The tremor from the rock face had quietly ceased, leaving the cave in silence.
Orochimaru was still meticulously sorting through the precious scenes from his future memories, while Tsunade had completely let down her guard, focusing entirely on treating Jiraiya.
"Boom!"
A barrage of explosive tags reduced the massive rock blocking the cave entrance to dust, and the afterglow of the setting sun streamed into the cave. The two in silence were immediately startled awake by the earth-shattering roar, their eyes simultaneously turning towards the group of ninjas bathed in sunlight and dust.
"Jiraiya, Orochimaru, Tsunade!"
"You are safe, come out quickly!"
Seeing this familiar scene before him, Orochimaru suppressed the smile at the corner of his lips, waved his hand, and used his chakra to blow away the dust that had been swept towards them by the explosion's aftermath. He nodded to Tsunade.
"Let's go!"
"Take Jiraiya with us, we're going home!"
Tsunade, peering through the gap between Orochimaru's arms, also caught sight of the approaching figures. A surge of immense joy welled up within her. Seeing that Jiraiya's breathing had become considerably steadier, she said with a relaxed expression,
"That's great!"
"It seems the fight on the old man's side is over."
"Jiraiya's injuries have been stabilized, but he'll still need a good period of recovery back in Konoha!"
Orochimaru nodded, stepped forward, and along with Tsunade, lifted Jiraiya. He carefully slung Jiraiya onto his back and walked towards the cave's exit.
"Orochimaru, Tsunade, it's good that you two are alright!"
"What about Jiraiya?"
A Konoha ninja dressed in an ANBU uniform, upon seeing Jiraiya being carried on Orochimaru's back, asked with some nervousness.
"It's nothing, he just sustained some injuries. Tsunade has already treated him with the Mystic Palm Technique. He'll be fine after some rest and recuperation."
Orochimaru calmly looked at the ANBU shadow guard who usually accompanied Hiruzen Sarutobi and replied casually.
Orochimaru had some understanding of this ninja's identity; he was likely a Jonin from the Mitarashi clan, serving as a close shadow guard to the Third Hokage, alongside Hiruzen's eldest son and daughter-in-law.
The Mitarashi clan Jonin, upon hearing Orochimaru's reply, visibly relaxed his tense expression a bit, letting out a seemingly relieved sigh.
"Just some injuries? That's good, that's good..."
Orochimaru paused slightly. This exchange was not something he had seen in any of his future visions. However, he sensed hidden meanings in the Mitarashi Jonin's words and couldn't help but ask curiously,
"What do you mean by that, senior?"
"Could it be..."
Seeing Orochimaru's sharp perception, the Mitarashi clan Jonin sighed, his expression laced with sorrow, and continued,
"In this great battle, although the Third Hokage, with his immense power, managed to repel Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage, however..."
He hesitated for a moment, then glanced at Orochimaru and Tsunade's perplexed expressions before proceeding,
"My two partners, who are the Third Hokage's eldest son and daughter-in-law, were unfortunately severely wounded due to a sudden surprise attack from a hidden Iwagakure demolition squad."
"In the future, they might not even be able to be ninjas anymore..."
Tsunade's heart leaped, her surprise evident.
"How could that be?"
"Old man is the Hokage! With his strength, he couldn't even protect his own son and daughter-in-law?"
Tsunade had a brief period of interaction with her teacher's eldest son during her childhood, and they had some acquaintance. Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but question indignantly.
Orochimaru, however, nodded thoughtfully, murmuring to himself,
"No wonder that in the future visions, apart from Asuma Sarutobi, who was born this year, and later Konohamaru Sarutobi, none of Hiruzen Sarutobi's descendants appeared."
"Is the reason for this a localized war that occurred before the Second Great Ninja War?"
The Mitarashi Jonin, unaware of Orochimaru's thoughts, saw Tsunade's questioning look and replied with a wry smile,
"Everyone underestimated the Third Tsuchikage's strength."
"That little dwarf who was once outmaneuvered by the First Hokage and that Uchiha, his current strength has reached a level where even the Third Hokage must give his all."
"That Dust Release inherited from the Second Tsuchikage Mu has caused considerable losses to Konoha's ninjas..."
"Therefore, when those two were ambushed, the Third Hokage, who was locked in a fierce battle, could not return in time to provide support."
"Truly..."
"Sigh..."
Orochimaru looked at the sighing Mitarashi Jonin and shook his head slightly. He shifted Jiraiya on his back upwards and walked forward.
"Iwagakure's demolition squad?"
"It's said to be a secret operation unit led by a powerful ninja with the Explosive Release Kekkei Genkai. To survive their attack..."
"Is already quite fortunate!"
Mitarashi and Tsunade blinked, looking at Orochimaru's retreating back.
"Isn't this the destiny of a ninja?"
"Carry out missions, kill or be killed..."
"Let's go!"
"Teacher Sarutobi won't be easily defeated by such setbacks. We should head back too!"
Orochimaru's feet continued to move. He said to the two behind him,
"The explosion earlier was quite significant!"
"If you don't want to end up like just now, surrounded by the reacting Iwagakure forces here..."
Mitarashi and Tsunade, along with the other Konoha ninjas, seemed to snap out of their daze and quickly followed behind Orochimaru, heading in the direction of the Land of Grass.
...
"Orochimaru, those were Teacher's son and daughter-in-law! They can't even be ninjas anymore, why do you seem so unconcerned?"
Tsunade leaped to Orochimaru's side, walking alongside him with a furrowed brow as she asked in a low voice.
Orochimaru didn't look back. His chakra-infused toes tapped rhythmically on the branches of the lush trees in the Land of Grass, carrying Jiraiya steadily towards Konoha.
He even took a moment to glance towards the northeast of the Land of Grass.
He had seen in his future visions that there lay a legendary artifact from the era of the Sage of Six Paths, named the Paradise Trunk.
However, this was not the time to seek it out.
"Soon!"
"At the latest by next year, and most likely before the end of this year, the Second Great Ninja War will erupt!"
"As disciples of Hiruzen Sarutobi, it's only natural to confront Hanzō of the Salamander on the Rain Country battlefield, and take the opportunity to patrol the defense line in the Land of Grass, isn't it?"
Orochimaru thought to himself, but replied to Tsunade,
"Ninjas?"
"Heh heh..."
"If there were a choice, who would want to be someone who constantly walks on the edge of life and death?"
"And besides..."
Orochimaru turned his head and looked at Tsunade, saying with a hint of disdain,
"Tsunade, I never knew you had such a poor memory."
"I just told you!"
"In the pursuit of life and all the secrets of the ninja world, everything else is unimportant except for you and Jiraiya!"
Tsunade was stunned by his words, and for some reason, a strange feeling arose within her.
"This guy..."
"Why has he changed so much from before?"
"In short..."
"In short, he's just so..."
"Hmm... he speaks quite well!"
Orochimaru lacked the ability to read a woman's thoughts. His mind was filled with only one idea at the moment.
"Return to Konoha as quickly as possible!"
"That guy disguised as a traveling doctor should still be in the village, right?"
"Once I get back, find him!"
"The Body Transformation Secret Technique, the Sky Fortress, the Zero-Tails..."
"Heh heh!"
"This feeling of knowing everything is truly unimaginably delightful!"
"I can't wait!"