Jutsu isn't something that can be developed overnight.
Even after discussing it the entire night, the three of them only managed to establish a rough framework and direction for the jutsu.
With a clear direction, combined with Orochimaru and Tsunade's expertise to overcome obstacles and solve problems, it was only a matter of time before the jutsu on paper would be successfully created.
Because of this, Kagetsu had another task to do every night, which made him return home later and later. This also made the Nara clan members give him strange looks.
However, Kagetsu no longer had the energy to care about that.
The Third Hokage stood by the window, puffing out smoke. Behind him, sitting casually without a care, was Jiraiya, who had been summoned by him.
"Old man, what do you need from me?"
Hearing Jiraiya's loud and carefree voice, a hint of helplessness flashed in the Third Hokage's eyes. He turned around and looked at Jiraiya.
"Didn't I tell you to reach out to Tsunade and Orochimaru more often these days?"
"I did reach out," Jiraiya's voice dropped slightly, but he quickly regained his usual spirit.
"Your version of 'reaching out' is just meeting up with them once?" The Third Hokage was frustrated. He wanted Jiraiya to help fix the situation, but Jiraiya didn't seem to get the seriousness of it.
"Isn't that enough?" Jiraiya shrugged helplessly. "They don't really want to see me anyway, and besides, Minato needs me too."
"Forget it." The Third Hokage opened his mouth to say something but fell silent when he saw Jiraiya's carefree grin. Follow current novels on NoveI~Fire.net
Why did he even expect Jiraiya to help in this situation?
"If that's all, I'll head back now. Minato's waiting for me at home." Jiraiya stood up, jumped over to the window, and opened it, looking back at the Third Hokage.
The Third Hokage waved him off.
Without hesitation, Jiraiya leaped out of the window.
It wasn't that Jiraiya didn't understand the Third Hokage's hints. He just didn't want to get involved and make the already strained relationship between the three of them even worse.
As a ninja skilled in gathering intelligence, even though he hadn't returned to the village for three years, enough time had passed for him to piece together some things, whether he was supposed to know them or not.
That was precisely why he didn't want the Third Hokage to pull him into the situation. The current situation was already complicated enough; he didn't want to stir up more trouble.
He couldn't solve the core issues, nor could he convince Tsunade or Orochimaru, let alone his own teacher. So, what was the point of getting involved? Wouldn't he just get stuck in the mess too?
It was better to focus all his energy on training Minato and make up for neglecting him as a teacher over the past three years, avoiding the village's whirlpool of chaos altogether.
After all, he didn't want the position of Hokage, right?
At the Akimichi barbecue shop...
"You two are so unfair!"
Anko's eyes were wide with anger as she glared at Orochimaru and Kagetsu. Tsunade and Shizune stood nearby, arms crossed, watching the amusing scene in silence.
"You both trained in secret and left me out!"
"We didn't," Orochimaru replied calmly, "Kagetsu and I were just creating a new jutsu."
"That makes it even worse!" Anko's face turned red with frustration. "Are you questioning my intelligence, Orochimaru-sensei?!"
"What he means is, he's creating this jutsu specifically for us, mostly for you," Kagetsu added, instantly making Anko freeze. The jealousy that had been burning inside her cooled off significantly.
"No way! You're lying!" Anko's expression quickly hardened again. She didn't quite believe Kagetsu's words, but as she denied it, her eyes kept darting over to Orochimaru's face.
"It's true. I'm from the Nara clan, so I mainly focus on our clan's secret techniques. Orochimaru-sensei has no reason to create another jutsu just for me," Kagetsu said seriously.
"You make a good point, but I still feel like you're just trying to avoid trouble and trick me!" Anko listened carefully, and logically, Kagetsu's explanation seemed flawless. Yet her instincts told her something was off.
She wasn't the sharpest with her mind, but her intuition was surprisingly strong.
It wasn't the first time Kagetsu had noticed Anko's sharp instincts.
Kagetsu was grateful that his natural talents didn't come with the same bad temper and personality traits as Kurotsuchi Mayuri. So he had no intention of teasing Anko or getting on her nerves. As long as he calmed her down and kept her from ruining the mood, that was enough.
"You don't have to trust me, but you can trust Orochimaru-sensei," Kagetsu didn't hesitate to pull Orochimaru into the situation with him.
"Once this jutsu is complete, you'll be the first to learn it," Orochimaru said after thinking it over.
Anko's face immediately flushed again, but this time, it was from happiness and excitement, not anger.
"Orochimaru-sensei is the best!" Anko shouted.
"Doesn't she realize she's being tricked?" Shizune whispered into Tsunade's ear after watching the whole scene unfold.
"Don't ruin the kid's excitement," Tsunade replied softly.
The jutsu they were working on, "Blood Armor," had already reached its first prototype after a period of research. However, since it was based on extremely complex and powerful forbidden techniques at the S-rank level, it was very difficult to master.
But when split apart, it can be divided into two A-rank techniques.
This is a rough, simplified first version, making it easier to practice.
If you add nature or shape transformation, the two split techniques can evolve into the full version, classified as S-rank forbidden jutsu.
It's like Tsunade's Creation Rebirth and Strength of a Hundred Technique.
But for now, the basic version is enough. They needed to test it first.
Orochimaru and Kagetsu didn't care about keeping the technique secret. Especially Kagetsu, who was already satisfied as long as it was created successfully.
And as for teaching it to Anko?
Kagetsu didn't object—in fact, he was the first to suggest it. Even with Shizune and the others, Kagetsu had no intention of holding anything back.
After all, this jutsu was technically the creation of the three of them, with Orochimaru and Tsunade playing the biggest roles.
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