Naruto: I Draw Power Into Reality

"That's terrifying. Now she can use Monstrous Strength with her feet too!"

At the manga shop, Jiraiya, wrapped in bandages, wore an expression of lingering fear.

[Heavenly Defending Foot]?

Akaba's mind flickered with a thought.

"Could it be… that move?"

"What kind of attack was it?"

"How should I know? I got punched off the roof with one fist, then tried to escape using Earth Release, but that guy jumped over and kicked me. My head nearly got crushed!"

To Jiraiya, it still felt like a nightmare.

So it wasn't the real thing then,

Akaba mused. If it had been the true Heavenly Defending Foot, Jiraiya wouldn't still be alive.

"So terrifying."

Jiraiya mumbled, clearly shaken worse than last time.

"Who told you to go to the bathhouse?"

Akaba smirked.

"It's all your fault! If you hadn't turned cute Haku into a guy, would I even go near a bathhouse?"

Jiraiya angrily complained.

Akaba raised his eyebrows slightly—could he really blame everything on him?

"Jiraiya, just keep quiet for a while."

Sakuma Yunlang immediately stepped in to mediate. After spending some time together, he'd already become attuned to reading some of Akaba's expressions.

Just like now—

"You're not wrong. Here, take this manga and try not to get hurt again."

Akaba patted his shoulder.

"Ah, ow, damn it! You did that on purpose, didn't you!"

Jiraiya's injuries were exactly on his ribs and arms, so the pat made him cry out in pain.

"Manga? Hmph!"

Jiraiya disdainfully shook his head but obediently accepted the book with one hand anyway.

He only had one hand, but it was enough to flip through the manga pages.

"Again with the Sharingan? Just a Jonin who can cast maybe four or five Ninjutsu. I think he might actually become stronger if we pluck out that eye."

Jiraiya mercilessly mocked.

In a way, ordinary Sharingan Kakashi indeed wasn't as powerful as he'd be without the eye.

Akaba gave a faint smile.

It seemed that after training at Mount Myoboku, Jiraiya had significantly improved both in strength and perspective.

This was good—it would make things harder for the Sand Village ninjas.

"Fool, I heard you got half-killed by Tsunade, but never expected you'd still have the leisure to read manga here."

At that moment, a cold voice came from the rooftop.

The next second, Orochimaru jumped down from the roof.

Hmm?

Akaba felt slightly startled. His high spiritual power allowed him to sense subtle differences.

Orochimaru had grown stronger in just these few days, and his aura had changed dramatically.

Before, although lonely, he hadn't been cold-hearted.

But now—

His temperament had become colder.

Did he run into White Snake's Kara or sign a contract with snakes?

Akaba thought inwardly.

"Cursed Orochimaru, where've you been these days? I wanted to fight you but couldn't find a chance."

Even as he said this, it was obvious to any clear-eyed observer that Jiraiya was somewhat worried.

"It's nothing much. Just conducting some research… and experimenting on my own path."

Orochimaru smiled, jumping down from the rooftop.

"Hmm, self-inflicted suffering. Ignore him."

Akaba shook his head.

"You're right. I heard you even swore you'd never peep into the bathhouse again. How shameful."

Orochimaru sneered with cold laughter.

His original intention was likely to check on Jiraiya's injuries. But seeing that Jiraiya was fine, he reverted to his usual manner.

Jiraiya was seething with anger but completely powerless.

After all, he was the one who actually got thrashed by Tsunade.

"Hmm, one copy each of volumes three through six of the manga. It's been a while; I actually missed reading them."

Orochimaru remarked.

"Sure thing."

Sakuma Yunlang skillfully picked out the few remaining volumes from the bookshelf, gathering together volumes three through six.

Orochimaru flipped open Vol. 3 and started reading at a leisurely pace.

"Hehehe, Orochimaru, the Wave Country arc is pretty great. Let me tell you, later on there will be Kirigakure ninja appearing."

Jiraiya grinned mischievously.

"Spoiler freak, Akaba?"

Akaba shot a glance over, looking somewhat displeased.

Yet,

Orochimaru just sat there, stone-faced and completely unfazed.

Jiraiya chatted on, revealing most of the subsequent plot, but Orochimaru didn't flinch an inch—completely hooked on the manga.

"Huh? Orochimaru, are you even listening to me?"

Noticing something was off, Jiraiya couldn't help but freeze.

Orochimaru didn't respond.

"Orochimaru?"

"Hey, idiot Orochimaru!"

"Freaking moron, can't you hear me?"

Jiraiya shouted three times, but Orochimaru ignored him completely. Finally, he realized that Orochimaru must have blocked out outside sounds somehow.

Tch!

"Jiraiya, you're so annoying."

Akaba sighed. "If you keep acting up, I'll just have to make you dream."

"Eh, no, no! Right, I remember I need to change my medicine. I'm leaving first."

Afraid of Tsunade's beatings, Jiraiya immediately fled nervously.

After he left, a faint smirk appeared on Orochimaru's face.

"As expected, he's an idiot."

"You tolerated it pretty well too—not even rebutting when insulted."

Akaba remarked thoughtfully.

That wasn't about blocking hearing. Orochimaru simply pretended not to hear anything.

"Jiraiya's just like this. Making him think he failed is the best revenge."

Orochimaru gave a slight nod and smiled. "Want to go for a walk?"

Akaba hesitated for a moment. It seemed that coming here wasn't merely Orochimaru's reason for visiting Jiraiya—probably more importantly, he intentionally wanted to find Akaba himself.

He paused, then nodded slightly before smiling. "Alright, let's go."

Going outward from here led to the periphery of the Forest of Death.

It was sparsely populated, rarely visited by others.

Walking side by side, Orochimaru and Akaba strolled toward that area. Throughout the journey, Orochimaru remained silent, seemingly really only interested in taking a stroll.

Unconsciously, both had already used the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

Their real bodies continued walking elsewhere, while the multiple shadow clones transformed and stealthily infiltrated the forest.

"It's easy talking with a smart person, Akaba. You do assist Root training, right?"

Orochimaru's clone whispered.

"So it's true. You've allied with Danzo."

Akaba also lowered his voice.

"Mm-hmm."

Orochimaru nodded, then fell silent again.

He walked deeper into the forest as if lost in thought, his eyes constantly scanning the surroundings.

After walking a long way, he retrieved something from within his robe.

"[What is this?]"

"A White Snake's Kara. The day I returned from the Land of Whirlpools, I encountered the White Snake at my parents' graves."

Orochimaru said.

"Why are you telling me all this?"

Akaba didn't quite understand. Although they had a good relationship, it was nothing more than that. They weren't close enough to exchange crucial intelligence like this.

Orochimaru paused before speaking, "Danzo is a viper. When working with him, always be prepared to get bitten from behind."

"Oh?"

"Although we're very weak right now and not worth being used by him, there might come a day when we become useful to him. I want to work together with you."

Orochimaru said calmly.

"I see."

Although it was just a Shadow Clone, the difference from the real self wasn't significant. The conversation between the two would be transferred back to their original bodies afterward.

Akaba closed his eyes in thought, then said after a while, "Danzo knows I modified [Narakami no Jutsu], so I guessed you were working with him."

"I see."

Orochimaru didn't seem surprised, and at the same time expressed some regret, "Sorry, I leaked your information on my own. That was my fault."

"It's nothing serious. Just a minor issue."

Akaba slightly shook his head.

"Teacher made a deal with Danzo. One year from now, she'll train you while I begin my training under Danzo."

Orochimaru continued.

"That's more or less what I suspected."

"Then we're done for today."

With that, both dissolved their Shadow Clones at the same time.

<><><><><><><><>

Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!

~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!

<><><><><><><><>

~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!

~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!

patreon.com/Tansnovel

<><><><><><><><>