Chapter 294 (BONUS)

Kushina knew she had been taken by Orochimaru as part of some unknown scheme.

But hearing him state it so bluntly that she was his hostage still left her unsettled.

Even more confusing to her was Orochimaru's relationship with Konoha. If he had truly defected, why was he still helping them in the war?

Kushina wanted to ask, but before she could open her mouth, Orochimaru abruptly stopped walking.

"Wait here," he ordered.

Without further explanation, Orochimaru flipped his wrist, pulling out a pen and quickly writing something on his palm.

Once done, he summoned a fly, which landed on his hand. The insect scanned the message before flying off into the distance.

Kushina followed its trajectory and noticed that it seemed to be heading toward a mountaintop where a Konoha sentry was stationed.

"That's… Konoha's camp?" she murmured.

"Hmm," Orochimaru replied nonchalantly. He said nothing further and simply stood there, waiting.

About an hour later, a familiar figure appeared in the distance, running toward them.

It was Tsunade.

"Orochimaru…"

Without hesitation, Tsunade rushed to Orochimaru and threw herself into his arms, her voice breaking with emotion.

"Orochimaru, Nawaki… Nawaki, he…"

"I know," Orochimaru said softly, his lips curling into a faint smile. "I came to tell you that I have a way to bring him back."

"What?"

"You don't need to worry," he continued. "Just focus on fighting for now."

"Bring him back? Are you talking about Reanimation Jutsu?" Tsunade asked, pulling away to look him in the eye.

"I've seen Grandpa and Second Grandpa. I know you can use the technique, but if it's Reanimation Jutsu, that's not truly bringing him back…"

"It's not Reanimation Jutsu," Orochimaru interrupted, his tone calm but firm. "I'm talking about true resurrection."

Tsunade froze, her eyes wide in disbelief.

"True resurrection?" she repeated, her voice shaky. "Are… are you serious?"

Orochimaru tilted her chin upward with one finger, his red-gold eyes meeting hers. "When have I ever lied to you?"

"Constantly!" Tsunade blurted out without hesitation.

"…"

Orochimaru's mouth twitched slightly. He couldn't deny it. During his time in Konoha, he had often hidden the truth about his experiments and abilities, even from her.

"Fine," he conceded. "But this time, I'm not lying."

"Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," Orochimaru said with confidence.

"But… something like that…"

"Sounds impossible, doesn't it?" Orochimaru said, smirking. "Tsunade, there are very few things in this world that I can't do. Resurrection? It may be hard for others, but for me, it's only a matter of conditions and effort."

His tone was casual, yet his conviction was clear.

Tsunade couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Orochimaru's expertise in forbidden techniques was unparalleled. If he said it was possible, then maybe… just maybe…

Her sorrow began to lift slightly, replaced by cautious optimism.

Seizing the moment, Orochimaru began exchanging information with Tsunade about the war.

The Sand Ninja had only recently retreated, and the Konoha forces on the front lines were still dealing with the aftermath. Tsunade and Nonō were staying to tend to the wounded and monitor the Sand Ninja's movements to ensure they didn't regroup for another attack.

Meanwhile, two-thirds of the forces stationed on the Sand and Cloud Ninja fronts had been redirected to bolster the defenses against the Iwa and Mist Ninja.

"Orochimaru, will you be helping in the rest of the war?" Tsunade asked.

"No," Orochimaru replied calmly. "The remaining two villages aren't a threat. Konoha can handle them on its own."

"Then… where are you going?"

"I'm heading to the Land of Wind."

"The Land of Wind?"

"Yes. It shouldn't take long. If I return, I'll find a way to contact you," Orochimaru said.

"Be careful," Tsunade said softly, wrapping her arms around him in a brief hug before turning back toward the Konoha camp.

Although she wanted to go with him, she knew it wasn't possible. Konoha still needed her.

---

As they continued their journey, Kushina couldn't contain her curiosity any longer.

"Orochimaru-sama, why are we going to the Land of Wind?"

She had no choice but to follow his orders, but his decision puzzled her. While the Sand Ninja had retreated, relations between Konoha and the Land of Wind were still tense.

If they were discovered, it would undoubtedly cause trouble.

But Orochimaru's next words left her stunned.

"Kushina, have you ever heard of Rōran?"

"Rōran?"

"Correct," Orochimaru replied. "There's something interesting in that city. I intend to stop by and take a look."

Rōran was an independent city within the Land of Wind, known for being home to the mysterious Dragon Vein.

The Dragon Vein wasn't just a source of immense energy, it also had the ability to manipulate time and space.

While Orochimaru no longer relied on external power to bolster his strength, his curiosity about the Dragon Vein's temporal and spatial properties had persisted.

When he first arrived in this world, he had briefly researched Rōran but had been too preoccupied with other matters to visit.

Now, with most of his plans in motion and nothing pressing on his agenda, he decided it was time to investigate the Dragon Vein.

Besides, the detour fit his current pace.

However, upon arriving in Rōran, Orochimaru encountered a sight he hadn't expected.

In the bustling streets of the city, a teenage boy sat on a ledge, his blonde hair and bright blue eyes standing out.

He wore an orange tracksuit with black accents, paired with a gray mesh undershirt and a black forehead protector.

The boy rested his chin on one hand, looking both bored and frustrated. But as Orochimaru, who had just removed his cloak, stepped into the street, the boy's demeanor changed instantly.

He shot to his feet with a loud yell.

"A-a-ah! It's real! This is crazy!"

The boy grabbed his hair, his movements animated and chaotic, reminiscent of Jiraiya's when he was younger.

Orochimaru narrowed his eyes, studying the boy closely.

"You… know me?" he asked, his voice low and curious.

"Of course I do!" the boy shouted, pointing at him. "I'd recognize that creepy face anywhere! You're… you're that guy who's always hanging around Granny Tsunade!"

Before Orochimaru could respond, the boy's expression shifted, his excitement giving way to confusion.

"Wait… Naruto, what are you doing? Dad? Mom? Are they… are they really here?"

***

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