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Hiruzen Sarutobi's tea leaves were almost finished. He wondered who could help him get some more later. Thinking of Hiruzen Sarutobi's private stash, Shinji seemed somewhat interested.
"Then... regarding Orochimaru's situation, what else do you know?" Jiraiya frowned and sat down. He didn't sense any chakra from Shinji, and his wariness towards him immediately lessened significantly.
"There's quite a lot. Which aspect does Lord Jiraiya wish to understand?"
"All aspects! Especially the matter of his defection." Jiraiya frowned. Although he knew Orochimaru had defected from the village, he didn't know the details. After receiving the news from Hiruzen Sarutobi, he immediately went to the route Orochimaru took during his defection, intending to ask Orochimaru about it. But he was still shaken off by Orochimaru. They fought fiercely for four days, the battle stretching over a long front. Only after Orochimaru completely shook Jiraiya off did he return to Konoha, full of doubts.
"The reason for Lord Orochimaru's defection... is quite multi-faceted," Shinji looked at the anxious expression on Jiraiya's face. Looks like this could lead to several more transactions.
"Please elaborate." Jiraiya restrained his impatience, though a trace of vigilance and scrutiny remained in his eyes. As one of the Sannin, often undertaking infiltration missions, his alertness was very high.
"Lord Jiraiya, do you think... during the election for the Fourth Hokage... who was more qualified to take the position?" Shinji looked at his reflection in the teacup. Unconsciously, all three Sannin of Konoha had visited the All-Purpose Shop.
"The Fourth Hokage? Naturally, Minato Nami..." Speaking up to this point, Jiraiya suddenly paused. He understood Minato Namikaze, and understood Orochimaru even better. During the Third Shinobi World War, he knew Orochimaru was actually interested in the Hokage position. And in terms of qualifications and experience, Orochimaru was far more suitable than Minato Namikaze to serve as the Fourth Hokage. This could also be seen from their mission counts; Orochimaru completed missions with a standard 996 schedule. However, under the circumstances at that time, Minato Namikaze's reputation in the village was higher than Orochimaru's. Jiraiya was actually somewhat aware of the underlying reasons... But...
"I know Lord Jiraiya has never been interested in the Hokage position, but rather more interested in the Great Toad Sage's prophecy of the Child of Prophecy... Am I correct?" Jiraiya already knew about the Great Toad Sage's prophecy during his youth, but few people knew about the existence of the Child of Prophecy.
"Correct. I have indeed been searching for the Child of Prophecy these years," Jiraiya wasn't too surprised this time. Some people would know about the existence of the Child of Prophecy.
"Yes. You have no interest in the Hokage position, but what about your close friend, Orochimaru?"
"Orochimaru..." Jiraiya fell silent. Konoha's dark side... back then, he also disliked getting involved in those matters, which was why he had absolutely no interest in the Hokage position.
"Someone who aspired to become Hokage, but whose dream was shattered by Konoha's dark side. Lord Jiraiya, you should know about this. Why did the Third Hokage choose Minato Namikaze instead of his own student, Orochimaru?"
"Because... Orochimaru wasn't easy to control," Jiraiya's hoarse voice suddenly sounded. Wasn't the reason Hiruzen Sarutobi chose Minato Namikaze precisely because he was easier to control than Orochimaru?
"Yes. So, the disheartened Lord Orochimaru, after accepting the temptation of Konoha's Darkness, Danzō, stepped onto the path of human experimentation..." Shinji seemed oblivious to Jiraiya's increasingly ugly expression, continuing to speak nonchalantly.
"Human experimentation!?" Jiraiya exclaimed. He truly didn't know about this.
"Yes, human experimentation. Of course, if it were just simple human experimentation, the Third Hokage certainly wouldn't refuse to tolerate Lord Orochimaru. The specific reason is naturally..."
"Minato's death!?" Jiraiya suddenly stood up as if enlightened.
"Yes. The death of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze!" Shinji wagged his finger.
"So it was... because of this..." Jiraiya sat back down in his chair, a look of 'I knew it' in his eyes. Minato Namikaze died, but both Tsunade and Jiraiya refused to take the position of Fifth Hokage. And Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally wouldn't let Danzō sit in that position. So, he could only return himself. And the biggest obstacle on the path of his return was... Orochimaru, who had previously competed with Minato Namikaze for the Fourth Hokage position! Moreover, Danzō naturally wouldn't want Orochimaru to sit in that position either. The two sides hit it off, and Orochimaru's human experiments were directly exposed. This was the real reason for Orochimaru's defection!
"So, this is the real reason for Orochimaru's defection?" Jiraiya lowered his head, the shadow of his hair obscuring his expression from others.
"Yes."
"Indeed, Konoha is still that Konoha, and Teacher Hiruzen is still that Teacher Hiruzen." Jiraiya looked up, staring blankly at the Hokage Rock outside the window. The sunlight seemed to make Hiruzen Sarutobi's face shine brightly.
"Then... knowing the truth, will you still go look for Lord Orochimaru?" Shinji looked into Jiraiya's eyes and asked. Sometimes, bonds are truly miraculous things.
"Naturally. I will bring him back, back to Konoha. And I won't let him suffer any harm!" Jiraiya suddenly turned his head confidently to look at Shinji, his eyes full of confidence.
"Hoh~ Truly... deep affection. But... Lord Orochimaru won't be brought back by you so easily, right?" Shinji chuckled lightly, gaining a deeper understanding of the bromance... ah no... friendship between Orochimaru and Jiraiya.
Inside the All-Purpose Shop, Jiraiya sat somewhat dejectedly. After understanding the cause and effect of Orochimaru's defection, he didn't actually have much confidence in bringing him back. After all, for Jiraiya, the conflict between Orochimaru and Hiruzen Sarutobi was his biggest headache.
"Lord Shinji, can we eat now?" Just as Jiraiya was thinking about what else to ask, Karin suddenly poked her head out from her room and asked.
"Are you and Deidara hungry?" Shinji checked the time; it was indeed dinner time.
"Hungry~"
"Then I'll go cook. You two come down and help," Shinji smiled indulgently, then stood up and walked towards the kitchen.
"Yay! Lord Shinji, I want to eat Mala Xiang Guo~" Karin happily ran down from the second floor. Ever since eating the Mala Xiang Guo Shinji made last time, she had completely lost resistance to this delicacy.
"Alright. Then... Lord Jiraiya?" Shinji looked towards Jiraiya's seat.
"Ahem, I haven't had dinner yet. Boss Shinji, how about?" Jiraiya coughed twice. Mala Xiang Guo? Jiraiya prided himself on having traveled most parts of the ninja world, but he didn't seem to have heard of this Mala Xiang Guo? For a moment, he became interested.
"This costs extra," Shinji glanced at Jiraiya but didn't refuse, letting him stay.
"I understand this. Hehe, need any help?" Jiraiya chuckled hehe, speaking very familiarly.
"No need. You are still a guest, after all. Just sit here," Shinji thought for a moment and ultimately decided Jiraiya could just wait at the tea table.
"Hehe, then I won't stand on ceremony~" Jiraiya was just being polite, then crossed his legs and began observing the things inside the All-Purpose Shop.
"Lord Shinji~ Here are the shrimp, luncheon meat, and squid~ I've already prepared them~" Karin placed the prepared ingredients next to Shinji with a smile in her eyes.
"These are the vegetables. I've already washed and prepped them," Deidara also carried a small basket of vegetables, intending to bring them over.
Bang!
"Idiot Deidara! You didn't prep these well at all!" Karin knew with just one glance at the small basket of vegetables in Deidara's hand that he definitely hadn't done a good job. The prepped vegetables were messy, and many even had stems not properly removed. Clearly, he hadn't put his heart into the work.
"Damn it! I clearly prepared... it... Hmph~ Let me check again." Deidara held his head, about to retort, but held back after seeing Karin's glare. After all, he indeed hadn't prepped the vegetables seriously. Deidara could only obediently pick up the vegetables again to process them.
...
So this is an Uzumaki clan member? Jiraiya thought, looking at Karin. He remembered Kushina Uzumaki and Nagato Uzumaki; both were from the Uzumaki clan. And... her angry look really resembled Kushina's. But this yellow-haired boy, the name Deidara... Why did it sound like that old geezer Ōnoki's missing disciple? Heard he was also a yellow-haired boy? Hmm??? Jiraiya was drinking tea and was shocked by his own thoughts. Could it be??? Could this Deidara in front of him really be Ōnoki's disciple??? WTF indeed?
"Uh... Deidara?" Jiraiya suddenly spoke to Deidara.
"Hmm? What is it, old man?" Deidara was obediently prepping vegetables when Jiraiya's voice caught his attention.
"Um, can I ask you a question?" Jiraiya asked shamelessly.
"Ask a question? Do you know this is the All-Purpose Shop?" Deidara's mind stirred. Seemed like free labor had just arrived?
"Know, know."
"Then you help me prep the vegetables. After you finish prepping, I'll answer your question," Deidara grinned slyly. So this was how it felt to have free labor?
"Alright!" Jiraiya agreed readily. Wasn't it just prepping vegetables? How hard could it be? Faster than words could describe.
"Kage Bunshin no Jutsu (Shadow Clone Technique)!" Jiraiya formed hand seals, and two clones instantly appeared beside him.
"You two, prep the vegetables. I'm going to ask questions," Jiraiya assigned the task very naturally.
"Why should we? I want to gather material!"
"Exactly, I was planning to go have a drink." Unexpectedly, Jiraiya's two clones gave him absolutely no face, intending to leave the All-Purpose Shop to do their own things.
"Stay right here!" Jiraiya saw this. Oh ho? Shadow clones trying to have their own ideas? Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Thus, under the pressure of the original Jiraiya, the two shadow clones began to miserably prep the small basket of vegetables in front of them.
"Vegetable prepping complete. Can I ask now?" Jiraiya came from a commoner background. He usually cooked for himself when outside. Prepping vegetables was something he was very skilled at.
"Of course. What do you want to ask?" Deidara checked the vegetables Jiraiya prepped and placed them satisfyingly on the stove. Having free labor was indeed very comfortable.
"Your name is Deidara. Then what is your relationship with Ōnoki?" Jiraiya asked cautiously. After all, Deidara's age and physical characteristics were exactly the same as Ōnoki's missing disciple.
"Teacher Ōnoki? He's my teacher," Deidara said nonchalantly.
Indeed! Jiraiya thought internally. He really was that Deidara!
"Then why are you in Konoha?" Jiraiya frowned. The disciple of an enemy village leader being in Konoha? This could be problematic.
"Shinji said... uh... Lord Shinji said he could provide me with a room here that won't be damaged, so I came over. It was too restrictive back in Iwagakure." Deidara spread his hands. This was simply the most tempting condition for Deidara.
"A room that won't be damaged? How could such a thing exist?" Jiraiya was stunned. How could there be a room that couldn't be damaged?
"Don't believe it? Go upstairs and see? If you can damage that room, I'll let you ask another question," Deidara said with a grin. Based on his experiments, that room was impossible to damage!
"Alright! Let's try it!"
"But if you fail, you have to agree to one condition!" Deidara started grinning mischievously.
"No problem! As long as it doesn't harm Konoha's interests, I agree!"
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> Check my: [email protected]/ShixT9 for extra 60 Chapters
> Each 50 Spirit Stones I will release an extra chapter
A review will also be greatly appreciated ^•^