"Hey, hey, hey, Orochimaru..."
"I was just saying it offhand. Why did you actually go tell Sensei?"
Jiraiya looked completely at a loss.
"And you even got so many shinobi to come watch. Sensei's so strong there's no way I can afford to hold back..."
"If I actually win... what would that even mean?"
Orochimaru and Tsunade exchanged a glance before both burst into laughter.
When they first heard Jiraiya say 'Sensei's so strong,' they thought he finally had a bit of self-awareness.
But it turned out he was worried that because Sensei was so strong, he wouldn't be able to hold back?
The moment Orochimaru and Tsunade recalled Hiruzen grabbing Hanzō and flinging him around like a fish ball being pounded by a street vendor, they almost couldn't keep straight faces.
"Tsunade, do you still have the enhanced versions of those Medical Chakra Scrolls? I remember you saying you were making a few specialized ones for keeping critically injured patients alive..."
Orochimaru asked quietly.
"I do, I do," Tsunade replied with complete seriousness.
"I'll definitely be there. Watching the legendary Sage Jiraiya face off against Sensei is worth the price of admission all by itself. Even if I have to activate the Strength of a Hundred Seal just to keep you two alive afterward, it'll still be worth it!"
Jiraiya's hairs immediately stood on end as a chill ran down his spine.
What a bloodthirsty audience...
Does it really have to go that far?
"Wait..."
"Orochimaru, tell me honestly. Has Sensei been improving himself while I was away training?"
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Did Sensei develop some new jutsu again... or master another Kekkei Genkai?"
It wasn't that Jiraiya was being overly arrogant.
The boost granted by Sage Mode really was that overwhelming. Simply saying it doubled his combat strength didn't even come close.
Although he still couldn't enter it on his own and could only maintain it for a limited time in battle...
Ever since Hiruzen had been designated by the Great Toad Sage Gamamaru as the "Teacher of the Prophecy"...
Jiraiya's standing at Mount Myōboku only continued to rise.
Not only had they begun supplying far more materials for Konohagakure's production of Sage Region Pills, but because of the prophecy, Gamamaru had instructed Fukasaku and Shima to assist Jiraiya as much as possible.
As a result, although Jiraiya had only barely mastered how to use senjutsu chakra, it was enough for practical combat—as long as he entered the state of "man and toad as one."
Fukasaku and Shima would refine senjutsu chakra for him.
Those two had practiced senjutsu for centuries.
"I honestly don't know."
Orochimaru spread his hands.
"I've been extremely busy lately. Normally, if Sensei invited me to research ninjutsu together, I'd ask what he'd been working on. But for the past several months, he's been spending all his time with the Uchiha."
Jiraiya frowned.
"Snake, that's not like you."
"Sensei developed a new jutsu, and you don't want to learn it?"
"I do. Why wouldn't I?" Orochimaru smiled.
"But what's the rush? Any ninjutsu I want to learn, Sensei will personally teach me step by step. Why bother learning every intermediate version? I'd rather wait until he's finished refining it and just learn the completed version."
"So for now, it's enough to focus on helping Sensei and the village."
Orochimaru elegantly took a sip of tea, presenting a stark contrast to the drunken Jiraiya sitting across from him.
Ever since he had mastered the Living Corpse Reincarnation, and with cloning technology steadily advancing, Orochimaru's state of mind had become remarkably stable.
This was the unique secret and bond shared between him and Hiruzen.
Absolutely unbreakable.
"Damn you..."
Jiraiya ground his teeth before muttering resentfully, "So this is what it's like to be the genius Sensei has spoiled since childhood? I'm jealous of how composed you are..."
"I guess dumb students really don't get favored."
Orochimaru merely shrugged.
"Snake, tell me something. During the year or two I spent in seclusion, what exactly have you been doing for the village?"
Jiraiya asked, still unwilling to give up.
"This is one of my latest little inventions."
Orochimaru held up the device in his hand.
"It's called the Chakra Pulse Communicator. An encrypted communication ninja tool reserved exclusively for certain jōnin and members of the Konoha Council."
"It supports precise location tracking, high-priority emergency alerts, long-form classified messages, and can even synchronize with the Mind Body Switch Technique to trigger one-way mental warnings and project visual images directly into the recipient's mind..."
Jiraiya's mouth slowly fell open.
This was clearly a battlefield intelligence weapon of the highest order.
"Come register with the Research Department tomorrow and have your chakra signature recorded. You'll get one too."
Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya's astonished expression and seemed thoroughly pleased with himself.
He continued, "Our research into simplified applications of natural energy is also progressing. Hizashi has already begun achieving partial Sage Transformation."
"You should prepare yourself as well. I want to use you as research material while studying Sage Mode."
Jiraiya instinctively waved his hands in refusal.
"What? The Great Sage isn't willing to cooperate with my work to make the village's shinobi stronger and give the children even greater protection?"
Orochimaru gracefully set down his teacup, his snake-like pupils narrowing slightly.
"H-Hey, what's with that? Fine! I'll go!"
Jiraiya hurriedly waved both hands.
"You're Sensei's disciple, not Danzō's... stop throwing accusations around every chance you get. My shoulders aren't broad enough to carry all those labels!"
Tsunade chuckled softly.
No matter how many years passed, the way those two interacted never changed.
They cared deeply about each other, yet always pretended not to, all while taking every opportunity to bicker.
It was obvious that after hearing how much Jiraiya's strength had grown, Orochimaru had felt just a tiny bit unhappy.
"That's not all. Research on the First Hokage's cells has also made progress."
"Using Uchiha cells and dōjutsu chakra, concentrated salamander venom, and sealing arrays, we've gradually been able to suppress their activity."
"Give me another three to five confirmed research directions, and I'm confident a safe transplantable version of the First Hokage's cells can be completed within a few years."
Orochimaru smiled.
"Bloodline transplantation has also been quite successful, though that isn't my achievement alone. Hiruko has been leading that project."
"Besides that, I also headed the renovation of the village's defensive barrier and sensory barrier systems, working together with Kushina and Shio on their deployment..."
Jiraiya's eyes had already begun spinning.
He quickly waved both hands for Orochimaru to stop.
"Hold on..."
"You've done that much?"
"Leaving manpower aside... where did you even get all the funding?"
Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya.
"Sensei approved it. I'm the person in charge of the entire Konoha Research Department. Tens of billions of ryō pass through my hands. If I don't produce results, how could that possibly be acceptable?"
"Don't think it's an easy job. Danzō, Hizashi, and even the younger generation are all keeping an eye on me. That Uchiha kid has the makings of the Second Hokage..."
A strange expression crossed Tsunade's face, but she said nothing.
An Uchiha with the qualities of her Granduncle?
Jiraiya choked on his drink.
For a moment, he suddenly felt too embarrassed to even mention Shinobi Battle Through the Heavens...
Could that thing really make money?
Even if the outline came from Sensei... and it's only a third of the story so far...
"...Sigh."
Jiraiya downed another cup of sake and shook his head gloomily.
His training at Mount Myōboku had been unimaginably grueling.
But mastering Sage Mode was never something that could be accomplished overnight. Reaching the beginner stage in just over a year already proved he had considerable talent for it.
Compared to everyone else, though...
Jiraiya felt he'd already fallen far behind.
There was no point comparing himself to Orochimaru or Tsunade. Even Hiruko, who used to trail one or two steps behind him, had now found an irreplaceable role within the village.
The man was transplanting Kekkei Genkai.
Even across the entire shinobi world, that was unquestionably cutting-edge technology.
The future it promised for Konohagakure was beyond measure.
"Idiot. Stop looking so miserable. Everyone eventually finds the place where they belong."
Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya and spoke softly.
"If there's something on your mind, have your match with Sensei tomorrow... then go talk to him."
Jiraiya sighed.
"At my age, I still have to have a heart-to-heart with Sensei? Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I just got myself stuck in a mental rut for a while."
After saying that, he finished another cup of sake.
"I'm heading back to rest. I still need to summon myself to Mount Myōboku later to greet Boss and Big Sister. That way I'll be able to enter Sage Mode faster tomorrow."
Watching Jiraiya's retreating figure, Orochimaru shook his head.
"That fool..."
"He always acts so carefree, but deep down, he's more stubborn than anyone."
Although Orochimaru had been a genius since childhood and mastered every ninjutsu with remarkable ease...
Jiraiya, despite seeming like an idiot who constantly pulled bizarre stunts, possessed determination and talent that had always put tremendous pressure on him.
That guy was unquestionably a genius too.
And objectively speaking, among the three of them, the one who had truly inherited Hiruzen's legacy of mastering all Five Nature Transformations was actually Jiraiya.
Granted, he was missing one chakra nature...
"Aren't you exactly the same?"
Tsunade shook her head.
"You two really are something else. Sometimes your relationship feels even more awkward than those lovestruck kids. Can't you just openly look out for each other?"
"What did you say?"
Orochimaru frowned deeply.
"Don't talk nonsense."
"I never repeat myself."
Chuckling, Tsunade stood up.
"All right, I'm turning in too. Let's see if Jiraiya can really surprise us tomorrow after talking himself up so much."
"He's strengthened his ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, and he's even got two sages permanently assisting him."
"When the time comes, don't let it bother you if Jiraiya really has become stronger."
Orochimaru let out a quiet laugh.
Would it bother me?
Maybe... it actually would.
But he didn't care.
Because ever since Hiruzen had approved his research into the Living Corpse Reincarnation—and had even placed the responsibility for that sensitive project under his own name—Orochimaru had already moved beyond such concerns.
He would forever remain the disciple Sensei trusted most.
...
The next day.
Konoha's First Training Ground.
The largest training ground in Konohagakure had recently undergone yet another renovation, making it more enormous than ever.
Partly because the village now had ample infrastructure funding, but also because Konoha's shinobi had grown so much stronger that they needed a battlefield large enough to unleash their full abilities during sparring.
After the announcement was made, a great many shinobi came to watch.
Naturally, it was impossible for every shinobi in the village to attend. Many critical posts couldn't simply be left vacant, and the village still had to function with precision.
Instead, each department voluntarily sent several representatives so they could carefully observe the match before returning to give firsthand accounts to everyone else.
From the Ninja Academy came Kakashi, Asuma, Obito, and Might Guy.
Representing the Police Force was Fugaku. As a member of the Konoha Council, he had practically exhausted every favor he could think of—promising meals, drinks, and all kinds of goodwill before finally convincing everyone to let him attend.
Hizashi from the ANBU was there as well, though he hadn't needed to compete for a seat.
Everyone knew he was the Hokage's shadow.
Danzō had even taken the day off to come watch the match alongside Tobirama.
There were also Might Duy and many other Special Jōnin, Chūnin, and Genin.
Below the arena, Jiraiya slowly took a deep breath.
Having people watch didn't really bother him. After all, he was a man who had fought through bloody battles during the Second Shinobi World War.
But publicly sparring against Sensei in such a formal setting inevitably stirred his more artistic side, making him think of things like a son challenging his father or passing the baton from one man to another.
That sense of inheritance was what truly made him nervous.
Minato stood beside Jiraiya with his usual warm smile, while Kushina had also come to watch.
'I've sparred with Hokage-sama for so long, and now I finally get to see what Jiraiya-sensei looks like against him. I'm really looking forward to this.'
Minato's smile was as bright as ever.
"You've got this, Jiraiya-sensei! Show everyone what our lineage is made of!"
"Yeah, I will!"
Jiraiya carefully checked all of his ninja tools while chewing on a concentrated military ration pill to replenish his energy.
The expression on his face was oddly nostalgic, almost like he was taking his ninja graduation exam all over again.
Except this time, Tsunade and Orochimaru weren't standing beside him.
He was facing it alone.
"Oh, right, Minato..."
Jiraiya cleared his throat.
"I heard that while I was away, Sensei was the one training you. You must know a little about him, right?"
"You know as well as I do—intelligence is a shinobi's greatest weapon in battle."
"Come on... give me a little something."
An awkward expression appeared on Minato's face.
"Wouldn't that be inappropriate, Sensei?"
"What's inappropriate about it? He's my Sensei! I'm about to fight him in the arena. It's not like leaking a little information beforehand is going to compromise the Hokage!"
Seeing there was hope, Jiraiya's eyes lit up as he hurried closer to Minato.
"Kid, don't forget—I'm your sensei. We're the closest, aren't we?"
"Honestly, it feels like Hokage-sama has been closer to Minato than you have..." Kushina said with a teasing sigh.
"Hokage-sama has always taken great care of Minato and me. He's constantly giving Minato pointers during training, while Jiraiya-sensei disappears for ages at a time..."
"Minato even said he wanted to name our child after the protagonist of your novel."
"Ahaha..."
Jiraiya awkwardly scratched the back of his head.
Arguing with a pregnant woman was never a good idea.
"Naruen? That's actually a pretty nice name," Jiraiya said instinctively.
"Naruto! Naruto!" Kushina shot him an exasperated look.
"It's from your novel The Tale of the Gutsy Shinobi! Minato absolutely loves it."
"You've written another book?"
Minato's eyes lit up with excitement.
"Let me read it, Jiraiya-sensei!"
"First, tell me about Sensei."
Jiraiya cleared his throat.
"I'll let you read all my manuscripts from now on."
Minato turned toward Hiruzen in the distance and noticed that he was smiling back at him as well. Feeling relieved, he began speaking.
"Well, Jiraiya-sensei..."
He thought for a moment.
"Hokage-sama basically has three forms. I call them Balanced, Speed, and Power. They're all incredibly strong in terms of speed, defense, and raw strength—the difference is simply which aspect he emphasizes. On top of that, he has this strange ability to ignore a lot of ninjutsu."
"And one thing you absolutely need to remember, Jiraiya-sensei: try not to let Hokage-sama force you into close combat. If you can't avoid it, be careful of the Heavenly Punishment Domain. It's very easy to end up on the defensive."
"His reflexes are also unbelievably fast, so sneak attacks usually won't work."
"As for genjutsu... I'd recommend not bothering. I've heard from Seisui and Yashiro that Hokage-sama is basically unaffected by genjutsu pressure."
"And one more thing—you should remember that Fire Release is ineffective against him."
"In short, Hokage-sama is a man so overwhelmingly well-rounded that he leaves people in despair... while shining like the sun itself."
Minato summed up Hiruzen in the most chuuni way imaginable.
That was his little trick.
By wrapping everything in his trademark over-the-top language, he could give Jiraiya useful information without revealing too much.
Jiraiya was completely dumbfounded.
"Minato... I seriously ought to use Mind Body Switch Technique on you."
"Listen to yourself! What kind of explanation was that? Three forms? According to you, Sensei is a master of ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, plus he's resistant to everything. How am I even supposed to fight him?"
"You spend way too much time reading chuuni nonsense. You really need to read Shinobi Battle Through the Heavens instead!"
Minato spread his hands helplessly.
He was telling the truth, yet nobody believed him.
As far as Minato was concerned, fighting Hiruzen one-on-one had always felt exactly like that. The pressure hit the moment the battle began.
Without several uniquely specialized shinobi working together in a coordinated formation, Minato couldn't imagine anyone stopping Hiruzen—Konoha's blazing sun.
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