"Since you don't want to return to the village either, how about becoming my disciple? You can travel the entire Ninja World with me. Hahahaha!" Jiraiya was the first to make the offer. He had never been one to hesitate; when he met someone he wanted as a disciple, he simply said so.
Orochimaru narrowed his eyes.
"I think this child has what it takes to train with me. Jiraiya, I don't think he's suited to be your disciple. With your carefree personality, you're bound to turn this little guy into an idiot just like you. I'd rather not see a second Jiraiya running around," Orochimaru said.
Jiraiya: ?
"You and Tsunade still have to return to Konoha, don't you? In that case, the boy would be better off training with me. I don't want to go back to the village," Jiraiya said with a shrug.
"Heh... I knew you'd bring up returning to the village. Two days ago, our teacher sent a coded message ordering us to head to Sunagakure in a week and take out their army in one fell swoop." A smile appeared on Orochimaru's face.
Jiraiya scratched his head.
"There's no point in the two of us arguing. Let the little guy choose for himself," Orochimaru said, folding his arms.
Then Jiraiya and Orochimaru both looked at Uchiha Chiba, who was sitting on the hospital bed.
In a sense, Uchiha Chiba had succeeded in becoming the disciple of one of the Sannin. But when it came to choosing whom... he had his own considerations. Tsunade was undoubtedly the best fit for him.
First, there was Jiraiya. If he trained under Jiraiya, he would most likely learn some of Mount Myoboku's special ninjutsu, as well as its exclusive Sage Mode. But the problem was that he had already made a pact with Katsuyu of Shikkotsu Forest... A ninja summoning two different kinds of beasts was unheard of. Besides, if he really trained under Jiraiya, it would only be a matter of time before he ran into Konan and the others. Uchiha Chiba didn't want to put them in danger. If Hanzo the Salamander learned that he was in the Land of Rain, he would probably refuse to stop until Chiba was dead, just as he had a week ago.
Next was Orochimaru. Although Orochimaru would briefly work with Danzo after the Second Shinobi War in the original timeline, he would part ways with him after the Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, found out. Orochimaru practiced Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode, but he apparently lacked the talent for it. Even in the original story, he never demonstrated Ryūchi Cave's Sage Mode. Although this future mad scientist could help Chiba in many ways, sooner or later he would discover Chiba's secrets. Unless absolutely necessary, Chiba wouldn't take Orochimaru as his teacher.
Rustle!
The curtain at the entrance was pushed aside.
Tsunade appeared inside the tent.
"Let this brat come with me. I could use an assistant," Tsunade suddenly said, pointing at Uchiha Chiba on the hospital bed.
Jiraiya: ?
Orochimaru: ?
"Tsunade, Uchiha Chiba looks like the type who specializes in ninjutsu. Your Taijutsu probably won't do much for him. He'd be better off studying with me," Jiraiya said, spreading his hands. He really couldn't understand why both of his old friends wanted to snatch this child from him.
After hearing Jiraiya's words, Uchiha Chiba suddenly remembered something. He looked over at Orochimaru. "Lord Orochimaru, have you seen my Kusarigama? That weapon is really important to me..."
Orochimaru remained calm. He ignored the argument between Jiraiya and Tsunade and simply thought in silence before speaking. "You mean that Kusarigama? I remember now. Your weapon should be outside the tent. But why is it so important?"
"Sorry..."
"Ha... I suppose I shouldn't have asked."
Then
Uchiha Chiba walked out of the tent.
He looked around.
At last, he spotted the Kusarigama on a rack. He walked over to it. This wasn't the Kusarigama that Hanzo the Salamander had given him at the beginning; it was a keepsake of Katsuzuki of the Salamander...
"Hey, brat? Get back in here. We've settled everything, so you don't have to worry about which of us will be your teacher," Tsunade called loudly.
Uchiha Chiba slung the Kusarigama over his back and walked into the tent.
Then
Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade exchanged glances and said, "In that case, you can be the disciple of all three of us."
"What? Isn't that a little too hasty?"
Soon
A week passed.
Today was the day Orochimaru would lead the Konoha forces to Sunagakure to fight off the Sunagakure Ninja.
"Chiba, do you know why Sunagakure went to war with Konoha?" Orochimaru studied the map without looking up at Chiba.
"Because the terrain of the Land of Wind doesn't seem suitable for growing most crops, and they appear to have very few resources," Chiba replied.
Orochimaru nodded.
During that week, the three of them had devised a very thorough training plan for Chiba.
"Orochimaru, the Land of Wind is just ahead. This looks like a battlefield," Jiraiya said, stroking his chin, puzzled. Normally, Konoha and the Sunagakure Ninja should be locked in fierce fighting by now. There shouldn't be nobody here.
"Chiba, go take a look. And don't forget the concealment technique I taught you," Jiraiya said, patting Chiba on the shoulder.
Then
Uchiha Chiba nodded and stepped forward. Just as he was about to enter the deserted battlefield, the Blood Pact forbidden technique deep inside his body began to vibrate, as if warning him that something very important was inside the Land of Wind.
The Land of Wind had the largest desert in the entire Ninja World. Many dangers lay hidden in its sands, such as quicksand traps. But normally, a ninja with Kage Level strength wouldn't be caught by one.
Yet, perhaps because of the Blood Pact inside him, he failed to notice the quicksand trap hidden beneath his feet. The ground began to give way, and his body sank against his will.
He tried to pull himself free, but the quicksand's force was overwhelming, swallowing him in an instant. His body gradually disappeared beneath the sand, leaving only his head and one hand exposed. He still clutched his weapon tightly.
"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"
Orochimaru formed Hand Seals, and a huge gray serpent seized Uchiha Chiba's clothes in its jaws and dragged him out of the quicksand.
"What happened? How could you fall into such an obvious quicksand trap?" Orochimaru frowned.
"No... I... I think I sensed something... It blocked my chakra perception? I..." Uchiha Chiba clutched his forehead. The Blood Pact forbidden technique inside him kept vibrating.
Seeing that something was wrong with Uchiha Chiba,
Tsunade immediately came over to him.
"Mystical Palm Technique."
Before you continue