"Orochimaru, if you dare to move forward...Jiraiya is a little..."

"I... will definitely kill you!"

When this familiar but slightly unfamiliar female voice came into her ears, Orochimaru's originally ready-to-go movement suddenly became completely stiff.

Orochimaru, Jiraiya, Senju Tsunade... These three future legendary figures - Konoha Sannin himself, are all under the command of the third-generation Naruto Sarutoki Hirosen. Since their childhood, these three have been close friends to practice and play together. In addition to the tacit cooperation between the three, they can also be regarded as aware of the other two people's personalities.

It is precisely because of this that Orochimaru was able to instantly judge after hearing the cold warning from Tsunade that the other party was not joking with him...

Indeed, after a long period of treatment, Tsunade, who was already exhausted physically and mentally, would definitely not be his opponent...

But first of all, once you show that it is not good for Jirai, Tsunade, who knows that in the current lack of chakra, will definitely interrupt the treatment of medical ninjutsu immediately. And use the unparalleled strange power to make Orochimaru attack Jiraiya pay the same level of price as Jiraiya suffered!

Secondly, Orochimaru's original intention was to survive and retain enough spare energy to continue completing the task... It was not to have internal strife with Tsunade at such a critical moment that he could die at any time, and to use up each other's combat ability in vain, and then let the Iwa Ninjas waiting outside pick up a big advantage for no reason!

In addition, as Orochimaru said before, the reason why he tried so hard to convince Tsunade, even decided to cut off Jiraiya's life with his own hands, forcing Tsunade to make a decision. It was because facing the threat of the group of Iwa Ninjas who had already surrounded the hills and were always eyeing them. Whether it was the chakra reserves or mental state, they were considered to be in a downturn and embarrassment that was not optimistic. No matter how exquisite or complicated the ninja skills Orochimaru mastered, it was obviously a dream to break through the siege alone!

In other words, in this isolated and helpless critical moment, if Orochimaru wants to gain a glimmer of life from it, then getting the sincere help and support from Tsunade and joining forces to break through together is the best choice and the only possibility Orochimaru can think of!

Out of these concerns, Orochimaru had already shown his desire to abandon Jiraiya and was ready to die with one blow... But facing Tsunade's sharp warning and obvious loss-making, the ending that Orochimaru had to pause and stop moving.

Of course, pausing and moving does not mean that Orochimaru recognized Tsunade's suicide plan for being too kind, weak and cruel, and was tantamount to waiting for Jiraiya's suicide plan. So much so that Orochimaru narrowed his eyes and frowned, and confronted Tsunade with glaringly, his feet stood still as if they had taken root and sprouted, without any sign of backing down and giving in.

At the same time, Tsunade also noticed Orochimaru's slight movements, which made him still wholeheartedly treat Jiraiya's injuries, but secretly, his seemingly slender arms muscles were quietly tightened to ensure that the moment Orochimaru still chose to assassinate Jiraiya, he could give Orochimaru a quick, fierce and powerful punch to "return the gift"!

In this situation, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade Senju... These three classmates who should have been together to advance and retreat, but in this increasingly shaky cave, they gradually showed a three-legged confrontation.

...

“Hu…hu…uh…hu…hu…hu…hu…hu…hu…hu…hu…hu…”

As time passed, the confrontation between Tsunade and Orochimaru, who had different thoughts, not only did not ease. On the contrary, because they made clear their positions and refused to give in, the atmosphere of the three people was shrouded in a state of silent and tense for a long time. So much so that in the cave where rock debris fell from time to time, in addition to the continuous and deafening roar of the rock ninjas that had never stopped attacking from outside, there was only Jiraiya who lost consciousness due to coma and was still unclear how dangerous his situation was. Driven by instinct, his nose was shaking and his nose was constantly breathing faintly.

"Huh...ha, Jiraiya, you are indeed a young brave man who can't be beaten. According to the current situation, you will be unable to die for a while... It's so great, Jiraiya..."

At this moment, with continuous treatment, it was estimated that Jiraiya's injuries had gradually stabilized. In other words, at least in a short period of time, there was no need to worry about the aggravation of the injury, and the reason for his complete death was completely dead. Tsunade, who had been worried about Jiraiya's life, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Then he took the opportunity to take a little distracted, and noticed the strong murderous intent that had not dissipated from the people behind him. The corners of his mouth raised slightly, sneering and mocking with a little contempt. And thus, the silence that had been shrouded for a long time broke the stalemate of silence.

"It seems... we are in a deadlock of three-legged stalemate."

After suddenly hearing the sound of the person in front of me, Orochimaru, who was always on Jiraiya and trying to find the best time to take action, was stunned. Then, due to distracted observation, he found that after a long treatment process, the chakra reserves in Tsunade's body had been reduced by another level...

In other words, if you wait so for nothing, let alone the danger of being buried alive by overwhelmed and collapsed caves, Tsunade, who is about to completely lose his combat effectiveness, will be enough to cut off the possibility of Orochimaru and Tsunade joining forces to break through the blockade of the Iwa Ninjas and successfully escape from this huge encirclement!

"...Hmph, what are you talking nonsense? Tsunade... No matter how you look at it, it is obvious who has the initiative between me and you..."

Thinking of this, Orochimaru could no longer wait silently. So he narrowed his eyes and responded coldly without giving in a step, while raising the kuna that had been firmly held in his hand, leaving a space for stinging enough to form lethal power. Then he secretly accumulating his strength, intending to take advantage of Tsunade's short-term weakness of being exhausted by chakra and force Tsunade to directly take away Jiraiya's burdened life and force Tsunade to follow him and leave immediately!

"It's been so long, Tsunade, you should almost recognize the reality... Jiraiya has...well?"

Just as Orochimaru was about to distract Tsunade from his words in order to find a suitable opportunity to take action. After Tsunade's medical ninjutsu forcibly healed his life, he was able to survive without dying. So Jiraiya, who had long been regarded as a dead man by Orochimaru, made an unexpected move at this critical moment when internal strife was about to break out.

“Hu…hu…”

While he was struggling and weak, Jiraiya's eyes were closed tightly, although he had not fully awakened his consciousness. However, when Orochimaru had not finished speaking, perhaps because he heard Orochimaru call his name, he kept trembling and slowly lifting his right arm with difficulty. In front of Orochimaru, he gradually raised his index finger and middle finger. Then, the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, and he followed the sound of Orochimaru's standing, and made an optimistic gesture of "Yeah".

This gesture is obviously not unfamiliar with Orochimaru, who has lived with Jiraiya and Tsunade since childhood - that is, whenever Jiraiya feels proud, he will deliberately show off and make a gesture to Orochimaru.

In other words, even Jirai was not fully awake yet, so she couldn't hear clearly what Orochimaru and Tsunade said. It was just because Orochimaru mentioned his name and noticed the gentle chakra of Tsunade who was poured into him at all times. In order to make the two feel at ease and relax, Jiraiya tried to make an instinctive response that he tried to show off to others in the usual manner! It was also out of his absolute trust in Orochimaru that Jiraiya directly chose to ignore the rich and cold murderous intent that was shrouded around him!

"This gesture is...! That... that idiot, could he..."

When Jiraiya raised his hand slowly, he thought that the other party had heard what he was about to do not help him, and planned to attack him first, and focused on him, staring at Jiraiya every move. In the end, when Jiraiya was grinning and laughing at him, he was not afraid of the strong murderous intent surrounding him, and after a common and familiar gesture, Orochimaru, who had originally planned to do it directly, couldn't help but tremble all over his whole body. Then, because he realized the possibility behind this gesture, the murderous intent that spread throughout Orochimaru's body suddenly stopped restraining a little. Even Kuwai, who was originally cast into copper and iron, almost slipped to the ground.

"Jiraiya... has always trusted you from the bottom of his heart, Orochimaru."

Perhaps he had noticed the short moment of hesitation that Orochimaru showed, or perhaps from Jiraiya's actions, like Orochimaru, he understood what Jiraiya wanted to express. Tsunade's frowning frown made him slightly relax and relax a little before Jiraiya's usual carefree smile. He turned his head slightly, and as his beautiful eyes flowed, he continued to say to Orochimaru with a firm and powerful word.

"And this incredibly firm trust... is enough to make you unable to bear to attack Jiraiya!"

“…tsk…”

In front of Tsunade's words without hesitation, Orochimaru felt particularly unhappy as if someone had exposed the true thoughts in his heart. Then, his murderous aura suddenly diminished, and his brows became more and more frowned, revealing a complex and indescribable look. While fearing that he would agree with the words of the person in front of him, he clenched his teeth. Then, it was to convince himself not to hesitate so much, resulting in the softening of his heart that had finally become hardened. It was also to urge the person in front of him to follow him-or rather, because his own thoughts were guessed by Tsunade, and he waved his hand again, making a look that he was about to stab Jiraiya, and he mocked him coldly without hesitation.

"Bored! I...I'm...I'm...!"

However, at this moment, a sudden change of mutation...

"boom--!"

Before Orochimaru could finish his rebuttal words, with a deafening roar, the stone used by the three people to seal the only entrance and exit of the cave was finally broken by external forces. So that while the sudden shock wave hit, the slightly dazzling sunlight also instantly poured into the dark cave, dispersing all the darkness enveloped the three people invisible!

"Tao, it's still too late. Has someone attacked..."

Being surrounded by the Iwa Ninja for a long time made Orochimaru regard the external force that broke the cave blockade as a signal of enemy invasion. Even though his eyes gradually adapted to the dark environment were difficult to open in a short period of time under the sudden white light. However, while muttering in his heart, he followed Jiraiya's weak breath of life to guide the direction and started his action without hesitation!

"Then, I can't hesitate anymore...!"

"Tsk...! Are you still going to do it? This bastard Orochimaru... can make you succeed-!"

At the same time, Tsunade, who had already focused his attention on Orochimaru, had no time to tell whether this external force was a friend or an enemy after detecting Orochimaru's actions. Instead, just like Orochimaru did, the huge dust swept over the blocked exit instantly swallowed the three of them without hesitation. He stood up straight without hesitation, followed Orochimaru's breath guidance, and went up without hesitation!

...

"Hahaha! You guys are indeed here!"

"Hey! Jiraiya! Tsunade! Orochimaru! Are you okay?"

"Hmm-! It seems that you are all fine! That's great!"

"Although it's a bit late, the reinforcements have arrived. You can relax for a while! Leave the rest to us!"

Soon, the "invading" personnel, who were shining with strong light, discovered the figures of three people in the cave. They suddenly shouted happily in surprise and excitement. Although the shouting was noisy and chaotic, it could vaguely identify an exciting fact--that was the first to find the three of them, not the Iwa Ninja who had been surrounding and chasing them, but the reinforcements of Konoha Ninja Village were late!

At this moment, the smoke that filled the cave and swallowed all the three figures began to fade away quickly. The strange scene created by the three people facing each other appeared.

Orochimaru, who bent down and tried to assassinate and take Jiraiya's life.

Tsunade, who stood between Orochimaru and Jiraiya without retreating, using his body as a shield.

And Jiraiya, who was still unconscious but always trembling, firmly maintaining the gesture of optimism and trust. Even the relaxed smile on his face never faded...

Of course, if you observe carefully, it is not difficult to find some strange things in it...

Although Orochimaru said from beginning to end that Jirai was a burden and needed to be abandoned immediately, and even broke with Tsunade, trying to take Jiraiya's life with his own hands to force Tsunade to make a decision... However, when the blockade of this cave was forcibly broken, Orochimaru subconsciously believed that it was a "dangerous" moment when the invasion signal of the enemy in Iwahide Village. Orochimaru's sharp Kyuba held in his hand paused before Jiraiya's smile.

In addition, although Tsunade immediately noticed Orochimaru's movements at the same time, and then stood up to try to intercept and stop them. However, out of his previous words and trust in the deep bond between Jiraiya and Orochimaru... Tsunade, who seemed to be blocking Orochimaru's movements, did not raise his hand at all! So in that thrilling short moment, he actually let Orochimaru's Kuna sprint directly past his side, and was able to directly attack Jiraiya's face without any obstacles!

In other words, at this critical moment when Orochimaru could easily take Jiraiya's life even if he wanted to... Orochimaru hesitated, which led to Jiraiya's survival without any damage in the previous raid.

In other words...

Even Orochimaru believed that he had already made up his mind to make a decision and could continue to execute it without hesitation. However, when he really needed to implement it himself and seize the life of the human being in front of him, his instinctive reaction was just an emphasis on the truth to Orochimaru over and over again...

That was when Orochimaru discovered that even though Jiraiya was in the terrifying murderous intent emitted by Orochimaru and really launched an attack on Jiraiya... Jiraiya's trust in Orochimaru did not decline for a moment!

And just like the truth revealed directly by Tsunade...

Faced with this unreserved trust, even Orochimaru's cold-blooded heart would never really make up... so much so that even if he took Jiraiya's life with his own hands, Orochimaru couldn't bear to cut through Jiraiya's skin!

There is no doubt that the unknown first civil strife conflict between the three people was won by Jiraiya's unwavering absolute trust in his companions!
Chapter completed!