"Hey, do you want to go to sleep again just after you woke up?"
Seeing Jiraiya lying down again and closing his eyes, Orochimaru pulled a chair next to him and sat casually beside Jiraiya's bed. Golden's long pupils looked at this old friend who had just been "resurrected" with great interest.
"No, I'm just feeling a little emotional."
Jiraiya did not open his eyes, but raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and although his voice was still weak, it carried a feeling of joy and satisfaction from the heart of someone who had survived a disaster.
"It's nice to be alive..."
Being able to feel the sunshine again, hear familiar voices, and even joke, the disciple also fulfilled his dream and became Hokage...
Jiraiya is very satisfied.
"I have two pieces of news for you."
Orochimaru's hoarse voice sounded again.
"One good news, one bad news."
Jiraiya waved his newly lost Left Hand. His movements were still a little stiff and weak, but the smile on his face became even brighter.
"Well, being able to escape from such a desperate situation is already the best of luck."
Jiraiya said nonchalantly, "What bad news can be worse than almost dying? Let's talk about it."
"The bad news is--"
Orochimaru deliberately lengthened his tone, looked at Jiraiya's "I've never seen anything like this" expression, and said slowly, "Not long after you 'died', Pain attacked Konoha and used 'Super·Shinra Tensei', razing the entire Konoha to the ground."
He paused, seeming to appreciate the change in expression on Jiraiya's face, and then added the most crucial sentence, "So, all the belongings you left behind at Konoha, and of course the 'creative material' notes you saved secretly, if nothing else, are all gone."
"..."
The smile on Jiraiya's face solidified instantly.
For him, who regards "sourcing" and "creation" as his second life, this is simply a bolt from the blue.
It was even worse than having him break another arm.
But it's not that hard to accept.
"So what's the good news?"
Maybe... was something salvaged?
"The good news is--"
A more obvious and evil smile appeared on Orochimaru's face.
"You have a bill that needs to be paid."
"Bill?"
Jiraiya was stunned for a moment and didn't react. People almost died and their belongings were gone. Why are there still bills?
Your own Medical Ninjutsu fee?
That's damn good news!
"Orochimaru, you guy! In the end..."
Before Jiraiya could finish his words, he was so excited and physically weak that he suddenly wanted to sit up and question him. As a result, a strong sense of dizziness hit him, making his eyesight turn black. He fell back heavily and could only gnash his teeth and shout out Orochimaru's name.
Tsunade, who had never dared to sleep deeply, woke up in a daze as soon as Jiraiya and Orochimaru started talking.
She did not get up immediately, intending to close her eyes to calm down and listen to what the two old guys were talking about.
As a result, I heard Orochimaru announce the bad news that Jiraiya's "collection was completely destroyed" in such an angry tone, and then said that "there are still bills to pay", which made Jiraiya almost jump out of bed with anger.
Tsunade can't bear it anymore.
She raised her head with a "swish", Golden's Long Hair's movements were a little messy, and her face still had the laziness and a trace of anger that she had just woken up from.
"Orochimaru! You bastard! Are you bullying the patient as soon as you wake up?!"
Tsunade roared, and at the same time, her fist, which contained strange power, hit Orochimaru's shoulder mercilessly and with a sound of breaking wind.
If this punch were to hit hard, even Orochimaru would probably have to lie in bed for a few days.
However, what shocked Tsunade and Jiraiya was that Orochimaru's body only tilted slightly to the side and did not even leave the chair.
Then, under the slightly mocking and proud gaze of Orochimaru, he stretched out his other hand and lightly dusted the shoulder where Tsunade's fist had just hit him.
"Don't be so shocked, Tsunade."
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade's "what the hell" expression, and the evil smile on his face became even more obvious.
"This body... I have spent a lot of money and a lot of time to 'cultivate' it. Its strength, toughness, and resilience are far beyond ordinary.
Your strange power is nothing compared to my body."
He is obviously very satisfied with his body.
"You..."
Tsunade was speechless for a moment, angry and helpless.
Orochimaru This guy has really gone further and further on the road of body transformation.
Of course, thanks to this, Jiraiya's throat was cured.
Tsunade was really helpless at that time, otherwise Orochimaru probably wouldn't be here now.
In order to treat Jiraiya, Seventh approved a note allowing Orochimaru to freely enter and leave Laboratory.
Although everyone knows that Orochimaru has other ways to bypass the surveillance of Yamato and leave, there must be enough publicity.
"Okay, let's get down to business."
Orochimaru took out a neatly folded A4 paper from the pocket of his lab coat and handed it to Jiraiya, who was lying on the bed and still depressed about "the collection was destroyed" and "the bill".
"Confirm the content. If you have no doubts, just sign in the designated place."
Orochimaru said businesslikely.
"Sign?"
Jiraiya took the A4 paper in confusion and murmured, "I remember that hospital medical bills are always long, receipt-like slips of paper? Why did they become A4 paper? And they also need to be signed for confirmation? So formal?"
Full of suspicion, he carefully opened the folded A4 paper with his still trembling Left Hand.
His eyes fell on the bright red bold title at the top of the paper and caught his eye:
"Konohagakure Resident Marriage Application Form"
"?"
Jiraiya's eyes suddenly widened and his mouth opened wide unconsciously.
He wondered if he was dazzled or not fully awake.
I blinked hard and looked carefully again.
That's right!
This is the "Application Form for Marriage Contract"!
His eyes quickly moved down.
In the form, the information of both men and women has been filled in. The man is her and the woman is Tsunade.
In the woman's signature column, a familiar and powerful signature has been filled in.
"Tsk..."
Jiraiya took a deep breath, and the expression on his face gradually changed from shock to one that was extremely complex, mixed with ecstasy, disbelief, and emotion.
"The price of this 'bill' is not small."
Jiraiya said in a trembling voice, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but grow wider and wider, eventually turning into a loud and hearty laugh.
"Hahahahaha!"
This laughter seemed to let out all the emotions and regrets that had been accumulated in his chest for many years, as well as the happiness that was pouring out at this moment.
Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya's appearance, the corner of his mouth also raised a slight arc, took out a pen from his pocket and handed it over.
Jiraiya laughed, took the pen from Orochimaru's hand without hesitation, and signed his name neatly where the man signed it.
He swore that before he graduated from the Ninja Academy, his handwriting was very elegant. This was the first time he had written such neat handwriting since he could write.
He knew that signing this "bill" meant that he would pay a "huge" price.
In the future, when I live a single and free life, I will no longer be able to "take materials" at will, I may have to endure Tsunade's strange strength and bad temper, and I will have to shoulder the responsibility of being a "husband"...
However, he enjoyed it very much!
This is the bill he has been chasing all his life and dreamed of.
It is a "bill" countless times more precious than the royalties from "Icha Icha Paradise", any collector's edition photo album, and even his own life!
After signing, Jiraiya handed the pen and form back to Orochimaru, still with that bright and silly smile on his face, but his eyes couldn't help but look at the blond woman next to him who was blushing because of his laughter just now and his silly look now, but tried hard to pretend as if nothing had happened.
Tsunade felt his gaze and turned away, but his ears quietly turned red.
Orochimaru took the form, looked at the signature carefully, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Congratulations."
Orochimaru said in a calm tone as if announcing the success of the experiment.
"As for the rest of the wedding ceremony and so on, when Jiraiya you are in good health, you can discuss it yourself with Tsunade."
Orochimaru stood up.
"I won't interrupt your reminiscence."
After saying that, Orochimaru turned around, walked briskly, and left the ward, closing the door smoothly.
In the ward, only Jiraiya was lying on the bed, giggling, and Tsunade was sitting on the edge of the bed, pretending to look out the window, but even his neck was red.
The sun shines through the window and shines on them, warm and bright.