With the help of the Nidaime-sama, Orochimaru was able to create a new body so quickly.
This was because the Second Hokage had discovered a white creature underground that looked very similar to Zetsu, who stays by Pain's side.
For the time being, let's just call it White Zetsu.
To their surprise, White Zetsu's body contained a large amount of Hashirama cells, and it regrew very quickly after its arms were severed.
This discovery astonished both of them, as it meant that someone else besides them had utilized Hashirama cells.
In fact, that person's control over Hashirama cells was even superior to theirs.
After thinking for a long time, the two decided to make use of White Zetsu.
New bodies cultivated using White Zetsu also grew very quickly.
The Second Hokage was even more skilled in the research of Hashirama cells than Orochimaru; after all, he was a Genius in scientific research. If it weren't for his lack of experience in human experimentation due to being the Hokage while alive, he might have been even more formidable.
With the help of the Second Hokage, Orochimaru was able to use Living Corpse Reincarnation ahead of schedule to complete his body transfer. Furthermore, the Second Hokage also prepared to use this method to attempt resurrection, aiming to obtain power that would equal or even surpass his prime in the future.
Living Corpse Reincarnation was originally a technique where the Soul occupies a body.
She even took half a step closer to Jiraiya, her golden pupils flickering with an inviting interest.
"How about it, Jiraiya? If you're tired of that aging shell riddled with old wounds..."
Her voice dropped low, like the hiss of a snake.
"I could also use your cells to 'customize' a brand-new, vibrant young body for you. The experience would be very... novel."
Jiraiya's brow furrowed tightly as he looked at the familiar yet strange 'friend' before him, listening to this nonchalant yet shocking proposal.
The last trace of hesitation and awkwardness vanished from his face, replaced by a complex expression mixed with resistance and understanding.
He took half a step back to create some distance, crossed his arms, and shook his head.
"I'll pass."
His voice took on a hint of self-deprecation.
"I can't handle those 'novel' things of yours.
Fighting, drinking, writing books... I'm used to these old bones. Even if they are a bit old and have many injuries."
He patted his chest and let out a grin that wasn't particularly handsome, yet was unmistakably 'Jiraiya.'
"But at least it's my own."
"A body made from your own tissue is still your body."
"I still find it somewhat hard to accept."
Listening to Orochimaru's description, Jiraiya had an ominous premonition in his heart.
Could this guy Orochimaru actually be able to resurrect the dead at an extremely low cost?
Using Edo Tensei, body cloning, and Living Corpse Reincarnation to bring the deceased back to the world.
Does playing with life and death like this really have no other price?
Thinking this, Jiraiya asked the question aloud.
"So far, no other price has been found.
Progress is made through trial and error. If you don't try, how can you know if you'll succeed?"
That was Orochimaru's reply to Jiraiya.
Immortality was his pursuit. Once he achieved immortality and looked back, all difficulties would be nothing more than a bit of wind and frost.
If he were to fall on the path to immortality, it would simply be because he, Orochimaru, lacked the ability.
Yakushi Kabuto was sufficient to inherit Orochimaru's mantle and also possessed the ability to resurrect Orochimaru after his death.
A long silence followed.
The silence lasted until the two knocked on the door of Tsunade's residence.
The door opened.
Tsunade nodded upon seeing the two and then let them into the room.
"My grandfather and grandmother are staying in the small courtyard next door. Jiraiya, don't shout loudly when we're chatting later."
"Of course not."
Jiraiya had already guessed something, and he followed Orochimaru inside with a chuckle.
The facts were not far from what Jiraiya had guessed; Tsunade had asked Orochimaru because she wanted to resurrect Nawaki and Kato Dan.
"So why did you call me over?"
Jiraiya rubbed his chin. Why call him for the resurrection of Kato Dan and Nawaki?
It couldn't be to use him as a sacrifice, right?
"Nothing much, just wanted to ask if you'd like to become young together."
Orochimaru answered Jiraiya's doubt with a smile.
"After all, Tsunade has already agreed to my plan and is preparing to cultivate a young body, since Dan will also return in a youthful form. But you don't seem willing."
Jiraiya waved his hand.
"I still prefer my current body."
Just as Orochimaru had said before, his life was full of regrets.
He hadn't stood on the same front as Tsunade when she needed companionship; he was traveling abroad and unaware when Kushina was giving birth; and he heard that the three of Nagato's group had also died.
As a friend, he was a failure; as a teacher, he was even more of a failure.
Rather than living another life, it was better to wait for this life to go where it was meant to go.
He no longer had anything to fear regarding death.
The other two were somewhat silent.
The three had grown up together; how could Orochimaru and Tsunade not see what Jiraiya was thinking?
"Still thinking about what happened before?"
"Yeah."
Jiraiya nodded.
"Orochimaru, you're right."
"I am a complete failure. I haven't found what I sought, and I haven't protected what I cherished..."
"However, I won't run away this time. Although it's a bit embarrassing for a teacher to become Hokage after his Disciple, I will do my best to be a good Hokage."
Tsunade snorted coldly and reached out her hand.
"Being the Hokage is one thing, but the Old Man's crystal ball is in your hands, right? Give it to me."
That thing was connected to the Village's sensory barrier and could see scenes within the Village.
She wouldn't feel at ease letting that old pervert Jiraiya keep it.
Jiraiya's expression stiffened, and finally, under Tsunade's increasingly dangerous gaze, he took out the crystal ball.
After taking the crystal ball, Tsunade smashed it onto the ground without hesitation.
Looking at the floor covered in crystal shards and small fragments, Jiraiya's eyes twitched. Such a treasure, destroyed just like that?
Back then, he almost got beaten to death by the Third Hokage and still didn't give it up; he didn't expect it to shatter like this.
Orochimaru patted Jiraiya's shoulder in consolation.
"When Nawaki returns, you should be his teacher. He's not suited to follow the current me anymore."
Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru.
"Are you and Nidaime-sama both ready?"
Orochimaru's feminine face wore a half-smile.
"Not yet, but I've taken an interest in a new apprentice; that child is more suited to follow me than Nawaki. Tsunade, do you have any plans to take an apprentice? Just to pass the time."
"Among Konoha's new generation, I only know Naruto. Naruto isn't suited to learn Medical Ninjutsu from me; that would be a waste of his talent."
Tsunade shook her head, rejecting Orochimaru's suggestion.
Jiraiya recommended: "I think that little girl named Sakura Haruno is quite good, and Ino Yamanaka too.
Those two girls took the initiative to participate in the rescue work after the Chunin Exams ended and even used the Mystical Palm Technique. They have good medical talent."
"Furthermore, that little girl Sakura Haruno and Naruto give off a feeling similar to Kushina and Minato. Their personalities are also very similar to Kushina and Minato."
Orochimaru and Tsunade exchanged a glance. Neither of them knew Sakura Haruno well, but they each had their own thoughts.
Orochimaru recommended: "If we're talking about a personality similar to Kushina, I think that little girl Karin is a better match. Moreover, according to the intelligence I gathered from Grass Ninja Village, this girl's blood has a healing effect."
Tsunade, on the other hand, thought of Uchiha Hikari.
"That kid Naruto spent a lot of money to have me examine a black-haired girl, and that girl always gives me the feeling that she's an Uchiha. Maybe those two are actually a pair."
After Tsunade finished speaking, she noticed that both Orochimaru and Jiraiya were looking at her with strange expressions.
"What's with those looks? Maybe the girl's parents never awakened the Sharingan, so they escaped the disaster?"
"The Uchiha are all dead, except for Uchiha Sasuke."
Jiraiya's expression became serious; he had also gathered information on Uchiha Itachi over the past two days.
Moreover, the Third said that everyone except Uchiha Sasuke had been killed by Itachi, so there was a high probability that there were no remaining survivors.
Unless that Uchiha isn't from this world, or rather, isn't from this time and space.
That girl is either an Uchiha from before or a descendant of Sasuke who transmigrated here.
Jiraiya had heard the Great Toad Sage mention such people before; they are time-space wanderers. Transmigration is inevitable, a fixed path forward for the world.
Orochimaru, however, thought of Naruto saying before that he wanted a Sharingan of his own, but he didn't specify whose he would use.
Previously, Orochimaru had even suspected that Naruto went to find Itachi, because as it stands, Itachi's talent is even greater than Sasuke's.
Thinking about it now, could he have known there was a stray Uchiha out there and went to find her?
But is that girl's talent really higher than Sasuke's?
To make Naruto choose to go find her instead of taking Sasuke's cells.
Or does she have a very important role in the future?
What Orochimaru cared more about was whether another Uchiha could truly survive given Itachi's methods.