"You want her to go back and take that boring Hokage job? Jiraiya, aren't you being a little too naive?"
That cold, hoarse voice, like the flicking tongue of a venomous snake, did not come from Tsunade. It came from behind Jiraiya, outside the casino doors left teetering by the explosion.
The entire place fell deathly silent. All the gamblers had fled in terror during the earlier clash. Now, only Shengu Xuan, Naruto, Jiraiya, and the badly injured Tsunade and Shizune remained in the casino ruins.
At that voice, every trace of drunkenness vanished from Jiraiya's face. He spun around, his eyes turning as sharp as blades as he fixed his gaze on the dark street outside.
"Orochimaru..." Jiraiya spat the name through gritted teeth, his hands already clenching into fists without him realizing it.
Accompanied by an eerie rustling, two figures, one tall and one short, slowly emerged from the shadows.
The man in front was wrapped in bandages, his face as pale as paper and his eyes as venomous as a snake's. His hands hung limply at his sides, clearly crippled beyond use. It was Orochimaru, who had just fled in disgrace after Shengu Xuan severely wounded him during the Konoha Crush Plan.
Following behind Orochimaru was Kabuto Yakushi, wearing round glasses and a false smile.
"Orochimaru! You traitor! You actually dare show yourself in front of me!" Jiraiya roared. The immense chakra within him erupted instantly, and a powerful killing intent locked onto Orochimaru.
Orochimaru did not even glance at Jiraiya. His gaze passed over the ruins and landed directly on Tsunade, who lay on the ground, greed and madness gleaming in his vertical pupils.
"Tsunade, it's been a long time. You still look so young. It really makes me jealous." Orochimaru's voice was so hoarse it