Chapter 299: Orochimaru Also Wants to Participate in the Sand Collapse Plan
Jiraiya had already resolved to step forward and take the blame if things went south, intending to then allow the Fourth Hokage to reclaim his position. Feeling there were no issues with Shikaku's plan, he approved it immediately.
Utatane Koharu, Mitokado Homura, and Shimura Danzo were unaware of their secret plotting. Under the pretext of treating Kurama Yakumo, Jiraiya gathered the relevant personnel outside the village, at Yakumo Kurama's residence. With the preliminary preparations nearly complete, Ino needed to release Minato Namikaze's soul.
Tsunade, Ino, Shizune, Kakashi, Shikaku, and Kurama Yakumo, serving as a tool, were all present.
Jiraiya coughed and was the last to arrive. He didn't come alone; he brought a man clad in a black robe and hood.
"Orochimaru! Jiraiya, what in the world are you doing?" Even with his face obscured, Tsunade could recognize her former teammate. She quickly pulled Ino and Shizune behind her.
Kakashi and Shikaku adopted defensive stances.
Orochimaru let out a sinister chuckle and removed his hood.
"Tsunade, Kakashi, Shikaku... it seems everyone here is an acquaintance. That black-haired girl must be Dan's niece, right?" He finally looked at Ino. "Oh, it's you. We met during the Chunin Exams. A very strong Water Release user."
He paused, his mind filled with curiosity. "Can you tell me, how did you make a deal with the Shinigami?"
He had pondered this question for a long time, feeling it shouldn't be difficult, just that he hadn't grasped the knack.
To obtain the answer to this question, he had taken a huge risk, escaping from Danzo and persuading Jiraiya to let him join the entire plan.
Tsunade roared, "What is going on here? Jiraiya, I need an explanation!"
Jiraiya quickly tried to placate her, assuring her that Orochimaru would remain under his constant surveillance and that he would take full responsibility for any problems.
"Actually, the Orochimaru you knew is already dead. That life experience has now transformed into my memories, stored within my mind." Orochimaru pointed to his head. "I no longer have any interest in destroying Konoha. You can trust me, to a limited extent."
He looked at Tsunade somewhat provocatively. "We can fight side-by-side again. Aren't you happy?"
"I don't believe a single word you say!" Tsunade declared fiercely.
Jiraiya coughed. "Orochimaru has provided us with all of Akatsuki's intelligence. He said Sasori assassinated the Third Kazekage and turned him into a human puppet – information we had no knowledge of before. He also mentioned an Akatsuki member named Zetsu, a ninja with incredible intelligence-gathering abilities. Orochimaru is currently useful to us... Huh? Huh!"
Before he could finish, Tsunade forcefully pulled him aside.
The two muttered to each other for a good while before Tsunade's expression gradually softened.
Ultimately, the relationship between the Sannin was quite subtle, far from the purity of Team 7's bond.
When the Third Hokage took Tsunade as his disciple, there were too many political factors involved!
Did Tsunade need the Third Hokage as her teacher? No.
Did the Third Hokage need Tsunade as his disciple? Very much so!
Orochimaru was the disciple the Third Hokage valued most, followed by Jiraiya.
Tsunade and Jiraiya had a good relationship, and Orochimaru and Jiraiya also had a good relationship, but Tsunade and Orochimaru's relationship was relatively ordinary.
Ever since Nawaki became Orochimaru's apprentice and was subsequently killed by exploding tags, the two had little interaction. Regarding the Third Hokage's death, Tsunade felt sympathy at most; she wasn't particularly enraged, let alone thinking of avenging him.
Orochimaru wasn't a good person, but was the Third Hokage? In Tsunade's eyes, there wasn't much difference between the two.
Her anger was mostly for show. If none of you mind, then I don't care either.
"You're letting him go to the Sand Village with us? Are you kidding me?" Tsunade asked, pointing at Orochimaru.
Jiraiya sighed heavily. "He will gather some of his subordinates to help draw the Sand Village's attention. Afterwards, we'll also have an excuse. This is also part of the deal."
Tsunade smiled, a radiant smile. "So, whichever side is plotting a 'collapse plan,' he just follows them, is that it? You two are truly amusing!"
Jiraiya looked at Ino. "Orochimaru wants to retrieve his soul."
Ino refused decisively. "Impossible. I haven't prepared that many sacrifices. Today, at most, I'm exchanging for the Fourth Hokage's soul."
Jiraiya shot Orochimaru a look, as if to say, See, you asked me to help speak for you, I asked on your behalf, but she can't do it. This has nothing to do with me.
Orochimaru didn't even look at him, instead staring at Ino. "What price must I pay to get my soul back?"
He didn't know what kind of ninjutsu, secret technique, or Kekkei Genkai Ino used. Faced with a ninja who could chat and haggle with the Shinigami, he regarded her as an equal.
With the help of Danzo's manpower and resources, he had recently conducted extensive research on the Shinigami. The more he researched, the more he felt it contained numerous hidden secrets.
In his view, Ino definitely possessed this knowledge, or at least a part of it.
The skilled one is the teacher; he didn't mind lowering his stance to ask for guidance or make a deal.
Ino first looked at Tsunade.
Tsunade shook her head, meaning, Do whatever you decide, it has nothing to do with me.
She then looked at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya pressed his lips together, saying nothing.
Ino carefully sized up Orochimaru from head to toe.
Orochimaru certainly had many good things in his possession. The Eight-Tails' severed horn was in one of his secret bases, a location even Kabuto didn't know. Unfortunately, the timing wasn't right now.
She thought for a moment and asked, "Back then, when you defended against my Steam Imp, what were those giant gates you summoned?"
The current Orochimaru was actually a life-information clone left in Mitarashi Anko's body, a copy from the time before his defection, so he wasn't as evil. Subsequent experiences were more like a familiar yet distant memory to him. He carefully recalled.
"That was Rashōmon." He glanced at Tsunade. "It was once the First Hokage's summoning tool. Later, the old man, the Third, gave it to me."
Ino extended her hand towards him. "Give me that summoning scroll, and I'll have the Shinigami return your soul."
Is it that simple?! Orochimaru hadn't expected the key item to be on his person. This was a huge loss!
This is the frustration of not mastering the core technology.
Unfortunately, without Ino, this "shady intermediary," he wouldn't know how to use it even if he had it – a classic case of carrying a pig's head but being unable to find the temple gate.
"Alright!" His mouth opened, and he quickly spat out a slimy summoning scroll.
Ino looked somewhat disgusted but still reached out, opened it, signed her name, and then performed the summoning technique.
Orochimaru could only summon a Triple Rashōmon. Ino's chakra was far greater than his. When the smoke cleared, five giant gates adorned with demonic faces appeared.
She examined them. The aura was correct; these were indeed the Shinigami old pal's former front doors.
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