Chapter 109 – The Jōnin Council
Might Duy stood nearby, also looking at Orochimaru with eager anticipation. He had frequently opened the final three gates on the battlefield recently and was now clearly feeling the toll it had taken on his body.
"Youth doesn't know its worth… until age comes and tears fall in vain!"
"I must admit, in terms of taijutsu, the creator of this forbidden technique was a genius. Duy, where did you learn it?"
The more Orochimaru studied the technique, the more admiration he felt—and also curiosity about its origins.
This forbidden technique could unlock the genetic restraints within the human body, allowing a person to exert multiple, even dozens of times their natural strength.
It had allowed someone like Might Duy—whose base strength was no more than an average Chūnin—to fight Kazane evenly after opening the Eight Gates.
Even if Kazane didn't use his swordsmanship, that was still an incredible feat.
Orochimaru had personally overseen Kazane's training, and he knew how monstrous the boy's physical strength was under that deceptively lean frame.
"This technique was passed down from my father. Our clan has never had much talent for ninjutsu, so this forbidden art was refined over generations, starting with my grandfather."
Duy said this with pride.
And rightfully so. For a clan with no aptitude for ninjutsu to carve their own path in taijutsu—to the point of rivaling prodigies—was worthy of admiration.
Despite its side effects, the technique's potential reached the realm of Six Paths. Even if it cost one's life to reach that level…
In the shinobi world, how many people spent their entire lives stuck at Genin? Or forever stagnant at Chūnin? Most never came close to Jōnin-level power.
If giving up your life granted you Six Paths-level strength, Danzo's Root division would've ruled the entire world by now.
Just as Orochimaru was about to ask more questions, an ANBU with a dog mask suddenly appeared.
"Orochimaru-sama. The Hokage has summoned you."
The dog-masked ANBU spoke respectfully. He hadn't expected to find Kazane here as well.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had specifically ordered that Kazane be kept in the dark about this Jōnin Council meeting, so the ANBU made no mention of its purpose in front of him.
"Sensei is looking for me? Very well, I'll go meet with him. Kazane, Duy—keep training."
Though Orochimaru found the timing suspicious, he still followed the ANBU after giving his instructions.
Ever since Sarutobi had stripped him of command on the Iwagakure front, there had been a deep rift between them. Even after that, Hiruzen had consistently sidelined him, regardless of how grave the danger.
They hadn't spoken since. For the Hokage to suddenly summon him now… was this a reconciliation?
But when Orochimaru arrived at the Hokage building, he noticed the ANBU wasn't leading him to the office—but to the lower-level conference chamber.
That only deepened his suspicion. What was going on here?
Upon entering the room, Orochimaru saw that nearly all of Konoha's Jōnin had gathered.
Still puzzled, he walked quietly to his seat.
"Now that everyone is here, let's officially begin the Jōnin Council—"
Just as Hiruzen started the meeting, he was interrupted.
"Wait, Sensei—Kazane isn't here. He returned to the village with me. He should still be nearby."
Jiraiya suddenly spoke up, cutting off Hiruzen's announcement.
"...Today's meeting is to discuss Kazane. To avoid conflict of interest… we chose not to inform him."
Hiruzen hadn't expected Jiraiya to speak out like this. Orochimaru hadn't even commented yet, and here Jiraiya was—stepping in on his own. That caught him off guard.
Still, Hiruzen kept a calm tone.
"Discuss Kazane? Sensei, what's going on?"
Jiraiya looked genuinely puzzled.
"Jiraiya, this is a Jōnin council meeting.
Can't you just sit and listen for once?
The Hokage will explain everything."
Koharu Utatane scolded him coldly. While most wouldn't dare speak so bluntly to Jiraiya, she wasn't one to hold back.
Orochimaru, seated beside Jiraiya, gently tugged at his sleeve—signaling him to sit down.
He wanted to hear exactly what Hiruzen had to say about Kazane.
Jiraiya, noticing Orochimaru's gesture, reluctantly sat down. Though he often bickered with Orochimaru, within their team, it had always been Orochimaru who made the final decisions.
Since Orochimaru asked him to wait, he'd wait.
Besides, Kazane was Orochimaru's student. If anyone could defend him, it was his master.
Hiruzen, watching Jiraiya back down, felt a tinge of frustration.
Even his most loyal disciple was now questioning him in front of others. It was becoming clear that all three of his students had truly outgrown him.
"At the Five Kage Summit in the Land of Iron, Kumogakure united with Iwagakure and Kirigakure to demand Konoha hand over Kazane. If we refuse, they've threatened to launch another war."
"However, if Konoha complies, each village has offered to pay five hundred million ryō in war reparations. In other words, by giving up Kazane… Konoha would gain at least ten years of peace. And the sacrifices of our fallen shinobi will not have been in vain."
Hiruzen had been hesitant at first. But Jiraiya's defiance had pushed him closer to Danzo's position.
At this rate, Konoha would no longer be his village.
If he handed it over to Orochimaru and the others, the peace he had worked so hard for would be shattered.
Everything must be for the village. Everything must be for peace…
"I object! Kazane has done so much for Konoha—how can we betray him just because of a few threats?!"
Before Orochimaru could speak, Jiraiya exploded with anger, slamming his palm against the table.
"Yes, Kazane has made great contributions. But precisely because of that, in Konoha's most perilous moment, he should be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. If sacrificing one person could buy Konoha ten years of peace,
I believe Kazane himself would accept it gladly."
Homura Mitokado rose to counter Jiraiya's outburst. He couldn't allow the younger Sannin to ruin their carefully laid plan.
TN/ Don't Tell me we're heading to the birth of a villain? Forced plot or not, but Kazane versus everyone, including allies sounds exciting to me. Let the world burn❤️🔥
Or the old fools would be digging their own grave.