"It seems this is indeed Orochimaru's underground laboratory."
In the forest, Jiraiya squatted on a thick branch, looking out at everything in the distance.
He then turned his head to look at Takemi next to him, and said with a smile, "See, we found it successfully, don't make that face."
"Hehe."
Takemi gave a wry smile and said nothing. Jiraiya with information was invincible, but Jiraiya without enough information was prone to making mistakes.
Just like how he rashly ran into the Land of Rain.
Actually, honestly speaking, their tracking didn't have a big problem. If it were anyone else, they probably wouldn't be detected.
But unfortunately, Takemi saw a guy with orange hair among the people they were tracking.
"If there's nothing unexpected, that should be Jugo. He has the ability to communicate with animals."
Takemi knew they were probably exposed, but he didn't know how to explain this kind of thing.
After thinking it over, he could only say, "Anyway, I don't think things will go that smoothly. We should be more careful, for example, it might be better if you sent a toad to follow."
"Tch, you don't understand Orochimaru at all."
Jiraiya shook his head, speaking somewhat dejectedly, "Snakes and toads are natural enemies. If a toad were used to follow, Orochimaru would definitely detect it."
No wonder the mission name is [We're Brothers That Stab Each Other], you guys really go all out for each other.
"Alright, let's not talk about these things."
Jiraiya didn't want to investigate further. He turned his head, stared ahead, and said, "Since we've found it, let's find a chance to go in, we... huh?!"
Before he finished speaking, Jiraiya's face suddenly changed, because he detected a powerful Chakra burst.
Looking up, the ground not far away had shattered into countless fine sands, seemingly rushing towards them like a tide!
"This intensity..."
Seeing this, how could Jiraiya not know what had happened? He cursed Takemi under his breath for being a jinx, and immediately entered combat mode.
"Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!"
Boom—
Accompanied by the roar of Chakra, a huge earth wall blocked their path.
"I was wondering why I kept feeling like I had smelled something unpleasant. So it was you, Jiraiya."
Just then, a hoarse voice came from above the earth wall.
Looking up, they saw Orochimaru. He was wearing a light yellow top, looking down at them from above.
His long hair fluttered in the wind, but his eyes weren't very friendly. He was truly annoyed by Jiraiya. Ever since he had left Konoha, this guy had been tracking him.
He kept shouting about bonds and saying he wanted to bring him back to Konoha. This situation truly annoyed him endlessly.
He recently heard Jiraiya had returned to Konoha and thought he could have some peace, but who knew he'd show up in the blink of an eye?
"You are indeed here."
When Jiraiya saw Orochimaru, his expression immediately turned serious.
Although he wondered how he was exposed, he had to change his strategy now.
"Orochimaru, come back to Konoha with me."
"..."
While Orochimaru was busy thinking, Jiraiya came out with that line again. While troubled, he couldn't help but let out a cold laugh.
"Why are you still so naive? Konoha is not the Konoha we knew in the past. It has long since decayed and withered. Why would I return to such a hopeless place?"
"Even a decaying great tree will have new sprouts. These sprouts will make the great tree regain its vitality."
Jiraiya didn't give an inch. He stared at Orochimaru and said, "Orochimaru, this time, I will definitely take you back!"
"Is that so..."
Orochimaru sighed, and the next moment he attacked without hesitation.
"Then we'll see if you have the ability."
Almost instantly, countless venomous snakes surged from all directions, fiercely biting towards Jiraiya and Takemi.
"Be careful, find a chance to retreat. I'll try my best to get information."
Jiraiya also quickly formed hand seals, but he didn't forget to remind Takemi.
Fire Release: Flame Bullet!
The surging flames swept over the attacking venomous snakes, and for a moment, the smell of burning filled the air.
And using the light of the flames, Jiraiya leaped directly towards Orochimaru, and the two immediately started fighting on the earth wall.
Takemi also took the opportunity to distance himself, but at this moment, two figures blocked his path.
"Kimimaro, Jugo..."
Looking at the two people in front of him, especially noticing the killing intent on Kimimaro's stern face, and Jugo's not so pleasant expression, he immediately knew what was going on. While gathering Chakra, he suddenly laughed.
"I should also thank the two of you for leading the way. Otherwise, we wouldn't have known how to find Orochimaru's location."
"..."
Takemi's single sentence silenced the two of them, especially Kimimaro, who was now overflowing with killing intent.
He raised his hand, and a bone spike appeared from his palm, pointing directly at Takemi.
"Today, you..."
Before he finished speaking, he had already charged towards Takemi.
"Will surely die!"
He originally thought he had only brought back two insignificant bandits or rogue ninja, but he actually brought such huge trouble to Orochimaru.
He was the kind of person who would give his life for Orochimaru. How could he tolerate this situation?
"How impulsive. Well then..."
Takemi flashed back to create some distance. At the same time, he didn't even form hand seals, just clasped his hands together.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Buzz—
In an instant, a huge fireball, like a meteor, whistled towards Kimimaro.
Takemi's ninjutsu's power was directly linked to Chakra.
This made him like Madara and Hashirama. Even using the simplest ninjutsu casually, he could achieve effects unimaginable to ordinary people.
"Careful!"
Jugo was startled to see such a large fireball. Red blotches immediately appeared on his body, covering half his face, and a natural aura emerged from him.
He flashed forward, rushing in front of Kimimaro, and his arm transformed into a shield blocking in front of him.
Boom—
The piercing roar was deafening, and the scorching heat constantly echoed. Takemi's fireball was actually blocked by Jugo.
Whoosh—
Kimimaro said nothing more. His only thought now was to make up for his mistake. He leaped up, passed through the layers of heat waves, and charged directly towards Takemi again.
But just as Kimimaro was about to rush in front of Takemi, Takemi suddenly laughed, and at the same time, he clasped his hands together.
Earth Release: Earth Style Wall!
With the infusion of Chakra, an earth wall rose from the ground, blocking Kimimaro's path.
"Hmph!"
Kimimaro snorted coldly. It was just an Earth Style Wall. He could try to pierce it with his bone spike.
However, just as he was about to attack, his pupils suddenly dilated, and his whole body froze in that instant, completely daring not to make a move.
Because he clearly saw that on the surface of that earth wall, there was actually a portrait of Orochimaru.
Moreover, the position of this portrait was adjusted so that if he stabbed, he would definitely pierce Orochimaru's head.
"Damn it..."
Kimimaro was in a mix of shock and anger at this moment. However, just then, he suddenly heard the sound of lightning crackling.
The next instant, a flash of purple light pierced through the Earth Style Wall, striking directly at his chest...
(End of Chapter)
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