Chapter 116: What Did General MacArthur Say?
Tonight, silence ruled the daimyo's capital.
Outside the daimyo's mansion, Kenichi wiped the sweat off his brow and stared hard at Asuma. All he wanted to do was ask this guy if his brain had taken the night off.
How could anyone be this clumsy? How do you even manage "butterfly hands" at this level?
Even General MacArthur would probably have said it was a blessing Asuma was not the one carrying explosives during the Pacific War, otherwise the war might have been lost before it even started.
And of course, Asuma had just happened to pull out the exact book Jiraiya published earlier, The Story I Had to Tell About Orochi.
And of course, it just happened to fall right at Orochimaru's feet.
It was so perfectly timed that Kenichi almost suspected Asuma did it on purpose.
Kenichi recognized it instantly because he had seen the cover before, and it left a deep impression on him.
Now his teacher had seen it too.
The air turned utterly still.
Asuma had already learned from Kazuma who the shinobi accompanying the daimyo's guest today was. His legs trembled, and even the hand holding his cigarette shook like someone with Parkinson's.
Asuma knew Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya. In fact, the Legendary Sannin used to visit his father during holidays.
So when Asuma saw Orochimaru, he immediately understood who the book was referring to, and he also knew Jiraiya's pen name.
That meant he also immediately understood who "Orochi hime" was supposed to be.
Orochimaru said nothing. He simply bent down, picked up the book, and began flipping through it page by page.
Kenichi glanced at his teacher.
Good. His teacher was reading it. Right now.
If there had been even the slightest chance that his teacher might have missed it or brushed it aside, that hope was dead. Unless his teacher was actually brain damaged, the meaning was impossible to miss.
Kenichi silently lit a candle in his heart for Jiraiya and Asuma and hoped the Sage of Six Paths would bless these two unlucky men.
Kazuma and the others had no idea what was happening, but the atmosphere alone forced them into silence. As the seconds dragged on, the pressure only grew heavier.
Kenichi glanced at Asuma again.
The culprit was in serious trouble tonight.
Asuma clearly understood that too. He stared down at the ground like he was counting stones for his own funeral. Sweat poured off him so hard that even his neck gleamed.
"Hehehe… this is really interesting, Asuma."
Orochimaru chuckled as he set the book down. He had already finished reading it.
The book was not thick. It was only the first volume so far. On top of that, Orochimaru always read quickly, so finishing it this fast was not surprising.
"Uncle Orochimaru…" Asuma stiffly raised his head and forced a smile so complicated it looked painful.
"Asuma, it's been a long time. You've grown up." Orochimaru gently patted Asuma's shoulder.
Asuma froze, but he did not feel pain. Instead, warmth spread through his body.
"This book was given to me by Tsunade. I really didn't buy it." Asuma kept that stiff smile, because he truly did not dare provoke Orochimaru.
Orochimaru was one of the Legendary Sannin, a shinobi with Kage level strength. Even if Asuma and the guardian shinobi fought together, they probably would not be a match for Orochimaru, and Orochimaru was also accompanied by someone whose identity was unclear.
"Where is she?"
Orochimaru's smile became even gentler, and Kenichi knew exactly what that meant.
This was his teacher at maximum anger.
Just hearing Tsunade's name made him ask for her location without a single pause. He clearly wanted to go have a very warm, very heartfelt conversation about their long friendship.
"At the Golden Rose Casino, not far from the daimyo's capital," Asuma said without hesitation, selling out his "sister" on the spot.
What a joke. If Tsunade had not handed him that book, he would not be standing in this disaster right now.
"Yes." Orochimaru's smile widened. "Remember to pass along my regards. This tobacco is for you as well."
He patted Asuma's shoulder again, then pulled a batch of high quality tobacco from a sealing scroll and handed it to him.
Asuma went blank.
He had expected a beating so severe he would not sit down for a week. Instead, Orochimaru did not strike him at all. He gave him premium tobacco.
That made Asuma feel even more uneasy.
Kenichi looked at Asuma with sympathy.
The poor guy had no idea what was happening to him. Just now, Kenichi had sensed Yang attribute chakra dispersing. He guessed his teacher had decided to give Asuma a taste of his own medicine.
As for whether it would actually cause cancer, Kenichi could not be completely sure. But judging by how furious his teacher was, it was very likely the "gift" had already taken root.
The Sarutobi father and son both loved smoking. This family really did have a hard fate. It was a good thing Asuma died early in the future, otherwise his wife and daughter might have suffered badly from two heavy smokers.
Orochimaru waved Kenichi over, then led him out of the daimyo's residence and toward the location Asuma had just given.
"Do you know about this book?" Orochimaru lifted the book in his hand and gave it a lazy shake.
Kenichi glanced at it, then shook his head, acting like he knew nothing.
In truth, Kenichi had learned a simple rule long ago. If someone asks whether you know something you are not supposed to know, do not deny it instantly. Hesitate, pretend to think, then deny it. Immediate denial only makes people more suspicious.
"Jiraiya is getting bolder and bolder," Orochimaru said, voice light, smile unchanged. "Looks like it's time to catch up with him properly. Hehehe."
That laugh made Kenichi's liver tremble.
His teacher was completely enraged. If Jiraiya were standing here right now, Kenichi had no doubt his teacher would summon Manda and start fighting on the spot. The only reason he could stay controlled was because the culprit was not present.
Kenichi forced an awkward laugh, unsure what he could possibly say.
Before long, a luxurious casino appeared ahead, with the words Golden Rose emblazoned across it. Beautiful women dressed as bunny girls stood at the entrance, smiling as they beckoned customers inside.
Tsunade was in there.
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