Me and countless me.

Chapter 283 Orochimaru's Choice 5k
"How should people choose their ending?"

At this moment, Jiraiya was looking at the Hokage Rock in the distance, the Shadow Rock that was about to be completed and belonged to Minato Namikaze, and his mood was very complicated.

He was hesitant now because the village was peaceful again and he should leave.

But he also knew that the current peace in the village was just a false calm, and his teacher and his teammates would never agree with Minato Namikaze's choice or such radical ideas.

He actually didn't quite agree with it.

But he also knew that it was impossible to ask the ninjas to give up the benefits they had already obtained, because even a ninja like him could get a lot of benefits as long as he was willing and had made contributions to the village. He really couldn't imagine how happy those Chunins and Genins, as well as those ninjas who once followed him but were now disabled, would be.

And when you lose it, you will be so disappointed.

The village must not become lifeless, and a shadow that has lost everyone's recognition will definitely not be the future of the village.

"I should leave now."

Putting down his wine glass, Jiraiya stated his choice.

He could neither betray his teacher to help his disciple, nor betray his disciples and everyone's expectations to help his teacher.

Then the only thing you can do is very simple.

go away.

Jiraiya raised his head and drank the last drink he had in Konoha Village, and many things were on his mind.

Teacher, Orochimaru, Minato, Kushina, Tsunade, and many more, so this glass of wine was quite bitter, so bitter that he could not enjoy the feeling of being tipsy, but only felt the pain brought by drinking.

But at this moment, the soaking wet Orochimaru appeared.

Jiraiya saw that water was constantly dripping from the other person's long hair, and that a terrible chill was emanating from his body, as if it wanted to kill him. He couldn't help but shiver, and had a bad premonition.

What he brought was definitely not a good thing.

And after the other party spoke, Jiraiya became even more certain of this matter.

"You are indeed here, Jiraiya."

Orochimaru's voice was cold and hoarse, as if he was going to kill someone, forcing Jiraiya to put down his wine glass and look seriously at his best friend and brother.

"You're not in your own lab. What are you doing here, Orochimaru? Are you going to drink with me?"

In his heart, he was somewhat afraid to face Orochimaru, after all, Orochimaru was about to become the Hokage, but that was in the past.

The current Hokage is his disciple.

"I have something to tell you, and...why don't you go find Tsunade instead of drinking here?"

Orochimaru tried hard to appear more affectionate, but this affectionate look sent a chill down Jiraiya's spine, making Orochimaru realize that affectionateness was not suitable for him.

"what……"

Jiraiya wanted to laugh, but when he saw Orochimaru sitting in front of him, he couldn't laugh.

"You know how badly I was beaten by Tsunade when I was pursuing her... and you were also beaten for helping me."

Jiraiya poured Orochimaru some wine. He could feel that Orochimaru was very sad, but looking at the Hokage Rock behind Orochimaru, he didn't dare to say a word of comfort.

Because he was afraid that after he said it, his relationship with Orochimaru would become as bad as Tsunade's.

He pursued Tsunade so hard at the beginning, but was rejected so harshly by Tsunade that he was almost killed. To this day, he still dares not face Tsunade directly.

What he had gambled on was only his love, and it had turned out like this. Orochimaru had gambled on his dreams, ideals, and...

The face of Sarutobi Hiruzen flashed through his mind, and Jiraiya sighed.

He was not his master's favorite disciple, nor was he Tsunade's most beloved disciple. Even Tsunade's degree of love for him was definitely not as much as Orochimaru's.

Who doesn’t like a talented and sensible teenager?

Thinking of this, Jiraiya drank the wine in his glass without waiting for Orochimaru to speak, and then poured himself another glass.

Seeing Jiraiya's dejected look, Orochimaru couldn't help but persuade him: "Face is not everything, Jiraiya, otherwise it will be the same as that time."

Jiraiya paused while pouring the wine, then sighed helplessly and forcibly ended the topic.

"I love her very much and she is very caring. In the future, there will be people who care about her and love her. She is a great beauty."

At least he cares about and loves her more than I do.

Jiraiya's words shut Orochimaru's mouth, and made both of them drink a glass of wine at the same time.

Orochimaru was silent for a moment, then he spoke while pouring drinks for Jiraiya and himself.

"Then are you still going to look for that child of prophecy?"

Jiraiya felt even worse after hearing that, but he still shook his head and said firmly: "Not for now... After all, Minato has done a great job... I may be old, but he is indeed very popular, isn't he? The New World should naturally be handed over to the young."

He sighed deeply and picked up the wine glass.

Although they can even be considered young people in terms of age, considering the lifespan of ninjas, they should all be dead.

Just holding his wine glass, Jiraiya couldn't help but feel confused in his heart, so he asked a question that made Orochimaru feel confused.

"Orochimaru, have you ever been happy as a ninja?"

He recalled carefully and found that except for the day when he became a top ninja, he had never been happy in his ninja career. In other words, he had never been happy when he took actions and made choices as a ninja.

And Orochimaru also gave the same answer, an answer that seemed extremely bitter after the silence.

"I... never felt happy being a ninja."

Orochimaru looked at the rain outside. He felt that ninjas and humans were like the rain, falling from the sky to the ground, howling as they seeped into the earth, and then transformed themselves into something that nourished the earth.

It cannot be defied or blocked. Only when it encounters wind can it slow down the time it takes to fall to the ground and change its shape.

However, what kind of wind blows and what happens in the wind are not determined by rain.

The two of them quickly fell into silence, and Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya and asked.

"What do you think Konoha Village should look like?"

Jiraiya shook his head. The struggle of ideologies made him unable to see clearly not only his past but also his future. However, he was sure of one thing:
It is absolutely wrong to just give money and let the ninja family and ninjas expand wildly.

However, it is also wrong not to pay the ninjas and let them continue to live their previous lives.

But he didn't think his idea of ​​becoming a leader was right, and it had always been like this since he was a child.

When he was young, he listened to the advice of Sarutobi Hiruzen, when he grew up, he listened to the arrangements of Orochimaru, and after becoming independent, he followed the instructions of the Great Toad Sage.

He never felt that his choice was correct because he was the last one in the class.

So he longed for someone who could make the right choices, someone who could solve all problems.

"I do not know."

He gave an answer that never surprised Orochimaru, because Jiraiya was just that kind of person. He wanted too much, and he knew too well that the world could never have the best of both worlds, so he was a contradictory person, because gaining and losing both mattered to him equally, and so he couldn't move forward at all.

The wind can't blow away, and it can't move such people. So after a moment of silence, Orochimaru finally said what he didn't want to say.

"Do you remember the Rain Country? The reason you stayed there."

Jiraiya stood there in a daze. He immediately thought of the child of destiny whom he once recognized, the young man whom Orochimaru wanted to kill because of him, and the people around him.

The wine glass in his hand fell, and Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru in disbelief, feeling as if his worldview had been overturned.

Could it be that the child of destiny that he had identified before was not...

"The three people named Nagato, Yahiko, and Konan are not dead. They are fighting for the peace of the Rain Country. But if we continue to let it go, then it may not be certain."

Orochimaru said this calmly. He knew, of course, that after Jiraiya thought that Nagato and Yahiko were dead, he felt that Namikaze Minato was the son of destiny.

And now, Minato Namikaze has put him in a dilemma, but his former disciple, the once chosen child of destiny, is determined to act according to his wishes.

What would Jiraiya think? How would he view Minato Namikaze? How would he treat the two of them?

Orochimaru is looking forward to this, and hopes that Jiraiya can see clearly that the only people who can decide their own destiny in this world are themselves.

But Jiraiya must be in a very complicated mood right now. He must be very eager to see the three boys and must be anxious to leave.

This must be a great opportunity for Jiraiya, who was already in great pain and entanglement in Konoha Village. Even if other people thought it was ridiculous, it was enough to convince him that Jiraiya had the reason, and...

Excuse.

Just like Orochimaru thought, Jiraiya felt very complicated.

"I...I understand, Orochimaru, thank you for telling me this! I must go and check on them right away! By the way, how did you know this?"

He stood up subconsciously, but still couldn't help looking at Orochimaru, wondering why Orochimaru knew about the Rain Country.

"After Danzo fell, Namikaze Minato and Murata Kiyotan knew that I had worked with Danzo, so they asked me to handle Danzo's affairs and take over Danzo's various laboratories to prevent Konoha Village from suffering losses. So I took over everything in the Root with my subordinates, and saw the relevant intelligence. I think... Danzo didn't tell you before, probably because he had his own considerations."

Orochimaru calmly drank the wine in his hand, and smiled at Jiraiya, who had an obvious look of joy on his face.

"Don't worry, the village will be fine."

Orochimaru didn't know whether Li Ke and Minato Namikaze knew what he and Danzo were researching, but from the fact that they had dug up all of Danzo's dirt and let him and his subordinates deal with and take over Danzo's power, he knew that they really had no intention of dealing with him and were trying hard to win him over to their side.

Jiraiya was happy about this because it meant that Orochimaru would continue to fight for Konoha.

"Well, I feel relieved with you here. I will use spiritualism to notify Minato, but you will help with the paperwork."

Jiraiya felt like he had finally heard some good news, so he happily gave Orochimaru a thumbs up, smiled silly as usual, then quickly left the tavern and headed towards the village entrance.

Looking at Jiraiya who had no intention of paying the bill, Orochimaru couldn't help but shake his head, knowing that Jiraiya probably lent the money to Tsunade again and spent it on things that involved many women.

Especially a woman with golden hair, big breasts, and a bold personality, who could be anyone, but not Tsunade.

"Jiraiya, Jiraiya..."

Orochimaru shook his head, unsure of what he should say to Jiraiya.

But he was sure that Jiraiya would never be able to be with Tsunade in this life.

Because no one in this world can defeat the dead, unless that person can transcend the dead and possess the ability to transcend life and death.

Thinking of Murata Kiyotan, who made Minato Namikaze's Hokage do the same thing as the Hokage's assistant, Orochimaru didn't know whether he, as a friend and brother, should laugh at Jiraiya and grieve over his efforts, or laugh at and sigh at Tsunade's choice.

Because the reason why the three of them have become what they are now is actually inseparable from each other, and even his decision today is also because of him.

However, the other party has done well enough and given them enough opportunities. It can even be said that they are too kind. They are so kind that it may be a strategy.

So he could only say one thing about the relationship and life between Jiraiya and Tsunade.

"Ninja, what a rubbish profession."

Watching Jiraiya walking away in the rain, Orochimaru stepped into the rain again and came to the agreed place. The rain also washed away the smell of alcohol and drowsiness on Orochimaru's body at this moment, making him look as sharp as usual.

"Orochimaru, you are here as expected."

Looking at the figure of Orochimaru, Mitokado En and Utane Koharu couldn't help but nod their heads. They didn't believe Jiraiya, but they believed in Orochimaru who had taken away the position of Hokage.

Orochimaru nodded, looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen who was silent in the middle, waved his hand and threw a kunai, forcing a ninja hiding in the dark to jump out. The other party looked at Orochimaru in disbelief, but before he could say anything, he was swallowed by a hidden giant snake!
Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu were both horrified because they had not noticed that person's existence at all. Even Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but squint his eyes.

And Orochimaru also spoke at this time.

"It's too dangerous to talk here. We should set up a barrier. After all, everyone knows the current situation."

Sarutobi Hiruzen, Mito Kado En, and Utane Koharu had no objections. Facts have proved that Orochimaru's choice was correct.

Even Mizuto Menen started to praise him.

"As expected of Orochimaru, he thinks things through thoroughly."

Then, they saw Orochimaru create several shadow clones and began to arrange them around the house, while Orochimaru's real body was forming hand seals next to Mito Kado En and Utane Koharu.

But when Orochimaru was halfway through his seal, Sarutobi Hiruzen suddenly opened his eyes wide.

"Orochimaru! What are you doing!?"

Before they could react, Mizuto Kado En and Utane Koharu's bodies were submerged by countless snakes in an instant. The venom from the snakes' mouths paralyzed their bodies instantly. Then several sharp blades shot out from the snakes' mouths and instantly pierced through the hearts, brains and throats of the two men!

Mitokado En and Utane Koharu were killed on the spot. They didn't even realize that it was Orochimaru who attacked them. Their eyes were full of confusion and bewilderment.

But soon, the two men couldn't even see Orochimaru clearly, because the two detonating tags instantly devoured their bodies, completely cutting off their last chance of life and blowing their bodies into pieces!
When Sarutobi Hiruzen was astonished, he had never thought that Orochimaru would take action here. A sword light suddenly broke through his chest, and Orochimaru's true body appeared behind him, speaking in an evil tone.

"To test my tolerance, teacher."

But the trembling voice and the moisture around his ears made Sarutobi Hiruzen understand one thing.

"Are you crying, Orochimaru?"

After the silence, Orochimaru gave a cold reply.

"Just because you danced with snakes and lost your guard, so... it's just a yawn of boredom."

Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes. The pain in his chest could not cover up the piercing pain. So when he opened his eyes again, he looked at the barrier that had been set up, his eyes were full of determination.

"I understand."

He clasped his hands together and used his own blood to summon the Monkey King. In just a moment, he knocked Orochimaru away!
"Then let me give you a graduation exam!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen, who broke free from Orochimaru's restraints, covered his chest and roared, while Orochimaru looked at his teacher with a sneer.

"Just based on who you are now?"

His sword was poisoned with a very strong poison, but if it was the past Sarutobi Hiruzen, he would definitely be able to detect it. No, he wouldn't even be hit by him!

He will be killed the moment he shows murderous intent!
Sarutobi Hiruzen quickly used the Palm Magic to seal his wound to prevent more blood from flowing out. He quickly formed seals with his hands, causing two water dragons to appear beside the two people at the same time and collide with each other!
After a brief stalemate, Sarutobi Hiruzen's water dragon broke Orochimaru's water dragon, forcing Orochimaru to use an earth wall to block the attack. Through the gap in the broken earth wall, he clearly saw his teacher waving the Saru-ma sword towards him and roaring at him.

Just like when he was young!
"Don't underestimate me! I'm the Hokage!"

But looking at the disciple whom he was once most proud of and trusted, Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but think of a question in his mind.

How should a person choose his or her ending?
(End of this chapter)