"How is that possible? He's the Third Hokage's student, and one of the famed Legendary Sannin!"
"Is that really true? Someone that important, and so suddenly?"
For a time, rumors ran rampant through Konoha.
Holed up at home, the Third Hokage puffed away at his pipe, his expression shifting uncertainly.
"While working with me, your eldest student was also working with Xia Le."
"But his work with me was merely an experiment to replicate the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai. As for his work with Xia Le, I know nothing about it!"
"Whether they have any other connections besides this matter..."
"That is what you need to investigate!"
Danzo's words echoed in his ears, making Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression darken and shift.
His eldest student had joined forces with Xia Le. He found that difficult to accept, even painful.
At the same time, his student's unauthorized human experiments in Konoha had also been uncovered.
"Jiraiya went after him!"
Homura Mitokado sighed and patted his shoulder.
"Ah..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi let out a long sigh.
Meanwhile, near the Forest of Konoha.
"Orochimaru!"
"Are all the rumors about you in the village true?"
Jiraiya shouted at the figure ahead, who was about to disappear into the forest.
"What does it matter whether they're true or false?"
"You and I were never on the same path!"
Orochimaru smiled faintly, his expression showing nothing unusual.
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
"We studied under the same teacher!"
Jiraiya sounded incredulous, as though he had never imagined the other man would say such things.
"You will never understand my thinking, Jiraiya!"
"From the very beginning, we have existed on entirely different planes."
Orochimaru sighed.
"Come back with me, Orochimaru!"
"Even if you made mistakes, as long as you're willing to admit them and change, we'll forgive you."
Jiraiya