The three-headed giant snake that had given Shisui, Kakashi, and the others a headache vanished in a puff of white smoke under Jiraiya's Fire Release. The immense power of the jutsu deepened Shisui and Kakashi's understanding of Jiraiya's strength.
Even though he hailed from the Uchiha clan, who specialized in Fire Release, Shisui had never witnessed a Fire Release Ninjutsu of this scale and power. Jiraiya's comprehension of Fire Release surpassed that of many Uchiha.
Jiraiya, having repelled the great snake, seemed to sense the admiring gaze of Shisui and Kakashi. He smiled proudly, then turned to the group behind him and said:
"Heh, how could a gatekeeper of this caliber stop Jiraiya-sama!"
Jiraiya's smile faded as he continued:
"However, making such a ruckus, Orochimaru should have noticed by now."
"Be careful, everyone."
In truth, they didn't need Jiraiya's reminder. Everyone present was a Konoha elite, and even Guy, with the weakest danger perception, had long been on high alert.
Just as the group planned to charge into the underground lair from the front, the stone gate of the lair slowly opened. Several figures quickly flashed out of the lair, arriving at the vast grassland.
A strong wind swept through.
In front of the swamp, several tens of meters away, a figure familiar to everyone appeared.
Orochimaru stood sideways before the swamp, his eyes glinting as he observed the somewhat dried surface of the swamp, scorched by Jiraiya's Fire Release. The three-headed great snake was the "gatekeeper" he had set up to protect his laboratory, but when he sensed the anomaly and rushed here, the gatekeeper had already vanished. From the traces of the battlefield, it was clear that Jiraiya's jutsu had defeated his gatekeeper.
Beside Orochimaru stood two young men. One had a refined appearance, short white hair, and wore round-rimmed glasses, currently scrutinizing Jiraiya and the others with vigilance.
The other had a handsome, younger appearance, also with white hair, wearing a loose kimono. The look in his eyes towards Jiraiya's group held a faint killing intent.
"Orochimaru!"
Seeing Orochimaru again, Jiraiya's tone carried a mix of excitement and nostalgia. However, Jiraiya quickly composed himself, then subconsciously glanced back at Shinichi Hyuga. Seeing that Shinichi made no move, Jiraiya slowly turned his head back, looking at the two young men accompanying Orochimaru.
These two youths were unfamiliar to Jiraiya; they hadn't been present during his last fight with Orochimaru.
Just as Jiraiya was carefully observing Orochimaru's two subordinates, Orochimaru finally turned around. His gaze swept seemingly casually over Shisui, Kakashi, and the others, lingering for a moment on Shinichi, before settling on Jiraiya.
"Fufufu..."
Orochimaru curled his lips into a light laugh, then his eyes sharpened as he questioned Jiraiya:
"Jiraiya, do you really think I wouldn't kill you?"
"Why are you still coming here!"
Orochimaru could clearly feel the bond between himself and Jiraiya. The first emotion he felt upon seeing Jiraiya was not annoyance, but delight.
However, Orochimaru was also very clear about what he was pursuing and what he truly wanted. He also clearly knew that he and Jiraiya were fundamentally not on the same path. Although they were once comrades-in-arms, closely connected, the path to eternal life was destined to be a solitary one.
Rather than having to cut ties in the future, it was better to draw a line with Jiraiya early on.
Orochimaru actually didn't want his relationship with Jiraiya to affect him. He knew Jiraiya was a carefree and free-spirited person, and Orochimaru didn't want his own affairs to influence Jiraiya's nature.
It was precisely because Orochimaru still cared about Jiraiya that he became more determined and resolute at this moment.
Sometimes, the emotions between people are just that complicated and contrary.
"Why have I come here?"
"How could you ask such a question? Of course, I'm here to take you back!"
"Don't think you can just walk away after doing such a thing in Konoha."
"You, my friend, are a wanted missing-nin of Konoha!"
Jiraiya spoke against his true feelings, responding with a laugh to Orochimaru's question. However, as he spoke, Jiraiya's gaze particularly scrutinized Orochimaru's attire at the moment: the eye-catching black robe and the red cloud pattern embroidered on it.
This outfit immediately reminded Jiraiya of Shinichi's previous description of that so-called mysterious organization. After a brief contemplation, Jiraiya asked, seemingly unintentionally:
"Orochimaru, I wanted to ask you this last time I saw you."
"Has your aesthetic taste changed after becoming a missing-nin?"
"Wearing such a flashy outfit, it's not like you at all! Could it be that you... joined some criminal organization?!"
Jiraiya was hinting at something. Shinichi hadn't spoken, but Jiraiya was actively helping Shinichi probe for information.
"Rare sharpness, Jiraiya!"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed upon hearing Jiraiya's words. His thoughts spun rapidly, and his gaze swept over Shisui, Shinichi, and the others, instantly realizing the situation.
Jiraiya's probing was a bit direct, and with Orochimaru's intelligence, how could he not figure it out?
However, facing Jiraiya, for some reason, Orochimaru didn't want to lie:
"The organization I joined is called 'Akatsuki'."
"Heh heh, compared to Konoha, the Akatsuki organization gives me more of a sense of belonging."
"Compared to you, Jiraiya, the members of Akatsuki are more like partners who share my ideals!"
While saying this, Orochimaru didn't forget to needle Jiraiya and the Village Hidden in the Leaves subtly. Orochimaru was undoubtedly being disingenuous, but his words were not entirely wrong from a certain perspective.
The members of Akatsuki are all missing-nin. Although each person's pursuit is different, they are all extremely self-centered. It is precisely because they prioritize their personal pursuits above all else that they belong to Akatsuki.
Orochimaru and they are essentially the same type of person.
"Is that so..."
"Then I genuinely congratulate you on finding your true companions."
"Are those two beside you members of the Akatsuki organization?"
Jiraiya's gaze was somewhat gloomy. He had also gleaned some information from Orochimaru's words.
People who can be recognized by Orochimaru... putting everything else aside, their strength must be exceptionally formidable. That Akatsuki organization might be stronger than he had anticipated.
Jiraiya's probing was not over. His focus shifted to the two young men beside Orochimaru.
Orochimaru knew full well that Jiraiya was trying to extract information from him, but he seemed unconcerned. Seeing that Jiraiya was interested in his subordinates, Orochimaru also smiled and introduced them:
"They are my dear subordinates, not members of Akatsuki."
"This child is Kabuto, who possesses very outstanding medical ninjutsu talent and is my most excellent assistant."
"And this child is Kimimaro, my right arm."
Orochimaru's praise made the reverent Kimimaro look excited. For him, Orochimaru's acknowledgment was the greatest reward.
Sensing Kimimaro's excited emotion, Orochimaru also lightly patted Kimimaro's shoulder, saying with a smile:
"Kimimaro, go ahead and say hello to them properly."
Orochimaru was full of confidence in Kimimaro Kaguya's strength. He felt he had already revealed enough information to Jiraiya, and at this moment, he no longer had the desire to continue conversing with the other party.
Truth be told, as a member of Akatsuki, Orochimaru knew how strong the organization was, and thus, he didn't want Jiraiya to get too deeply involved. Letting Jiraiya know the organization's strength, giving a subtle warning—that was enough.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama!"
Kimimaro Kaguya bowed and answered. Then, with a light leap, he blocked Jiraiya's group. His hands spread open, and two bone spikes rapidly grew out from his palms, transforming into two bone swords, which Kimimaro firmly held.
With just a slight crouch and acceleration, the young Kimimaro had already rushed in front of Jiraiya. He raised his hand, and the bone sword thrust straight towards Jiraiya's face.
"O-don't~"
Kimimaro's speed was quick, but in front of Jiraiya, this level of thrust was ultimately not enough.
Jiraiya showed surprise, but his movements were fast and natural. With a slight shift of his body, he easily dodged the enemy's attack, simultaneously letting out a soft exclamation, as if in mockery.
Having missed the attack, Kimimaro changed his move swiftly, turning the thrust into a sweep.
Jiraiya lightly tapped his foot, quickly creating distance from Kimimaro with a single back-hop. However, at that moment, the bone sword in Kimimaro's left hand rapidly elongated, turning into a bone whip. With a forceful snap from Kimimaro, the bone whip quickly lashed towards the retreating Jiraiya.
Jiraiya, mid-air, was unable to avoid it. Only then did he realize that the opponent's two bone swords were not weapons previously hidden in his sleeves and only taken out for battle.
That weapon was actually created by the boy named Kimimaro himself—it was a Kekkei Genkai (Bloodline Limit)!
Just as it seemed Jiraiya was about to be struck by Kimimaro's bone whip, a green figure flashed out from the side. Might Guy entered the fray, kicking the bone whip and forcibly changing its direction.
Simultaneously, Kakashi Hatake joined the battle, wielding a short blade to parry the bone sword in Kimimaro's right hand.
The perfectly coordinated pair stood to Jiraiya's left and right, blocking Kimimaro's attack.
Landing, Jiraiya quickly somersaulted to Shinichi's side. Seeing Kakashi and Guy coming to the rescue, Jiraiya's face flushed slightly, and he said awkwardly:
"I didn't expect that kid to have a Bloodline Limit; I was careless."
"Shinichi, letting Kakashi and Guy deal with that guy, will it be okay?"
The number of Kekkei Genkai users in the ninja world is very small, and Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse) is considered one of the stronger types among many Bloodline Limits; otherwise, this Kimimaro would not have been valued by Orochimaru.
Kimimaro hails from the Kaguya Clan. Due to awakening his Bloodline Limit, he was used as a weapon of war by his clan members from a young age.
Originating from the Village Hidden in the Mist, although he was young, his combat experience was exceptionally rich. Under the combined attack of Kakashi and Guy, Kimimaro retreated while fighting, yet he didn't suffer any significant disadvantage in the exchange, instead handling it with ease.
Guy and Kakashi didn't use any Ninjutsu, only continually pressured the opponent with Taijutsu.
In the two-on-one situation, Guy and Kakashi were often able to find and successfully attack some openings on Kimimaro, but unfortunately, Kimimaro's entire skeleton could grow at his will under his control. Whenever an attack came, Kimimaro could always use temporarily grown bone armor to protect his body.
Although it looked like Guy and Kakashi were suppressing the opponent, Kimimaro was completely unharmed under the siege.
The rest of the group watched from the sidelines, ready to back them up. Neither Orochimaru nor Jiraiya had any intention of interrupting the battle.
After dozens of exchanges between the three, Might Guy, seeing his attacks repeatedly blocked by the opponent's bone armor, intensified his offense. His movements became increasingly broad, forcing his partner Kakashi to step aside, fearing he would interfere with Guy's attack or be caught in the sweep of Guy's offense, and silently withdrawing from the battlefield.
With one opponent less, Kimimaro did not feel the pressure lessen. On the contrary, as Guy exerted more force, Kimimaro found it increasingly difficult to resist.
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!!!"
Might Guy was full of spirit, executing a spinning kick aimed at Kimimaro's head, forcing Kimimaro to hold his arms flat at the side of his head for defense. Although bone quickly covered the surface of his arms, when the spinning kick struck his forearm, Kimimaro still felt a tremendous force transmitted, sending him flying several meters.
"Bang!!!"
Kimimaro tumbled several times on the ground before finally stopping. As he got back up, a fierce look appeared on his face, and the Earth Curse Mark on his chest slowly began to spread.
"Guy, that guy's chakra is getting stronger, be careful!"
Kakashi had been keeping an eye on all the enemies present. The moment the change occurred on Kimimaro's body, his Sharingan detected it, and he immediately issued a warning.
As his voice fell, Kimimaro flashed in front of Guy. The bone spike in his hand swept out horizontally. Guy reacted quickly, raising his leg and kicking Kimimaro's wrist, which forced the opponent's attack to a halt. However, at that very moment, a bone spike suddenly grew rapidly from Kimimaro's chest, heading straight for Guy's face.
This bizarre attack caused Guy's pupils to contract. He quickly somersaulted backward to dodge. After creating a little distance, Guy belatedly noticed a slight pain on his cheek. He raised his hand to wipe it, and a smear of blood appeared between his fingers.
A cut was made on Guy's face, though not deep, but blood continued to seep from the wound.
A little farther away, Orochimaru saw that only Might Guy alone could block Kimimaro's offense. After a brief contemplation, a brilliant smile appeared on his face:
"You have very excellent subordinates too, Jiraiya!"
"Coincidentally, let me try this jutsu I just completed not long ago."
"Don't die now, Jiraiya!"
As he spoke, Orochimaru bit his finger, blood slid across his palm, and then he swiftly formed hand signs. Accompanied by his hands pressing onto the ground, Orochimaru let out a low roar:
"Impure World Reincarnation!!!"
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