Shen Mo watched the scene with a sense of amusement. Orochimaru was indeed trying to manipulate Tsunade with the promise of revival. Too bad
Shen Mo watched the scene with a sense of amusement.
Orochimaru was indeed trying to manipulate Tsunade with the promise of revival.
Too bad, Orochimaru, you're late.
And… his revival method paled in comparison to Shen Mo's cans.
Facing Orochimaru's words…
Tsunade suddenly frowned, as if recalling something, and asked, "The revival you're talking about… it wouldn't be the Edo Tensei developed by my Second Grandfather, would it?"
When she first returned to the village…
Hiruzen, to temper her longing for revival, had explained this S-rank forbidden jutsu.
Those revived couldn't grow, sleep, or taste, unable to enjoy life, and were subject to control, reduced to obedient puppets… It was less revival and more a desecration of the dead.
"You know about that jutsu?" Orochimaru was surprised. He'd thought Hiruzen would never tell her.
"So it is that," Tsunade said, her gaze sharpening. "That kind of revival is meaningless!"
Knowing about Edo Tensei…
Tsunade understood its danger.
And now, Orochimaru, a rogue ninja, wielded it.
"Don't you want to see them again?" Orochimaru's raspy voice grew sharper. "Even if you've forgotten Dan Kato, what about Nawaki? His death was your fault. If you hadn't given him that gift, he wouldn't have gotten so excited and rushed to the dangerous front lines."
That was Tsunade's deepest pain.
Even if the necklace wasn't cursed…
Nawaki's death was tied, however slightly, to her gift.
But…
Orochimaru was still too late.
Her past regrets only strengthened her resolve now.
"You're not here out of kindness to tell me about this jutsu," Tsunade said, her brows steady, arms crossed, staring coldly at Orochimaru. "Just say it. What do you want from me? Why did you really come back to Konoha?"
Bathed in sunlight, Tsunade's blonde hair gleamed golden.
Her youthful, beautiful face and unwavering gaze showed no hint of wavering.
"…"
Orochimaru was genuinely baffled.
This wasn't what he expected.
He'd never seen Tsunade like this—confident, composed, sharp, her usual flaws gone, as if nothing could shake her anymore.
After a long pause…
Orochimaru said slowly, "You've changed so much, I hardly recognize you. Now I'm even more curious about the man who caused this change. Who is he, and what's his charm?"
That Tsunade, hearing she could see Nawaki again, reacted so calmly?
Orochimaru found it unbelievable.
But reality stared him down. The most likely cause was the rumored man, possibly her lover, she brought back.
Tsunade looked coldly at Orochimaru, seemingly deep in thought.
After a while…
She suddenly laughed—a bold, decisive laugh—then said briskly, "If you're so eager to meet him, I'll let you."
"Oh?" Orochimaru's eyes lit up.
Shen Mo, spying, was surprised.
Tsunade wouldn't be that naive, would she?
He valued Orochimaru's potential, but Tsunade should be preventing this meeting. And besides, he and Tsunade weren't like that, were they?
"He's not in the village now," Tsunade said. "If you want to meet him, come with me outside, and I'll call him over." She turned and left.
As if Orochimaru's choice didn't matter.
Shen Mo suddenly realized.
She was luring Orochimaru out.
So that's her plan…
Though he didn't use remote mind-reading, Shen Mo had a hunch about Tsunade's intentions, his expression turning playful.
Tsunade had indeed changed a lot.
More decisive.
Orochimaru, watching her back, thought for a moment, a confident smile curling his lips, and followed.
Whatever Tsunade was planning, he trusted he could handle it.
Both knew Konoha well and were powerful ninja.
They easily evaded the village's security, reaching a forest far from Konoha, then stopped.
"Just to meet someone, we didn't need to come this far," Orochimaru said, his raspy voice hinting he'd already sensed something.
"Of course."
Tsunade turned, still smiling, and cracked her knuckles with a crisp sound.
Her intent was clear.
She was about to take on Orochimaru.
"I have a question," Orochimaru said, maintaining his calm smile. "To deal with a rogue ninja like me, it'd be easier in the village with backup. Why lure me out here?"
He glanced around.
Just an ordinary forest.
No traps or ambushes, and if there were, they'd have sprung by now.
"You're not that easy to catch," Tsunade said. "Fighting in the village risks hurting civilians and lets you slip away in the chaos." She shrugged off her coat, giving Orochimaru a meaningful look. "Besides… to catch you, I'm enough alone!"
Her smile carried a mysterious anticipation.
She was certain.
Orochimaru hadn't met Shen Mo or bought cans from him. Now was the perfect time to take him down.
"It's been over a decade, and you've gotten cocky, Tsunade," Orochimaru said.
He didn't prepare to fight, but his aura turned chilling, an invisible shadow creeping toward his foe, coalescing into a near-tangible, icy killing intent.
"Good. I'm thinking the same."
That's why, despite suspecting Tsunade's lure, he followed.
To destroy Konoha…
Tsunade's sudden return was the biggest variable in his plan.
If he couldn't manipulate her with revival…
The simplest solution…
Was to eliminate this variable first!
Once comrades who fought side by side, now, after over a decade, they faced off with little hesitation.