Chapter 384: On the Brink

Even though they had found two overlooked locations in history and obtained what they were looking for, the trio did not stop searching.

Only after thoroughly scouring every inch of the Uzushio Village ruins to ensure nothing was missed did they finally prepare to leave.

"We need to return quickly," Orochimaru said. His mind was preoccupied with the scrolls they had uncovered, he was eager to return to the base and delve into the principles and knowledge of sealing techniques.

With their goal achieved, there was no reason to linger. In another hour or two, the sun would set.

A gentle breeze swept through the tall grass, bending it slightly as the ruins behind them stood silent and still.

Ye Zi turned for one last look at the ruins of Uzushio Village before moving forward.

The three of them crossed the same mountain they had climbed earlier and returned to the flat grasslands they had traversed before.

After traveling some distance, the group suddenly stopped in their tracks, their expressions shifting subtly.

On the open grassland ahead, near the edge of the forest, two figures abruptly appeared.

The wind blew in from behind the two figures, carrying the scent of greenery and rippling the waves of grass toward Ye Zi and his group.

The grassland resembled a calm lake disturbed by gusts of wind, creating circles of rippling green.

Whoosh!

The wind swept past Ye Zi and his companions, lifting their hair and clothes.

Ye Zi and Orochimaru stood silently, their gazes locked on the two figures ahead. The newcomers remained just as silent.

Though the distance between them was considerable, their sharp eyesight allowed them to recognize each other clearly.

It was Jiraiya and Tsunade.

Upon seeing Orochimaru and Ye Zi, Jiraiya's feelings grew complicated. He had expected this encounter, but now that it was happening, it still weighed on him.

"Ye Zi!"

Tsunade's eyes sharpened, and she stepped forward with heavy strides toward the group.

Jiraiya sighed lightly and followed her.

Using the Body Flicker Technique, the two quickly closed the distance, stopping about two hundred meters away to a safe yet confrontational distance.

"Ye Zi! At last, I've found you!" Tsunade's sharp, piercing gaze fixed on Ye Zi, her clenched fists trembling with anger, veins bulging. On her beautiful face was an unmistakable expression of hatred.

Seeing her demeanor and hearing her words, Ye Zi immediately understood. Tsunade was here for him, likely because of Kato Dan.

His calm gaze met her openly hostile one, his expression unchanging.

"Dan… you killed him, didn't you?" Tsunade's cold eyes bore into Ye Zi as she demanded confirmation.

"Correct," Ye Zi replied flatly.

Regardless of the reasons, the act of killing Dan was indisputable. He saw no need for excuses or justifications and admitted it plainly.

"Why… why did you kill Dan?" Tsunade bit down hard on her lip, her killing intent exploding outward.

In this moment, even without the context of them being enemies, she genuinely wanted to tear Ye Zi apart.

She might have been able to accept Dan's death in the chaos of war, but not at the hands of Ye Zi.

"There's no reason," Ye Zi said coldly, his hand resting on the hilt of his blade. "It was just like most of my other missions, killing was the objective."

That night, killing Kato Dan had been an accident. If it had been anyone else pursuing him, Ye Zi could have escaped without much trouble.

But Kato Dan was different. Knowing the nature of Dan's Spirit Transformation Technique, Ye Zi couldn't afford to let his guard down. In the split second it took to weigh his options, he chose to eliminate Dan.

If Dan had abandoned the pursuit, Ye Zi would have left without incident. But Dan was determined to treat him as an enemy infiltrator, chasing him with the intent to capture or kill.

Faced with someone so intent on killing him, Ye Zi wasn't naïve enough to risk his own life by showing mercy.

Looking back, Ye Zi did not regret his decision. At that time, before encountering Nagato's abilities, he believed the only true counter to the Spirit Transformation Technique was another spirit-based attack.

But he wasn't about to explain his reasoning to Tsunade. He dismissed the matter with a casual excuse.

Tsunade took a deep breath, her face now fully consumed by killing intent. Her clenched fists began to tremble with suppressed rage.

Her hostile aura was palpable, as though she might strike Ye Zi at any moment.

Ye Zi gripped his sword hilt tightly, his gaze fixed on Tsunade, prepared for immediate retaliation.

The two figures before him were none other than Tsunade and Jiraiya, famed as two of the Legendary Sannin. While they didn't intimidate him, he couldn't afford to underestimate them.

This encounter was unavoidable. Judging by their demeanor, a confrontation was imminent.

Orochimaru and Kotoe shared Ye Zi's vigilance. Kotoe's fingers were already clutching several poison-coated senbon.

Her plant-based toxins were usually a significant threat to most enemies, but against Tsunade, they were useless.

Having lived in Konoha for so long, Konoha had detailed information on Kotoe's toxic arsenal. Tsunade had likely prepared antidotes specifically for her poisons.

"Tsunade."

Jiraiya could feel the intensity of Tsunade's killing intent. He had things he wanted to say to Orochimaru, so he called out to Tsunade to rein her in.

Tsunade said nothing, her cold eyes still fixed on Ye Zi. Her only thought was avenging Dan, though she restrained herself slightly for the moment.

At this point, a fight was inevitable.

Jiraiya sighed deeply and turned his gaze to Orochimaru, whose expression remained icy and indifferent. Taking a deep breath, he said solemnly, "Orochimaru, it seems there's no going back."

As he spoke, he let out another sigh.

"If only I'd noticed sooner, maybe you and…"

"Jiraiya," Orochimaru interrupted with a cold sneer, his voice dripping with malice. "No matter how many years pass, you're as foolish as ever."

"You're here for a reason. It's obvious what you want. Spare me the useless chatter."

Jiraiya let out a self-deprecating laugh and said, "You're right. At this point, there's no point in saying anything more."

This had always been clear, hadn't it?

The path Orochimaru chose had long diverged from the one Jiraiya and Tsunade were walking, it was so far apart now that it seemed impossible to see the end of it anymore.

For a fleeting moment, Jiraiya felt he could understand the helpless sorrow Kushina must have felt in her heart.

Slowly, he gathered himself, letting the self-mocking expression fade. His demeanor became serious and resolute as he spoke in a low, steady voice:

"Tsunade."

This time, the name wasn't a plea for restraint but a signal to take action.

Clap!

Even before the words were fully spoken, Tsunade and Jiraiya simultaneously brought their hands together to form seals.

Clang!

At the same moment, Ye Zi unsheathed his blade, Chijin, and lightning streaked across his body.

Orochimaru and Kotoe, too, entered their battle stances, preparing themselves.

With one unspoken command, the tension erupted, and the confrontation was on the verge of breaking loose.

Check out the patreon and get 55 chapters in advance -> SaintXI

Currently on Chapter 439 - Preparing for Edo Tensei