"Haha, Jiraiya, how could you possibly understand my ideals? What I seek is to grasp the truth of this world. How could I allow myself to be bound by this village?"
"Orochimaru! Have you forgotten your bond with Tsunade, Sensei, and me?" Jiraiya's voice trembled, filled with sorrow. He couldn't bear the fact that his best friend had become an enemy.
Tears dripped from Jiraiya's eyes—tears from a man who wouldn't cry even if physically hurt. But at this moment, he couldn't hold back his emotions.
Orochimaru snorted coldly, his gaze flickering for a brief moment before returning to its icy composure.
"Jiraiya, you fool. You never understood me at all."
Orochimaru's words were like knives, stabbing into Jiraiya's heart. Decades of friendship seemed to crumble in an instant, leaving only bitterness.
"No matter what you say, this time, no matter what it takes, I will bring you back!" Jiraiya shouted, his resolve unwavering.
"Just you?" Orochimaru's tone dripped with disdain, though he knew better than to underestimate Jiraiya.
Having trained alongside him for years, Orochimaru was well aware of Jiraiya's strength. Even someone as gifted as Orochimaru had to admit that their power was nearly equal. If they fought seriously, the outcome would be uncertain.
"Kakashi, take Yugao and leave. I'll handle Orochimaru. I won't be able to protect both of you during this fight," Jiraiya commanded without turning around.
"But, Jiraiya-sama—"
"Enough! Just go!" Jiraiya's shout cut Kakashi off mid-sentence.
"Understood. Please be careful, Jiraiya-sama," Kakashi said, lifting the unconscious Yugao onto his back and retreating swiftly.
Orochimaru watched Kakashi but made no move to stop him. Despite his ambitions, Orochimaru harbored no intent to kill Kakashi, partly due to his ties to Konoha and partly out of respect for Sakumo, Kakashi's father. These considerations stayed his hand.
As Kakashi disappeared into the distance, Jiraiya exhaled in relief.
Orochimaru chuckled. "Jiraiya, Kakashi is so much like Sakumo. Not just in appearance but in personality too."
Jiraiya frowned, puzzled by the remark but still replied instinctively, "That's true. Kakashi is very similar to Sakumo."
"Well then," Orochimaru said with a smirk, "the distractions are gone. It's just the two of us now. Shall we begin?"
"Let's," Jiraiya said, though there was a trace of uncertainty in his voice.
"Haha, you really are a fool."
The clash of two Kage-level shinobi erupted in an instant. The air reverberated with the sound of their battle.
Meanwhile, Kakashi carried Yugao through the forest, his heart heavy with worry for Jiraiya. Once he found shelter in a cave, he created a clone to watch over Yugao before deciding to return to the battlefield.
He knew Jiraiya was unlikely to defeat Orochimaru without using Sage Mode. The narrow gap in their abilities, compounded by Jiraiya's reluctance to go all out against his former comrade, made the outcome clear—Jiraiya would lose.
The rain began to fall, droplets mingling with the dirt on Kakashi's face as he looked skyward. "Rain, huh? Is even the heavens weeping for them?" he murmured with a faint smile.
Steeling himself, Kakashi made his way back to the battlefield. When he arrived, the fight was over. He found only Jiraiya lying on the ground, his body battered and dusty but miraculously unbloodied.
"Jiraiya-sama," Kakashi called softly, kneeling beside him.
Jiraiya raised his head weakly, his bloodshot eyes betraying exhaustion and pain. "Oh, Kakashi, you're here," he said with a strained smile, trying to maintain his usual demeanour.
"Let's go back now, Jiraiya-sama," Kakashi said, avoiding questions about the fight's outcome.
Jiraiya chuckled bitterly. "Kakashi, you know, I really am a failure. I spent years chasing Tsunade and failed. Now, even after decades of friendship, Orochimaru has abandoned me too. What does that make me? Am I really the fool Orochimaru claims I am?"
"Jiraiya-sama, you are you. Why let others define your worth? To me, you are a great shinobi—there's no doubt about that," Kakashi said firmly.
Jiraiya's eyes widened, surprised by the sincerity in Kakashi's words. Then, slowly, a smile spread across his face.
"Haha, you're right. I'm the legendary Toad Sage, Jiraiya. I can't let myself wallow in failure."
Kakashi helped Jiraiya to his feet. "You're a great shinobi, Jiraiya-sama. Never doubt that again."
"You're right, Kakashi. A shinobi must never doubt himself," Jiraiya said, his familiar grin returning.
This was the Jiraiya that everyone knew.