At the same time.
In a hot spring town hundreds of kilometers away from Konoha.
A burly and obscene uncle with very long white hair was squatting on the wall of the hot spring hotel, holding a small book in his hand, with an extremely obscene smile on his face, wiping his nosebleeds and writing down something quickly.
This person is one of Konoha Sannin, Jiraiya who traveled abroad to "collect materials"!
"Oh my... young girls today are much more lively than before... these are precious materials!"
"Hehehehe... this pose is good. If it is included in the next "Icha Icha Paradise", it will definitely be a big hit..."
Jiraiya is immersed in the joy of creation.
Abruptly!
A Ninja Hawk delivering information fell from the sky and landed on the shoulder of Jiraiya.
"Huh? Information sent from the village?"
Jiraiya followed Teuchi to open the note tied to the eagle's leg. The content above was very brief. It was a description of the situation written by Shikaku Nara to him:
[Lord Jiraiya:
A letter is like a meeting.
Fifth Hokage-sama had persuaded Orochimaru to return to the village a few days ago. Through Hokage-sama's arrangement, Orochimaru had been cleared of past charges and took over as the first Research Institute dean of Konoha.
If Lord Jiraiya receives the message, please return to the village immediately.]
Orochimaru...Konoha is back?
That stubborn, cold, and misguided Orochimaru really returned to Konoha!
"Orochimaru... you bastard..."
Jiraiya clenched the note in his hand, his eyes turning slightly red.
Back then, Orochimaru defected from Konoha and became S-rank Rogue Ninja. In order to bring this life-and-death bond back to the right path, Jiraiya traveled throughout Shinobi World!
I have been searching for Orochimaru for decades!
But every time, what I get in exchange is Orochimaru's cold back and ruthless attacks!
Jiraiya once thought that Orochimaru would never be able to return to Konoha in this life. The two of them would eventually meet each other in battle until the end of their lives.
But he never thought of it!
I have been pursuing something with no results for most of my life, but now I have solved it in the hands of Uchiha Yao!
Unknowingly, decades passed quietly, and the young man he once was has long gone through vicissitudes of life.
I originally thought that Sannin had already parted ways, heading towards their own completely different destinies.
But who would have thought that in this new era ruled by Uchiha Yao, they would one day reunite again!
"No! I have to go back to the village immediately and take a look!"
Jiraiya slapped his thigh fiercely, no longer caring about the scenery in the hot spring pool.
He stuffed the manuscript of "Icha Icha Paradise" into his arms and jumped onto the roof! Then he ran wildly in the direction of Konoha!
Two days later.
The dusty Jiraiya rushed back to Konoha as quickly as possible.
Without any delay, Jiraiya broke into Research Institute and found the laboratory where Orochimaru was located.
"Orochimaru, you really..."
At this time, Orochimaru was sitting in front of a complex instrument recording data.
Hearing the sound, he slowly turned around.
The two looked at each other.
Looking at Jiraiya with messy hair and dust in front of him, Orochimaru let out a few deep laughs.
"Jiraiya, you are still the same as before, you are hot-tempered and have no appearance at all."
"Now I am just a Research Institute dean who is engaged in research and development."
"Compared to you, 'Hokage Advisor', who has a high position of authority, travels outside all day long and can still receive village subsidies, it's so far behind."
Although his words were still so sinister and merciless, Jiraiya could clearly feel that the viciousness and madness in Orochimaru that preyed on others had subsided.
Listening to Orochimaru's familiar sarcastic tone, Jiraiya was stunned for a moment, and then couldn't help laughing!
"Stop doing this! Orochimaru!"
"I, Hokage Advisor, am just a name, all I do are chores!"
"You, Dean Research Institute, have much more real power than I, a nominal consultant!"
In the research room, the estrangement and unfamiliarity that had not been seen for many years disappeared in the laughter and conversation between the two.
While talking, Jiraiya proposed to get together.
"Speaking of which, we Sannin haven't had a good get-together in decades! How about inviting Tsunade to have a little get-together!"
Orochimaru raised his eyebrows.
"Are you looking for Tsunade? Kukuku... if she sees me, I'm afraid she'll get scolded."
As night falls, the lanterns come on.
Inside the private room of an izakaya.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru took their seats in sequence.
"Konoha Sannin", formerly known as Shinobi World, has gone through decades of vicissitudes.
Finally at this moment, we were sitting around the same wine table again.
The atmosphere in the box seemed a little subtle in the first few seconds.
Tsunade was wearing a light green short-sleeved coat, with long blond hair tied behind his head, and a look of scrutiny on his handsome and heroic face.
Although under the arrangement of Uchiha Yao, Orochimaru's charges have been completely cleared.
But Tsunade, as a partner who once fought side by side with Orochimaru, naturally knows how paranoid and crazy Orochimaru's methods were in the past in order to pursue the so-called "eternal life" and "truth".
Tsunade raised his eyebrows, stared at Orochimaru with cold and stern eyes, and warned sternly:
"Orochimaru! Stop pretending to be an innocent victim in front of me!"
"Don't think that Yao has cleared your name because I don't know what you did!"
"I'll tell you the ugly story first! If you dare to engage in any illegal human experiments like before, or dare to touch any civilian or ninja in the village..."
"I will be the first to spare you!"
Facing the stern warning from Tsunade.
Orochimaru, who was sitting across from him, was not angry at all.
"Tsunade, your temper is still as hot as before."
"However, your worries are completely unnecessary."
"My past explorations were just detours I took amid confusion and limitations. Now, under the guidance of Hokage-sama, I have seen a new path beyond all previous knowledge."
"Since I have chosen to return to Konoha, I will naturally act in strict accordance with Konoha's rules and will never cross the line."
"You can rest assured about this."
Hearing Orochimaru's frank and unabashed admission of the past and the strict guarantee he made.
Tsunade was slightly startled.
She originally thought that with Orochimaru's arrogant character, she would have to retort at least a few words.
But I didn't expect Orochimaru to give the guarantee so simply and neatly.
After hearing this, Tsunade's face relaxed a little, he folded his hands in front of his chest, and snorted coldly:
"Huh! It's best this way!"
I saw the two people were at war with each other as soon as the show started, and the atmosphere was so solemn.
Jiraiya quickly jumped out to smooth things over, while filling Tsunade's wine bowl with a smile.
"Tsunade! Orochimaru! You two should not start a tit-for-tat confrontation as soon as you meet!"
"Forget about those unhappy things in the past!"
"Now that Orochimaru is back, just trust him again!"