The Land of Waves is a small maritime country adjacent to the Land of Fire. Its area is roughly the size of a small island, and travel to and from the Land of Fire is only possible by sea.
Orochimaru and her group arrived at the coast, boarded a ship, and at the ship's speed, they would reach the Land of Waves port in no time.
Along the way, many merchant ships from other countries sailed towards the Land of Waves port. They would buy large quantities of skincare products at lower prices and then sell them at a markup.
It was the same as what the peddlers in the Villages around Konoha did, the difference being that they bought more and earned more.
"I hope we don't encounter any trouble this time!"
Jiraiya thought of his first C-rank mission. If another battle broke out at sea, it would be troublesome, as he wouldn't be able to summon the toads from Mount Myōboku for help.
He didn't want to be thrown into the air by Gamabunta again and fall into the sea in such an embarrassing posture.
Even the most agreeable toad, Gamaken, probably wouldn't want to fight at sea.
"If we encounter enemies, it's because of your jinxing mouth, Jiraiya!" Tsunade said, crossing her arms and looking at Jiraiya displeased. "Can't you say something positive?"
"Jinx… jinxing mouth?! Lord Jiraiya's mouth has charmed countless young girls; how can it be a jinxing mouth!"
"Charmed countless young girls? You really have the nerve to say that!"
"Lord Jiraiya's handsomeness and charm are something you, a violent woman with questionable taste, will never see!"
"Here we go again…" Orochimaru watched Tsunade and Jiraiya bickering again. They really couldn't go a day without arguing.
"They're just kids, it's normal for them to bicker."
"If only they didn't drag me into it."
Orochimaru sighed helplessly, watching Tsunade and Jiraiya arguing with her as their dividing line.
The boatman looked at the three suspiciously. It wasn't that he didn't trust Konoha's Ninja, but their ages were simply too young. Not only did their appearance lack persuasiveness, but they also acted so innocent, like they were on a pleasure trip on the boat.
"Are they really okay?"
The ship docked at the port. Orochimaru and her group disembarked. At the port, goods were continuously being transported, and there were Ninja waiting to escort the goods. Many of these teams included Ninja from the Hyuga Clan or the Uchiha Clan.
"Are they also on escort missions?"
Tsunade looked at the Ninja in surprise, then turned to see the ship that brought them sailing towards the Land of Fire. It seemed to be going to pick up more people.
"It is said that White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company has a long-term partnership with Konoha, employing Ninja to escort their products, which are the White Snake Brand skincare products sold at the Konoha White Snake Brand Skincare Specialty Store."
Orochimaru gazed at the buildings in the distance. After some time away, the Land of Waves had changed considerably. People's homes had transformed from old wooden shacks into more sturdy houses.
A multi-story building had a giant White Snake Brand logo displayed on it. That tall building was the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company's building, with the processing plant located behind the company.
Around the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company was the most prosperous commercial district in the Land of Waves, with numerous merchants coming and going, and the hotel industry booming.
Porters sweat profusely as they moved boxes of goods onto merchant ships, and teams of Ninja followed the merchant ships back to the Land of Fire, escorting the goods to their designated towns.
"When will it be our turn?!"
Jiraiya squatted on the ground, bored, watching the workers busily moving goods onto the merchant ships.
"It should be soon."
Tsunade was also a bit impatient. She curiously looked at Orochimaru, who was writing something in a notebook beside her. When she leaned over, she saw dense text, and only by stepping back could she break free from the sea of words.
He's not writing a manuscript, is he?
Tsunade thought of the 'Royal Uncle' novel Orochimaru was writing, and her cute little face flushed.
He's still writing a manuscript for that kind of book at a time like this. What if Jiraiya sees it?
When Tsunade imagined Jiraiya's expression upon learning that Orochimaru was writing such a book, her fists clenched, and she glared fiercely at Jiraiya.
"You… what are you going to do?!"
Jiraiya was startled by Tsunade's gaze and quickly distanced himself from her, as if facing a formidable enemy.
She couldn't have known what I was thinking, could she?
White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company
"Aokawa, this is the herbal tea recipe. Its effects are on the second page."
Orochimaru's Shadow Clone placed the herbal tea recipe on the desk.
"Herbal tea?"
Aokawa looked at the herbal tea recipe, and when he saw the effects on the second page, his eyes widened in shock.
This herbal tea has these effects?!
Aokawa looked at the recipe in his hand, then at Orochimaru, then back at the recipe in his hand.
"Aokawa, don't let anyone know that this recipe was given to you by me, okay? Remember, this was provided by Assistant Hokage Danzo Shimura of Konoha, understood?"
Orochimaru said with a smile, a hint of warning in his words.
(Danzo Shimura: ?)
"Yes… Orochimaru, please rest assured!"
Aokawa nodded repeatedly. Even though Orochimaru was smiling, he felt his hair stand on end, and a faint smoke emanated from his body as he instinctively used the life-saving Smoke Clone Technique.
The Smoke Clone Technique would make his body exist between smoke and solid, making it difficult for physical attacks and Ninjutsu other than Wind Release to affect him. However, the Smoke Clone Technique continuously consumed Chakra and could not be maintained for too long.
Splat—!
A viscous, mud-like liquid stuck to the window, emitting a dazzling light before exploding with a bang.
Boom—!
In the bustling commercial district, people who had been laughing and talking just a second ago let out terrified screams.
"There… isn't that the company?"
"Someone attacked the company?"
"That's the President's office!"
..."Wind Release: Violent Wind Palm!"
Orochimaru's hands became afterimages, completing the hand seals instantly. With his hands clasped together, the expelled wind formed a violent gale that resisted the impact of the explosion and dispersed the smoke.
"Konoha Ninja?"
As the smoke cleared, a Ninja with patterns painted on his face appeared in the room. His gaze swept over Orochimaru and landed on Aokawa, saying disdainfully, "President of White Snake Company, even if you're going to hire Ninja, you should hire reliable ones! What's the point of hiring a child? Can she protect you…"
Before the Ninja could finish speaking, he saw Aokawa transform into smoke and drift over.
"What?!"
The Ninja's eyes widened, realizing his body couldn't move.
"How dare you look down on Orochimaru-sama!"
Aokawa's voice rang in the Ninja's ear, controlling his body, raising his hand to grasp his neck, and slowly tightening his grip.
"How is this possible… my body is out of control… what kind of monster are you…"
The Ninja struggled painfully, his eyes bulging, his mouth wide open, making coughing sounds, and drool dripping down.
"Die in agony! I will deal with anyone who insults Orochimaru-sama…"
Aokawa's voice was filled with rage. In the hearts of all members of the Iburi Clan, Orochimaru was their benefactor, their savior!
With the appearance of Orochimaru, they were able to escape their mole-like existence in the caves.
It was Orochimaru who saved the Iburi Clan!
"Hey! What's wrong with you? Didn't you succeed? Konoha Ninja have already arrived…"
A female Ninja burst in through the shattered wall, only to see the bizarre scene of her companion strangling himself. Even a Genjutsu wouldn't make someone strangle themselves!
"Wataru! What are you doing?!"
The female Ninja exclaimed, wanting to rush over and knock out Wataru, who seemed to be under a special Genjutsu.
"Wind Release: Night Wind!"
Orochimaru curled his fingers together at the female Ninja, and the converging airflow formed a hurricane.
Bang—!
The female Ninja transformed into a chair in the hurricane, and then the chair was shredded by the hurricane.
Substitution Jutsu?
Orochimaru moved a step sideways and turned around at the same time, facing the direction of the office desk. Lightning gathered at the fingertips of his right hand's five fingers.
"Lightning Release: Five Finger Lightning Bullet!"
Bang—!
Orochimaru's right hand violently struck the abdomen of the female Ninja who rushed over with a Kunai. No, rather than saying it was a violent strike, it was more like the female Ninja herself ran into Orochimaru's hand!
Intense lightning flashed, the female Ninja screamed in pain, smoke rising from her body as she fell.
"To use such a crude illusion like the Substitution Jutsu in front of me, you truly underestimate me."
Orochimaru had seen the female Ninja's movements, so he naturally knew from which direction she would attack.
(Substitution Jutsu has clear explanations in the anime and official databooks, all involving using speed to swap oneself with a log or similar object. The reason it fell out of favor later is because enemies all had Sharingan and Rinnegan, eyes that could see how you swapped yourself with an object, rendering the Substitution Jutsu completely useless.
Instead of spending time moving things, it's better to flank and stab. In reality, the Substitution Jutsu is more about making the enemy mistakenly believe you've been hit, thereby lowering their guard and creating an opening.
In original anime storylines, the Substitution Jutsu was repeatedly shown to be comparable to Erzhuzi's Amenotejikara. Don't overthink it; that was original to the anime production team. In reality, the Substitution Jutsu is a very ordinary E-rank Ninjutsu. In an evenly matched battle, it relies on a surprise attack to win. When there's an overwhelming power difference… it's used to toy with fools.
For example, when Kakashi used the Substitution Jutsu to swap himself with Naruto's Shadow Clone, he was truly just playing with a child.
Tobirama Senju developed the Shadow Clone Technique specifically to counter the Uchiha's Sharingan. The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan also got caught in the crossfire; they couldn't tell the difference between a Shadow Clone and the original body.)
Orochimaru picked up the Kunai. The blade of the Kunai emitted an eerie color, clearly coated with some kind of poison. He sniffed the Kunai under his nose.
A poison that paralyzes the entire body of anyone scratched by it?
They came prepared, to capture Aokawa alive and get the recipe from him?
Really, isn't it better to just let me quietly earn some research funds?
Orochimaru casually threw the Kunai to the ground and said, "Aokawa, don't kill them. Information is very important. We need to know who hired them."
Killing these hired Ninja is meaningless. What's important is who hired them.
"Yes, Orochimaru-sama."
Smoke drifted out from the Ninja named Wataru, coalescing to form Aokawa's figure.
"The original body is coming."
Orochimaru vanished in a flash, using the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to his home in Konoha, continuing the research he had been doing before going to the Land of Waves.
Too fast… I couldn't even clearly see Orochimaru-sama's movements!
Is there really such a fast Body Flicker Jutsu in the world?
Aokawa exclaimed once again, looking at the unconscious Wataru, and kicked him.
If Orochimaru-sama didn't need the information you possess, I would never have spared your lives!
"What happened?"
Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya arrived at the office, which looked as if it had been swept by a hurricane.
"Konoha Ninja? As you can see, they were Ninja who came to attack me, and they have already been dealt with by my guards."
Aokawa calmly straightened his clothes, looked around at the damaged office, and said, "It seems I need to find someone to repair my office."
"Jiraiya-sama's chance to show off…"
Looking at the two unconscious Ninja on the ground, Jiraiya, who had wanted to show off, lowered his head in disappointment.
"Why are you so down in the dumps?!"
Tsunade slapped Jiraiya's back.
"We should continue our mission."
Orochimaru transformed into a black shadow and leaped out through the broken wall, with Tsunade and Jiraiya following behind.
Wh-what's going on? What exactly is the situation?
The merchants who came to purchase goods watched in shock as people, armed with various tools as weapons, roared, eager to teach the attackers a lesson, as if it wasn't the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company that had been attacked, but their own families.
They couldn't understand why the White Snake Pharmaceutical Technology Company was so popular and well-regarded in the Land of Waves.
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