The snake skin of the Snake Princesses Sage of Ryūchi Cave… Jiraiya had heard Orochimaru talk about the origin of the white robe. Thinking of the toads of Mount Myōboku, their shed toad skins were all eaten by him, and they didn't have the defensive power of snake skin; they were like a tough piece of paper that could be poked through with a finger.
At night, a full moon hung in the star-studded sky. The Konoha forces arrived at the border of the Land of Fire and stopped to rest. At their marching speed, they would engage the Iwagakure forces in the Land of Grass tomorrow.
According to the Land of Fire's Daimyo, battles between Konoha and other Ninja villages should ideally take place in other countries to minimize damage to the Land of Fire. Beyond that, Konoha could fight however it wished; that was none of his concern.
"What are you thinking about?"
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade, who was unusually silent.
"What do you think?"
Tsunade glared at Orochimaru, pouting.
"Regretting it?"
Orochimaru rested her chin on one hand, her golden eyes, with a hint of a smile, seemed to see through Tsunade's thoughts.
"I'm very conflicted too… It's all your fault, otherwise I wouldn't be so conflicted, becoming unlike myself!"
Tsunade bit Orochimaru's cheek, and seeing the teeth marks on her cheek, her mood improved considerably.
"What are you two talking about? Can you please not ignore my existence?"
Jiraiya felt very superfluous here.
"You're resting here!"
Kato Dan walked over. Before he even got close, the three of them had already sensed his arrival.
"Dan, why are you here?"
Orochimaru looked at Kato Dan in surprise.
Kato Dan smiled apologetically and asked, "Orochimaru, can we talk?"
Outside the forest, on a small hill, the sound of flowing water came from nearby. Orochimaru looked at Kato Dan, who seemed to have something to say, and asked, "Dan, what do you want to say?"
"This scene, it wouldn't be…"
Jiraiya looked at Kato Dan and Orochimaru, realizing something.
"Wouldn't be what?"
Tsunade glared at Jiraiya with an unfriendly look, her clenched fist ready to send him flying.
"Wouldn't be a confession, would it?"
Jiraiya shrank his neck and whispered.
A confession?!
Tsunade's eyes widened. She turned her head and looked over, seeing Kato Dan's shy and nervous expression.
I knew this guy had ill intentions!
"Orochimaru, I've always been watching you. You're a very excellent girl. How do you see me?"
Kato Dan looked at the cool and quiet Orochimaru, truly believing that a girl like her was very charming.
"A strange guy who always appears in front of me? You wouldn't happen to like peeping, would you?"
Orochimaru looked at Kato Dan suspiciously, thinking that this guy should get along with Jiraiya; they were both peeping Toms.
Crack—!
Kato Dan froze, and the sound of something shattering rang out.
"If there's nothing else to say, I'm going back. If all goes well, we'll be fighting Iwagakure in the Land of Grass tomorrow."
Orochimaru walked past Kato Dan, remembering his miserable death in the original story with his internal organs scattered, and reminded him, "Dan, the flaws in your Reincarnation Technique are too obvious. If you can't find a safe enough place, don't use it carelessly. You still need to master more Ninjutsu. Always relying on the Reincarnation Technique won't get you far on the Ninja path."
Crack—!
Another crack appeared on Kato Dan's innocent red heart. He stared blankly at Orochimaru's retreating back. He never would have imagined that his first love would end this way.
As expected of Orochimaru… Tsunade stifled a laugh. Her mood, which had been terrible because of Uchiha Hikari and Orochimaru's kiss, now improved.
Jiraiya looked at Kato Dan with sympathy. Of all people to fall in love with, he had to fall in love with Orochimaru.
Compared to him, who had already confessed, Kato Dan, who was suspected of being a peeping Tom, was clearly more miserable!
Jiraiya thought of this and couldn't help but show a schadenfreude smile.
"Orochimaru, what did that guy want with you?"
Tsunade sat in front of the campfire, looking at the returning Orochimaru, asking as if she knew nothing.
"It's strange, I don't know what he wanted to say…"
Orochimaru leaned against a tree trunk, looking at the campfire and recalling every meeting with Kato Dan. Her gaze fell on Tsunade and she said, "He wouldn't be trying to get close to you through me, would he?"
Tsunade had originally disliked Kato Dan quite a bit, but now she felt a little sorry for him.
"If he really tries to get close to me through you, what would you do?"
Tsunade leaned closer to Orochimaru, her pretty face subtly showing a hint of expectation.
"I would refuse him."
Orochimaru didn't say what Tsunade wanted to hear.
"Is that all?"
Tsunade was a little disappointed.
"What else? Isn't it normal for a beautiful and outstanding girl like you, Tsunade, to have admirers?"
Orochimaru looked at Tsunade as if it were a given, then continued, "However, while rejecting him, I'll tell him that the person you like is me."
"Hehe…"
Hearing what she wanted to hear, Tsunade revealed her characteristic smile.
Like?
Tsunade likes Orochimaru?
Jiraiya, clutching his hair, hid behind a nearby tree. He couldn't believe what he heard: the first girl he had feelings for was with his former first love.
Could there be anything crazier in the world?
After a brief shock, Jiraiya wasn't entirely unable to accept Tsunade and Orochimaru being together. After all, Orochimaru had always looked after Tsunade since they were children.
He had also frequently freeloaded meals at Orochimaru's house.
Does that mean Tsunade is in love with… Jiraiya didn't continue that thought, and casually returned to the campfire to rest.
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