Chương 119

"He also stated something else." Itachi continued.

"Jigen is both alive... and dead at the same time. I don't exactly understand what he meant by that but he has advised us to be cautious." There was a long silence between Pain and Itachi. By now Itachi was sure that whatever the unknown person spoke about Pain was correct. This person really did have Uzumaki blood flowing through his veins. The way this person didn't speak even for a moment about what he spoke before was the proof enough. Or at least that was what the mind of Itachi landed on.

"Any other lead? Where he might be? Whom he might have contact with?" Pain asked.

"No.. Nothing.. Just the monk and the name." Itachi replied. Of course he didn't speak about Amado. Why would he arm someone like Akatsuki with another genius. People with brawns were already terrifying, imagining someone with the brains being added to their group was a disaster waiting to happen for the world.

"And the payment?" Pain finally asked. Itachi answered without changing expression.

"He offered enough wealth to sustain every member of this organization for the rest of their lives." He paused briefly.

"Enough money to finance entire nations." This made Pain's eye twitch for a bit. Did one person really have that much wealth to sustain nations? It didn't matter if he didn't, he could always make this person cough. In fact, Pain had already decided, if and when they complete the assignment, he would be the one to deliver the message. He wanted to see how powerful was this guy was. He even took down Kisame and shut down Itachi.

Though he did feel that there was something between Itachi and this unknown guy, since Itachi wasn't touched and also because he called Itachi to have a chat. But he wouldn't allow the next meeting to be held without is consent or oversight. Itachi soon left leaving only Zetsu.

"Zetsu.. I want you to do your best and find this person named Jigen." Pain said. His words didn't seem to affect Zetsu at all as he just stood there with a blank look on his face. Actually, a blank look on both of their faces. Pain didn't notice it before when he turned and looked at the transparent figure standing and looking at the ceiling, he had to call out again.

"Zetsu, are you listening?" This time with a much more emphasis.

"Huh? OH! Okay.. I will keep and eye and use the resources to find this person. Will also put a bounty on his head." Zetsu replied hurriedly, trying to hide his thoughts.

"Hmm.. Do that." Pain wasn't that bothered by Zetsu's sudden weird behavior. He had been weird from the get go, nothing new in that. Soon after Pain left, leaving Zetsu just standing in the same location.

"....."

"... Someone who came before the Hidden villages and the clans being established. Is he talking about someone like me? Did mother leave another son?" For some reason, just the thought that someone was out there, who had a chance to be as same as him, made him jealous. Jealous that his mother didn't trust him to revive her. Jealous that mother had another son after the previous two sons turned out to be traitors. He was supposed to be the only one, and get the love of his mother.

But now there was a chance that there might be another. No this couldn't go on. He needed to find this man and then cage him, and later show his mother after she is revived that he was her best son. No he needed to search this person by hook or by crook. Jiraiya arrived only moments after Orochimaru appeared, as the poison Tsunade had secretly mixed before into his drink were quite effective.

His steps felt unusually heavy, chakra refused to flow smoothly through his network, and even raising his arms required noticeably more effort than before. Yet despite the handicap, the old Sannin forced himself to remain standing as he looked toward the ruined temple where Tsunade had agreed to meet Orochimaru one final time. Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"I knew something was wrong with that drink." Jiraiya muttered while steadying himself against a nearby tree.

"That woman... she's still as sneaky as ever." Rei immediately noticed the instability in Jiraiya's chakra flow. The poison hadn't disappeared, but the Sannin's immense vitality and experience had allowed him to partially suppress its effects. He wasn't anywhere near his peak condition. Rei actually knew what was going to happen but he didn't keep an eye on Jiraya as she seemed to send information late at night about meeting. And Jiraya went alone to meet.

When Jiraya somehow came running back and told them that he was duped only then Rei realized of what had happened. The group quietly advanced until they reached the clearing where Tsunade stood facing Orochimaru and Kabuto. The atmosphere instantly became suffocating. Naruto's blue eyes narrowed the moment they landed on the pale Sannin, while Sasuke's grip slowly tightened around the hilt of his sword. Neither of them had forgotten the Forest of Death.

"... Orochimaru." Naruto growled. Sasuke's lips curled into a cold smile.

"I've always wanted another chance." The snake Sannin slowly turned around before a faint chuckle escaped his lips.

"My, my... the little genin have certainly become confident." His golden eyes lingered briefly on Sasuke before shifting toward Naruto.

"Last time the two of you were running for your lives. Now you're looking at me as though you intend to fight."

"That's because this time you're not as scary."

"And your arms don't work properly." Sasuke added bluntly. Kabuto adjusted his glasses with a helpless sigh.

"They really do grow up fast."

"Jiraiya-sama."

"Hm?"

"You handle Orochimaru."

"And you?"

"I'll make sure nobody interferes." Jiraiya smirked.

"That's exactly what I was hoping you'd say." The confrontation finally erupted. Kabuto blurred forward first, intending to intercept Jiraiya before he could reach Orochimaru. Rei instantly vanished through Body Flicker, appearing directly between them. Their kunai collided with a shower of sparks before Rei drove a knee toward Kabuto's ribs. Kabuto twisted away at the last instant, creating distance with a backflip while his eyes narrowed behind his glasses.

Of course he made sure to show only what he was expected to show. Not the Thor's physique or Senjutsu.

"So you're the famous prodigy."

"I've heard worse introductions." Before Kabuto could launch another attack, Sasuke suddenly rushed past Rei with surprising speed.

"He's mine." His sword flashed toward Orochimaru in a swift horizontal slash. Although Orochimaru's arms remained useless, his reflexes hadn't dulled. Leaning backward with impossible flexibility, he narrowly avoided the blade before retreating several meters.

"My... what impressive swordsmanship."

"You'll compliment me after I cut your head off." Sasuke immediately followed with another relentless series of strikes, refusing to give Orochimaru even a second to recover. Every swing carried months of frustration from the Forest of Death, where he had been utterly powerless against the snake Sannin. The fight between Rei and Kabuto had drawn blood from the body of Kabuto. The blonde woman had collapsed to one knee, her breathing uneven as blood stained the ground nearby. Her body trembled violently.

Every drop reminded her of Dan and Nawaki, dragging her back into memories she desperately wished to forget.

"Granny Tsunade!" Naruto shouted while rushing toward her. Shizune attempted to calm her, but the legendary medical ninja remained frozen by fear. Naruto clenched both fists.

"Come on! You're supposed to become Hokage! You can't lose to something like this!" His words barely reached her ears. At the center of the battlefield, Jiraiya finally reached Orochimaru. Despite the poison weakening his body, he still threw a devastating punch that forced Orochimaru to dodge sideways. The two Sannin exchanged kicks, elbows and kunai strikes, neither willing to surrender even an inch of ground despite both fighting well below their normal capabilities.

Watching the battle unfold, Rei couldn't help but admire the sheer experience of the legendary shinobi. Even weakened, Jiraiya's instincts remained extraordinary. Every movement conserved chakra, every attack forced Orochimaru into an unfavorable position, and every feint carried decades of battlefield experience. He really needed to learn battleground management from him. Rei had instincts and sharingan but raw experience might always come in handy.

Kabuto suddenly slipped past Rei's guard, chakra scalpel forming around his fingertips as he lunged toward Jiraiya's exposed flank.

"Hiraishin!" A yellow flash split the battlefield. Rei instantly appeared between them, catching Kabuto's wrist before driving a punch into his abdomen. Kabuto was blasted backward across the clearing, crashing through several massive trees before finally skidding to a halt, coughing blood as disbelief filled his eyes.

"How could he...?" Kabuto couldn't believe it. Meanwhile, Sasuke and Jiraya against Orochimaru was in full force as Orochimaru was trying his best dodge and stay alive. But at one point, Orochimaru, who had been the backfoot all this time, suddenly had a glint in his eyes. Without giving anyone a chance, his head suddenly extended outward and went straight for the neck of Sasuke.