After hearing Orochimaru's horrifying words, the young Nagato's face turned ashen, just like Jiraiya's before him.
"So, what Senior Tsunade and Teacher Jiraiya said back then was true..."
"My parents were killed by Wood Leaf ninja impersonated by someone from the Black Zetsu faction, as Senior Orochimaru mentioned, with the goal of making me resent the Wood Leaf, and by chance, I met Teacher Jiraiya..."
"So, I'm just a puppet controlled by Madara Uchiha and Black Zetsu..."
"My hatred is fake; my memories are fake; my Rinnegan is also fake..."
"I have nothing but pain..."
Jiraiya's body trembled as he finally remembered. His own pathetic ninja way and persistence seemed insignificant compared to the cruel truth Orochimaru revealed, and the impact it had on Nagato, a child of only a few years old.
"Nagato..."
Jiraiya called out softly, slowly reaching out and placing his hand on the boy's head.
"You are not alone!"
"You still have me as your teacher, and Yahiko and Konan!"
"Teacher promised you that I would protect you until you grow up."
"And Yahiko and Konan will always be by your side."
Nagato looked up at Jiraiya, a rare shimmer of moisture in his usually indifferent eyes. He trembled and called out,
"Teacher Jiraiya..."
A flicker of an unidentifiable light flashed in Orochimaru's eyes. He gently tapped the table, rousing the two from their profound moment of teacher-student affection.
"Jiraiya."
"If you haven't found your own path yet, I have a suggestion."
"These three children all have good talent. Teach them well."
"Becoming a ninjutsu professor like Teacher Hiruzen might be more suitable for you than searching for the prophesied child."
Jiraiya was momentarily stunned. He looked at Nagato, who was depending on him, and nodded firmly.
"Nagato!"
Orochimaru called out, looking seriously at the red-haired boy who turned his head.
"You are still young now. Leave the matters of the Rinnegan and Madara Uchiha to the adults to resolve."
"And as a disciple of the Legendary Sannin of the Wood Leaf, the mark of the Wood Leaf imprinted on you is something you can never erase."
"Therefore, the Wood Leaf will mobilize all its strength to ensure your growth!"
Nagato's heart trembled. He nodded gratefully at Orochimaru.
"But this comes at a cost!"
Orochimaru shook his head, his expression stern as he looked at Nagato.
"In the name of the Wood Leaf's Fourth Hokage successor, I issue a long-term S-rank infiltration mission to the future ninja of the Wood Leaf, Nagato."
"The mission begins from the moment you join the Hidden Rain Village until the moment you replace Hanzo of the Salamander!"
"Are you willing to accept this mission?"
Jiraiya opened his mouth, looking as if he wanted to speak but hesitated.
Orochimaru glanced at him and waved his hand, signaling him to remain silent for now.
Nagato struggled internally for a moment before slowly asking,
"Senior Orochimaru, may I ask why?"
"For the peace of the ninja world!"
Orochimaru said solemnly,
"For the peace of the ninja world, all factions in the ninja world must speak with a single voice in the future."
"Only then will the ninja world have a chance of survival in the face of the world-ending crisis that may emerge in the future."
"As the host of the Rinnegan, you bear more responsibility than ordinary people."
"Therefore..."
Orochimaru looked at Nagato with deep eyes.
"Whether it is for the future of the ninja world or to keep these eyes that do not originally belong to you, you must accept this mission."
"Do you understand?"
Nagato's eyes trembled. After a moment of hesitation, he nodded firmly.
"Yes!"
"Senior Orochimaru, Nagato accepts this mission!"
Orochimaru's expression softened slightly, and a smile played on his lips.
Jiraiya looked at Nagato with a complex expression, then turned his gaze back to Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru..."
"He is just a child..."
Orochimaru gave Jiraiya a cold look and said in a chilling tone,
"That's why I haven't directly gouged his eyes out!"
"As the next Hokage, all my decisions must be based on the interests of the Wood Leaf."
"The Rinnegan is of great importance. If it weren't for Nagato's Uzumaki lineage, and the fact that he is your disciple..."
"Do you think, with my personality, I would allow such a powerful force to remain in the hands of a child?"
Jiraiya froze, his head drooping in silence.
Nagato also looked somewhat uncomfortable, with an inexpressible feeling in his heart.
Orochimaru snorted, no longer bothering with this fool who was always swayed by emotions.
"Nagato, you must remember that the ninja world is always this realistic and cruel."
"No matter how strong you become in the future with the Rinnegan, in front of me now, you are merely a child I can kill with a flick of my hand."
"If you want to survive in this cruel ninja world, either change the rules of this world with your strength, or if you cannot, then adapt to its rules."
"There is never a second path!"
Nagato clenched his trembling hands and nodded forcefully.
"Yes!"
Sensing Nagato's emotions and finding no significant negative feelings remaining, Orochimaru nodded with satisfaction.
He retracted the Yin-Yang Release chakra he had spread out and took a sip from his wine cup.
"Alright, pull yourselves together. Let Mao and the other two children come in!"
"Kurama, you've worked hard!"
As soon as Orochimaru spoke, the atmosphere in the room immediately eased.
Nagato, being a child, didn't feel much, but Jiraiya was starting to feel uncomfortable under the increasingly powerful aura emanating from Orochimaru.
Sighing in relief, Jiraiya stood up and went outside to call Fushiko Mao, Yahiko, and Konan in.
"Lord Orochimaru, may we come in?"
Fushiko Mao, holding one child by each hand, asked politely at the doorway. Her timid demeanor made anyone who didn't know better think Orochimaru was the master of the house.
Orochimaru chuckled softly.
"Come in!"
"Coincidentally, I have some gifts to give these children."
He subtly channeled some chakra, and with a press of his hand on the ground, streams of iron sand emerged from beneath the earth.
"Magnet Release - Sand Iron!"
With a rustling sound, the iron sand, under Orochimaru's control, condensed into three sharp kunai.
"These three kunai are made from pure iron sand. Their flexibility and sharpness are significantly better than ordinary kunai or shuriken."
"The three of you will inevitably embark on the path of a ninja. Consider these as defensive gifts."
The three children hesitated for a moment, but after Fushiko Mao patted each of them reassuringly, indicating it was acceptable, they joyfully accepted their first truly meaningful weapons.
"Orochimaru, I wanted to ask earlier, how do you know the Sand Village's Magnet Release?"
Jiraiya stared at Orochimaru's hands, his eyes unblinking.
"This..."
Orochimaru looked at his own hands and casually boasted,
"Just a common kekkei genkai. I learned it after some casual research."
The Nine-Tails almost rolled its eyes to the back of its head.
This guy is getting more shameless by the day.
"Senpai Orochimaru, this is for you. Happy New Year!"
Konan, holding a paper flower with both hands, shyly approached Orochimaru, her head bowed, not daring to look him in the face.
Orochimaru was slightly taken aback and slowly reached out to accept it.
"You're thoughtful!"
"If that girl Kushina were half as sensible as you, it would be great."
He ruffled the little girl's hair and couldn't help but sigh.
"As an elder, since I've accepted your gift, I must reciprocate."
"The kunai earlier doesn't count. What do the three of you want? I will try my best to satisfy you."
Konan shyly shook her head. What she had now was beyond her wildest dreams before, so she couldn't ask for more.
Nagato hesitated for a moment and also shook his head, indicating he didn't need anything.
Yahiko, with a spirit rivaling Nawaki's, thought for a moment, then nervously glanced at Jiraiya before scratching his head and hesitantly voicing his wish.
"Senior Orochimaru, if possible, could you teach me a Water Style ninjutsu?"
"Like the one you used when you fought Teacher Jiraiya earlier, it looked so powerful!"
Orochimaru burst into laughter and nodded gently.
"You have good taste!"
"Alright, since you are Jiraiya's disciple, it's not like I'm giving it to an outsider..."
He reached into his robe and fumbled for a moment, placing three scrolls before Jiraiya.
"Jiraiya, don't say I didn't bring you a gift."
"This is the Body Revitalization Secret Technique. Teach it to Nagato after you learn it, and it will help alleviate the burden on his body from his eyes."
"This is a Water Style secret technique I recorded from Second Hokage-sama's training notes when I was teaching Nawaki ninjutsu. Teach it to Yahiko."
"As for Konan..."
Orochimaru looked at the frail young girl and handed her the last scroll.
"This records some sealing techniques, including the method for making explosive tags. You will need it in the future."
"Train well!"
Orochimaru, as if assigning homework, instructed each of the three children individually.
Jiraiya looked at the two scrolls in his hands with a complex expression. A secret technique he had never heard of, plus the Water Style training insights of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju...
There probably wasn't another friend in the entire ninja world like Orochimaru.
Wanting to express his gratitude, he was afraid Orochimaru would call him sentimental. In the end, Jiraiya simply nodded at Orochimaru and carefully put the scrolls away.
"There's nothing else I need to worry about in the Land of Rain for now, so..."
"The three of you follow Jiraiya's training diligently. If I have the chance, I will return to see you."
"Nagato, don't forget what you promised me."
Orochimaru gave his final instructions, nodded at Jiraiya and Fushiko Mao, and walked into the night with Kurama.
At the entrance of the wooden house, Jiraiya put his arm around Fushiko Mao, who in turn put her arms around the three children. They stood for a long, long time, watching the direction Orochimaru had left.