As the Nine-Tails chattered beside Orochimaru, Orochimaru's gift to Jiraiya, delivered through the curse mark technique, slowly began to take effect.
The snake venom was peculiar. Apart from the unbearable burning sensation upon breaking Jiraiya's skin and injecting the venom, once it entered his body, it rapidly transformed into pure physical energy, merging into his meridians.
The wounds left by the two venomous fangs seemed to have opened a switch for communication with the natural energy of the outside world, madly helping Jiraiya's body draw in the surrounding natural energy.
"Hiss..."
"This feeling is even more intense than when I sense natural energy after applying toad oil!"
"Orochimaru... what new marvel has he come up with!"
Jiraiya was discerning. While marveling inwardly, he desperately tried to make his body cooperate with these external energies, rapidly integrating them into his own Sage Mode chakra.
Jiraiya's Sage Mode was indeed powerful.
However, its flaws were equally obvious.
He had too many thoughts in his mind and couldn't refine natural energy from the outside world solely through willpower. Out of necessity, he had to rely on the two toad sages of Mount Myōboku to help condense Sage Mode chakra.
Not only was it slow, but the toad-like transformation when entering Sage Mode was also very pronounced.
Orochimaru felt that with Jiraiya's temperament, even if he lived to old age, he would likely only be able to maintain his facade as a Kage-level expert with a half-baked Sage Mode, just as in his memories.
As his friend, how could he not put some effort into Jiraiya's cultivation, especially after mastering a near-perfect Sage Mode and the power of the Dragon Veins?
Stupid mind, too many distractions.
No matter!
Orochimaru had plenty of experience in this regard!
Just like when teaching Nawaki the secret art of bodily activation, a direct transfer of power was the way to go.
By directly injecting the snake venom mixed with the Dragon Veins' power and pure natural energy, and with Jiraiya's existing experience in controlling Sage Mode chakra, there wouldn't be any major issues.
The method was crude but very effective.
Indeed, Orochimaru did not have to wait long. After concentrating for a while with his eyes closed, Jiraiya let out a wild laugh, Sage Mode chakra surged around him, and he suddenly opened his mutated eyes.
"Orochimaru, you truly are Jiraiya-sama's best brother!"
"To think of using such a method to help me enter Sage Mode, hahahaha..."
"Try out my power!"
"Sage Art – Great Flame..."
"Bang!"
Facing Jiraiya's excited challenge, Orochimaru casually waved his hand. A snake tail formed from Sage Mode chakra instantly appeared before Jiraiya, slamming him heavily to the ground.
As his body hit the ground, the earth seemed to come alive, rapidly sprouting countless flexible tentacles that tightly bound him.
Sparks flew from Jiraiya's mouth, and his burning fighting spirit was extinguished as if doused by a bucket of cold water. He dejectedly withdrew from Sage Mode.
"In terms of Sage Mode alone, you're still far behind!"
Orochimaru snorted dismissively. With a thought, he dispelled the suppression of Sage Mode chakra on Jiraiya.
"Hey, hey, that's a bit too harsh, isn't it?"
Jiraiya rubbed his aching shoulder, which had been constricted by the tentacles, and mumbled as he walked up to Orochimaru.
"Hmph!"
"Harsh?"
Orochimaru cast a cold glance at him.
"I smoothed things over for you, making Teacher Hiruzen go out of his way to tamper with the contract with Amegakure."
"I had Mao travel thousands of miles to accompany you here, so you could focus on your training and teach that so-called Child of Prophecy."
"And you talk to me about harshness?"
Jiraiya shrunk his neck and awkwardly shifted his gaze to his two disciples, reaching out to tug at Orochimaru's arm.
"In front of the children, spare me some dignity..."
Orochimaru glared at him, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly sighed.
"Jiraiya, do you truly believe the path you're walking now is your ninja way?"
Jiraiya understood the implication in Orochimaru's words, paused for a moment, and then nodded gently.
"Yes!"
"From the moment I accepted the contract with Mount Myōboku, my remaining life was destined to be in search of the child who could change the fate of the ninja world, as foretold by the Great Toad Sage, for the sake of peace in the ninja world."
"To nurture him, guide him, until he is worthy of becoming the savior of this world."
"This..."
"Is my ninja way!"
Orochimaru frowned slightly and asked seriously,
"I've worked so hard for so long, resorting to all sorts of means to improve my strength."
"All for the sake of one day escaping the fate imposed on me by others. Yet you..."
"Jiraiya, if..."
After a moment of silence, seeing Jiraiya's slightly moved expression, he asked in a low voice,
"If I told you that the Child of Prophecy mentioned by the Great Toad Sage is not Nagato, what then?"
Jiraiya was stunned and abruptly turned to look at Nagato. Nagato, hearing his name mentioned by Orochimaru, also looked up.
The pale purple Rinnegan met Jiraiya's gaze, causing him to hesitate for a moment.
"But..."
"Those eyes, identical to the Six Paths Sage's, shouldn't be wrong..."
Hearing Jiraiya's words, the Nine-Tails scoffed dismissively.
"Tch, utter nonsense!"
Jiraiya's expression turned angry, and he glared at the Nine-Tails.
"Hmph!"
"Boy, you'd better watch your tone!"
"If it weren't for Orochimaru's sake, do you believe I wouldn't send you to the pure land with one Tailed Beast Bomb!"
Jiraiya's pupils contracted, and his body tensed instantly.
"Kurama!"
Orochimaru glared at the Nine-Tails.
"I told you before, that person is watching Nagato from around him. Don't reveal your true identity outside."
"Have you forgotten?"
The Nine-Tails pouted in annoyance.
"What are you so tense about?"
"If anyone were secretly monitoring us, my senses would have already warned me."
"It was uncertain before we arrived, but I can guarantee that after we came, that hidden malice has already retreated."
The Nine-Tails confidently gave Orochimaru his word and then turned to Jiraiya with a sneering gaze.
"Boy, I'll tell you directly, that Gamamaru fellow is lying to you!"
Jiraiya was stunned and, forgetting to ask Orochimaru about the Nine-Tails' identity, asked confusedly,
"What do you mean?"
The Nine-Tails bared his teeth and sneered twice, lowering his voice.
"Back then, when he prophesied for that Six Paths old man, he said the one who could change the fate of the ninja world was a youth with emerald eyes."
"This red-haired brat..."
The Nine-Tails glanced at Nagato and let out a dismissive scoff.
"Orochimaru, even if you didn't say it, I could guess."
"His Rinnegan was likely transplanted by Madara Uchiha, wasn't it?"
"Red hair, Senju body..."
"I've lived for a thousand years, and I've never seen a descendant of the Uzumaki clan awaken the Sage Eyes."
"Boy, your brain is probably not as smart as that brat Nawaki's!"
"If Orochimaru hadn't insisted on interfering, you might have ended up raising a successor for Madara Uchiha!"
"No wonder Orochimaru always calls you an idiot; you truly are pathetically foolish!"
Orochimaru looked at the Nine-Tails with surprise.
"Kurama, you can think for yourself now?"
"That's remarkable!"