In the darkness of his perception, a cold hostility materialized out of thin air.
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly, and he glanced towards a large tree in the distance.
The entity radiating hostility seemed startled by Orochimaru's sharp detection and instantly burrowed underground, quickly vanishing from his dark perception.
"Ridiculous fate!"
Orochimaru snorted coldly in his heart, then turned to Jiraiya, who was staring blankly at Nagato, and casually said:
"Jiraiya!"
"If you have doubts in your heart, why not go up and ask?"
Seeing Jiraiya's hesitant and conflicted demeanor, Orochimaru's lips curled into a playful smile.
Jiraiya froze, turning to look at Orochimaru with a hint of confusion.
"Orochimaru, how did you know what I was thinking?"
Tsunade pouted, nudging Orochimaru with her shoulder like a little fox who had stolen a chicken, and giggled.
Only she knew that Orochimaru could read minds and had memories of the future!
As for Kurama... it was just a fox!
Jiraiya was baffled by Tsunade's laughter, his gaze drifting between her and Orochimaru's enigmatic expression, unsure if he should reveal the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.
After all, finding the child of prophecy was a mission entrusted solely to Jiraiya by the Great Toad Sage.
Orochimaru cast a deep glance at his friend, who was lost in thought, then gently shook his head and strolled towards the three little sprouts.
Faced with the approach of a strange ninja, Yahiko trembled, shielding Nagato with his arm and reaching behind him to protect Konan.
"Mister Ninja..."
"We..."
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with admiration for the future founder of the Akatsuki, and he slowly stopped a step in front of them.
"Such courage!"
Orochimaru met Yahiko's gaze directly, and a sliver of his Empty Sword slowly extended from his sleeve, its snowy glint sending a chill down Yahiko's spine.
"You must understand, at any time, those who pry into the marching intelligence of a ninja squad meet only one end: death!"
"Are you not afraid of death?"
The cold, direct words pierced the hearts of the three innocent children like sharp knives. Under the chasm-like disparity between ninjas and ordinary people, their naive thoughts were nothing short of a joke.
"I... we..."
Yahiko's eyes stung from the glare of the blade peeking from Orochimaru's sleeve, his heart leaping into his throat.
Konan's safety, Nagato's dream, his own small selfish desires...
Gritting his teeth fiercely, Yahiko squeezed his eyes shut, forcing himself not to look at the terrifying gleam. With his head held high, he shouted his plea with a look of impending doom.
"We want to become ninjas!"
The blade retracted into his sleeve, and Orochimaru's lips curved into a mocking arc.
"Heh!"
With a sneer, Yahiko, who had closed his eyes awaiting final judgment, instinctively opened them, meeting Orochimaru's mocking expression.
"Interesting!"
"You war orphans of the Land of Rain actually request a ninja from an enemy country."
"To place your hopes on an enemy ninja is truly a laughable fantasy!"
Yahiko's eyes immediately dimmed.
Nagato lowered his head, clenching his fists tightly, Orochimaru's piercing mockery echoing in his mind.
Enemy... laughable fantasy...
So, in the eyes of ninjas, were these children who had lost their families to war seen like this?
How cruel indeed!
"Orochimaru, let me handle this!"
Jiraiya placed a hand on Orochimaru's shoulder, using his broad body to shield Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan from Orochimaru.
"The war is over, and there shouldn't be any particularly important matters in the village for the time being."
"You and Tsunade can head back first!"
Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya's determined back and suddenly chuckled.
Someone as carefree and unrestrained as Jiraiya would actually make the same choice as in his memories, all because of a so-called prophecy.
Then let me help you make some changes!
"Oh?"
"And what about you?"
Orochimaru asked with feigned ignorance.
"I..."
Jiraiya clenched his fist, his voice low, "I want to stay in the Land of Rain and teach these three children..."
"Once they have some ability to protect themselves, or when I've confirmed certain things, I'll return to the village..."
"Heh..."
Orochimaru sneered, then pulled Jiraiya's shoulder back, looking into his determined eyes, and said meaningfully:
"Is that so-called prophecy really that important to you?"
Jiraiya's expression faltered, and he looked at Orochimaru with shock.
"Orochimaru, you... how do you know?"
Tsunade pouted from the side, silently despising Orochimaru.
"Here we go, starting to spin his tales again!"
Orochimaru ignored Tsunade's inner monologue and didn't explain to Jiraiya how he knew about the Great Toad Sage's prophecy. He merely focused his gaze on the three little ones, whose faces lit up with surprise upon hearing Jiraiya's willingness to teach them.
"Abandoning comrades, abandoning the village..."
"Even abandoning Mao, who waits for you to return to the village, you still want to stay here..."
"Is your so-called ninja way to be like a puppet on strings, walking a path planned for you by others?"
"Truly..."
"As foolish as ever!"
Jiraiya's body trembled, his mind in utter disarray.
"I..."
"I will find a way to explain it to Mao..."
"Heh..."
Orochimaru chuckled coldly, watching Jiraiya's wavering expression.
"So, regardless of who these three children are, or what their future attitude towards Konoha might be, you are determined to stay here and teach them?"
Orochimaru's snake-like eyes fixed on Nagato, who remained silent, his voice as cold as the chilling winds from hell.
"Even..."
"Even if this child's hatred for Konoha ninjas is the most intense I have ever seen, you are willing to stay?"
Tsunade, who had been watching with amusement, suddenly frowned and strode in front of Nagato, glaring at him fiercely.
"Hey!"
"Red-haired kid, what's your name?"
"You hate Konoha?"
"Didn't your parents tell you about the relationship between you and Konoha?"
A massive chakra fluctuation erupted from Nagato, and like an angry beast, he let out a low roar at Tsunade.
"Konoha ninjas broke into my home and killed my parents, why shouldn't I hate Konoha!"
Seeing Nagato's state, Tsunade's temper flared.
How could she tolerate someone slandering Konoha in front of her, a member of the Senju clan?
"Nonsense!"
"What do you think Konoha is? Do you think Konoha ninjas are like those scum who oppress civilians and take pleasure in slaughtering ordinary people?"
"Have you bothered to ask who came to the battlefield with us this time?"
Tsunade huffed at the silent Nagato, then felt she couldn't vent her anger on a child who knew nothing. She turned to Orochimaru and said:
"That old hag Hanzō really makes me furious!"
"He can't even manage his own ninjas properly and makes Konoha take the blame for his incompetence..."
"No!"
"Orochimaru, come back with me and fight that old hag Hanzō again! I can't stand this injustice!"
Orochimaru watched Tsunade become increasingly agitated, shaking his head in exasperation. He grabbed her arm and tried to pacify her, barely managing to quell her hot-headed impulses.
Jiraiya also shook his head, his expression serious as he looked at Nagato, his face filled with resentment.
"The ninja who killed your parents could not have been from Konoha!"
"Whether they are Hyuga, Aburame, or Inuzuka, they are ancient clans that have been passed down since the Warring States period and would never violate the rule of ninjas not attacking ordinary people to kill a civilian in the Land of Rain."
"You might not know this, but disguised ninjas from other villages carrying out destruction is what rogue ninjas love to do most."
"Just like this..."
Jiraiya quickly formed a hand seal for the Transformation Jutsu and, in front of Nagato, transformed into the image of a Rain Village ninja wearing a gas mask.
Dispelling the Transformation Jutsu, Jiraiya hesitated before continuing:
"Even if your eyes are..."
"But in your state, having never trained, you cannot distinguish the identity of the ninja before your eyes."
"Deception is the most common tactic of ninjas, understand?"
Nagato looked at Jiraiya's jutsu, which seemed like a miracle. Although doubt lingered in his eyes, his heart began to waver.
"Deception..."
Nagato murmured.
"Who would deceive a child like me, who has never encountered ninjas before? Why?"
Seeing Nagato beginning to question himself, Orochimaru's lips finally stretched into a satisfied arc.
Instead of rewriting the script known to Uchiha Madara and Black Zetsu, it was better to gradually draw the people involved in the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan into his own camp, step by step.
Danzo was already dead, and the Land of Rain would inevitably fall under Orochimaru's control in the future. Nagato possessing the Rinnegan was still known only to Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
Orochimaru was eager to see what methods Black Zetsu would use to guide the wielder of the Rinnegan to execute the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan when Nagato no longer harbored hatred for Konoha.
He had already placed the first piece on the board; now it was up to the opposing player to respond. The war was over, and Orochimaru had ample time to elevate his own strength to a whole new level.
By the time the pieces on the chessboard began to move, Orochimaru might possess the power to overturn the board.
"Jiraiya, teach these three children well."
"Upon our return, I will request Teacher Hiruzen to dispatch a contingent of ninjas from the village."
"Led by Mao, they will be stationed in the Land of Rain as envoys for communication between allied nations."
"You can stay in the Land of Rain for as long as you wish."
"Tsunade, let's go!"
Tsunade flicked her fist at Nagato, let out a humph, and followed Orochimaru's footsteps.
Jiraiya stared at Orochimaru, who left as abruptly as he arrived, utterly bewildered and full of questions.
"Orochimaru, didn't you just say..."
Orochimaru waved his hand without looking back.
"I've done what I needed to do. The rest is up to you!"
Jiraiya froze, then looked down at Nagato, whose face was no longer filled with hatred, and his heart warmed.
"Orochimaru, you truly are..."
The friendship between men seemed to be like this, saying nothing, yet considering everything for you.
Taking a deep breath, Jiraiya suppressed the emotion of gratitude in his heart and showed a big smile to the two expectant children and the poker-faced Nagato.
"Then let's reintroduce ourselves!"
"Konoha's Jonin, Mount Myōboku's Great Toad Sage Jiraiya, will be your teacher from now on!"
"Introduce yourselves."
"My name is Yahiko!"
"Ko... Konan!"
...
"Nagato!"