"Heh..."
Orochimaru chuckled and habitually licked the corner of his mouth.
"Jiraiya, are you planning to attack me?"
Hearing this, Kimimaro, who stood behind Orochimaru, immediately raised his guard.
Gaara, bound by Gamahiro's tongue, likewise looked at Jiraiya with hostility.
Faced with Orochimaru's question.
Jiraiya fell silent for a moment, but ultimately chose to answer directly.
"Yes, Orochimaru."
Jiraiya clenched his fists. None of his earlier slick frivolity remained on his face, only the composure befitting one of the Sannin.
"This time, even if I have to break your legs, I'm taking you back to the village!"
Chapter 371: Orochimaru Stalls for Time!
"Heh..."
At Jiraiya's words, Orochimaru could not help chuckling again.
But there was no contempt or disdain in that slightly hoarse laughter.
"After all these years, you're still as naive as you were back then, Jiraiya..."
Orochimaru's snake eyes calmly watched Jiraiya atop Gamahiro as he replied bluntly.
"Leaving aside whether you can bring me back to Konoha... I have just one question.
"Even if I really returned to Konoha, could there be any other outcome for me?"
Orochimaru did not spell it out, but Jiraiya understood what he meant.
The one in charge of Konoha now was the Fifth Hokage, Uchiha Minamoto, not the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
For the sake of their old ties, Hiruzen Sarutobi could reluctantly let Orochimaru off.
In fact, never mind Orochimaru-even Shimura Danzō, who had backed Orochimaru, could receive Hiruzen Sarutobi's protection.
But Uchiha Minamoto and Orochimaru had no such deep personal bond!
Not only that.
Orochimaru had once conspired with Shimura Danzō to set a trap in the Land of Fields, attempting to ambush Uchiha Minamoto and Shisui Uchiha.
In other words.
There was not the slightest kindness or loyalty between Uchiha Minamoto and Orochimaru, only hatred.
Under those