Orochimaru understood Jiraiya far better than Jiraiya understood Orochimaru.
Orochimaru knew very clearly what mattered most in Jiraiya's heart, what he could accept, and what he could not accept.
Therefore, regarding Jiraiya's proposal to bring Orochimaru back to Konoha after overthrowing Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru did not actually hold much expectation in his heart.
"It's about time I made a choice."
"Rather than waiting until Jiraiya discovers what I did, I might as well make my choice before that."
"That way, when Jiraiya and I meet again, things will still be somewhat easier."
"And with this, I can also provide Jiraiya with some assistance."
"Overthrowing Teacher Sarutobi is too difficult. Let me, his old classmate, give him a little push."
"If Tsunade becomes Hokage, that would not be bad for Konoha either."
Orochimaru walked out of the cave.
"Iwagakure's sincerity is too poor. The Raikage is not a good person either. By comparison, Rasa at least keeps his word. He gave Jiraiya a chance to be interviewed instead of directly killing him."
"And Sunagakure's sincerity is sufficient."
"In the future, Sunagakure's strength may very likely occupy the number one position in the shinobi world for a long time. If I am in Sunagakure, I may also be able to act as a buffer between Sunagakure and Konoha."
Orochimaru made his decision.
Three days later, Orochimaru arrived in the Land of Wind.
After crossing the long desert road, he came to Sunagakure and stood before Rasa.
"I, Orochimaru, am willing to join Sunagakure!"
Rasa smiled.
"Welcome."
"My Sunagakure is lacking exactly the sort of talent you possess, Orochimaru."
"Once you come, you are one of Sunagakure's people."
"However, I am somewhat curious. Before this, Orochimaru, you did not agree to Sunagakure's offer. Now that Jiraiya has proposed overthrowing Hiruzen Sarutobi, why have you come to Sunagakure instead of joining Jiraiya?"
Orochimaru fell silent for a moment.
"The human experiments were real. Using the corpses of people from the village was also real."
"That is not something Jiraiya can accept."
"Therefore, Jiraiya and I are already destined to be unable to walk the same road."
"And I cannot abandon my research."
Rasa nodded.
"Then your decision to come to Sunagakure is the correct one. Sunagakure respects science, and it likes science."
"Human experimentation is not a crime."
"Attacking the innocent and forcibly turning them into experimental materials—that is the crime."
"For death-row prisoners who have committed grave crimes, being able to contribute to science is their honor."
"I will build a separate laboratory for you."
"As for experimental materials, I will arrange people to review them. As long as they pass review, you may use them."
"Sunagakure will support your research, and your research results will belong to Sunagakure."
"Of course, Sunagakure will also provide you with equal treatment as a cadre."
"Any problem with that?"
After receiving Rasa's personal guarantee, Orochimaru let out a faint breath of relief.
"No problem, Kazekage-sama."
"Good. Then enter the village with me."
Rasa brought Orochimaru into Sunagakure.
An area had already been planned out in advance.
Under Rasa's reforms, the current Sunagakure had become much clearer and more orderly.
First, the Kazekage was Sunagakure's sole leader. There was no doubt about that.
Below the Kage were the elders.
Ebizo, Chiyo, and the clan heads of several major shinobi families basically all held this position.
It was similar to Konoha's Hokage advisors.
But there were more of them, and their authority was smaller.
There was absolutely no existence like Danzo, someone with such a high degree of freedom who could even train private soldiers.
There were six major departments.
The Mission Department, responsible for accepting and assigning missions.
The Defense Department, responsible for village defense.
The Guard Department, responsible for handling criminal matters within the village.
Then the Administrative Department and the Economic Department.
And the ANBU, which was directly responsible to Rasa, and only to Rasa.
It was worth mentioning that the rumor team previously brought out by Ebizo had now also been merged into ANBU.
These were Sunagakure's more traditional six major departments.
As Sunagakure grew stronger and the volume of business within the village increased, many smaller departments had also been added.
The Sunagakure Newspaper Office managed by Saki.
The Mechanism Manufacturing Department managed by Akayama Haina.
The Sailing Corps managed by Baki.
The Devil Fruit Research Department managed by Ebizo.
The Sun Disk Construction Department managed by Chiyo.
And the laboratory managed by Yakushi Kabuto.
…
All of these new departments were also directly responsible to Rasa.
It sounded as if the Kazekage's work had become much heavier and more bloated. But in reality, Rasa did not grasp every single matter, large and small, in his own hands.
Rasa had delegated a great deal of authority.
He only personally controlled the key areas.
No human being was perfect.
As long as someone was human, they would have selfish motives.
Rasa had never expected every person beneath him to be completely selfless, devoting themselves to their work until death.
That was unrealistic.
Compared with before, Rasa's workload had actually become much lighter.
He was completely different from Naruto, who grasped everything in his own hands, worked until even shadow clones were not enough, and nearly exhausted even an Uzumaki bloodline and the body of an Asura reincarnation to the point of drying up.
"This is the place."
Rasa brought Orochimaru to a corner of Sunagakure.
This place was downwind and far from the oasis water source.
Very few people came and went here.
On the other side, it was close to the Sun Disk area.
It was equivalent to being wedged between Sunagakure and the Sun Disk.
Its secrecy and safety were both quite good.
Any threat to Sunagakure had been reduced to the lowest possible level.
"This courtyard will be yours. As for the laboratory, you may freely dig downward, but it must remain within this one-kilometer range."
Orochimaru nodded.
"Thank you, Kazekage-sama."
After a pause, Orochimaru asked again, "Kazekage-sama, can we proceed with a trade now? I should have quite a few things in my hands that would interest you."
"For example, senjutsu."
Rasa raised an eyebrow.
"Naturally. As long as the price is suitable."
Orochimaru hesitated.
"The price is suitable?"
Sunagakure had no senjutsu inheritance. Orochimaru knew this very clearly.
Therefore, Orochimaru had planned to sell Ryuchi Cave's senjutsu for a high price.
Orochimaru himself truly could not learn it because of his body, but he did know the method.
Yet now, listening to Rasa's tone, it seemed as though he did not want senjutsu that badly.
Rasa explained briefly.
"Before this, Jiraiya already brought over a senjutsu cultivation method."
Orochimaru: "…"
Orochimaru had not expected that the reason affecting his ability to sell senjutsu for a high price would be Jiraiya.
"In that case, I will add the Impure World Reincarnation Technique as well. Kazekage-sama should be interested in this ninjutsu, yes?"
"It can revive the dead, allowing those who have already passed away to reappear in the world."
"I will use these two things as the exchange."
"In return, I hope Kazekage-sama can provide Jiraiya with equivalent support."
Rasa smiled.
"No problem."