Chapter 133: If you don't know death, how can you live forever

Tsunade stared in the direction Jiraiya had flown, then slowly looked down at her clenched fist, surprise flickering in her eyes.

She hadn't held back that punch—driven by shame and irritation, it had been just like that time on the hot spring street. But this time… it hadn't worked. Hitting him felt like striking tough, unyielding leather.

And the fact that Jiraiya had managed to sneak up on her in the first place—that bothered her even more. Even lost in thought, her instincts should have reacted. It shouldn't have happened.

Her emotions twisted. It had been years since she last saw them—Orochimaru and Jiraiya. And both had changed in ways she hadn't expected.

When she had been drowning in the past, her companions had moved on.

She'd always known that would happen. Subconsciously, she'd prepared herself for it. But seeing it firsthand, she realized… she didn't want to accept it.

"Will you keep wasting your talents? Keep hiding in the shadow of grief and death?"

Orochimaru's words from days earlier echoed in her mind, stirring her again.

"Tch…"

From the side, Orochimaru watched the scene unfold with a cold, knowing gaze. Of course he knew how Jiraiya had pulled it off.

"Hiding in ambush, launching a sneak attack... You used Sage Mode for that?"

"Hahaha…" Jiraiya emerged from the forest, scratching his head and laughing awkwardly under Tsunade's withering glare. "It's been a while. I guess I got a little excited."

In the past, entering Sage Mode required the help of the two Great Toad Sages, Fukasaku and Shima. But they wouldn't exactly agree to help him prank Tsunade…

Not that he was trying to take advantage of her—not at all. Really.

He'd just seen her looking so alone… and he wanted to lighten her mood.

Clearly, that had backfired.

Jiraiya shifted his gaze away from Tsunade, scanning the group. His eyes paused briefly on the red-haired Aoi and Karin before settling on Orochimaru.

"Orochimaru. Everything you did in Kusanagi Village has been exposed. The old man asked me to get an explanation from you."

"I have nothing to explain."

Orochimaru waved lazily, signaling Shisui, Kakashi, and the others to move along.

Then he met Jiraiya's gaze. "Uzumaki Village may be gone, but the Uzumaki Clan is still Konoha's ally. I was simply honoring that alliance."

"That may be true," Jiraiya said, narrowing his eyes, "but it's not like you to be so noble. Don't tell me you've suddenly taken an interest in friendship."

He paused, then added coldly, "You've always had your eye on the Uzumaki's healing abilities, haven't you? I'll say this clearly—Konoha isn't Kusanagi Village."

"Heh… If I really had bad intentions, do you think I'd be this obvious about it?" Orochimaru smiled, glancing toward Karin and her mother. "If I wanted to experiment on them, I'd have them locked in some underground lab by now."

Aoi trembled slightly, clutching Karin tightly. Orochimaru's words were brutally honest—but also strangely reassuring. He was confident, not threatening.

Before Jiraiya could respond, Orochimaru spoke again.

"If you're that worried, you can take care of them yourself. Naruto carries the Uzumaki bloodline too, after all."

Jiraiya frowned. It was a reasonable suggestion. Karin and her mother weren't originally from Konoha, and Naruto's safety was far more important from a village standpoint. Still, there was truth in Orochimaru's words—keeping them close would ensure their protection.

"I'll take responsibility," Orochimaru said firmly. "Whatever happens, I'll handle it."

He'd lived long enough to understand people—and he knew exactly what mattered most to someone like Aoi.

To her, Karin was everything. As long as her daughter was safe, there would be no resistance.

Then Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya again.

"I'll make sure she has no intentions toward Naruto," he added with a smirk. "And you'd better not either. At your age, you're basically Aoi's elder."

Jiraiya was briefly stunned before realizing what Orochimaru meant. The implication sent a chill down his spine.

He glared, his eyes wide with outrage. "What are you even suggesting, Orochimaru? You think I'd have those kinds of thoughts? Are you questioning my character?"

Orochimaru responded with a dry smirk and two cold chuckles. Jiraiya's indignation quickly gave way to awkward silence.

"Aoi and Karin will be your responsibility for now," Orochimaru said, still amused.

With that, he vanished from sight, leaving Jiraiya and Tsunade staring at each other in silence—one assigned as healer, the other as host.

---

Later, deep in his underground laboratory, Orochimaru unsealed a scroll and retrieved the core of the Third Kazekage puppet. With a flick of his hand, he released the Four-Symbol Seal that bound it.

In an instant, the figure of the Third Kazekage materialized. His eyes narrowed as he saw Orochimaru's hand hovering near his chest. With a faint hum, he manipulated the floating iron core to keep his distance.

The dim yellow glow of the chandelier merged with the blue light emanating from the Kazekage's spirit form, casting flickering shadows across the lab.

"What do you want from me?" the Kazekage asked in a low, wary voice.

He could have easily broken free from the puppet's restraints and passed on to the Pure Land—but he didn't. He knew Orochimaru wasn't the type to leave loose ends. There would be a catch.

"You're calm, just as expected from the Third Kazekage," Orochimaru said admiringly. He didn't answer the question directly. Instead, he performed a partial version of the Impure World Reincarnation right in front of him.

Even incomplete, the technique's threat was clear.

The Kazekage's expression darkened. The message was simple: Even if you escape to the Pure Land, I can summon you back.

"There's no need for this. I mean you no harm," Orochimaru said with a casual smile. "This is just to make sure our conversation goes smoothly."

The Kazekage said nothing, though the grains of iron sand on the floor stirred slightly.

After a tense moment, he finally asked, "What do you want me to do?"

"It's simple," Orochimaru replied. "I'll separate a portion of my chakra and soul. You'll take it to the Pure Land. In exchange, I won't interfere with your spirit again."

The Kazekage's eyes narrowed. The calm mask cracked as realization set in.

"What are you planning?" he asked, voice low.

"Oh, it's nothing that concerns you. But I suppose you'll refuse unless I explain," Orochimaru said, licking his lips with excitement. "I seek immortality. This fragment of my soul... will die in my place."

"You're insane," the Kazekage muttered.

Orochimaru just grinned. "So then, will you help this madman?"

The Kazekage fell into a long silence before responding, "I'm not sure it's even possible."

"You can do it," Orochimaru said confidently. He didn't believe it fully himself—this was a gamble. But if it worked, it would change everything.

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