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Chapter 34: Time's Up
Chapter 34: Time's Up
One had to admit that Danzo was quite skilled at training ninjas.
Even in Xuan Yue's eyes, these Root ninjas were no less formidable than the elite ninjas of the Warring States period and were even more ruthless and efficient.
It was just their bad luck to have encountered him.
Any ninja below the level of a Kage would have a hard time against these two squads.
"It seems Danzo, that old fox, has ordered them to capture me, and the priority is extremely high."
Otherwise, given Root's discipline, these ninjas would never completely abandon their mission of monitoring the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails and would do everything in their power to take him down.
"I'll remember this," Xuan Yue muttered to himself as he glanced at the direction of Tanzaku Street and disappeared into the night.
A minute later, Jiraiya appeared at the scene.
Although the battle between Xuan Yue and the Root ninjas was masked by the noise and bustle of Tanzaku Street, it couldn't escape the notice of a ninja of the Sannin level.
Tsunade continued drinking, uninterested in the matter.
So it was left to Jiraiya to come.
Looking at the eight bodies on the ground, Jiraiya's mood turned sour.
While he disliked Danzo and Root's methods, these Root ninjas were still members of Konoha.
For eight Konoha ninjas to be killed within the borders of Fire Country, and right under his nose, was an extreme provocation.
Jiraiya's expression turned grim as he asked, "Orochimaru?"
He immediately thought of his old friend.
Although Tsunade hadn't mentioned it, Jiraiya was well aware that before he and Naruto arrived, Tsunade and Orochimaru had met and discussed something on Tanzaku Street.
It would be normal for Orochimaru to still be lingering nearby.
However, after carefully examining the wounds on the eight Root ninjas, Jiraiya quickly dismissed this idea.
He was too familiar with Orochimaru's fighting style.
The way these Root ninjas died didn't resemble Orochimaru's handiwork.
"Someone else, then? To take out eight Root ninjas in such a short time, without sustaining any injuries or leaving a trace, this person is incredibly formidable and troublesome," Jiraiya thought with a grave expression.
The mission to convince Tsunade to return to Konoha as the Fifth Hokage seemed far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
"That little girl by Tsunade's side must know something. I can't delay any longer; I must find out the truth as soon as possible," Jiraiya thought.
But before that, as fellow villagers, he had to deal with the bodies of these Root ninjas first.
After the night of the Root ninjas' annihilation, everything returned to calm.
As if nothing had happened, Tsunade continued her routine of gambling, drinking, and sleeping.
Naruto, who had bet that he would master the Rasengan within seven days, dedicated himself to studying this jutsu from morning to night.
Although Tsunade's order prevented him from learning the details of Orochimaru's deal from Shizune, Jiraiya managed to find out that aside from occasionally drinking with Tsunade, Xuan Yue had been searching and staying vigilant for enemies hiding in the shadows near Tanzaku Street.
Dealing with one Orochimaru was already giving Jiraiya a headache.
Now, with the addition of the legendary Xuan Yue, he could only feel a throbbing pain in his temples.
On the other side.
Xuan Yue, who was giving Jiraiya a similar headache, was not in Tanzaku Street at the moment but resting in a nearby city.
Although his Impure World Reincarnation body didn't require rest, a comfortable environment could still improve his mental state.
The previous series of brief encounters had not given Xuan Yue a full understanding of the current state of the ninja world.
Stepping out of the cinema after watching a film from the Princess Fengyun series, Yuyi Xuan Yue remarked, "I never thought that movie technology would have advanced to this level. Compared to those flop films I saw in my previous life, the one we just watched was quite impressive."
The ninja world of today was not only filled with diverse jutsu but also boasted the conveniences and advantages brought about by technological advancements.
In contrast to the cold and lifeless Underworld, this vibrant world made him even more determined to stay.
Yuyi Xuan Yue looked up at the scorching sun and calculated the time. Today was the day of the appointed meeting.
Orochimaru and Tsunade would soon be arriving, and he certainly couldn't miss out on this gathering.
"It's time to set off," he said.
A gentle breeze blew by, and Yuyi Xuan Yue's figure vanished from in front of the cinema.
Short Scroll Street
In the same alley where the giant snake had crashed through the wall.
Jiraiya, who had been kept up all night drinking with Tsunade and was secretly drugged by her, now found himself alone as Tsunade had slipped away to meet with Orochimaru.
Almost at the same time, two figures appeared on either side of the alley.
As they drew closer, a hint of confusion flashed in Orochimaru's golden vertical pupils.
"Isn't Yuyi Xuan Yue coming?" he asked.
Coincidentally, Tsunade, who appeared calm, also scanned the surroundings.
After failing to spot Yuyi Xuan Yue, her golden eyebrows furrowed slightly.
'Is it just Orochimaru?' she wondered.
At that moment, Yuyi Xuan Yue, who was on the minds of both Orochimaru and Tsunade, was nowhere near Short Scroll Street.
Having witnessed the bet between Tsunade and Naruto, he was well aware that Orochimaru's deal had fallen through.
Consequently, his own deal was also off the table.
With no interest in prolonging the stalemate with the stubborn Tsunade, he decided to shift his focus to Shizune.
As for how he would go about it...
He believed that with the threat of Orochimaru looming, Shizune would be eager to come to Tsunade's aid.
The ninjas of Konoha, imbued with the Will of Fire, shared a strong sense of camaraderie and would never abandon their companions.
So, what kind of choice would they make for their comrades?
Yuyi Xuan Yue was eager to find out.
To ensure he wouldn't interfere with the meeting the next day, Shizune had been knocked out by Tsunade and had been asleep for an entire night.
If it weren't for Naruto's injury from training the Rasengan, which caused him to wake up earlier than expected due to his unique body, Shizune would have slept even longer.
"Not good! Lady Tsunade!"
Upon learning the current time from Naruto, Shizune immediately sprang into action, intending to chase after Tsunade.
Just then, Jiraiya, who had been awakened by someone else, also sensed that something was amiss. He returned to find Tsunade missing and, with a serious expression, asked Shizune, "Shizune, what exactly did you and Orochimaru talk about? It's time to tell me."
With a somber expression, Shizune replied, "I wanted to believe in Lady Tsunade, so I never said anything. But... we're running out of time! Come with me, and I'll explain as we go!"
With that, Shizune rushed out, not wasting a moment.
Jiraiya and Naruto followed closely behind.
Along the way, as they listened to Shizune recount the entire deal, it was only natural for Naruto to believe that the answer should be "no."
Jiraiya's heart, however, grew heavier and heavier.
"Orochimaru's plan is well calculated. We must stop Tsunade as soon as possible, or else..."
Jiraiya had prepared himself for the worst-case scenario.
But before he could take any action, an unexpected visitor appeared, causing his expression to change drastically.
(End of Chapter)
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