Orochimaru licked the blood off his blade, only to feel his tongue go numb, followed by a fiery, stinging pain.
He realized instantly—he'd been poisoned.
He never expected soone to poison their own blood.
"Hey, Orochimaru, are you repenting to the enemy or sothing?" Jiraiya quipped, leaping over to him after noticing Orochimaru's strange behavior.
"Do I look like I'm repenting?" Orochimaru snapped, his voice tinged with urgency. "That guy's blood was poisoned. If you've got an antidote pill, hand it over—quick!"
Jiraiya froze, stunned.
Damn, this guy's hardcore.
Poisoning one's own blood was dangerous beyond asure. Even the slightest mistake could result in death. Blood was, after all, vital to survival. Any disruption to it was tantamount to flirting with disaster.
Such desperation spoke volus about the smaller ninja villages. Without powerful jutsu to rely on, they resorted to any thod to boost their strength, no matter the cost. The unfortunate ninja Orochimaru had dispatched had only just begun dabbling in poison techniques. Being a novice, he'd fallen to Orochimaru quickly.
Had his mastery of poisons been more advanced, even a re touch of his blood would have rotted Orochimaru's flesh.
Guess Orochimaru might finally give up licking things after today, Jiraiya thought wryly, pulling a brownish-yellow pill from his pouch. A faint herbal scent wafted from it—it was an antidote pill, purchased from the Akimichi clan.
Each pill cost 2,000 ryō, expensive but highly effective against most basic poisons. While it couldn't neutralize so of the deadliest toxins, it could suppress them long enough to save a life.
Of course, most civilian-born shinobi couldn't afford such luxury. The pill in Jiraiya's hand? Swiped from Tsunade. With his immunity to poison granted by the Universal Poison Seal, Jiraiya didn't need it.
Besides, he didn't want Orochimaru's famously dexterous tongue going to waste.
Orochimaru would one day be a cornerstone of Konoha's scientific advancent—a resource Jiraiya couldn't let slip away. Keeping him tied to the village and its resources was paramount.
With that in mind, Jiraiya handed over the pill.
Orochimaru swallowed it in one swift motion, then let out a relieved sigh as the effects kicked in.
"Thanks, Jiraiya. I'll repay you for this soday," Orochimaru said, standing upright.
"Don't ntion it. We're comrades—it's natural to help each other out in battle." Jiraiya patted Orochimaru on the shoulder with a grin.
'Comrades, huh? Can they really be trusted?' Orochimaru thought to himself, gazing at Jiraiya with his serpent-like eyes.
To him, trust was a foreign concept. His parents had died on the battlefield, while their so-called comrades had returned to the village alive. If comrades were truly reliable, why would such things happen?
Still, a part of him wanted to believe.
"Jiraiya, can I always count on you?" Orochimaru asked quietly, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling light.
"I don't know what's brought this on, but yeah—you can always count on to have your back," Jiraiya replied, unwavering.
Orochimaru nodded, saying no more.
As Jiraiya turned and vanished with a Body Flicker Technique, heading toward Tsunade's battle, Orochimaru stood in thought.
Tsunade was locked in fierce combat, though she held the upper hand. Her monstrous strength made her an unstoppable force. Every punch left the ground shattered and trees reduced to splinters, forcing her opponent into a desperate defense.
'What terrifying strength. One hit, and I'm dead,' her opponent thought, cold sweat dripping down his back.
Suddenly, the sound of a blade cutting through air reached him.
His vision blurred as cold steel touched his neck, and he fell into eternal darkness.
Jiraiya stepped out from the shadows, sheathing his sword.
"Tsunade, you didn't need my help. I just didn't want you punching so other guy. I'd get jealous," Jiraiya teased with a smirk.
"I'll punch whoever I want, and you can't stop ," Tsunade shot back, though a trace of sweetness ward her heart.
Nearby, Hatake Sakumo's battle reached a grueso conclusion. With a clean slash, he severed his opponent's arm, blood gushing like a fountain.
"Lightning Release: Thunderclap Arrow!"
Sakumo's hands ford seals with lightning speed. A crackling bolt of energy coalesced into an arrow and shot toward the injured ninja, piercing his skull and ending his life.
Sakumo then turned his attention to the remaining elite Chūnin, swiftly cutting them down with his signature blade, the White Fang. Within monts, the invaders had been annihilated.
"Jūrō, search the bodies. See if you can find anything identifying their village," Sakumo ordered.
As the cleanup began, Sakumo approached Jiraiya.
"That was impressive. I underestimated you. No wonder you're the Hokage's student," Sakumo admitted.
"Why does everyone in the village think you're a failure?" he added, puzzled.
"Jealousy," Jiraiya said with a mock sigh. "So even spread rumors that I spend all my ti peeking at the won's bathhouse."
"Unbelievable!" Sakumo exclaid, indignant. "If anyone dares to spread lies about you again, I'll make sure they regret it."
"Thanks, but don't lose sleep over it. By the way, I noticed you're skilled with the blade. Maybe we can spar soti?"
"Anyti. I'd be happy to," Sakumo replied, a rare smile crossing his face.
Monts later, Jūrō returned, shaking his head.
"No identifying items on any of the bodies, Captain."
Sakumo nodded grimly. The enemy's true origin would remain a mystery. For now.
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Pls Drop so Power Stones
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