Konoha Laboratory.
Orochimaru carefully dripped an oddly colored solution onto the Crystal Stone while Jiraiya watched, his face taut with anxiety.
The solution fell, but the Crystal Stone showed no change. Unwilling to give up, Jiraiya asked a question.
"Big Brother Leaf Dragon, how do you feel? Any better?"
Jiraiya spoke softly, only to receive a weak "No" in response.
His expression grave, Orochimaru swiftly recorded the data, then leafed through the ancient texts with a deep frown.
His research career had encountered an unprecedented challenge-how to preserve a soul.
Leaf Dragon's spirit body could not withstand the ravages of time and was slowly disappearing. Faced with this, Jiraiya had returned straight to Konoha for help, even at the risk of exposing his identity.
Unfortunately, neither Mito Uzumaki, an expert in sealing jutsu formulas, nor Orochimaru, a specialist in scientific research, could do anything about it.
Unable to adapt to a new body or move to another vessel, Leaf Dragon's spirit body was bound to this Crystal Stone and dwindled with every passing day.
This was also why Konoha only used [Impure World Reincarnation] in the direst emergencies. So far, no one had found any way to restore a lost spirit body. All they could do was minimize the loss.
Although no one knew what dire consequences awaited once a spirit body dissipated entirely, the word "disappear" was frightening enough on its own.
What they did know was that people went to the Netherworld after death. But if their souls dissipated, their deaths would be absolute and final.
Such a price would likely only be inflicted on the most vicious criminals as punishment. No one would willingly let their loved ones endure it.
Jiraiya crouched to one side, despondent.
The Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku had already made it clear