After returning to Konoha, Orochimaru continued to hunger for knowledge and pursue greater power.
During this time, he carried out his own research while training Tsunade's younger brother, Senju Nawaki.
Nawaki was the grandson of the First and had inherited a powerful bloodline, so Orochimaru naturally paid close attention to him and looked after him well.
He devised a rigorous training plan for Nawaki and taught him all kinds of ninjutsu and combat techniques, striving to shape the young ninja into a pillar of Konoha's future.
As for Orochimaru, he used this time to continue investigating the mysteries of life and the limits of ninjutsu.
Through his joint research with Uchiha Ying Yue, he explored the powers of the Sharingan and Wood Release in depth, achieving several new breakthroughs in the laboratory.
His goal was not merely to make himself stronger; he also hoped to uncover the deepest secrets of the Ninja World through experimentation.
In a secret location somewhere in the Land of Rain, Jiraiya was living a simple life with three war orphans: Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
At first, Jiraiya had stayed behind only out of guilt, intending to care for the children until they could fend for themselves and make a living, then return to Konoha.
But as he spent time with Yahiko and the others, he gradually realized that they were more than ordinary war orphans. In their hearts lay a longing for peace and an unshakable sense of purpose.
One day, Jiraiya happened to see Nagato's eyes. They were the legendary eyes of the Sage of Six Paths—the Rinnegan.
Jiraiya's heart jolted.
He remembered the prophecy the Great Toad Sage had given him years earlier, when he was training at Mount Myōboku: "You will take on a student who will bring peace to the Ninja