When Naruto woke up, it was already dawn again.

He stared at the ceiling in confusion. After a while, he finally disconnected and reconnected, regaining consciousness.

Subconsciously, he jumped up and looked left and right, only to see Jiraiya sitting by the window of the room.

Naruto breathed a sigh of relief.

He was a little downcast: "How did I lose yesterday?"

Jiraiya turned to look at him with a helpless smile: "I flicked it on your chin with just one finger. Tsunade, this guy is really tough... Is your head okay?"

Naruto slapped his cheek hard with his hand: "Of course!"

Of course, it was impossible for Tsunade to strike lightly. With her attainments in taijutsu and medical ninjutsu, how could such a crushing duel possibly hurt Naruto?

"Let's go! Teacher Jiraiya!" Naruto continued enthusiastically: "Go to Granny Tsunade! This time, I must let her see how powerful I am!"

Jiraiya lowered his gaze with a sad expression: "She's gone."

Naruto was stunned.

Then, his eyes widened: "Then let's catch up!"

Jiraiya didn't expect Naruto to say that, but soon, he couldn't say anything, because Naruto's stubborn and determined expression at the moment did not allow him to refuse at all.

"If you are defeated once, you will fight ten times again. If you are defeated ten times, you will fight again a hundred times!"

"I!"

"We must bring Granny Tsunade back to Konoha!"

"Jiraiya-sensei! Hurry up! It will be hard to find her when she runs away!"

Perhaps, only a fool like Naruto could say such words without shame at such a time.

Jiraiya didn't say anything, even though he was already prepared to report the failure of the mission to Yuzuru Hinata and take all the responsibilities.

Once upon a time, wasn't I also such a fool?

Why did Tsunade choose to give up?

Jiraiya slowly smiled.

"Ah! That's right!"

"But if you want to defeat Tsunade with one finger - Naruto, you must master the Rasengan as soon as possible!"

"Do not worry!"

Naruto grinned and made a cross with his hands: "I will definitely learn it!"

A circle of shadow clones appeared and began to practice the Rasengan, but the result was that after a while, Naruto's eyes were spinning in circles, and he was carried by Jiraiya in a daze.

"How many times have I told you not to let your shadow clone use its brain?"

Naruto endured the dizziness in depression: "Why, Brother Yuzuru's shadow clone can be used to handle official duties, but I only use it to study Rasengan, and my head feels dizzy."

Jiraiya shrugged: "Who knows, as far as I know, only the second generation Hokage has been able to use shadow clones to handle official business - maybe this kind of thing is the privilege of smart people. Your shadow clone, or

Let’s fight honestly.”

"It's strange. I was thinking when I was fighting. Why don't I feel dizzy?"

Jiraiya's mouth twitched, recalling the scene where Naruto had a lot of shadow clones, and they rushed over to do it according to his original plan.

Are you sure that your shadow clone was really thinking when you were fighting...

Probably, this is another great thing about fools.

The master and apprentice left the hotel and chased Tsunade again.

This pursuit lasted another half a year.

Naruto experienced the winter snow in the Land of Tea, the spring rain in the Land of Waves, and witnessed the waves of the summer rainy season around the gambling boats in the ocean.

Finally, in the autumn of 1962, things reached their most critical turning point.

Tsunade, who was evading debts and avoiding Jiraiya, sneaked into the Land of Iron, but because of her reputation as a big fat sheep, she attracted the attention of interested people.

The person who paid attention to her was none other than Orochimaru, who had disappeared for a long time.

The reason why Orochimaru pays attention to Tsunade is also very simple - he needs an assistant who can help in research and pursue the secret of eternal life with him.

Originally, this role was supposed to be played by Kabuto Yakushi, but Yuzuru Hyuga had his beard cut off early, which resulted in Orochimaru so far, working alone, having to do all research by himself, and the new subordinates were not outstanding.

talent.

To engage in scientific research, if you don't have talent, you have to work hard. But Orochimaru himself is a genius and a hard-working person. How can he have the patience to cultivate the growth of those "idiots"?

Moreover, even if he wanted to, he wouldn't have time to cultivate such a person!

The most realistic solution is to find someone who can keep up with his research pace and quickly provide help for his research.

Looking at the ninja world, the most suitable person is actually Tsunade, a former friend of the Sannin.

Although Tsunade seemed to be an extremely irritable and tough woman, Orochimaru knew very well that beneath her powerful appearance, there was now only a fragile and riddled heart, carrying a grief that could not be expressed to outsiders.

This kind of grief can be used by Orochimaru.

As the research on the reincarnation of the dirty land deepens, Orochimaru becomes more and more aware of the true existence of eternal life.

Even the dead soul can come back to life under the influence of magic. Even if the body is destroyed, even if there is only a piece of flesh and a little bit of the soul remains in the world, there is hope of continuing to live as a living person.

And isn't Tsunade's greatest sorrow the deaths that are meaningless to Orochimaru?

He could share his research experience with Tsunade and invite her to cooperate. As a bargaining chip, wouldn't it be enough to let her see the hope of resurrecting his brother and his former lover?

Orochimaru even had some expectations.

Even though he seems to be an extremely cold-blooded monster, in fact, he still has feelings in his heart, and friendship is the only emotion left in his life that is worth remembering.

It's just that once life dies, any emotion is meaningless. Only after gaining eternal life is the moment when life is truly meaningful.

If only Tsunade could understand this truth... Jiraiya, probably has no hope.

It was with this mentality that Orochimaru captured Tsunade's traces in the Land of Iron.

At this time, even though he was still in the Akatsuki organization, in fact, he had already made plans - he would leave when the people in the Akatsuki organization had finished using them.

He has no interest in the grand goals of the Akatsuki organization.

But it doesn't prevent you from taking advantage of the other party at this time.

To be precise, he made use of the companion beside him.

Dried persimmon Kisame.

"Hey, Orochimaru, are you sure that guy will agree to join the organization?"

Kisame Kisaki's attitude towards Orochimaru is not polite. In fact, anyone who faces a guy like Orochimaru now will not have a better relationship.

Orochimaru smiled and licked his lips: "Nothing in this world is absolute, but as long as the possibility exists, it is worth doing."

Kisame Mikaki followed him boredly, walking on the streets of Iron Country. He seemed to have no enthusiasm for this mission. After a while, he said: "As one of the three ninjas,

Who is stronger, Tsunade's ability or yours?"

"Maybe, almost." Orochimaru still looked elusive. It was impossible to tell Kisame about the multiple forbidden techniques he had in his hands. Moreover, he had continued to improve over the years. As for Tsunade.

..

Just hope she doesn't regress.

But even so, Tsunade is still a powerful person who may have Kage-level strength.

A trace of impatience flashed across Kisame's shark face: "How long will it take?"

"Already arrived."

Orochimaru let out a deep laugh and stopped.

On the street not far away, Tsunade, who had just owed another gambling debt, was walking towards her with Shizune with an unhappy look on her face. As soon as their eyes met, Tsunade narrowed her eyes unconsciously, and her body

It exuded a dangerous smell, which made Kisame subconsciously reach out to touch Samehada on his back.

But Tsunade just glanced at Orochimaru coldly, and then walked out of the street with Shizune in a few instants.

Orochimaru's smile became more obvious: This woman is still as soft-hearted as before... Is she afraid that a conflict here will affect ordinary people?

He and Kisame followed Tsunade leisurely, leaving the crowded streets and heading towards the remote wilderness.

In the flat field, Tsunade slowly stopped, frowned, and stared at Orochimaru: "If you have something to say, do you want to have a fight with me?"

Even if you are still indifferent to Konoha's information.

Tsunade also knew that Orochimaru had become a traitorous ninja.

Seeing him wearing the black robe of the Akatsuki organization, with a murderous shark face next to him, Tsunade folded her hands in front of her impatiently, looking like she was not falling behind at all.

But my family knows their own affairs.

Tsunade was filled with uneasiness at this moment - even though she didn't want to admit it, she was still suffering from hemophobia and was no longer a qualified ninja at all.

One of the reasons why he so resolutely rejected Hyuga Yuzuru's recruitment was precisely because of this.
To be continued...