The Jutsu That Shouldn't Exist

Amid the dense forest canopy, two figures raced through the trees. They were Genye and Jiraiya, who had just crossed into the Land of Fire.

As they hurried along, Genye asked, puzzled,

"Pervy Sage, with Senior Minato in the village, how could Orochimaru possibly escape?"

Jiraiya's expression darkened. "Minato went on a diplomatic mission to the Land of Lightning with the delegation a few days ago. Orochimaru must have chosen to defect now because he knew the old man wouldn't bring himself to kill him."

"I see." Genye nodded in understanding.

Indeed, setting aside the two Hokage, there weren't many capable fighters in the village at the moment. The strongest was a freshly graduated elementary-school student. (Laugh.)

"Pervy Sage, how are we going to track down Orochimaru?" Genye asked.

"I know a few of Orochimaru's secret bases. Before leaving, he'll definitely try to destroy them. We should be able to use that to figure out which route he took."

As he spoke, Jiraiya took a map from his robes and led Genye toward the first marked location.

Over a month later, following the faint traces Orochimaru had left behind, Jiraiya and Genye finally reached a cave.

"Pervy Sage, Orochimaru's inside!" Genye said through gritted teeth, his Byakugan active.

That little snake was quite the runner. He'd kept Genye from seeing a single raggedly dressed young woman for over a month. What a bastard!

"I know." Jiraiya nodded. "Stay outside and keep watch. I'll go in and bring him out."

"Let me go in, Pervy Sage. It looks like there are quite a few traps inside." Genye frowned.

Jiraiya patted Genye on the shoulder, his expression complicated. "Let me do it, Genye. I want to bring Orochimaru back myself. Please."

sigh.

Genye sighed to himself and didn't insist.

He knew Jiraiya probably still hoped to persuade Orochimaru to return to the village willingly.

"Teacher, be careful in there," Genye reminded him.

"Don't worry." Jiraiya smiled, patted Genye again, and strode into the cave.

The dim cave concealed a vast space within.

Holding a fire starter, Jiraiya made his way deeper, carefully avoiding the various traps. At the end of the passage, he found a small brick-and-stone room.

Without hesitation, Jiraiya pushed open the door and said in a low voice, "I finally found you, Orochimaru!"

"Hmph. You actually found your way to a place like this. I'll give you that, Jiraiya."

Orochimaru's sinister voice came from within the room. A slender figure then appeared in Jiraiya's sight.

Jiraiya looked at him in disbelief. "Orochimaru, what happened to you...?"

The man before him looked nothing like Orochimaru, in either appearance or build!

"This?" Orochimaru spread his arms and calmly replied, "This is a body I've recently acquired."

Hearing that, Jiraiya demanded, "You didn't really steal someone else's body, did you?!"

Orochimaru let out a hissing laugh. "Jiraiya, you know I've always pursued immortality. Who wouldn't yearn for a young, strong body?"

"Besides, this body is only a temporary vessel. In three years, I plan to take a perfect one!"

"That's enough. Your ambitions end here. You're coming back to the village with me!" Jiraiya barked.

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

Jiraiya formed Hand Seals, and the ground beneath Orochimaru instantly turned into a swamp.

Strangely, Orochimaru didn't sink into it. Instead, his body grew thinner and thinner.

Only then did Jiraiya realize that the Orochimaru who'd been talking to him was nothing more than a sheet of paper!

"Too bad. I've already seen through all your tricks." Orochimaru cackled.

The next moment, the paper Orochimaru burst into flames, burning to ashes right before Jiraiya's eyes.

"That bastard!" Jiraiya's face turned red with rage. He spun around and headed for the cave entrance.

Since Genye's Byakugan had "seen" Orochimaru, that meant he had definitely been here just moments ago. There was no doubt about it!

Suddenly, a subtle sensation traveled up Jiraiya's foot as he stepped on a particular brick. His face changed dramatically.

"Damn it! Summoning Technique!"

Jiraiya slammed both hands against the ground. The next moment, the many Explosive Tags hidden beneath the bricks detonated all at once, blowing everything inside the cave to pieces.

Boom!

Outside the cave, Genye shook his head helplessly. "Pervy Sage, I told you to be careful."

But they were only Explosive Tags. They couldn't possibly hurt Jiraiya. Genye had seen him use the Summoning Technique.

"Now, let's go catch that guy." Genye turned his gaze toward the distance.

Meanwhile,

Orochimaru swung his arms as he jogged out of the cave—his movements perfectly scientific—then bolted into the distance.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss! No one can catch me, Orochimaru! From now on, the sky's the limit and the sea's wide enough for me to leap!"

Just thinking about how he'd be free to conduct whatever experiments he wanted after leaving Konoha filled Orochimaru with delight.

"Ha! Hahahahaha!"

At that moment, a burst of laughter suddenly rang out behind Orochimaru. He stumbled in fright, nearly tumbling to the ground.

"Who?!"

Orochimaru hurriedly turned around. The moment he recognized the person before him, he felt as though his blood had frozen. His good mood vanished instantly.

"You're... Hyuga Genya!"

Orochimaru knew the fearsome man before him, who'd beaten a Tailed Beast into submission. Cold sweat poured down his face.

With his scrawny body, one punch from Genye would send him straight to the afterlife.

"Um, Genya-kun, I..."

Orochimaru laughed awkwardly, his mind racing as he tried to figure out how he could talk Genye into letting him go.

Then Genye suddenly said, "I want the secret technique scroll in your robes."

Orochimaru froze for a moment, then broke into a delighted grin. "Sure, no problem!"

If he were taken back to Konoha, he'd be imprisoned for life. Trading a few forbidden techniques for his future freedom was absolutely worth it!

Thinking this, Orochimaru immediately pulled the scroll from his robes and tossed it to Genye, then asked timidly,

"So, can I go now, Genya-kun?"

"Go?" Genye caught the scroll and looked at Orochimaru in surprise. "Did I say I'd let you go?"

"You...!" Orochimaru nearly choked with rage.

He thought back over the conversation. Genye really hadn't said that. He'd just imagined it all himself... Damn it, that made him even angrier!

"Hyuga Genya, let Orochimaru go."

The situation changed again. Four masked figures leaped out of the shadows and stood between Orochimaru and Genye. The one in front spoke in a commanding tone.

"This is Lord Danzo's order. When you return to the village, you'll earn Lord Danzo's friendship."

"Heh." Genye crooked his mouth in a faint, noncommittal smile.

"No wonder Orochimaru managed to evade so many Konoha squads. Someone's been secretly protecting him all along."

The Root squad before him was no pushover. Their chakra levels were all on par with jōnin, but they still weren't much of a threat to him.

"Hyuga Genya, stopping Orochimaru won't do you any good. Just pretend you didn't see him, and you can earn a generous reward. What do you say?"

Seeing that Genye wouldn't respond to threats, the Root ninja softened his tone.

Honestly, they'd have drawn their blades and charged if it had been anyone else. But against Genye... they'd chosen to appeal to his emotions and reason.

"You wouldn't want to offend Lord Danzo over something that won't benefit you, would you?" the Root ninja said.

"Yeah, exactly!" Orochimaru hurriedly nodded beside them. "Genya-kun, I think he makes a lot of sense!"

Genye pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Yes, offending Lord Danzo over this would be a bit of a bad deal..."

"Good. I'm glad you understand." At Genye's words, all five men, Orochimaru included, secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"But I have no choice!" Genye's next words made all five tense up again. "Pervy Sage asked me for a favor in earnest for the first time!"

"So, Shimura Danzō... you can step aside!"

The Root ninja's expression turned cold. He shouted, "Hyuga Genya, how dare you! You dare show disrespect to Lord Danzo!"

"Sure, sure, I'm as bold as they come. I'll make Goujian weep with envy!" Genye burst into laughter.

"Enough. Move aside, now. Otherwise, when we start fighting, I'm afraid I might accidentally punch you all to death!"

"Hyuga Genya, do you really think you've got me cornered?"

Before the Root ninjas could get angry, Orochimaru, standing behind them, sneered.

"Let me show you the results of my research over the years!"

Tiger–Snake–Dog–Dragon. Orochimaru formed four hand seals, then brought his hands together with a heavy clap.

That seal looks familiar... This is...

Genye's pupils contracted sharply. "Impossible. This jutsu is...!! You've got to be kidding me! How could Orochimaru have mastered this jutsu already?!"

"Impure World Reincarnation!"

Orochimaru shouted, and a purple summoning array appeared. A thick wooden coffin slowly rose from it.

A black "二" was carved into the center of the coffin.