Chapter 44: Ryujiro's Strange Behavior

Orochimaru frowned. It seemed like everyone he encountered lately was familiar to him. He had only come to find Tsunade to heal his hands.

"Ryujiro, Jiraiya, and the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails."

"Orochimaru, what are you doing here?!" 

Tsunade's expression darkened as she looked up at Orochimaru. If they weren't in a town, Orochimaru would have likely attacked already.

"Jiraiya, Tsunade, the three of us have a rare chance to gather together."

"Those were the days."

"And Ryujiro."

Orochimaru forced a faint smile, but he looked more exhausted than before, like a dying man. 

However, when he mentioned Ryujiro's name, he emphasized it deliberately.

Jiraiya and Tsunade glanced at Ryujiro, but they didn't pay too much attention. They knew Orochimaru was chronically ill.

"Drop the fake smile."

"You traitor!"

Tsunade gritted her teeth.

"So, you're the Orochimaru who killed the Third Hokage, as pervy sage mentioned?!"

Naruto glared at Orochimaru.

The Third Hokage, the old man who had been kind to him, died at Orochimaru's hands!

Due to his anger, Naruto's chakra suddenly burst uncontrollably, surprising Tsunade, Jiraiya, and the others.

"This kid's chakra..."

As a member of the Senju clan, Tsunade was sensitive to chakra. The Jinchuriki 's chakra was vast, like an ocean.

And this was just Naruto's own chakra.

It seemed the village not only had this troublemaker but also another monster.

Tsunade couldn't help but shift her gaze to Ryujiro.

The atmosphere grew tense, with a battle ready to erupt at any moment.

However, at that moment, Ryujiro's figure suddenly disappeared.

Before Kabuto, who was beside Orochimaru, could understand what was happening, he was kicked away by Ryujiro.

Even Orochimaru couldn't react in time.

Tsunade and Jiraiya also struggled to keep up with Ryujiro's speed.

Why wasn't this kid playing by the rules?

Why did he suddenly attack? Jiraiya and Tsunade couldn't just stand by.

With a cold gleam in his eyes, Ryujiro pressed his sword against Orochimaru's neck, his expression calm. Even facing one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, Ryujiro remained unfazed.

"Orochimaru, I advise you not to move. My sword is faster than your petty tricks."

Though Ryujiro's tone was calm, the domineering aura emanating from him made Orochimaru feel an icy chill instantly enveloping him.

That aura again...

This pressure wasn't from chakra; it was an instinctual fear, and facing Ryujiro, Orochimaru couldn't help but feel he wasn't dealing with just a shinobi. 

Instead, he sensed a unique presence, akin to that of a king.

Was Ryujiro aspiring to become a nation's ruler?

"Ryujiro-kun, what do you mean by this?" Orochimaru squinted at Ryujiro with a strange look in his eyes.

"Orochimaru, you should understand without me having to spell it out. 

The Third Hokage died by your hand, and everyone wants revenge for him. Naturally, I am no exception." 

A terrifying killing intent erupted from Ryujiro, drowning everything like a tidal wave.

Struggling to stand, Kabuto looked at Ryujiro in terror. "Lord Orochimaru!"

Before he could finish, Ryujiro left a blur and appeared in front of Kabuto, looking at him expressionlessly.

Though Kabuto's reaction was quick, his face momentarily froze, but his body's instincts prevented him from attacking Ryujiro.

"You have no say here."

"Weaklings should act like weaklings."

With terrifying strength, Ryujiro's fist smashed into Kabuto's chest. The sound of bones breaking sent chills down everyone's spine.

However, Jiraiya couldn't help but frown. Ryujiro's reaction was strange.

While Orochimaru was indeed the killer of the Third Hokage, and Konoha Village's ninjas harbored resentment towards him, Jiraiya sensed only killing intent from Ryujiro, not hatred.

Why did Ryujiro harbor such intense killing intent towards Orochimaru and Kabuto? Has Orochimaru done something to Ryujiro before?

"Jiraiya, that kid..."

"That wild gaze, it's as if he's a wild beast. We can't let him come into contact with Danzo's Root. If this kid falls into darkness, it will lead to unforeseen consequences for us."

A grave expression crossed Tsunade's face.

Such a gaze. If the higher-ups of the Konoha Village pressured Ryujiro, it would backfire, possibly leading to the emergence of another powerful rogue ninja.

"Kabuto is my subordinate. Please be gentle with him."

"Heh, even if he's your subordinate? He's just a pawn to you."

Ryujiro mercilessly exposed Orochimaru's lies.

A snake is a cold-blooded creature, and Orochimaru was no longer human; he was more like a venomous snake that devoured people without leaving bones.

"Heh, it seems you understand me well, Ryujiro." Orochimaru's face turned completely dark. Before Ryujiro, he didn't dare to act rashly.

Moreover, with Jiraiya and Tsunade present, Orochimaru's strength was greatly reduced. His hands felt as if they were burning, as if engulfed in intense heat.

"Hey, Ryujiro, Orochimaru isn't that simple. Don't act on your own for now."

However, though Jiraiya's voice reached Ryujiro's ears, he acted as if he hadn't heard.

Both Ryujiro and Orochimaru suddenly disappeared from the sight of the three, with Orochimaru being kicked away by Ryujiro again, just like during the Chunin Exams.

But this time, Orochimaru had no power to block the kick.

"Is this kid always so reckless?" Tsunade looked at Jiraiya.

Jiraiya sighed. "I don't quite understand him either. Let's catch up quickly. Orochimaru's not in his right mind, but if Ryujiro's not careful, he might fall victim to Orochimaru's strange Jutsus."

Tsunade nodded in agreement.

Both glanced at their disciples.

"You two stay here!"

With that, Jiraiya and Tsunade disappeared in front of Naruto and Shizune's eyes.

Naruto and Shizune looked at each other in confusion, then turned away, their eyes meeting, and the air fell silent as if several black dots appeared over their heads.

So, we've been left behind like this?

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