Orochimaru's Trail?

"Aren't you going to show up yet?"

The battle continued. Mei Terumi's Chakra was almost exhausted, and she was covered in wounds. Her eyes showed a hint of seriousness. Jiraiya's offensive did not diminish. He showed that he wanted to capture her alive and did not use any large-scale Ninjutsu.

"How could she be so sure that this person would definitely make a move?"

At this moment, however, a hint of doubt appeared in Jiraiya's eyes. Even now, with Mei Terumi almost killed by him, no one special had yet appeared.

If no one else intervenes, should I really capture Mei Terumi?

Or perhaps I'm mistaken? This girl doesn't have any special plans; she's just incredibly strong and saved everyone. And this girl really is a missing-nin!

A thought Jiraiya's mind like a bolt from the blue, and the more he looked at it, the more it seemed true, and he seemed to be momentarily lost in thought...

Perhaps it was the shame and annoyance of being caught in his self-deception of outsmarting thin air, Jiraiya couldn't help but reveal a hint of murderous intent. His face seemed to flush with embarrassment and anger, and his attacks became even more ferocious.

"Puff!"

An arrow of water unexpectedly pierced through Mei Terumi's thigh, and the Earth Spear suddenly pierced through her from behind. Mei Terumi could feel the burning pain in her back and the gravel embedded in her flesh.

Jiraiya has participated in countless battles, serving as a main force in Second Shinobi World War and Third Shinobi World War, tackling the toughest challenges. His application of the Five Elements Release and his grasp of battle timing are already top-tier, unlike Mei Terumi, who can only be countered by relying on her Kekkei Genkai.

Moreover, Mei Terumi was already not in her best condition to begin with.

"Cough cough..."

Once again punched by Jiraiya and sent flying to the ground, Mei Terumi's vision seemed to be blurry. She struggled to her feet, but stumbled and fell again. She no longer knew what power allowed her to stand up again and again, and her belief in the Masked Man's words began to waver.

Seeing Mei Terumi's pitiful state, Jiraiya hesitated for a moment, frowning slightly as he pondered...

"It's not impossible—she may have already been abandoned by the hidden person..."

"Jiraiya..."

"Grown ups..."

Seeing that Mei Terumi seemed to have no power to resist, the Mist Shinobi Anbu Ninja instantly Body Flicker Technique to Jiraiya's side. They glanced intently at Mei Terumi before fixing their gaze on Jiraiya. The Anbu of the ANBU hesitated for a moment, but still addressed Jiraiya respectfully.

The last arrogant guy is already beaten to a pulp, isn't he?

"The missing-nin Mei Terumi originally belonged to Mist Shinobi and possesses a great deal of Mist Shinobi's confidential information. In order not to affect the peaceful relations between our two villages, we hope to hand it over to us. We will report back to the Mizukage. Mist Shinobi is extremely grateful for Lord Jiraiya's assistance!"

"Ha ha ha ha..."

Mei Terumi took a short breath and slowly stood up. Her whole body seemed to be soaked in blood, and there was not a single part of her body that was intact. But she still stood up. She seemed to have heard what the Anbu said, but she did not refute anything. Her laughter was just a little sad.

"What if I say no...?"

Jiraiya frowned slightly, his gaze sweeping over Mist Shinobi three Anbu ninjas. He watched them silently, seemingly able to see through their masks to their ashen faces.

The three members Anbu the Mist Shinobi Anbu stiffened slightly, seemingly ready to flee. It was good that they could get the message out; the three of them were no match for Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya... We will report this matter truthfully to the Mizukage!"

The three members of the Anbu gathered their strength, preparing to escape in different directions. However, they seemed to have failed to understand a principle: in times of great importance, unexpected changes always occur, and important figures never leave the stage easily.

"Oh, that's really tragic..."

The sudden, unfamiliar voice not only made the three members of the Anbu stop in their tracks, Jiraiya also abruptly raised his head, looking towards Mei Terumi's side.

He didn't sense any approaching energy, which meant that, at least perceptively, he couldn't sense anyone unless he entered Sage Mode. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he would never have believed that such a being existed in the Shinobi World...

However, when he saw the person who had just arrived, a hint of doubt appeared in his eyes, as if there was a slight sense of familiarity.

"You are... Kato... Kato Osamu!"

"Konoha's missing-nin, Kato Osamu..."

Jiraiya narrowed his eyes slightly, staring at the man in front of him.

About five or six years ago, the last time he saw Kato Osamu was on the Sand Shinobi Battlefield. Afterwards, he heard that one of Minato Namikaze's subordinates had defected to Konoha, but at that time he was chasing Orochimaru and didn't pay much attention. He never expected to run into him here...

And this happened while investigating the Akatsuki...

Compared to his youth when he was just an insignificant nobody, filled with gloom and struggle, Kato Osamu now possesses an indescribable aura. He exudes the confidence of someone who has risen step by step to the forefront of the Shinobi World, becoming a powerful leader. His movements are composed yet resolute, carrying a hint of an aura of authority. He is unassuming and wise.

"So similar..."

Jiraiya seemed to have fallen into deep thought as well. In Kato Osamu, he saw the shadows of Minato Namikaze and Orochimaru. The man in front of him inherited Orochimaru's profundity and calmness, but not his coldness and madness; he inherited Minato Namikaze's confidence and composure, but not his friendliness and weakness. Just standing there quietly, he gave people a feeling that he should not be underestimated.

AI generated an image, using the main character as a reference.

"It's him... It seems he's the hidden member of the ' Akatsuki..."

"Not only is he related to Akatsuki, but as Orochimaru's disciple, he also made the same choice as him...?"

There must be a connection!

Thinking of this, Jiraiya felt a surge of anger and fervor rising within him. He had lost track of Orochimaru for a long time, and this former disciple of his must have some information.

"We must catch him! Absolutely!"

Jiraiya's obsession with Orochimaru now far surpasses his pursuit of the Akatsuki. If he hadn't lost information about his 'best friend' and hadn't happened to hear about the Akatsuki, how could he have given up his obsession?

"Finally... it's here...?"

Mei Terumi felt a sudden sense of relief, and her gaze towards Kato Osamu held a complex and resentful look that she could not hide. However, she quickly suppressed it, but as soon as the breath that was supporting her dissipated, she felt as if she had collapsed, unable to hold on any longer, and her body fell to the ground.

"Don't die..."

Kato Osamu pulled Mei Terumi onto his shoulder. Mei Terumi, who was already at her limit, was aggravated by Kato Osamu's actions, and she trembled a few times in pain. However, she did not struggle while resting on Kato Osamu's shoulder, probably because she did not have the strength to struggle. She just kept breathing out cold air because of the pain.

"Why... why... did you save... me...?"

Despite the pain, Mei Terumi didn't forget her mission; she couldn't show that she already knew Kato Osamu would come to rescue her.

"Do you know what kind of person dies the fastest?" Kato Osamu slowly channeled Yang Release Chakra into Mei Terumi's body, a smile playing on his lips and a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"What an ungrateful person..."

"You've been beaten half to death, and now some guy who looks like a fool has run out, clearly intending to save you. You should just let him save you without saying a word, regardless of whether he's mistaken you for someone else or what..."

"Have you considered what you would do if, unable to come up with a suitable reason, they simply left you here, clapped their hands, and said they were just passing by?"

Kato Osamu chuckled and tossed Mei Terumi into the air. Mei Terumi's eyes widened in disbelief, but she became drowsy due to blood loss, her eyelids growing heavier and heavier.

By injecting some Yang Release Chakra into Mei Terumi's body to temporarily stabilize her injuries, Jiraiya's attack was already imminent. Kato Osamu tossed Mei Terumi into the air, took a punch from Jiraiya, and with a flash, caught Mei Terumi's body in mid-air. With a chop to the neck, Mei Terumi's eyelids, which had been unable to stay open any longer, closed completely.

"Summoning Technique!"

The giant serpent suddenly appeared, swallowed Mei Terumi whole, and then vanished into mist once more. Only then did Kato Osamu turn his gaze to Jiraiya, a smile returning to his face.

"Lord Jiraiya, it's impolite to attack before someone has finished speaking..."

"Kato Osamu, it's been years. I never imagined you'd grown so much..."

Jiraiya frowned slightly, a hint of seriousness in his eyes. He had used eighty percent of his power in that attack, yet Kato Osamu had easily withstood it. He knew then that the young man before him was not to be underestimated, especially since he possessed even more profound sensory abilities than himself...

"People with stereotypes always seem to die tragically... I wonder if Lord Jiraiya is one of those people..."

"Based on your words, you're still far from it..."

Jiraiya wasn't provoked by this, but he didn't attack again for the time being. He had many questions for Kato Osamu, and his tone even sounded somewhat impatient.

"You joined Akatsuki, so what about Orochimaru?"

Tell me, where is he...?

Seeing the solemnity in Jiraiya's eyes, and seemingly recalling how Jiraiya had been searching for Orochimaru like a cat chasing a mouse, Kato Osamu couldn't help but chuckle softly.

He's considering whether such a scene should happen in real life, ideally with him as the audience.

"Although I really want to tell you, that's my dearest Orochimaru- sensei after all..."

"So... no comment..."

"It seems you do know something about him, so there's nothing to worry about now..."

Jiraiya chuckled softly, seemingly having anticipated this situation. He hadn't expected to obtain the information so easily; as long as he confirmed that Kato Osamu did indeed know, that was enough. As for the rest, he would rely on his own abilities; he was very confident.