Naruto: Kurotsuchi Mayuri

The Third Hokage was silent for a moment after being refused but didn't press the issue. Compared to his other two students, Jiraiya's pupil, Minato Namikaze, was indeed quite outstanding.

Although he came from a common background, he had exceptional talent. After becoming Jiraiya's apprentice, he gradually found his own path as a ninja.

Among the new generation, Namikaze Minato had already started to make a name for himself in the ninja world. Perhaps, in the future, he could become as legendary as the Sannin!

The Third Hokage was quite satisfied and trusted this student of his student. Minato had good character, a great personality, strong abilities, exceptional talent, and a deep understanding of sealing techniques. 

He even combined the Flying Thunder God Technique, invented by the Second Hokage, with sealing techniques, creating his own unique fighting style.

With such a disciple, Jiraiya didn't need to worry about leading a team anymore.

"What happened to Orochimaru and Tsunade?" Jiraiya asked after some small talk, expressing the doubt in his heart.

In the past three years, his two teammates had changed so much that they felt like strangers to him.

The Third Hokage fell silent when he heard this, picking up his pipe and taking a few puffs. Finally, after Jiraiya's persistent urging, he coughed a couple of times and gave an answer.

"Dan is dead."

Jiraiya's pupils contracted sharply, and his body hunched over a little. He finally began to understand why Tsunade had fallen into such despair.

The Second Great Ninja War had taken both her brother and her lover. Such a blow...

"Tsunade couldn't save Dan's life, and she developed hemophobia. She can barely even step onto the battlefield now," the Third Hokage added, his expression also somber.

"And what about Orochimaru?" After a moment of silence, Jiraiya asked again.

"He hasn't come to see me for a while now," the Third Hokage replied, waving his hand. "Now that you're back, if you can, try to talk to them."

The Third Hokage had originally hoped to have them both return to lead teams again, but considering that both of them were avoiding certain issues and even avoiding him, he hadn't found the right moment to bring it up.

However, while he couldn't bring it up himself, Jiraiya's return could help convey his thoughts. He also hoped that Jiraiya's return might bring the three of them back together as they once were.

"I'll do my best," Jiraiya said, though he doubted his ability to complete this task, he still accepted it.

At this moment, the joy and excitement Jiraiya had felt upon returning were gone, replaced only by a deep sense of melancholy and helplessness.

...

In the dense forest above the Hokage Rock, a green snake, more than a meter long, was coiled on a tree branch. Its green body blended perfectly with the leaves, almost like it was invisible, effectively hiding itself from view.

If you weren't paying close attention, even if you were quite close, you could easily overlook its presence.

Whoosh!

A shuriken suddenly whizzed through the air, precisely hitting the green snake that had hidden itself so well.

The snake's body convulsed in pain, curling and then uncoiling, before falling from the branch with a thud. It writhed and struggled on the ground.

The third one!

Nara Kagetsu emerged from the forest, picking up the injured green snake from the ground. The snake tried to struggle and fight back, but a black shadow suddenly covered it, paralyzing its body. Then, a hand reached out and grabbed it.

The entire time, the green snake seemed completely immobilized, wrapped tightly by a layer of black shadow.

"Venom collected +1."

Nara Kagetsu finished collecting the venom and tossed the green snake aside.

He had caught over a hundred similar venomous snakes recently, and dissected and studied about twenty or thirty of them.

Venom was a powerful tool during the Second Shinobi War, famously used by Hanzo the Salamander and the puppet ninjas of the Sand Village. Even the mighty Leaf Village and the Legendary Sannin suffered significant losses due to it.

If not for a legendary medical ninja like Tsunade, who developed antidotes specifically for these poisons, the outcome of the battles on the Sand Village front might have been very different.

As for Hanzo, apart from the Sannin, nearly the entire Leaf Village ninja force present at that battle was wiped out.

Venom, like explosive tags, kunai, shuriken, and senbon, became a standard weapon in ninja combat.

"You're collecting snake venom?"

A deep, raspy voice suddenly spoke from behind Kagetsu. He instinctively turned around, and the shadow beneath his feet shot out like a snake pouncing on prey.

However, as soon as Kagetsu's Shadow Imitation Technique connected with the other person's shadow, it was immediately broken.

"You react quickly, kid from the Nara Clan." Orochimaru appeared behind Kagetsu in an instant, lowering himself to pat Kagetsu's head.

"Orochimaru-sama?" Kagetsu felt both tense and relieved.

Although Orochimaru was a dangerous figure, he hadn't yet reached the point of no return. Plus, he had recognized Kagetsu as a member of the Nara Clan, so he probably wouldn't harm a child like him.

"You're collecting venom from snakes." Orochimaru asked again.

Unlike other members of the Nara Clan, Orochimaru sensed something unique in Kagetsu, something that intrigued him.

This quality made him notice Kagetsu, observe his actions, and become a bit curious.

"Yes." Realizing that Orochimaru meant no harm, Kagetsu relaxed.

"Why? Does the Nara Clan's secret techniques require snake venom?" Orochimaru stood beside Kagetsu, looking at the bottle of venom in his hand.

"I want to create a special type of venom." Kagetsu thought for a moment, deciding to be honest with Orochimaru.

"You want to use venom?" Orochimaru was genuinely interested. It was the first time he had seen a Nara Clan member take the initiative to use venom.

The Nara Clan was known for being reliable as strategists and battlefield partners, but if possible, they usually avoided direct combat.

"I'm just trying to raise a special insect." Kagetsu hesitated but then decided to speak the truth. "This insect has incredible adaptability and vitality. It can absorb venom and evolve organs and tissues that carry venom. The more powerful and complex the venom, the faster it evolves in this aspect. I plan to raise it to be my summoning beast in the future."

"Oh?" Orochimaru's eyes lit up. Having seen Hanzo's venom in action, Orochimaru didn't underestimate this kind of combat method. If the venom could reach the strength of Hanzo's salamander, it might even decide the outcome of a battle at a crucial moment. 

Even though it's not as deadly as Hanzō's poison, this kind of evolving poisonous constitution is frightening enough in its potential. It's something worth studying.

Although right now, all of his focus is on how to become immortal and learn every jutsu in the world, today he felt a strange feeling in his heart. 

This feeling made him even more curious about the trait in front of him that was drawing him to Kagetsu. He wanted to figure out what it was.

"Can you show me that special insect? If it's really like you say, I can offer you a large variety of poisons, including snake venom," Orochimaru suggested, his gaze on Kagetsu revealing a few traces of scrutiny.

"Of course." 

At this point, what could Kagetsu say? 

He just didn't expect that on a routine outing, after so many uneventful trips, he would finally run into the master of kidnapping himself. 

But he wasn't searching for the meaning of life, nor was he lost enough to need someone to chase after or rely on!

****

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