“Hokage?
I have no interest in that,” Orochimaru said, shaking his head and smiling.
“I just want to protect the Land of Fire that raised me.”
“Then…
have you ever thought about becoming a Rogue Ninja?” Natsuki asked, testing him again.
“Natsuki!
What nonsense are you talking about!” Orochimaru’s gaze immediately glared over.
“Just kidding.”
“Don’t ever joke with me like that again.”
Orochimaru’s expression was serious, and he muttered, “Natsuki, if one day I find out you have become a Rogue Ninja of the Land of Fire, the person who comes to kill you will definitely be me.
Don’t let me see that day.”
“I won’t.” Natsuki breathed a sigh of relief inwardly.
Sure enough.
Orochimaru at this time still had no intention of betraying Konoha.
And another regret in Jiraiya’s life was Orochimaru becoming a Rogue Ninja of the Land of Fire.
Therefore.
He must prevent Orochimaru’s betrayal.
When did Orochimaru start harboring thoughts of betrayal?
It started when he witnessed the death of his beloved student, Nawaki.
In the original storyline, after Nawaki died, Orochimaru blamed himself for a long time, often crying silently when remembering his student.
He felt the fragility of life.
Later, after witnessing the death of Tsunade’s lover, Kato Dan, Orochimaru’s mindset completely changed.
He desired to seek eternal life.
Thus, Orochimaru secretly established a laboratory, covertly capturing Konoha Ninja for live experiments, utilizing extremely cruel methods.
After harming many Konoha Ninja, he was discovered and stopped by the then Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.
After that, Orochimaru became a Rogue Ninja, defecting from Konoha, living a Ninja life where he simultaneously sold Konoha’s intelligence and sought the path to eternal life.
And the source of all this was Nawaki’s death.
In the original storyline, today was the day Nawaki died.
“Nawaki!”
Suddenly, Natsuki’s figure leaped rapidly toward Nawaki, his Chakra forming a wind vortex.
Before Nawaki could react, he was forcefully pushed away by Natsuki, slamming hard into a nearby tree and falling to the ground.
“Senior Natsuki, what are you doing?” Nawaki asked, covered in dust.
Orochimaru was also somewhat confused by Natsuki’s actions.
But the next second.
Boom!!
A loud explosion.
It was the sound of dozens of explosive tags stacked together, detonating simultaneously.
Nawaki’s expression trembled with fright.
Orochimaru’s pupils suddenly constricted.
He immediately flashed beside Nawaki, shielding him, and quickly formed hand seals to summon a white snake to block the shockwave generated by the violent explosion.
However, he witnessed Natsuki’s evasion speed suddenly slow down after pushing Nawaki away, and he was completely engulfed by the Hokou of the explosion.
“Senior Natsuki!” Nawaki’s expression was filled with anxiety.
“Natsuki…” Orochimaru’s face was taut.
After the explosion ended, he ignored releasing the summoning contract and immediately rushed to Natsuki’s location to check.
But what he saw was Natsuki’s body, blown into pieces.
Blood covered the ground.
The blood from the wounds was scorched yellow and congealed.
Orochimaru felt as if his mind had exploded with a buzzing sound.
Looking at Natsuki’s corpse, scenes of his time with Natsuki flooded Orochimaru’s mind.
He and Natsuki graduated from the Ninja Academy together.
They became disciples of Teacher Hiruzen together.
They passed the Genin exam together.
They became Chunin and Jonin together.
They completed nearly ten S-rank missions side-by-side, not to mention countless lower-ranked missions.
He had long regarded Natsuki as an indispensable companion in his life.
But now, Natsuki’s corpse was right in front of him.
The state of death was too horrible to look at.
“Senior Natsuki, I’m sorry, Senior Natsuki…” Nawaki’s expression was full of panic after realizing what happened.
Senior Natsuki died to save him.
If Senior Natsuki hadn’t pushed him away just now, the person blown into pieces would have been him!
“Teacher Orochimaru, do you know medical Ninjutsu?
Save Senior Natsuki!” Nawaki urged anxiously.
“I…
I don’t.” Orochimaru lowered his head, tears streaming down.
He didn’t even dare to look at Natsuki’s corpse.
He couldn’t believe it was real.
He knelt on the ground, his hands buried in the dirt, gritting his teeth tightly, unable to speak.
“Hahaha.” Natsuki’s laughter suddenly rang out.
Orochimaru and Nawaki froze when they heard it.
Looking again, the fragmented corpse in front of Natsuki had become a broken wooden log.
It was the Substitution Jutsu!
And Natsuki’s laughter came from above.
A Hawk landed in front of the two of them.
Half of the Hawk’s feathers were scorched.
Natsuki’s arm stretched out from the Hawk’s mouth, and soon, his whole body wriggled out.
“Senior Natsuki, I thought you were dead!
Waaah…” Nawaki rushed over, hugging Natsuki and crying uncontrollably.
Orochimaru stood up, let out a long breath, and looked at Natsuki with a pout: “Bastard, you did that on purpose, didn’t you!”
“I saw you cry, Orochimaru.”
Natsuki pointed at Orochimaru and laughed loudly, eyes squinted shut: “When Jiraiya comes back, I’m going to tell him how ugly you looked crying!”
“You bastard!”
Orochimaru vigorously wiped away his tears and glared at Natsuki: “Did you play too much with Jiraiya when you were little?
Are you becoming more and more frivolous like him!”
Orochimaru rushed over and slammed a fist heavily onto Natsuki’s head.
Natsuki’s laughter stopped.
He rubbed the swelling lump on his head, howling in pain…
Four Years Later
Konoha Year 40.
This year, Jiraiya was twenty-seven years old.
The Great Ninja War erupted three years ago, leaving the world in chaos until today.
During this time, countless Ninja died in the conflict.
Near the sacred tower by the sea in Hidden Rain Village, Jiraiya, wearing wooden clogs and with his long hair tied up at his waist, stood on the ocean surface.
He watched his three disciples training the Ninjutsu he had taught them.
“Water Release: Wild Water Wave!”
Yahiko, with his short orange hair, quickly formed hand seals.
The fierce stream of water sprayed from his mouth stirred up massive waves.
“Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm!” Nagato, with his red hair, unleashed a technique that created wind blades, seemingly capable of slicing the seawater apart.
Beside the two of them was Konan, whose hair was adorned with paper flowers.
She quickly formed hand seals and shouted, “Paper Shuriken!”
The Chakra around her instantly transformed into dozens of paper sheets.
The killing intent was sharp.
The momentum was overwhelming.
Jiraiya was very relieved watching this scene.
All three disciples had achieved mastery and were capable of protecting their lives in the war.
Now, it was time for him to leave.
The battlefield of Konoha needed him!
On the day of departure, the four gathered together, eating a large fish Jiraiya had caught from the sea.
Nagato sighed, “If peace truly exists, I will grasp it tightly!”
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were extremely reluctant to part with Jiraiya.
Inside the small wooden hut the four of them had built together, Nagato couldn’t help but ask, “Teacher, can you take us with you when you leave?”
Yahiko nodded emphatically: “We want to go to the battlefield with you, Teacher, and end the war!”
Konan felt the same way.
The parents of all three had died in the war.
If Jiraiya hadn’t saved them back then, they might not have survived until now.
Years of teacher-student affection had long been ingrained in their bones.
They not only regarded Jiraiya as their benevolent teacher.
But also viewed Jiraiya as their family.
The trio’s desire for peace and hatred for war echoed Jiraiya’s own unchanged original intention.
However, their request was denied by Jiraiya.
Jiraiya rubbed Yahiko’s head, and with a hint of helplessness, said to Nagato and Konan: “The battlefield I am going to is not one you are strong enough to participate in right now.
You still need to grow.”
Jiraiya poured a cup of sake and drank it in one gulp toward the three of them: “Now you have the ability to stand on your own.
When the war ends, I will come back to find you and see how much you have grown.
Don’t disappoint your teacher.”
Jiraiya burst into laughter.
Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato, however, could not smile.
After a while, Jiraiya looked at the four plaques hanging inside the small wooden hut.
These four plaques were specially made by him for himself and his three disciples, corresponding to each of them.
Each plaque looked identical.
One side had a frog drawn on it, and the other side was covered with red paper.
“In the days to come, when I’m not around, you must protect yourselves.”
Jiraiya went to the three hanging plaques and demonstrated for them one last time: “When you leave the hut, remember to flip the plaque to the frog side.
When you arrive at the hut, remember to flip the plaque to the red paper side.
Did you memorize that?”
“We memorized it!” Yahiko shouted the loudest.
“Yahiko, tell me, why do we do this?” Jiraiya asked.
“Uh, sorry, Teacher, I forgot.
Anyway, listening to the Teacher means doing the right thing…” Yahiko rubbed his head sheepishly.
“You idiot!”
Jiraiya punched him, and Yahiko winced, rubbing the lump that swelled on his head.
“Nagato, why do we do this?” Jiraiya’s gaze fell on Nagato.
“Teacher, I…” Nagato stammered.
Seeing Nagato’s thoughtful expression, Jiraiya knew Nagato had also forgotten.
He sighed: “Idiot!”
He sent a punch over.
A lump also swelled up on Nagato’s head.
Jiraiya asked Konan: “Konan, I know you won’t disappoint me.”
Konan replied seriously: “Doing this allows us to foresee danger inside the house.
If the plaque is on the frog side, but someone is inside the hut, it means the person inside is an imposter enemy.”
“That’s right!” Jiraiya was very pleased.
Seeing Konan answer seriously, he couldn’t help but think of one of his friends.
Natsuki.
Back when he, Natsuki, Tsunade, and Orochimaru became disciples of Teacher Hiruzen, there were many times when he, Tsunade, and Jiraiya would forget what Teacher Sarutobi said, but Natsuki would always remember it.
When he mistakenly entered Mount Myōboku as a child and mastered Sage Ninjutsu before leaving, he was already twenty years old.
Natsuki became a Jonin of Konoha and was often sent by Konoha’s higher-ups to execute S-rank missions.
As for him, because he needed to find the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Great Toad Sage, he had no choice but to travel around various countries collecting intelligence.
Consequently, the number of times he met Natsuki was countable on one’s fingers.
Speaking of which, it had been a long time since he stayed up all night drinking with Natsuki or openly admiring beautiful women on the street together.
Bringing his thoughts back, Jiraiya continued to ask: “And if the red side of the plaque is flipped up, but the person is not in the house, what does that mean, Konan?”
“It means…”
Konan was about to speak.
But after catching the eyes of Yahiko and Nagato, she paused, immediately understanding their intent.
Konan stopped speaking, shook her head vigorously, her eyes reddening: “Teacher Jiraiya, I forgot too.
Please punish me and teach us again.”
As she spoke, Konan shrugged her shoulders and stuck out her head, ready to receive Jiraiya’s punch.
Jiraiya’s face fell: “Konan, how could you forget too?
You’re as distracted as Yahiko and Nagato!
You…”
He was about to deliver a punch to Konan’s head, punishing her as usual.
But.
When he saw Yahiko and Nagato already sobbing uncontrollably, Jiraiya stopped his movement.
His nose stung: “You three little guys, you don’t want me to leave, so you’re pretending you can’t answer, right?”
Silence.
The three said nothing.
Jiraiya sighed; he didn’t want to leave.
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were the first disciples he had ever taken.
He really wanted to watch the three little ones grow up.
But there was no choice.
In times of chaos, one is not master of oneself.
He hadn’t expected that after saving these three war orphans on the battlefield back then, he would end up staying for three years.
War is merciless.
Now, the Land of Fire that raised him needed his protection.
If Nagato, who possesses the Rinnegan, turns out to be the Child of Prophecy who brings peace, as the Great Toad Sage foretold, then he would have done his part for peace.
Yahiko suddenly rushed forward, hugging Jiraiya, and burst into tears: “Teacher Jiraiya, please, you must survive the battlefield!”
Jiraiya stroked Yahiko’s head, laughing heartily: “How could This Great One possibly die easily on the battlefield?
When the war is over, This Great One still has plenty of girls to chase, hahaha.”
“Stop crying, you three little ones.
When the day we reunite comes, I will personally test your growth.”
“Listen up.
This Great One will emphasize this one last time: If the plaque is on the red side, but the person is not in the hut, it means…
the person has passed away.”
Having said that.
Jiraiya sighed, poured himself a full cup of sake, and drained it in one gulp.
He took a deep look at Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan.
He waved his hand.
And strode away.
“Jiraiya!” Suddenly, a cloaked figure appeared at the entrance of the hut.
“Who is it?” Jiraiya immediately stood in front of his three disciples with a guarded expression.
The newcomer was actually able to approach the hut without him noticing.
Their strength must be considerable!
Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan immediately shed their sorrowful expressions, becoming alert and ready to form hand seals for battle at any moment.
“Speaking of which, when you came out of Mount Myōboku back then and showed me this book, ‘make-out paradise,’ why did you only write half of it?
I’ve already finished reading it.
When we parted three years ago, you told me you’d find time to write a sequel.
Did you ever finish it?
I’m anxiously waiting.”
Natsuki appeared at the door, took off his cloak, and a brilliant smile appeared on his face.
Looking at the four guarded people inside the hut, Natsuki showed no hostility, holding a novel in his hand.
It was precisely the ‘make-out paradise’ that Jiraiya had half-written while at Mount Myōboku.
He timed his arrival perfectly.
His purpose this time was to make up for Jiraiya’s upcoming regrets.
In the original storyline, after Jiraiya left, Nagato, Konan, and Yahiko were influenced by Jiraiya’s ideals and pondered ways to end the war and achieve peace.
The trio formed the Akatsuki organization with Yahiko as the leader, aiming to achieve world peace without relying on extreme military force.
The growing influence of the Akatsuki organization made Hanzou, the leader of Hidden Rain Village, feel that his ruling position was threatened.
And so.
Hanzou colluded with Danzo of Konoha Village, deceiving Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan, saying he wanted to use their strength to negotiate with surrounding major countries to achieve world peace.
However, he set up an ambush during the meeting.
Using Konan as a hostage, he forced Nagato and Yahiko to fight each other to the death.
To save Konan, Yahiko willingly ran onto Nagato’s Kunai and died.
Nagato, witnessing the death of his best friend, immediately unleashed the terrifying power of the Rinnegan and went berserk.
He became corrupted.
He embarked on a path that would make the world feel pain and fear pain, thereby preventing them from starting war, thus achieving world peace.
In this process, Nagato harvested the lives of countless Ninja, including Jiraiya.
This became a major regret in Jiraiya’s heart.
Now.
Natsuki came here to change the course of the storyline.
After Jiraiya recognized Natsuki, he was first stunned, then deeply moved: “Long time no see!”
He walked over laughing, throwing an arm around Natsuki’s shoulder: “I knew a guy like you would love the romance novel I wrote!
I’ll write the rest for you after the war ends!
I want the people of Konoha to know that when it comes to gathering material for romance novels, no one has more experience than This Great One!
Hahaha!”
Jiraiya guided Natsuki to sit down.
He poured a full cup of sake and immediately poured it toward Natsuki’s mouth: “No matter why you came to Hidden Rain Village, first you drink a cup with This Great One!”
Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato finally lowered their guard.
It was clear that the Teacher and this senior named Natsuki must have an excellent relationship.
Jiraiya introduced Natsuki to Konan, Yahiko, and Nagato, and vice versa.
Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan showed great respect toward their benevolent teacher’s friend.
After a cup of warm sake, Jiraiya asked, “Natsuki, do you have a mission here in Hidden Rain Village?”
Natsuki nodded: “I received a secret order from Teacher Hiruzen to investigate someone in Hidden Rain Village.”
“Who?”
“Hanzou.”
“What?!”
It really helps the fic grow!