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The Land of Fire, on the road toward the Land of Hot Water.
Two figures sped swiftly along the path, Jiraiya and Kitagawa Gen. However, an odd expression lingered on Jiraiya's face.
"What was up with Naruto just now? When he heard you were going on a mission, his face turned green."
"Probably... he was just worried about me."
Kitagawa Gen cast a sideways glance at Jiraiya, unwilling to admit that he had tricked Naruto one too many times, leaving the boy with a touch of trauma.
Jiraiya had suddenly barged in, shouting for him to join a mission. It would have been more surprising if Naruto hadn't been scared half to death.
Still, this time, Kitagawa Gen had acted with a bit more conscience. After taking on so many missions under Kakashi's command, he had finally earned some money. So he didn't try to ditch this one.
"Considering that, Lord Jiraiya, you suddenly appeared and demanded I go on a mission, anyone would be worried. But come to think of it, what exactly is this mission? Where's Kakashi-sensei?"
"Kakashi's still recovering, but he should be back on his feet soon. Once we return, you'll be able to rejoin him."
Jiraiya gave a casual response, though his expression quickly turned serious.
"As for this time... kid, you'd best pay attention. We're heading out to investigate Orochimaru's whereabouts."
"Orochimaru's whereabouts?"
Kitagawa Gen raised his brows in surprise, a storm of thoughts swirling in his mind. How had they managed to track Orochimaru down?
"Yes, him. Do you remember that one-eyed old man you saw that night?"
Jiraiya had no idea what Gen was thinking. He continued speaking smoothly, without pause.
"It was he who provided the intel. Also, we've made progress with Kirigakure as well. Although I don't like the guy, I have to admit he's capable."
"…"
Capable? That was hardly the right word.
Wasn't this just outright betrayal, turning on Orochimaru?
Others might not know, but Kitagawa Gen was well aware of the deep ties between Shimura Danzō and Orochimaru.
So what exactly was Danzō up to?
Could it be that he was too eager for progress?
"Then why exactly am I needed on this mission?"
Puzzled, Kitagawa Gen voiced his doubts aloud. Jiraiya looked a bit annoyed too, though he was tactful enough not to say certain things outright.
"The old man insisted. He said your analytical skills are top-notch. He figured that if you assisted me, we might uncover more valuable information."
"Right now, our focus is still on Kirigakure. We can't afford to push too hard on this front, so our priority is reconnaissance."
"I see. Understood."
Gen gave a light shrug. He really did understand.
So he was being used as Jiraiya's stabilizer. Someone to keep him grounded, to make sure he considered the risks more carefully before jumping into danger.
But that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. After all, Orochimaru was not someone to be taken lightly.
"Hm?"
Suddenly, his brows twitched ever so slightly. His system had reacted again.
[Exclusive Side Mission Unlocked: Jiraiya's Path]
[Brotherhood Demands Two Stabs]
[Assist Jiraiya in locating Orochimaru]
[Exclusive missions will not interfere with normal side quests]
[Accept Mission?]
Another exclusive quest?
Kitagawa Gen blinked in disbelief. The benefits from his previous exclusive mission were still fresh in his memory, and now yet another one had appeared.
A mission like this…
He would most certainly give it his all.
After all, whenever Jiraiya and Orochimaru met, they were always ready to stab each other, their eyes fixed only on one another. The odds of him getting dragged into it were low.
"Maybe… I'll even run into Kimimaro."
Orochimaru did have plenty of treasures and valuable secrets, but stealing from him would be no easy task, especially with Jiraiya at his side.
Kimimaro, however, was different. That man had long since been added to Kitagawa Gen's personal hunt list.
He strongly suspected that Kimimaro, that last scion of the Kaguya clan, was actually descended from the bloodline that inherited Ōtsutsuki Hamura's physical power.
"What a splendid mission this is…"
Gen murmured to himself, a glint of excitement flashing through his eyes. At that moment, Jiraiya spoke.
"Alright then. Let's pick up the pace. If we hurry, we can reach the Land of Hot Water by tonight. The hot springs there are absolutely top-notch."
"Is that so? Then I'll be looking forward to it."
"Well, about that... you might not be able to enter."
"Huh? What do you mean by that?"
"Because you're too young."
"Lord Jiraiya, you're not planning to visit an unlicensed bathhouse, are you?"
"It's precisely because it's licensed and respectable that someone your age isn't allowed in."
"…"
Kitagawa Gen nearly laughed out of sheer disbelief. Seriously?
Minors weren't allowed in. And that was what they called a respectable establishment?
But then again, on second thought, it probably was a legitimate place after all.
---
Meanwhile, in a hidden underground laboratory within the Land of Hot Water, Orochimaru stood before a test tube, peering into its contents with a subtle frown before he let out a quiet sigh and gently shook his head.
"Another failure."
Failures were never something that particularly bothered him. To Orochimaru, each failed experiment was merely a stepping stone on the path toward eventual success.
However, a faint doubt had begun to creep into his mind.
Was the direction of his research fundamentally flawed?
If the path itself was wrong, then no amount of effort could ever yield the right outcome.
"This Shikotsumyaku... it truly defies all logic."
He could not help but lick his tongue across his lips with a subtle sense of excitement. Tossing the test tube aside with careless ease, he turned his gaze toward the operating table, where Kimimaro was now slowly rising to his feet.
His expression was cool and composed, but his eyes were filled with reverence, admiration, and a quiet, lingering guilt.
"I have disappointed you, Lord Orochimaru. I am unworthy to become your ideal vessel."
"I am not disappointed. After all, time is still on my side."
Orochimaru shook his head. There was no trace of disappointment in his voice. On the contrary, a gleam of interest danced within his eyes.
He had always found the greatest thrill in delving into the unknown, and now Kimimaro's strange condition had fully piqued his curiosity.
Kimimaro's natural gifts were beyond compare. His unique kekkei genkai, the Shikotsumyaku, was so unusual and potent that even Orochimaru found it hard to grasp. The sheer intensity of the Yang Release within his body felt alien, something that tugged at Orochimaru's instincts in a way he rarely experienced.
Only when he had first studied the cells of the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, had he encountered a similar reaction.
Of course, the power of Kimimaro's Yang Release could not truly be compared to that of Hashirama Senju.
As this violent energy surged through him, Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku grew ever more and more powerful, yet in equal measure, his so-called "kekkei sickness" progressed. His body was showing signs of collapse, and even Orochimaru was beginning to feel the strain of trying to manage it.
"Is this... some kind of curse that comes with genius?"
Orochimaru murmured thoughtfully to himself. The more brilliant the talent, the swifter the descent into death. This contradiction troubled even him.
Yet he could not investigate the ancient history of the Kaguya clan any further. That family had long been annihilated by Kirigakure.
"Still, that only makes things more interesting."
He gave a soft chuckle. After a brief pause, he continued speaking.
"Your situation is rather complicated. For now, the most I can do is slow the progression of your kekkei sickness. As for you, you must avoid using your powers as much as possible. Only then can we prevent your condition from worsening."
"I understand, Lord Orochimaru."
Kimimaro bowed his head and replied in a low voice. Yet that answer made Orochimaru shake his head once more.
He knew Kimimaro's nature all too well. When the time came, the boy would not hesitate to draw his blade.
Not that Orochimaru minded. He had complete confidence in Kimimaro's absolute loyalty.
"Alright, we're running low on materials. I need you to go out again with the others. Gather more resources, and pick up some food and water too. We've got a lot of mouths to feed here."
"Understood, Lord Orochimaru. Do you have any specific requirements for this time's materials?"
"Requirements, hmm?"
Orochimaru tilted his head slightly, pondering the question. After a few moments, a smile curled across his lips.
"Take whatever you like. They're all just materials in the end. Though... if anyone catches your eye, feel free to bring them back."
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[Chapter End's]
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