Chapter 143: Naruto and Sasuke's Eighteen-Year Promise
The massive dust cloud brought by the Rashomon gate gradually dissipated.
Hearing Jiraiya's question, Orochimaru couldn't help but lick the corner of his mouth and said, "You're not as stupid as I thought."
Seeing him admit it, Jiraiya stood frozen in place for a moment.
He had never dreamed that his reunion with Orochimaru would look like this.
Actually, no, he should rewind time back to when he took Naruto to find Tsunade.
At that time, Orochimaru was a runaway princess.
And he had even flirted with her.
The three of them had sat at the same table drinking, laughing, and enjoying each other's company.
Jiraiya's current state of mind was complicated to the extreme.
It couldn't be explained in just a sentence or two.
"I want Jingjing."
Jiraiya felt that he couldn't accept this reality for the time being.
"Who's Jingjing?" Naruto asked subconsciously.
"?"
Jiraiya glared at him. Was now the time for jokes?
Didn't he see that Orochimaru had turned into a loli?
Naruto shrugged.
Making a fuss over nothing.
If you knew he was pregnant, and that it was Uchiha Itachi's, you wouldn't be feeling this bad right now.
"What's going on with this appearance of yours?"
Jiraiya finally asked after a long pause.
He even felt a bit lucky in his heart; thank goodness it was a loli, otherwise, his lifelong reputation would be completely ruined.
"This is the result of my Ninjutsu."
Seeing this, Orochimaru didn't fight, but chatted unhurriedly.
He was pregnant, and Jiraiya was no small fry; it was impossible to take him down without getting serious.
But strictly speaking, it was difficult for him to use his full strength right now.
"Ninjutsu?"
Jiraiya's body shook as he recalled the cruel experiments in Konoha, and he asked subconsciously, "You succeeded?"
"Exactly. From now on, I shall live forever in this world," Orochimaru said with a beaming smile.
His greatest achievement in life, and his proudest Ninjutsu, was none other than Living Corpse Reincarnation.
Watching the battle, Sasuke heard the word 'immortality,' and felt his Sharingan stirring.
He wanted to learn this.
Although he was still young, he still felt shocked to encounter a Ninjutsu that could grant immortality.
He hadn't expected Orochimaru to know such a move.
He glanced at Naruto, wondering why this wasn't on the task list provided to him?
Naruto noticed his movement and couldn't help but shake his head.
You're just his brother-in-law.
Even if you were his wife or child, you might not be able to learn it.
Given Orochimaru's personality, it was likely very difficult for him to teach Living Corpse Reincarnation to anyone else.
Let alone you, a traitor who practically has his cards on the table.
Even if this so-called immortality has its limitations.
Naruto thought of his Sticky Card; should he give it a go?
He had five chances anyway.
Living Corpse Reincarnation was still very useful; it wouldn't be bad to use it for reference.
Maybe with the system's help, he could create a true art of immortality.
[Sticky Card used. Target: Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation. Copying...]
[Copy successful. You have successfully acquired it.]
[Confirm if this Ninjutsu is the final result for this card? Select YES, the card disappears. Select NO, the card remains, but you will not know the relevant information of the Ninjutsu for now.]
[You selected NO.]
[Current remaining uses: 4/5.]
Naruto looked down and smiled, lest the two of them notice anything unusual.
Good luck today.
Jiraiya was silent for a moment before saying, "I'd rather not have this kind of immortality."
"Heh, I can't be as free-spirited as you," Orochimaru said candidly.
"You seem to have changed a lot. You wouldn't have said such things in the past."
Jiraiya sighed; this was the first time he had heard Orochimaru admit to being inferior to him.
Even if it was about being so-called free-spirited.
But could he really be free-spirited?
Jiraiya looked at the calm Orochimaru and wasn't sure.
"Still fighting?"
A smile appeared at the corner of Orochimaru's mouth. Although he couldn't win a fight, he wouldn't lose in a war of words.
"..."
Jiraiya no longer had the desire to fight.
Even if he won, so what?
He couldn't catch Orochimaru; it was useless.
"Xu Qing."
Orochimaru tilted his head.
Sasuke immediately burst out with astonishing speed, grabbed the unconscious Tenchi, and ran.
"You!"
Jiraiya hadn't expected this at all.
And the speed of this youth named Xu Qingexceeded his imagination.
It was practically no less than the Raikage's.
He really didn't know where Orochimaru had found such a genius.
"I have no interest in his technology; I'm just squeezing out his remaining value,"
Orochimaru explained casually, "He won't live past two days. If you really want him, come back here in two days and I'll give you his corpse."
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
Jiraiya said in a heavy tone.
Tenchi's amphibious technology, setting aside how inhumane it was, actually seemed quite good to him.
But Orochimaru actually looked down on it.
From this, it could be inferred that what he truly wanted to do was probably even more terrifying.
"Nothing much, just helping my apprentice with his training."
Saying this, Orochimaru looked at Naruto and asked, "I remember he is your apprentice?"
"Yes."
Jiraiya didn't know where he was going with this, but he still nodded and said so.
"So that means he's received your true teachings?"
"That's right."
Mentioning Naruto, Jiraiya was full of confidence and said, "It won't be long before he surpasses you."
"You're certainly arrogant."
Orochimaru snorted coldly and said, "Well, as it happens, I think it won't be long before this apprentice of mine can beat you to death."
"..."
Jiraiya didn't believe it; he thought Orochimaru was just speaking out of spite.
"Since you don't want to fight me, how about your apprentice fights my apprentice?"
Orochimaru's eyes darted as he suggested, "Let's set an eighteen-year promise. When the two of them turn eighteen, they will fight at the Valley of the End. What do you think?"
"Fine!"
Jiraiya agreed without hesitation, "But there's a condition. If my apprentice wins, you come back to Konoha with me."
Orochimaru frowned.
No wonder this guy agreed so readily.
He had originally just wanted to sow discord between Sasuke and Naruto, but now he felt like he had trapped himself.
"Teacher, I have no reason to lose!"
Sasuke said with an excited face.
He felt that Orochimaru's suggestion suited his desires perfectly.
And with the legendary Sannin of Konoha as witnesses.
Once he won, the entire Ninja World would know about it.
Besides, he truly felt that he wouldn't lose.
He was fourteen now; by eighteen, he would surely have completely mastered the Mangekyo Sharingan, and at that time, he would be invincible under heaven.
Orochimaru saw Sasuke's eyes and was reminded of his surname.
He had experienced Uchiha Itachi's prowess firsthand.
With the same eyes, even he couldn't beat Sasuke, let alone Naruto.
Of course, he had also seen Naruto's strength; it was indeed formidable.
A Nine-Tails Jinchuriki plus Sage Mode—he almost had no rivals.
But Sasuke countered him.
Orochimaru was already confident in letting Sasuke learn Sage Mode, so Naruto's Sage Modewould naturally lose its advantage.
As for the Nine-Tails.
Heh.
He knew that the Uchiha Clan had twice controlled the Nine-Tails using the Mangekyo Sharingan.
In short, it was impossible for him to lose!
"I agree to your terms."
Orochimaru nodded and asked further, "And if your apprentice loses?"
"I will be at your disposal."
Jiraiya said without thinking.
Like Orochimaru, he believed his apprentice wouldn't lose.
Naruto's talent was such that even he was shocked; it definitely surpassed Orochimaru's.
As for Orochimaru's apprentice, no matter how much of a genius he was, he couldn't possibly compare to Naruto.
Most importantly, he believed in the Great Toad Sage's prophecy.
Naruto was the legendary child of prophecy.
In the future, no one in the Ninja World could be his opponent.
"At my disposal?" Orochimaru licked the corner of his mouth. "Does that include betraying Konoha?"
"It does." Jiraiya took a deep breath. "If you want me to betray it, I will do so without hesitation."
Orochimaru's body shook. Such immense confidence.
He sized up Naruto, not quite understanding why Jiraiya was so certain.
"..."
And Naruto right now just wanted to vent his frustration like crazy.
What the hell is this 'Eighteen-Year Promise'!
Do you think this is Guo Jing and Yang Kang?
If you two want to fight, then fight. What does it have to do with me!
And Sasuke, you're joining in too, thinking about fighting me all day. You're toxic!
And you, Jiraiya, you really are lusting after Orochimaru's body, actually wanting to win him back to Konoha.
[Congratulations to the host for achieving the 'Naruto and Sasuke's Eighteen-Year Promise' achievement. Gained one common card draw.]
Fuck!
You're joining the fun too?
I managed to write one chapter at noon, making up for it. Currently 1 chapter behind.