Chapter 34: Jiraiya's Exclusive Mission
Land of Fire – On the road to the Land of Hot Water.
Two figures, Jiraiya and Kitagawa Gen, were moving swiftly. However, Jiraiya's expression was rather strange.
"What was that with Naruto just now? When he heard you were heading out on a mission, his face turned green."
"He's probably just worried about me."
Kitagawa Gen glanced at Jiraiya. Of course, he wasn't about to admit that he'd tricked Naruto a few too many times, leaving the poor guy a little traumatized.
Jiraiya showing up out of nowhere and shouting for Gen to go on a mission? Anyone would be freaked out.
Still, Gen wasn't totally heartless. He'd earned a bit of money from all those missions with Kakashi, so he didn't ghost him this time.
"Well, it's not every day someone like you barges in and demands a mission, Lord Jiraiya. Anyone would be concerned. But seriously, what is this mission about? Where's Kakashi-sensei?"
"Kakashi's still recovering, but he'll be back on his feet soon. Once we return, you can team up with him again."
Jiraiya's reply was casual, but then his tone turned serious.
"As for this mission—listen up, kid. We're tracking Orochimaru's movements."
"Orochimaru?"
Gen raised a brow, a strange look flashing across his face. How did they even find a lead on him?
"Yeah, him. Remember that one-eyed old man you saw that night? The intel came from him."
Jiraiya didn't notice Gen's expression and continued talking.
"Seems like there's been some progress on Kirigakure's side, too. I'm not a fan of that guy, but I can't deny he's capable."
"..."
Capable? More like a sellout.
Others might not know, but Gen was well aware—Shimura Danzo and Orochimaru were deeply connected. So what the hell was Danzo playing at now?
Don't tell him… he's trying to 'make progress' again?
"And me? What am I even here for?"
Gen couldn't help but ask, confused. Jiraiya looked a bit annoyed but still explained, keeping some things to himself.
"It was the old man's idea. Said you're good at intel analysis, and that you'd be helpful as my assistant—figuring things out while we scout. The focus now is on Kirigakure, so we can't afford to go all-in here. It's reconnaissance only."
"Got it."
Gen shrugged. Yeah, he got it all right.
They just wanted him to be Jiraiya's leash—to keep the Sannin from charging in without thinking. Not a bad idea, honestly. Orochimaru wasn't someone you could deal with recklessly.
Suddenly, his expression shifted.
His system was reacting again!
[Exclusive Side Mission Unlocked: Jiraiya's Companion Quest]
Title: If You're My Bro, Stab Me Twice
Objective: Assist Jiraiya in tracking down Orochimaru
Note: This exclusive quest will not interfere with regular side missions.
Accept Mission? [Yes / No]
Another exclusive mission?
Gen blinked in surprise. The last one had given him some sweet rewards—he still remembered that clearly. And now another one's popped up?
Of course he was going to accept it. No way he was passing this up.
Besides, if Jiraiya and Orochimaru met, it was always a showdown—just the two of them focused entirely on each other. Gen figured he probably wouldn't be dragged too deeply into it.
"Maybe... I'll even run into Kimimaro."
Orochimaru had a lot of 'good stuff' under his wing, but getting anything from him was near impossible—especially with Jiraiya around.
But Kimimaro? That guy had long since been added to Gen's "hunting list."
He strongly suspected that Kimimaro's Kaguya clan bloodline was actually a manifestation of the Ōtsutsuki Hamura's physical legacy.
"This mission... might turn out to be great."
Gen muttered under his breath, and just then, Jiraiya spoke up.
"Alright, let's pick up the pace. If we hustle, we can reach the Land of Hot Water by tonight. The hot springs there are amazing!"
"Oh? Now I'm intrigued."
"Yeah, except... you might not be allowed in."
"...Excuse me? What do you mean by that?"
"Because you're too young."
"Jiraiya-sama... are you saying you're heading to a non-family-friendly establishment?"
"No, no. That's exactly why you can't go—it is a legitimate place."
"..."
Gen almost burst out laughing in frustration. Not letting minors in—wasn't that the definition of a 'proper' place?
Then again... maybe it was legitimate.
---
Meanwhile...
In an underground lab somewhere in the Land of Hot Water...
"Another failure, huh."
Orochimaru stared at the test tube in his hand before casually tossing it aside.
Failure didn't faze him—it was merely another step toward success.
Still...
He was beginning to wonder if he had taken the wrong direction. If your foundation was off, no experiment would ever yield the correct result.
"This Shikotsumyaku... really is something else."
He licked his lips as his eyes swept over the figure on the table.
Kimimaro slowly sat up. His expression was calm and cold, but his gaze toward Orochimaru was filled with respect, admiration—and guilt.
"I've disappointed you, Lord Orochimaru. I'm not a worthy vessel."
"I'm not disappointed. I've still got time."
Orochimaru shook his head with a light chuckle. Far from disappointment, he was actually quite intrigued.
The more unknown something was, the more it fueled his curiosity—and Kimimaro's body was full of mysteries.
His Shikotsumyaku was unlike anything else. That violent, almost divine Yang Release energy made even Orochimaru feel uneasy.
He had only experienced a similar feeling once before—when studying the First Hokage's cells.
Of course, Kimimaro's Yang Release power didn't compare to Hashirama Senju's—but it was still remarkable.
The stronger the Yang Release flared, the stronger the Shikotsumyaku became.
But that came with a cost.
It was also accelerating his so-called "Kekkei Genkai Disease."
The more powerful Kimimaro became, the more unstable his body grew. Even Orochimaru found it troublesome.
"Is this... some kind of genius's curse?"
He murmured thoughtfully. The better he performed, the closer he got to death.
But alas, there was no way to dig into the Kaguya clan's history.
The clan had already been wiped out by Kirigakure.
"Well... that just makes things more interesting."
Orochimaru chuckled, eyes gleaming.
"Your condition is complicated. For now, I can only suppress the degeneration caused by your bloodline. You should try to use your powers as little as possible."
"I understand, Lord Orochimaru."
Kimimaro bowed his head.
But Orochimaru only sighed—he knew this kid. Even if he understood, he'd still fight when it mattered.
Still, that was fine. Kimimaro was utterly loyal.
"Alright, we're running low on materials. I need you and the others to go gather more—and get food and water while you're at it. There are a lot of mouths to feed here."
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru. Are there any specific requirements for the materials?"
"Requirements?"
Orochimaru tilted his head, thought for a moment, then grinned.
"Bring whatever you like. They're just materials, after all. But... if you find someone interesting—bring them back too."