Chapter 296: Jiraiya's Decision
Jiraiya stayed at Mount Myoboku for two days. The Great Toad Sage finally offered him guidance: the answer he sought was not at Mount Myoboku, but within his own village. If he returned to the village, he would naturally understand.
Really? I don't believe it!
Jiraiya returned to the village, his mood heavy. Not knowing whom to confide in, he could only go drinking alone to drown his sorrows.
As he drank, he pondered who the person the Great Toad Sage spoke of, the one who could offer him guidance, might be. Just then, a familiar yet alien figure sat down before him.
He didn't pay much attention at first glance, but the second glance scared him witless.
"Pfft!—" Jiraiya spat out all the sake in his mouth.
Orochimaru, with his black hair, golden eyes, wearing a moon-white robe and magatama-shaped earrings, a sinister aura emanating from him, gently waved his hand, deflecting the sprayed sake to the side.
"Orochimaru! You're still alive?!" Jiraiya instinctively jumped up, pointing a finger at his old comrade.
Thinking of the Third Hokage's death and his own responsibilities, he roared, "I saw your corpse! Tell me, who revived you?! What nefarious plot brings you to Konoha?!"
Orochimaru sat composedly and gestured for him to look outside. Jiraiya turned and saw many ninjas dashing through the village, seemingly searching for someone. However, after a quick search, the ninjas soon ran off in another direction.
Jiraiya found these ninjas very unfamiliar; there weren't many ninjas in the village nowadays that he didn't recognize.
After a moment's thought, it dawned on him. "The ones chasing you... are Root ninjas. So... Danzo saved you?"
Orochimaru gestured for him to sit down; the story was long, and they could take their time.
Jiraiya mulled it over. Sensing Orochimaru's aura was somewhat weak and his chakra even scarcer, he sat down with a wary expression, then interrogated him menacingly, "What exactly is your scheme?!"
Orochimaru licked his lips with his tongue. "I'm dying. I heard you're planning to resurrect Minato. Could you perhaps release my soul as well? My soul's origin is quite depleted, and now every morning, noon, and night feels like being tortured in purgatory."
Jiraiya stared intently into his eyes. After a long moment, he retorted, "How do you know about this?"
A small white snake slithered out from Orochimaru's sleeve. "Two days ago, I used it to overhear your dream talk. Hehe, your mind is still so simple, so naive. You panic at the slightest thing."
His tone was tantamount to pointing at Jiraiya's nose and calling him a "big fool!"
Jiraiya, however, was used to Orochimaru's venomous tongue and paid no mind to the words. But he directly rejected Orochimaru's objective. "Impossible. I will not forget the evil deeds you've committed. How could I possibly help you? It's been so many years, I didn't expect you to become so childish."
The killing intent in his eyes grew stronger. His current situation was a complete mess, and he really didn't want Orochimaru adding further complications. He was almost mentally prepared for a Great Ninja War; killing a former dear friend wouldn't bother him much more.
Orochimaru looked at him fearlessly. "Killing intent? Jiraiya, it seems you've had quite a few troubles lately. To make someone as dull-witted as you so irritable… that position truly is a curse. Thankfully, I didn't become Hokage. From this perspective, Master Sarutobi was quite concerned about me. He was afraid I would change my original intentions and end up… like you are now."
Jiraiya clenched his jaw, his left hand gripping Orochimaru's collar, his right fist raised high. "Don't you dare say Master Sarutobi's name!"
Orochimaru stated flatly, "Isn't a name just a label to distinguish one from another? Names don't change, but people do. Or they die before they can change. Who can say for sure about these things?"
Jiraiya wasn't truly foolish; a fool wouldn't have made it this far. He sneered, "Are you saying you've changed now? You no longer want to destroy Konoha? You want to come back and be one of the Sannin?!"
The more Jiraiya spoke, the angrier he became. Orochimaru revealed a sinister smile. "Mostly correct. Your comprehension skills are much better than they used to be."
Knowing Orochimaru was manipulating him, half an hour later, Jiraiya still locked Orochimaru in Konoha's ANBU prison, right next to Konan.
Orochimaru, handcuffed, walked into the cell as casually as if he were returning home. Seeing Konan, he was first stunned, then let out a sinister, cold laugh.
"To think I'd see you here. Where's Pain? Could it be that you're planning to establish an Akatsuki branch in Konoha?"
Konan glanced at him, her eyes filled with disgust.
She clearly didn't want to speak to him.
Orochimaru wasn't angered. He sat down in the cell and closed his eyes to rest.
Jiraiya returned to the Hokage's office, constantly replaying Orochimaru's words. If nothing unexpected happened, Orochimaru was the key figure the Great Toad Sage had said could provide him with a hint.
"Do people really change?"
He muttered to himself.
If the Third Hokage had died at fifty, he would undoubtedly have been a hero of the shinobi world. But dying at seventy, his legacy was mixed.
Having been Hokage for nearly nine months, Jiraiya had spent most of his time cleaning up the messes left by the Third and his cohorts. They had done far too many rotten things.
The Third seemed to have slowly worsened with time. So, what about Orochimaru? Would Orochimaru change for the better?
In the original timeline, Jiraiya had compared his relationship with Orochimaru to that of Naruto and Sasuke. In reality, Sasuke and Orochimaru were not the same kind of people.
Both had lost their parents, but Orochimaru's emotions were much more detached. Plus, without a mystically-inclined older brother figure, and with Jiraiya being too preoccupied with the Child of Prophecy, the bond between them wasn't as deep as Naruto and Sasuke's.
The bond between Naruto and Sasuke was one of mutual growth, transforming into strength that aided each other.
Jiraiya and Orochimaru mostly did their own things: you go find the Child of Prophecy, I'll go research my immortality. They had no interaction in their later stages.
The bond wasn't that deep, but it still existed.
Jiraiya silently protected Orochimaru from Root's pursuers and concealed his tracks. Danzo was about to explode with rage!
Due to Izanagi, he was missing four Sharingan in his arm. Orochimaru had only transplanted two for him, and then the man ran off!
He had barely recovered his ability to use chakra but couldn't fight for long periods, nor could he easily use Izanagi. Once the balance between the Sharingan and Hashirama cells in his body was broken, he would die a horrific death.
Jiraiya finally made his decision.
Resurrect Minato Namikaze!
He feared growing old and becoming a different person. Konoha needed a younger leader. His own indecisiveness made him far from an outstanding Kage.
Since the Third could return as Kage after stepping down, then the Fourth could too...
There was no need to ask for the person's consent in this matter. For the sake of the village, for Naruto's sake, he, as the teacher, would make the decision. He would bear all the blame!
Coincidentally, the Sand Village wanted to host a Chunin Exam in their village and had sent an invitation to Konoha. Those in Konoha who knew the situation felt it was a godsent opportunity, perfect for implementing their Sand Collapse Plan!
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