I am the most popular character in Naruto!

"Given Qianqiu's obedience, she will surely carry out the old man's mission well."

"But your whereabouts are uncertain and you are difficult to find. In order to complete the mission as soon as possible, Chiaki will definitely go to Orochimaru first and ask Orochimaru to provide your location..."

"During this period, the entire Leaf Village was peaceful, and nothing happened except that the activities of the Roots became more frequent."

"Then came the return of a thousand autumns, and even brought you with him..."

Jiraiya's brow furrowed more and more. "Since even you've come back, it's not surprising that Orochimaru followed suit."

"And just as you returned, information about Orochimaru's human experimentation was revealed..."

"It's just too much of a coincidence..."

"Putting aside the strange coincidence of this intelligence, the fact that you and Qianqiu both stopped me at the same time makes me even more confused..."

Tsunade watched Jiraiya's reasoning silently, then sighed, took a step forward, grabbed him by the collar, and pulled him close to her.

Jiraiya's thoughts were abruptly interrupted. He stared blankly at Tsunade, who was so close to him. Her exquisite face and the fiery red lips he had tasted once before made his thoughts wander.

"Shut up, Jiraiya."

Tsunade said in a low voice, "What's the point of you doing these useless deductions?"

"Chiaki and I already know about Orochimaru. Don't you have any idea why we won't let you go?"

"really……"

Jiraiya swallowed hard, forcing out a few words, "What do you think?"

"Let him be."

Tsunade loosened Jiraiya's collar and said, word by word, "Let him be, Jiraiya."

"...Do you think I can do it, Tsunade?"

Jiraiya, panting heavily, grabbed Tsunade's shoulder with his other hand. "He's our best friend! He's our comrade!"

"Having done such a wrong thing, you want me to go with him?"

"I can't accept it!"

Tsunade shook off his hand, biting her lip as she said, "What can we do?"

"Can you change all of this?"

"Can you make what Orochimaru did vanish into nothingness?"

"He has his own beliefs and his own principles, and so do you."

Trying to change others with your own convictions is the most foolish thing you can do!

Jiraiya froze on the spot, lowered his head, and murmured, "Tsunade, I know what you're saying..."

"But the thought of the future, where I might be fighting Orochimaru hand-to-hand, makes me feel uneasy."

"What if one day we go our separate ways?"

"What should I do then?"

Tsunade was stunned. She had never imagined that Jiraiya was thinking all of this. She also never knew that Jiraiya valued the feelings and bonds between the three of them so much.

A moment later, Tsunade softened.

She sighed softly and whispered in Jiraiya's ear, "Don't worry, I'll be with you."

"Let's go see Orochimaru together."

Jiraiya suddenly raised his head, looking at Tsunade with surprise. Tsunade seemed to realize that her words might have been ambiguous, her face flushed slightly, she glared at Jiraiya, and whispered, "Hurry up and leave!"

"Once Chiaki notices, we won't be able to leave!"

"it is good!"

Jiraiya nodded vigorously, and just as he was about to leave with Tsunade, their expressions changed simultaneously.

From the nearby woods, the auras of two Kage-level ninjas suddenly emanated.

Chapter 484 Master-Disciple Showdown

"Trying to sneak away without me knowing?"

"You guys are really good."

Chiaki walked out of the tavern, followed by a nervous-looking Mirai.

"I originally wanted my sister to stop Jiraiya-sensei, but as expected, girls are more inclined to side with outsiders."

Chiaki's sarcastic remarks were a complete inheritance of Sakumo Hatake's style, making Tsunade blush deeply.

"cough……"

"What are you saying? I'm the older sister! How can a younger sister say that her older sister isn't!"

Tsunade stubbornly resisted, but soon, the four people's attention was drawn to the two opposing Kage-level auras not far away.

"Is that Orochimaru and the old man?"

Tsunade looked at Jiraiya with a grim expression. Jiraiya nodded solemnly, "I can't mistake the old man's aura, but Orochimaru's..."

"To be honest, I feel a bit unfamiliar with it now."

Orochimaru, who broke through to the Kage level, had a very unique aura, as if a snake had shed its skin and been reborn.

Even though Jiraiya could sense a slight familiarity, he felt mostly unfamiliar with it.

He couldn't help but feel a sliver of wishful thinking and unfounded expectations.

Was the one fighting the old man really Orochimaru?

Maybe not?

"Forget it."

Chiaki saw through Jiraiya's thoughts and calmly poured cold water on them.

"That's Snake Lady and the Third Hokage."

"I will not mistake their chakra."

Having inherited Kagura's Mind's Eye, Chiaki's perception abilities have now improved dramatically, far surpassing those of ordinary people.

"Qianqiu...?"

Looking towards Chiaki, he clenched his fists, his attention focused on Jiraiya.

Her meaning was clear: she wanted to keep Jiraiya under control to prevent him from running around recklessly.

Jiraiya, oblivious to what was to come, focused entirely on the clashing auras of the two Kage-level beings, wishing he could rush over immediately.

Of course, he also knew that the two women beside him did not approve of his actions, and rushing out rashly would easily provoke their resistance.

However, Jiraiya was fortunate that Tsunade treated him very differently and was even willing to go along with his reckless behavior.

With Tsunade subtly hinting at things, Chiaki, as her only family member, was easily won over.

"Go."

To Jiraiya's surprise, Chiaki pressed the button to prepare for action and calmly addressed Jiraiya and Tsunade.

"?"

Jiraiya had already prepared his explanation in his mind, and even planned to have Tsunade help persuade Chiaki, but this...

Chiaki's original goal was simply to prevent Jiraiya from witnessing Orochimaru conducting human experiments, nothing more.

Now that Orochimaru has appeared and is even being chased by Hiruzen Sarutobi, Jiraiya would have no problem seeing him in this state.

It might even evoke Jiraiya's sympathy for Orochimaru, reducing the impact of this incident on Jiraiya's mind.

Tsunade clearly thought the same thing. Although she already knew that Orochimaru was conducting human experiments, the anxiety she felt upon learning that Orochimaru was being chased by Hiruzen Sarutobi without witnessing it firsthand filled her with urgency.

"Then I... I'll really go?"

Jiraiya cautiously asked Chiaki, knowing that she had previously beaten him up and prevented him from going to Orochimaru.

Why are you suddenly giving in now?

"If you're not leaving, I'll go first."

Qianqiu rolled her eyes, grabbed Wei Lai's hand, and immediately disappeared from the spot.

"Wait a minute... is this for real?"

Jiraiya hurriedly shouted, somewhat hesitant to move.

Good guy.

What if this is a sting operation?

He couldn't move around much in the city, so he could only be held down and beaten by Qianqiu.

As a master, what kind of thing is it to be constantly beaten up by your disciples?

Tsunade grabbed his hand and said irritably, "Let's go! Don't try to guess what Chiaki is thinking."

"I bet you could rack your brains and still not figure out what she's thinking!"

"???"

Jiraiya was bewildered as Tsunade grabbed his hand and quickly ran towards the location of Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru.

……

In the forest.

"Orochimaru, stop resisting!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi had a dark expression on his face as he wielded his staff with great skill, the net woven from the staff tightly binding Orochimaru's body.

However, Orochimaru seemed to have no bones at all, swaying his entire body from side to side in a posture that was completely contrary to human biology as he dodged Hiruzen Sarutobi's attacks.

"Teacher, your attacks have always been like this; I could withstand them even with my eyes closed."

Orochimaru chuckled lightly, as if mocking, yet also as if boasting about his own growth.

"Hmph, you've only grasped the basics!"