Chapter 122: I Also Want to Fly

He had thought it would take a while longer, but he found them so quickly.

Just then, Jiraiya asked Torifū, "What should we play?!"

Torifū pondered for a moment, then snapped his fingers. "How about experiencing the feeling of flying?"

"Can you fly, Torifū nii-san?! I want to try!" Jiraiya's eyes were incredibly clear and bright. Childhood truly was the purest time.

"Of course! How about we fly a lap over Konoha?"

Hearing Torifū say he could really fly, Jiraiya jumped for joy. "Okay, okay!"

Torifū also smiled. He went behind Jiraiya and used crystal vines to firmly bind Jiraiya to himself. Jiraiya hadn't seen this before, and the crystal vines that appeared from nowhere made him very nervous. But a child's curious nature urged him to touch them.

"Torifū nii-san, is this your ninjutsu?"

"Yes, it is. You even know about ninjutsu?"

Jiraiya was a bit speechless at Torifū's question. How could he not know about ninjutsu when his parents were ninja? But he really hadn't seen a ninjutsu that could produce crystals like this.

"Get ready for takeoff!"

Hearing this, Jiraiya took a deep breath and squeezed his eyes shut tightly. Clouds of mist burst from Torifū's sleeves, propelling them both soaring into the sky.

This scene was witnessed by many people, but they were already used to it. After all, Torifū was the only one in the village who could fly.

"Alright, open your eyes."

Hearing Torifū's words, Jiraiya slowly opened his eyes, and what he saw was no longer the familiar street outside his home, but the entire Konoha Ninja Village.

"Wow! Is this the real Konoha Village?! It's so beautiful!" Jiraiya shouted loudly in the air, seemingly without any fear. Torifū was somewhat surprised by this; he hadn't expected the child to be unafraid of heights. Truly worthy of being the future Sage.

Flying with Jiraiya in the air didn't have much impact; it was relatively easy. After circling above Konoha a few times, Jiraiya was overjoyed. He usually just played pranks in the village and didn't know the village's true appearance.

Jiraiya, with his sharp eyes, even spotted his friend, Orochimaru, from the sky.

"Hey! Orochimaru!"

On the ground, Orochimaru vaguely felt like someone was calling him, but he couldn't pinpoint the direction of the voice. It felt like it was coming from the sky. His parents also heard it and said to Orochimaru, "Is that your friend calling you? It sounds like Jiraiya's voice."

Orochimaru nodded. "I think so too, but I don't know where he is." Jiraiya always liked to play tricks; who knew where he was hiding this time, preparing to give him a scare.

"Orochimaru, I'm here!"

Another voice came from the sky, and Orochimaru couldn't help but look up, which utterly stunned him. How did his friend get into the sky?!

"Father, Mother, lo... look!"

Following Orochimaru's pointing finger, the couple looked up and saw Jiraiya floating in the air. Rolling clouds behind him obscured anything else. This greatly frightened the couple. After all, Jiraiya was their neighbor, and they often interacted. Moreover, his parents had specifically asked them to look after Jiraiya before heading out on their mission. What if something happened to him?

"Come down, Jiraiya! It's dangerous!"

Jiraiya grinned broadly and laughed. "Auntie, don't worry! Torifū nii-san is taking me flying!"

Torifū nii-san? Which Torifū nii-san? Could it be...? Orochimaru's mother was about to ask when her husband stopped her. "Jiraiya is talking about Torifū, probably the Hokage-sama's disciple. Jiraiya will be fine."

Hearing her husband say this, Orochimaru's mother relaxed her worries. After all, she also knew who Torifū was; she had just been a bit unsure. Torifū of the Clouds, the Hokage's disciple, was already a very powerful ninja at only nine years old. And just the identity of being the Hokage's disciple was enough to convince the villagers.

"How is Jiraiya with Torifū-sama?"

Orochimaru's father shook his head. "Perhaps Jiraiya latched onto him when he passed by? That kid is the naughtiest."

While his parents chattered on, Orochimaru also wanted to experience the feeling of flying. After all, Jiraiya could fly, and he wanted to try it too!

"Jiraiya, ask Torifū-sama for me! I want to fly too!"

Torifū didn't need Jiraiya to ask; he had already heard Orochimaru's words. At this time, Orochimaru's family was happy and complete. His personality was naturally not as reserved and taciturn as it would be when he became the Sandaime Hokage's disciple. He was a very lively child.

Torifū whispered a few words into Jiraiya's ear, and then Jiraiya replied, "Torifū nii-san says it depends on whether Uncle and Auntie agree."

Orochimaru turned to his parents, asking with his eyes. This was a rare opportunity; if he missed it, there might not be another. He really wanted to try it, otherwise Jiraiya would probably bring it up for years.

Orochimaru's mother hesitated, seemingly reluctant to let Orochimaru engage in such a dangerous activity. But his father nodded. "It's alright, Orochimaru, go ahead."

Receiving his father's permission made Orochimaru very happy. Before he could shout to Jiraiya, a crystal vine shot out from the clouds behind Jiraiya, firmly wrapping around Orochimaru, and then instantly pulling him into the air. One moment he was on the ground, the next he was in the air, which left Orochimaru no time to react. Looking down, all the sights became so unfamiliar. The streets he had walked countless times looked completely different from this new perspective. And the village's streets, both large and small, and the various houses, left Orochimaru dazzled.

Orochimaru regained his composure and turned his head backward. A white-haired older brother appeared before him. At this moment, he felt a little nervous. "You... You are... Torifū-sama?"

Jiraiya, seeing Orochimaru's demeanor, said, "What 'Torifū-sama'? This is Torifū nii-san."

Unexpectedly, Orochimaru gently rebuked Jiraiya, "Don't be rude, Jiraiya. This is the Hokage-sama's disciple."

Jiraiya still shrugged nonchalantly. "So what? Torifū nii-san is Torifū nii-san, so what if he's the Hokage-sama's disciple?"

Orochimaru wanted to say more, but Torifū spoke up, "Jiraiya is right. You don't need to call me 'Torifū-sama'; just 'Nii-san' is fine." Orochimaru wasn't stubborn. Since the man himself said to call him "Nii-san," then that was naturally fine. "Nii-san" was much more intimate than being called "Lord."