At the gates of Konoha—
A weary-looking Jiraiya finally returned.
After being sent to the Land of Demons, he had hurried all the way to the Daimyo's residence.
Only when he arrived did he learn, Sarutobi Hiruzen was already dead.
And even worse, everyone Hiruzen had taken with him was wiped out by Pain in a single move.
Koharu, Homura, and the entire group of ANBU, not one remained. All were killed.
He couldn't understand. How had things come to this?
Sure, the old man had done wrong, but did that really justify killing so many people?
After lingering at the Daimyo's for a while, Jiraiya found that both Asuma and Konohamaru had been taken away as well. Only then did he come to Konoha.
Jiraiya's heart was full of turmoil. He wanted to find Tsunade and ask for an explanation.
But he forgot, what his current status was.
Whiz!
The gate guard, Kotetsu, immediately fired a flare into the sky as an alarm.
Jiraiya had come from the main road, which was always crowded with merchant caravans.
That meant most of Konoha's defense and surveillance were concentrated at the gate.
So Jiraiya hadn't been spotted in advance.
As figures flickered, members of the Hyuga clan leapt out, surrounding Jiraiya completely.
Their leader was Hyuga Hitomi.
As one of the older ninja in the Hyuga family, Hitomi was usually steady and calm.
When he saw who it was, he immediately barked out, "Traitor Jiraiya! You dare come to Konoha to die?"
Jiraiya's heart skipped a beat. Only now did he remember, he had been declared a traitor by Rengoku.
He could easily defeat the Hyuga around him, but if he made a move, more would soon arrive.
Jiraiya took two steps back, "I want to see Tsunade."
Hitomi sneered, "Do you think Lady Tsunade is someone you can just see whenever you please?"
"Those who followed Sarutobi Hiruzen out of the village, don't even think about coming back!"
Jiraiya's face turned pale, then darkened. He wanted to force his way in, but he knew he couldn't.
Konoha's Hokage now was Rengoku. If he acted rashly, he might really die here.
"Please, just do me a favor and deliver a message."
From Hitomi's perspective, Jiraiya had caused the Hokage plenty of trouble in the past.
If it weren't for his old connection with Tsunade and his wartime merits for Konoha, Hitomi would've struck already.
"Jiraiya, your strength is too great. If you wish to meet Lady Tsunade, you'll have to surrender yourself first."
Hitomi wasn't deliberately trying to make things difficult. It was just, Jiraiya's position was uncertain.
Someone that powerful without restraints, if anything happened, it'd be his responsibility.
Jiraiya had no choice. He clasped his hands together and raised them, signaling surrender.
It meant, You can tie me up.
Hitomi gave a look to the guards beside him.
They hurried off to get ropes and chains.
Hitomi cautiously approached Jiraiya and, in a flash, tapped him several times, pa! pa! pa!
Jiraiya immediately felt three of his chakra points get sealed.
He forced down his urge to fight back, still keeping his hands raised.
Hitomi nodded slightly, then spread his palms, countless fist shadows landed on Jiraiya's body.
Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!
There was only slight pain, but Jiraiya could feel his chakra becoming sluggish, as though layer upon layer of tape were binding it.
The seals were so tight that even Jiraiya couldn't break free.
Only then did Hitomi relax a little. Taking the rope from his comrade, he tied Jiraiya securely, even binding his legs together.
Jiraiya sighed helplessly, "You don't need to tie my legs. I can't walk like this anyway."
Hitomi only sneered, saying nothing.
Instead, he pulled the rope tighter, and then wound a chain over it again.
Jiraiya looked utterly miserable, "You don't need to tie me that tigh, no one could move in this state."
Unmoved, Hitomi stuffed two walnuts into Jiraiya's mouth and taped it shut with adhesive.
The discomfort was unbearable, Jiraiya let out muffled "mmph mmph" sounds.
Only now did Hitomi nod in satisfaction, "Take him away!"
Three people stepped forward immediately, two lifted Jiraiya, while the third looped a thin wire around his neck.
If he made even the slightest movement, it'd tighten and kill him instantly.
———
[Orochimaru's Laboratory]
Tsunade was examining the ruined Rinnegan.
"So this is the Rinnegan," She looked at it with a strangely curious expression.
After all, it was thanks to the Rinnegan that Kato Dan had been resurrected.
But this particular pair had been tampered with. A pity, but anything she couldn't control was best destroyed.
A dangerous object like that could turn on its owner at any time.
Orochimaru was removing some bits of tissue and placing them into a nearby machine.
"Even though the eyeballs are useless now, the Rinnegan's genetic makeup could still teach us a lot."
"While we still can't erase the cellular will inside, we can turn it into dead matter."
Tsunade nodded thoughtfully. As a top-tier medical ninja, she was well-versed in biological science.
Orochimaru's experiments had been progressing much faster lately.
"You're planning to perform cellular fusion, resurrection through death?"
"Mm…"
Just then, a nearby light turned on.
Orochimaru picked up the phone from the wall, listened for a moment, then hung up.
"Jiraiya's here to see you."
Tsunade rolled her eyes, a bit impatient.
But after a moment's thought, they had fought side by side years ago. There was some old bond there.
"Let that old fool give Jiraiya an explanation himself."
Her words were vague, but Orochimaru understood, "We have plenty of test subjects. Bring Jiraiya down."
———
The Hyuga had already delivered Jiraiya to Konoha Hospital.
He still had plenty of acquaintances in Konoha, but no one had ever seen him like this.
Bound head to toe, stuffed with two walnuts in his mouth, he looked more like a tied-up hog being carried off.
"Lady Tsunade, the prisoner is here," Hitomi bowed respectfully.
Seeing Jiraiya tied up like that, Tsunade couldn't help but burst out laughing.
"Well, well, you've done a fine job. Leave the rest to me."
From Tsunade's expression, Hitomi could tell, they'd brought the right man.
Even though they'd once been teammates, seeing Jiraiya humiliated like this clearly made her day.
Jiraiya saw Tsunade coming and tried to speak, "Mmmph! Mmmph!"
"Hahaha! HAHAHAHAHA!"
Tsunade stood beside him laughing for a long time before peeling off the tape over his mouth.
"Pff!", Jiraiya spat the walnuts out miserably.
"Enough laughing, Tsunade! Untie me already!"
Tsunade's smile slowly faded, and she shook her head slightly.
"I don't untie traitors."
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