Chapter 14: Aftermath
The Sannin were defeated.
But the injuries were unexpectedly minor.
In less than ten minutes after the two mysterious figures in white cloaks had vanished, their bodies recovered to full condition. It was as if the brutal, near fatal battle had never happened. If not for the burning forest around them, Jiraiya might have believed it had all been an illusion.
Yet the fact remained—they had been easily overwhelmed.
Even before their opponent had shown his true power, Jiraiya hadn't believed that the sight of everything turning to ash was mere genjutsu.
That kind of power could shift the balance of an entire battlefield. And yet… those two had risked exposing themselves only to deliver a warning.
Why?
As he pondered this, a calm yet faintly sardonic voice came from beside him.
"…We should be grateful they were still Konoha shinobi."
Orochimaru, pale and composed despite the smoke and scorch marks, slowly sat up and rubbed his temples.
"It's likely a technique similar to the Second Hokage's Impure World Reincarnation. But even with their minds bound, their will remained strong enough to warn us."
"Orochimaru? You alright?" Jiraiya asked, turning toward him.
"I'm fine," he replied with a sigh, glancing at the still figure beside them. "Tsunade, on the other hand…"
He paused.
Once, Tsunade would have snapped back instantly at such a remark. But now, she lay motionless on the scorched earth, her eyes hollow, her spirit seemingly shattered.
Jiraiya looked at her, words forming on his tongue but dying before they left his lips. He knew how deeply Kato Dan's death had scarred her—and seeing him again like that must have reopened the wound.
The Uchiha they fought had been terrifying, but the true blow had been seeing Kato Dan—the man she loved—standing among their enemies.
Jiraiya clenched his fists. The kind and gentle man who once saved Tsunade's heart… was now being used as a weapon against her.
He tried to lighten the mood. "Heh. Sosuke's Blut Vene really pulled through for us. Without it, that 'senior' would've turned me to dust."
Orochimaru gave a thin smile. "Yes, and it seems I underestimated its precision. I didn't even notice I was being influenced by their technique."
"Hahaha, don't be so grim, Orochimaru. At least we came out alive—and with some valuable intel, right?"
"...Indeed."
Orochimaru nodded faintly, adjusting his posture and crossing his arms.
"Let's exchange what we know."
The fire crackled quietly around them. The night deepened, and the stars shone faintly through the rising smoke.
Sitting on the still warm ground, Orochimaru inhaled slowly and began to speak in his usual composed tone.
"There were no scratches on their Konoha forehead protectors. They didn't act like traitors, and their movements were measured. They seemed restrained, as if maintaining some degree of self control."
He looked toward the flames. "Their purpose wasn't to kill us—it was to test us. From what they said, they didn't want to alert the entity behind them. That's the true meaning of their warning."
Jiraiya frowned. "So… you're saying we can't confirm if their message was real?"
"Precisely. The only thing we know for certain is that behind Konoha—or perhaps the entire shinobi world—something powerful is at work. A presence… observing from the shadows."
"Ah? Didn't they just tell us to beware the people closest to us?" Jiraiya asked, scratching his head.
"I think they made it too clear," Orochimaru replied. "That's what concerns me."
"What do you mean?"
"Can you guarantee their minds were untouched? What if they were manipulated into spreading false information? Even if they were once Konoha shinobi, what happens when the most vital piece of their memory or loyalty is twisted?"
Jiraiya hesitated, unable to answer.
Orochimaru shook his head slightly. His golden eyes glinted with unease.
"Even the Impure World Reincarnation can control souls. But this… this was far more refined. If it can bind both will and thought, then it can twist truth itself. Perhaps this whole encounter was orchestrated—to plant doubt within Konoha, to cause turmoil from within."
He paused, his voice low. "Believing the words of an enemy, even one who spares you, is the height of foolishness. Their kindness may one day become the blade that strikes us down."
Jiraiya exhaled. "…So you're saying we can't even trust their warning."
"Exactly."
"And another thing," Orochimaru continued, "their clothing and markings were unusual."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"Their cloaks resembled Sosuke's," he explained. "Only… more elaborate. His is plain. Theirs were inscribed with symbols—numbers, perhaps—arranged in order."
"You think Sosuke's involved?"
"No," Orochimaru replied, narrowing his eyes. "If anything, it may be the other way around."
Jiraiya blinked. "You're saying… they followed his design?"
Orochimaru gave him a faint, almost pitying smile.
"You know I often study Konoha's research logs. About five years ago, Sosuke proposed something new to the Ninjutsu Research Department—an idea separate from the Blut Vene."
"This ninjutsu, called Soul Transmigration, is fascinating," Orochimaru said, his voice low but tinged with intrigue. "Aizen referenced ancient traditions—shrine maidens, onmyoji—and proposed that, under certain conditions, the Spirit Transformation Technique could manifest as an independent form capable of manipulating forces beyond chakra."
He paused, his serpentine eyes gleaming with intellectual curiosity.
"However, the one who originally possessed the Spirit Transformation Technique is long dead. Aizen's theory—though minor at the time—touched on profound concepts like natural energy and the self awareness of chakra itself. Because of its implications, the research was never publicized. It was sealed within the archives."
A faint smile tugged at his lips. "And now, it seems someone has taken that forbidden research and brought it to life."
The thought that a soul could exist independently of the body sent a thrill through Orochimaru's mind. The abilities displayed by those two mysterious figures matched the possibilities Aizen had once theorized.
By channeling one's will and emotion, they could reflect their power through the soul itself—calling upon the forces of nature around them. It was a concept reminiscent of the Uchiha clan's Sharingan, which also manifested one's inner world outwardly.
"The Uchiha opposed that research at the time," Orochimaru continued. "After all, it described the Sharingan itself. They didn't want that compared or studied. And since Aizen's reputation was low back then, the focus shifted to his Blut Vene, allowing this theory to fade quietly into obscurity."
He narrowed his eyes. "But now, it's clear that someone within Konoha—or perhaps within the Uchiha—never forgot it."
Jiraiya frowned. "Then why couldn't it be Sosuke who did all this?"
"The year Kato Dan died," Orochimaru replied patiently, "was the same year Sosuke proposed that theory. He was inspired by Dan's abilities and his death. Ever since, he's been living under the teacher's close watch."
Seeing Jiraiya's stubborn expression, Orochimaru sighed and elaborated.
"If Sosuke had managed to deceive the Hokage, Danzo, and the two senior advisors while secretly reviving two dead Konoha ninja, and still held his position as an advisor—then Konoha itself would already belong to him. It would be meaningless to resist."
"…What are you trying to say?" Jiraiya asked quietly.
"I mean," Orochimaru replied, his tone calm and absolute, "if it truly were Aizen Sosuke… we'd all be dead."
A hoarse woman's voice drifted from the ground.
Both men turned.
Tsunade, pale and disheveled, pushed herself upright like a corpse reanimating. Covering her face, she exhaled deeply before sitting back down on the charred earth. The two men exchanged faint smiles but said nothing.
Ignoring them, Tsunade sat cross legged, her gaze empty as she stared at the burning forest before them. After a long silence, she finally spoke in a weary, rasping tone.
"That person… really was Dan."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"The captain of the Seventh Division is Kato Dan. The captain of the Sixth is Uchiha Kagami. They serve under an organization called Seireitei. That's the information Dan gave me."
Her hands tightened on her knees. "He's being controlled—but not completely. The information they shared was real, at least from their perspective. Dan told me so himself."
"This is a trial," she whispered. "A test for us."
"It—whatever it is—knows what we're doing, what we're thinking. It's watching us. And it wants these events to unfold."
"Although I don't know its purpose," she continued, her voice darkening, "the one who desecrated the souls of our predecessors is hiding within Konoha. Watching. Waiting."
Jiraiya's eyes narrowed. "Wait a second. You can't guarantee that's true, Tsunade. What if Dan was manipulated into giving you false information?"
Tsunade turned to him slowly, her expression distant and sorrowful.
"…Because Dan is the kind of man who would do anything to protect me," she said softly. "Even if it meant his own death. Even if he were controlled… this is all he'd ever do."
Jiraiya fell silent, his face tightening with guilt.
Orochimaru cleared his throat, breaking the heavy tension. "Should we report this to the Hokage?"
Tsunade nodded. "Find a trustworthy ANBU. Deliver it through the highest level seal."
"Understood," Orochimaru said.
"After this," Tsunade murmured, standing and stretching stiffly, "the Sand and Stone villages don't seem so terrifying anymore." She looked back at them and managed a faint smile. "Come on, Jiraiya. Let's head home."
"…Yeah."
Jiraiya gave a small nod. The three of them turned, their figures vanishing into the smoky night.
The next day, inside the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen unrolled the sealed report.
He read the words slowly, and his pipe slipped from his mouth.
It hit the floor with a dull crack, scattering into ashes.
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