Wu Jie and Karin left Orochimaru's place. Although the deal between them hadn't been struck, both sides left open the possibility of future exchanges.
Because Orochimaru didn't know that both of his ideas were correct, for the time being, the scroll in Wu Jie's hands was indeed his only solution.
And Wu Jie, holding Orochimaru's hands, found no value in them other than selling them to him.
Perhaps he could sell them to Jiraiya?
Wu Jie thought for a moment, then shook his head. Jiraiya was a poor fellow; apart from the sage arts from Mount Myoboku, there was nothing on him that could pique his interest.
As Wu Jie was contemplating how to approach Orochimaru next time, Karin tugged at the corner of his clothes. "Brother Wu Jie, if we can't get that jutsu, can we... can we just have him revive Mom?"
Wu Jie fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "I know too little about Edo Tensei. This jutsu can bring the dead back to the world of the living and also grant them immortality and limitless chakra. This effect is too exaggerated, not very ninja-like at all. I don't know if it will use the deceased's soul as fuel, so before I thoroughly understand its principles, I don't want Mother to take the risk."
Karin nodded, somewhat dejected. "I know."
Wu Jie also sighed softly. Orochimaru was indeed a troublesome fellow. If he still couldn't obtain Edo Tensei next time they met, then he didn't plan to waste any more time and would just have to exchange it for some other needed items.
Anyway, Orochimaru couldn't control the dead resurrected by Edo Tensei if they reached Hashirama's level, and those below Hashirama's level would be countered by Wu Jie's sealing techniques. The only ones to be wary of were those like Might Guy or Deidara, who could trade life for life.
Like a sudden crimson glow kilometers away, followed by a Night Guy flying over, or walking along and suddenly having an "Art is a Big Bang" (Patrick Star) fall on your head – no one could withstand that.
Of course, the current Orochimaru couldn't think of these things.
Meanwhile, just as Wu Jie and Karin returned to their lodging inn.
Kakashi's team finally entered Tanzaku Quarters and, relying on the cipher left by Jiraiya and Hyuga Huomen's Byakugan, quickly found them.
"Kakashi, why have you all come?" Jiraiya looked at them, puzzled.
At this moment, however, Naruto rushed over. He said excitedly to Kakashi, "Teacher Kakashi! Why are you here! Right! I have good news to tell you! I'm not the son of the demon fox, my biological parents are the Fourth Hokage couple! Hehe, didn't expect that, did you? I'm the child of a hero!"
Kakashi looked at Naruto, stunned, and asked him, "How did you find this out?"
At this moment, Naruto, who was rubbing his nose with his finger, looking smug and expecting to see Kakashi shocked, suddenly froze. A sense of panic welled up in his heart. "Teacher Kakashi... did you also know who my biological parents were all along?"
Then, Naruto looked at Akimichi Choza and Chen Baojun. Except for Hyuga Huomen, who was too young at the time and thus seemed oblivious, everyone else knew Naruto's father was the Fourth Hokage!
Naruto's mouth hung open. The once-familiar people seemed so strange in his eyes.
Why are you all lying to me?
Why wouldn't you tell me who my biological parents are?
Kakashi didn't know what had happened, but right now, subjugating Uzumaki and preventing the war was the most important thing. So, he said to Naruto, "Naruto, let's talk about these things later. I have more important matters to discuss with Lord Jiraiya."
But Naruto shook off Kakashi's hand. "I don't want to listen to you! You're all big liars! You're all deceiving me! I don't want to see any of you ever again!"
After speaking, Naruto turned to run outside, but Hyuga Huomen blocked his path. Although Huomen didn't know Naruto was the Fourth's child, he knew he was the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails and naturally wouldn't let him leave easily.
"Let go of me! Let go of me!!!" Naruto, being held, immediately started struggling.
And at this moment, the Nine-Tails also burst into laughter within the seal.
"Ahahahahaha, brat! Now you know, don't you! That red-haired Uzumaki was absolutely right! They don't care about you at all! What they care about is the Fourth Hokage, and me, the great Nine-Tails! As for whether you're a human or a birdman, it makes no difference at all! Brat! Let me out! Let me out! Let me help you teach them a good lesson!!!"
Naruto's emotions fluctuated wildly, causing a crack in the seal, and the Nine-Tails' chakra immediately leaked out. Naruto was on the verge of entering a berserk state!
Seeing the situation was bad, Jiraiya and Kakashi immediately acted, knocking Naruto unconscious, allowing the seal to lock the Nine-Tails' chakra back in.
Kakashi looked at Naruto, his brow tightly furrowed. He asked Jiraiya, "Lord Jiraiya, what happened here?"
Jiraiya sighed, then shook his head. "It's a long story. But you probably didn't come for this, did you? To look for me at this hour, has something happened in the village?"
Kakashi paused, still feeling that stopping the war was more urgent, so he recounted what had happened in the village.
After listening, Jiraiya's brow also furrowed deeply. "To think it would be like this. I didn't expect Sunagakure was forced to declare war on us because they were threatened by Uzumaki..."
However, another piece of news also troubled him: Danzo had re-established Root!
This meant his power was growing, and it also verified what Uzumaki had said. If he didn't accept the position of Hokage, then there really would be no one in the village who could stop Danzo from becoming Hokage.
Jiraiya shook his head, casting those thoughts aside. The most important thing now was to subjugate Uzumaki. So, he omitted a large part and picked a few things he could say, briefly explaining why they had been drinking and partying with Uzumaki.
Afterward, Kakashi rested his chin on his hand and pondered. "So, you're saying there's a high possibility that Lady Tsunade will become an enemy, and Orochimaru hasn't made a deal with Uzumaki yet?"
Jiraiya nodded. "That's right. What do you plan to do next? That Uzumaki has a Tailed Beast with him. It won't be easy for you to deal with him with just your strength."
Kakashi sighed silently. Before setting out, he had a premonition that this mission might not go smoothly, but he didn't expect it to become so complicated now. He really didn't want to continue this increasingly dangerous mission.
But he had no choice; he was a ninja of the village.
When facing potential dangers, one who could motivate... encourage teammates to accept the mission, and possess the ability to lead everyone through perilous obstacles to complete the mission, that was a true Konoha ninja!
After pondering for a moment, the rudimentary form of a plan began to take shape in Kakashi's mind. He then looked at Jiraiya and said to him, "Lord Jiraiya, next we..."
The time had reached the latter half of the night. There were few dark clouds in the sky, and the bright white moonlight illuminated the earth clearly.
Tsunade and Shizune walked along a small path towards the famous historical site above Tanzaku Quarters, the direction of Tanzaku Castle.
After a while, the two arrived below Tanzaku Castle. Tsunade left Shizune where she was and went up to the Tenshukaku (castle keep) alone, where she saw Jiraiya standing by the window.
"Jiraiya, what are you calling me out for so late? Let me make it clear first, if you still want to persuade me to go back and be some Hokage, then you don't need to open your mouth."
Jiraiya turned around. He looked at Tsunade and fell silent for a moment, then said, "Tsunade, Kakashi just came looking for me.
He told me the village has obtained intelligence that Sunagakure declared war on us because they were threatened by Uzumaki. So, to prevent the war, the village has issued a mission to subjugate them."
Tsunade's brow furrowed. "What do you mean by telling me this?"
"Tsunade, Uzumaki's methods are definitely wrong. Using slaughter to stop slaughter will only lead to an endless cycle.
I won't say anymore about you going back to be Hokage, but I hope you can help me lure those two Uzumaki out. At least help me stop the war between the village and Sunagakure!"
After Jiraiya finished speaking, Tsunade sighed. She asked Jiraiya, "If you say this is wrong, then how exactly can the ninja world truly achieve peace?"
Jiraiya immediately said, "Of course, it's mutual understanding! Only when people understand each other can this world achieve true peace!"
These words made Tsunade feel annoyed.
She immediately asked, "You always talk about mutual understanding, but what exactly should be done? You have to come up with a feasible method.
Understanding can't be achieved just by talking. Everyone wants others to understand them, but how can this possibly achieve the mutual understanding you speak of?"
Jiraiya's expression became very serious. He said firmly, "As long as Naruto becomes the Child of Prophecy spoken of by the Great Toad Sage! He will definitely be able to make everyone understand each other!"
Hearing this, Tsunade sighed in disappointment. "In the end, you're still pinning your hopes on someone else. I don't see any possibility of success either. At least Uzumaki's method has shown me hope. I'm sorry, Jiraiya, I can't help you. And... I've already agreed to that child's invitation.
Please don't contact me anymore in the future. I'm afraid they'll misunderstand."
Jiraiya opened his mouth, his expression appearing very dejected. He said in a low voice, "Is... is that so? Although I had already expected this outcome, hearing you say it with my own ears, it's still very painful."
Tsunade also sighed, then said, "I hope we won't meet on the battlefield next time. Once I've decided where I stand, I won't be indecisive anymore. Well then, farewell, Jiraiya."
Tsunade turned to leave, but Jiraiya suddenly blocked the stairway. His expression also gradually became serious.
"I didn't expect it to be just as Kakashi predicted. Things have turned into the situation we least wanted to see."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed. She questioned Jiraiya, "What do you mean by this? This joke isn't funny at all."
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