"Shinichi, thank you for bringing Itachi here. He's a very capable boy."
Orochimaru smiled.
With his keen eye, he could tell at a glance that Itachi's strength was extraordinary. Coupled with a maturity and composure far beyond his age, the boy would certainly become one of his greatest assets.
"Why thank me? We're past that."
Shinichi waved a hand and said, "By the way, Orochimaru, I've already sent Jiraiya to find Tsunade. Since you've been friends for so many years, should I arrange a touching reunion for you?"
Though relations between the Sannin were especially strained now, the three had been on the same team in their youth and had been quite close.
"Let's not."
Orochimaru shrugged and chuckled. "I doubt they'd want to see me. Besides, Jiraiya hasn't seen Tsunade in years. I don't want to be the tactless third wheel. You know what I mean, Shinichi."
"Orochimaru, looks like you've got a naughty streak too!"
Shinichi waggled his eyebrows at him and said suggestively, "How did you know I also encouraged Jiraiya to pursue Tsunade?"
"Knowing you, Shinichi, there was a very good chance you'd do something like that."
Orochimaru smiled. "Jiraiya is an idiot. Unless someone pushes him, he wouldn't dare go looking for Tsunade. But aside from our teacher, there aren't many people in this world who can force his hand. You're one of them, Shinichi."
At the mention of Jiraiya, a trace of warmth flickered through Orochimaru's cold eyes.
Despite all the terrible things Orochimaru had done over the years that others couldn't understand, he knew Jiraiya had always considered him a friend.
Just like Naruto with Sasuke in the original story, Jiraiya would never give up on his dear friend Orochimaru.
In a sense, that master and student from the original story really did