Satoshi briefly recounted the events to his companions.
Tsunade once again asked a question from the depths of her soul, "You killed Orochimaru?"
"No, to be precise, I only repelled Orochimaru."
Satoshi pointed at the scattered snake skin on the ground and said, "He seems to have mastered some strange substitution Ninjutsu, it's hard to kill him completely."
"Mm, let's talk as we walk."
Having caused such a commotion, the group naturally couldn't return to the town to rest. So they walked for a while, until they reached a secluded forest.
Tenzo used Wood Release: Four-Pillar House Technique to create a small house for them to rest in. The few of them gathered around a small wooden table, discussing their next plan.
"Orochimaru came for Satoshi today." Tsunade propped her chin on one hand.
"Many years ago, Orochimaru once lamented the fragility of life. He said he absolutely had to research a method for eternal life, which is why he conducted those strange experiments."
"The reason he actively sought Satoshi out might be because he needed Satoshi as experimental material."
"I just didn't expect him to be beaten into such a state by an eleven-year-old kid."
At this point, Tsunade gave Satoshi another deep look.
Judging from the water stains on the ground, Satoshi had used a large-scale Water Release Ninjutsu.
Who did he learn it from?
Looking through the history of the Uchiha, there wasn't a single ninja with such an ability.
Expanding the scope a bit, her granduncle Tobirama could certainly do it. After all, he was known as the ninja who had signed a contract with the ocean.
Could it be that he taught Satoshi's elder, and that elder then taught Satoshi?
Plus, Satoshi obtained his sword. An Uchiha, yet using Tobirama's Ninjutsu.
Tsunade felt like the Ninja World had gone mad.
Satoshi, on the other hand, felt a chill in his heart from Tsunade's gaze.
What are you looking at? I don't have any money left to lose to you.
"Cough, cough! Tsunade-sama, I won this time."
"Mm-hmm, you won."
[Tsunade, oh Tsunade, you really are a cash cow like big brother.]
[Mission Reward: Forbidden Ninjutsu, Summoning: Edo Tensei.]
According to their agreement, Tsunade should give Satoshi a gift.
Satoshi was thinking of getting his money back, but then he heard some despairing news.
"All lost, you still owe three thousand seven hundred Ryo."
"Ah! Tsunade-sama, how could you do this?!"
Satoshi was about to go crazy.
Boo hoo hoo, my money!
Seeing Satoshi about to roll on the ground, Tsunade's eyes were about to roll to the sky. It was really hard to connect him with the ninja who had just cut Orochimaru.
Tsunade was so annoyed her head was about to explode. "I'll give you an IOU first, okay?"
Satoshi shook his head frantically. Tsunade's IOU was no different from waste paper.
He suggested, "I heard Tsunade-sama has dozens of vacant residences. Since you don't live in them anyway, how about giving me one?"
"You really know what's good, kid."
Tsunade finally gave in to Satoshi. "When you return to Konoha, pick one. Tell the old man I agreed, and he'll help you with the paperwork."
Satoshi cheered, "Yay! I have a new house to live in."
"Alright, let's talk about serious matters." Kakashi took out a map and spread it on the table.
"Now that Orochimaru has escaped, the clues are gone. What should we do next?"
"Kakashi-senpai, Jiraiya-sama once said that Orochimaru established laboratories all over the Ninja World."
"We should take advantage of Orochimaru's weakness and destroy these places as soon as possible."
Kakashi thought for a moment and said, "Then let's do that. I'll find a way to contact Jiraiya-sama again."
With the plan decided, everyone stopped talking.
Kakashi asked Tsunade about her plans again, "Tsunade-sama, do you want to return to Konoha with us?"
Tsunade refused without thinking. "What happens in Konoha has nothing to do with me. Tomorrow, you all return to Konoha. Shizune and I will continue to wander the Ninja World."
Kakashi didn't say much upon hearing this. He knew that Tsunade had suffered too many blows over the years to become the way she was today.
The night passed without incident.
Morning.
The Konoha squad bid farewell to Tsunade. "Goodbye, Tsunade-sama."
Tsunade waved impatiently. "Hurry up and go, don't delay me from gambling."
As she spoke, she ruffled Satoshi's hair again. "Little brat, earn lots of money, and try to give it all to me next time we meet, okay?"
Bad!
Kakashi and Tenzo simultaneously turned their heads, realizing Satoshi was already in a physically red-hot state.
"Ahhhhh! I'll fight you!"
Kakashi and Tenzo used all their strength to drag Satoshi away.
—
Inside a cave, Obito received news that Orochimaru had been repelled. He was somewhat disbelieving.
Although Orochimaru was just a small ant in his eyes, who would have thought he would lose so thoroughly?
"As expected of the brat who easily defeated Itachi, he really didn't disappoint me."
Zetsu added, "Of course. He injured you the first time he met you."
Obito immediately raised his voice, "Injured?! I was just testing him a little. If I had been serious, he and Kakashi, those two good-for-nothings, would both be dead."
"Yes, yes..."
"Bastard! How dare you be so perfunctory?!"
Zetsu didn't want to continue arguing with the brainless Obito, he had many other things to deal with.
—
A few days later, the Konoha Squad and Jiraiya met in the Land of Grass.
They had wandered for a long time before finding a certain abandoned laboratory. As soon as they entered, they smelled a strong scent of blood, along with a faint smell of smoke.
Jiraiya picked up an experiment report and looked at the records on it.
"Orochimaru stayed here for a long time, and the records only stopped half a month ago. It seems he burned some of them before leaving."
"There should be a lot of useful materials. Everyone, search around, and be careful."
The four immediately split up and conducted a thorough search of the laboratory.
Satoshi kicked open an iron door and entered a small room. There were several shelves here, filled with densely packed books. There was no dust on the covers of the books, so it seemed Orochimaru read them frequently.
The books covered various topics: medicine, science, theology, and so on.
Satoshi picked up a yellowed book and glanced at it, finding that it contained various obscure and difficult-to-understand contents. The only thing he could understand was the shelves Orochimaru had made.
A light bulb went off in Satoshi's head, and he went to check the shelves behind. Sure enough, he found a wooden box there, neatly filled with small notebooks.
These were all Orochimaru's latest experimental results, as well as some experiences and insights.
"These are all evidence of Orochimaru's crimes, they must be taken back to Konoha."
He picked up the box and was about to leave, but tripped over a cylinder on the ground.
"What is this thing?"
Satoshi picked it up and saw that it was an ancient-looking scroll. And its content turned out to be Orochimaru's understanding of Edo Tensei.
[Ninja World Scientist activated!]
[Many years ago, Tobirama developed the forbidden Ninjutsu, Edo Tensei.]
[However, version 1.0 of this Ninjutsu had many drawbacks, such as not being able to unleash the deceased's full power.]
[Unexpectedly, many years later, there is such a junior who has improved this Ninjutsu.]
[You have mastered the forbidden Ninjutsu, Edo Tensei Enhanced Version.]