Chapter 114 – The Sannin's Resolve
Nightfall
Orochimaru's Residence
Inside this modest home, the three legendary Sannin of Konoha sat together once more.
Due to the recent wave of rumors, both Tsunade and Jiraiya were deeply concerned about Orochimaru's state of mind.
After all, they had once witnessed the aftermath of Sakumo's suicide. They understood better than anyone that rumors could be invisible weapons, capable of inflicting wounds deeper than blades.
So, without needing to speak a word, they had both come to Orochimaru's home.
In the living room, Orochimaru wore a deep-blue kimono. Facing these two old companions he hadn't seen in a long while, he immediately understood why they were here.
Though he said nothing aloud, his heart warmed.
After seating them, he brought out a tin of tea leaves—personally gifted to him by Kazane.
With practiced grace, Orochimaru picked up the teapot and gently poured steaming tea into the cups before Jiraiya and Tsunade.
"So what brings you here? This might be your first time visiting my place, isn't it?"
He smiled softly, lifting his dark green teacup as he addressed them.
"Orochimaru, go take a look outside. The villagers are slandering your name—how can you just sit here calmly drinking tea?"
Jiraiya's voice was sharp. He wasn't here for a tea party.
He couldn't understand this old friend of his anymore. The Orochimaru he remembered wouldn't have tolerated such disrespect for a second—those spreading lies about him would've been dealt with swiftly.
And yet here he was, unbothered, sipping tea while the entire village whispered behind his back.
Tsunade remained silent but kept her gaze locked on Orochimaru. She too wanted to hear what he was really thinking.
"So what should I do then? Slaughter every last villager? Or kill our teacher?"
Orochimaru took a slow sip of his tea, setting the cup down as he answered Jiraiya. At the end of his sentence, a cold glint flashed in his eyes—proof that he wasn't as calm as he appeared.
His beloved teacher… What a method he'd chosen to deal with him.
"Then you're just going to sit here and do nothing? At the very least, you should go out there and defend yourself! Explain things to the villagers instead of calmly sitting here drinking tea!"
Jiraiya was growing furious. Orochimaru's indifference was infuriating.
Despite all their rivalry, Jiraiya had always seen Orochimaru as a partner—more important than even his own life.
He desperately wanted to help his old friend out of this mess, but no solution came to mind. And now Orochimaru looked as if he'd already given up.
"Heh… Jiraiya, can't you see it? To the villagers, nothing short of sacrificing Kazane will satisfy them. And who said I was doing nothing? Since the problem lies with the Five Kage Summit, then we'll just resolve it there—by eliminating the Kage."
Orochimaru chuckled quietly, then casually said what others would consider madness. The way he spoke of the Kage was as if they were mere vegetables for sale on the roadside.
"Orochimaru, are you insane? The Five Kage Summit will gather not just the Kage, but their elite guards and even the samurai general from the Land of Iron. You and Kazane alone—are you planning to die?"
Jiraiya was stunned. He hadn't expected Orochimaru to be so bold as to consider storming the Five Kage Summit.
Sure, Kazane was immensely powerful—but that didn't mean the two of them could take on the combined might of the five great nations.
Tomorrow's summit would gather no fewer than a dozen top-tier shinobi. Just the two of them? That was suicide.
There was Yagura of the Hidden Mist, and the infamous Byakugan Killer Ao, who had stolen the Hyuga's dōjutsu.
From the Hidden Cloud came the Fourth Raikage—young and brash, perhaps, but backed by Killer B, the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki. Jiraiya himself had fought B and knew exactly how strong he was.
Even without using his full tailed-beast transformation, B could rival any elite shinobi.
Then there was Ōnoki of the Hidden Stone, wielder of Dust Release. No one had ever blocked that technique head-on. And his bodyguard Akatsuchi, known as the "Shield of the Tsuchikage," was famed for his monstrous strength and impenetrable defense.
In the shinobi world, titles weren't given lightly. The names alone told you how dangerous they were.
Each of these figures viewed Kazane as a mortal threat. If they saw him, they'd surely attack on sight.
And that wasn't even counting Rasa from the Hidden Sand, or Mifune, the general of the samurai. Even with Hiruzen and Danzo present, they'd be walking straight into a death trap.
Especially considering the current tension in the village—what if Hiruzen chose not to protect them?
"No. I've decided to go alone. Kazane didn't do anything wrong. Why should he take the risk? If they want my student's life… then let this teacher give them an answer instead."
Orochimaru shook his head gently.
He hadn't planned to bring Kazane. He hadn't even told him about this decision. This was also his final test for Hiruzen Sarutobi.
If Hiruzen had truly resolved to see him dead, then should he survive by some miracle… he would no longer hold back against his old master.
Hearing this, both Jiraiya and Tsunade froze.
Orochimaru was walking into a slaughter.
If he brought Kazane, there might still be a sliver of hope—Kazane was, after all, the strongest shinobi in the world right now.
But going alone? He'd never return alive.
Even Hiruzen wouldn't be able to protect him under those circumstances.
Jiraiya fell into deep thought. Then, suddenly, he slammed his hand against the table.
"I'm going with you. No way the great Jiraiya's lifelong rival dies at the hands of those bastards."
Orochimaru was moved, though he still shook his head gently.
"Jiraiya, there's no need for you to throw your life away. I believe, with Sensei there, I'll be fine."
BANG!!!
"What kind of bullsh*t is that, Orochimaru!? That old geezer? You really think he's going to help you? He'd rather see you and that brat dead—anything to protect his damn seat."
"We've been teammates our whole lives. Cut the crap. If we're going, we're going together."
Tsunade slammed her teacup hard on the table, her eyes blazing with anger.
She no longer had any faith in Hiruzen Sarutobi. Everything Kazane had once warned her about… it had all turned out to be true.
And now, the Hokage was resorting to such dirty, underhanded tactics against his own shinobi.
Those methods—too familiar. Tsunade now believed it completely: Kazane's father really had been driven to his death by the village.
Everyone fears death. But for the three of them—who had stood side by side through two decades of life and death—it was always each other they relied on to make it out alive.
Now that Orochimaru was prepared to walk into death itself…
Then they would go and drag him back from it.
They were the Legendary Sannin of Konoha.
And without her permission—No one was allowed to die first.
Complete version available at P@treon, Zynos