Chapter 114: Infiltrating Konoha
"It really does bring back memories," Orochimaru murmured with a thin smile as he stood beneath Konoha's great gate, his golden eyes sweeping over the familiar sight.
Beside him, Jiraiya's gaze sharpened, voice firm. "Konoha… I'm back."
He reached into his cloak, pulled out a half-mask, and tossed it over. "Here. Put this on—we'll blend in first and gather information."
Orochimaru caught it lazily, turning the red mask in his hand before slipping it over his face. "Hmph. I dislike this color."
Jiraiya smirked. "My bad. I'll get you one in purple next time."
"There won't be a next time," Orochimaru replied flatly, narrowing his eyes. "So—how exactly do you plan to enter? The barrier's been rebuilt. Our old hand signs won't work."
"Simple," Jiraiya said, a sly grin curling his lips. "Just follow me."
He led Orochimaru along the village wall until they stopped at a drainage outlet.
"You mean to crawl in like rats?" Orochimaru sneered.
Jiraiya shook his head. "Of course not."
He slapped his palm down. "Summoning Jutsu!"
A puff of smoke revealed a squat green toad. Orochimaru's eyes glimmered in recognition—he had nearly forgotten the countless varieties of toads under Mount Myōboku.
"Inside we go."
Before Orochimaru could object, Jiraiya shoved him forward, and the toad swallowed them both whole.
Though the creature looked small, its gullet was a cavernous space. The two Sannin slid into the fleshy chamber, and the toad hopped straight into the drainage channel, swimming through the water unnoticed.
Orochimaru glanced around at the pulsing walls. "A barrier? Around the toad itself?"
"Exactly," Jiraiya answered. "It cloaks our chakra. Not even detection ninjutsu can spot us. And the village's barrier doesn't extend to the sewers."
Moments later, Jiraiya pressed his hand against the inner wall, opening a passage.
"Come on—we're in."
He wriggled out first, his broad hand and head comically emerging from the toad's mouth before the rest of his body followed. Orochimaru stepped out next with far more grace.
"Thanks, Toad Higashi."
The toad waved a stubby hand, croaking as if to say it was no trouble, before vanishing in a puff of smoke back to Myōboku.
The two Sannin found themselves in a shadowed alley. Night cloaked their presence; no villagers noticed.
"I'll scout first," Jiraiya said. "Meet back here in an hour."
Without waiting for a reply, he slipped into the crowd.
Orochimaru watched him leave, lips curling faintly. "So eager. Very well." He had considered dragging Jiraiya straight to Uchiha Fugaku, but clearly his old teammate had his own agenda. For now, Orochimaru let him go.
With no plan of his own, he wandered the streets, drinking in the changed village.
"Asakusa Old Street hasn't changed at all…"
Then his eyes caught a signboard beside the familiar Barbecue Q.
"'Pansi Cave'…? What a curious name."
Intrigued, Orochimaru dropped his mask with a careless flick, wove a Transformation Jutsu, and reshaped his features into a delicate, androgynous face. With languid steps, he entered the new shop.
The décor gleamed warmly. Almost at once, a smiling attendant approached.
"Welcome! How many in your party tonight?"
Orochimaru's piercing stare made the girl's skin prickle, but she forced her smile.
"One," Orochimaru said softly. "Tell me—what kind of establishment is this?"
He noted at once the Uchiha crest embroidered on her attire. Interesting. So this business was tied to Fugaku's clan.
The attendant composed herself. "We offer foot baths and massage services, sir. Basic baths, spa packages—what would you like to try?"
"Basic will do."
"Please follow me."
She led him to a wall of portraits displaying various women. Orochimaru's gaze skimmed indifferently over the beauties. Such things held no meaning for him. He selected one at random and was shown to a chair.
Settling in, he allowed the warm water to lap at his feet. "Hm. Comfortable. Perhaps I should add a few of these chairs to my research labs…"
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Meanwhile, Jiraiya had also arrived at Asakusa Old Street—his destination, the Barbecue Q. Normally, he preferred izakayas for intel gathering, but his old haunts were boarded up, closed for reasons unknown.
As he stepped inside Barbecue Q, his brow furrowed. The once-bustling restaurant was nearly empty. Only a few scattered patrons remained.
"Strange… this place used to be packed at night."
He turned to the weary shopkeeper slumped against the wall. "Oi, why's it so dead in here?"
The man groaned. "Don't even ask, customer. Ever since that massage parlor opened next door, all the regulars deserted us!"
Jiraiya blinked. "A massage parlor? And that stops people from eating barbecue?"
The shopkeeper threw up his hands in frustration. "That's Konoha for you these days!"
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