, Tsunade asked curiously.

"Orochimaru is taking on a disciple!" Before Orochimaru could speak, Jiraiya poked his head out and blurted it out.

"A disciple?"

Just as Orochimaru expected, upon hearing Jiraiya's words, Tsunade's eyes lit up, and she wore a look of pure gossip.

"Who? Who is it? Which family's brat?"

"The Shimura Clan's. Elder Danzo's nephew," Orochimaru replied.

"Danzo's nephew?" Tsunade's expression turned to one of disgust.

Tsunade did not despise Kizaru; she despised Danzo!

As for this old friend of Teacher Sarutobi and disciple of her own grand-uncle, Tsunade had never been fond of him.

Tsunade loathed Danzo's traditional, rigid, and sinister nature, as well as his methods of operation.

If Danzo's nephew has the same personality as Danzo... At this thought, Tsunade shuddered, casting a sympathetic look toward Orochimaru.

Facing Tsunade's gaze, Orochimaru guessed what was on her mind.

"I have reviewed the files on that child; he is very different from Elder Danzo."

"That brat from the Shimura Clan has been quite famous in the village lately. It is said he is a once-in-a-generation genius with the potential of the First Hokage," Jiraiya added.

"Potential of the First?" Tsunade looked interested, but her expression quickly shifted to one of disdain. "It's probably just that sinister villain Danzo building hype for his own kin. How shameless!"

Jiraiya, who had been craning his neck, looked at the disgusted Tsunade and then at the calm Orochimaru, a sudden thought rising in his mind.

"Why don't we go test the truth of that brat? Let's see if he's really as impressive as the rumors say!" Jiraiya said, his tone a mix of curiosity and gossip.

"Boring." Orochimaru had no desire to participate and responded calmly.

Tsunade's reaction was the opposite of Orochimaru's; she found Jiraiya's proposal very tempting.

Potential of the First!

As the granddaughter of the First Hokage, Tsunade cared deeply about that specific evaluation.

"I think Jiraiya's suggestion is good. Orochimaru, let's go take a look!" Tsunade looked at Orochimaru, putting on an eager, dramatic expression.

Sighing once more, Orochimaru could only nod in agreement, faced with the expectations of his two friends.

"Let's go take a look." After speaking, worried that the two might act too recklessly, Orochimaru added, "Keep it restrained. Don't go overboard."

Giving Orochimaru a heavy slap on the shoulder that nearly knocked the wind out of him, Tsunade laughed heartily. "Don't worry, with this Princess here, nothing will go wrong."

"It's precisely because you're here that things are likely to go wrong," Jiraiya muttered under his breath.

"What did you say? Jiraiya!" Tsunade heard his quiet jab and roared in displeasure.

"I said, let's get going!" Having realized his life might be in danger, Jiraiya used the Body Flicker Technique and bolted into the distance.

"Damn you, stand still!" Tsunade yelled, chasing after him.

Watching his two unreliable fellow disciples, teammates, and friends run off, Orochimaru could only follow them in silence.

I updated too late the past two days, so I learned my lesson and pulled an all-nighter to write! I'm getting the chapter out this morning.

Seeing how hard Maomao is working, brothers, please keep up with the updates!!! I'm counting on you all!!!