Chapter 300 The Price of Freedom

The bathing pool was filled with mist, and the sound of trickling water flowing into the pool was like string music. Perhaps it was because of the high temperature, but Jiraiya, who was always known as a hero, now had water droplets all over his face, and even his eyes became evasive.

The ruling group headed by Hayama proposed to let Orochimaru go out to perform tasks, which was full of contradictions. You know, Orochimaru's reputation in the Land of Fire has long been infamous. If it weren't for the old party protecting him, he would not be able to protect himself even if he had powerful power.

The end of the year is approaching, and the Journal of the Ninjutsu Research Association has announced that next year will be a critical year. At this time, sending Orochimaru out to carry out a mission with ulterior motives is nothing short of sinister.

It's very easy to be a rebel ninja these days. All you have to do is pick up a kunai and scratch a mark on the forehead protector. And as long as you are careful enough, you won't even be in danger of your life.

As for whether Orochimaru would choose to be a rebel ninja, others did not dare to say anything, but Jiraiya was 100% sure that the self-righteous guy would not even go to the Rain Country honestly, but would betray the so-called Will of Fire on the spot.

"Hokage-sama, Orochimaru's identity is sensitive right now. If we let him out of the village, he will most likely be difficult to control."

After hesitating for a long time, Jiraiya finally made up his mind to tell the truth. He was a free and unrestrained ninja, but he had his own way of ninja in his heart. He always put the interests of the village first and would not sacrifice public interests for personal reasons.

Ye Shan smiled with relief and said, "I know all this. Orochimaru is a guy who values ​​his own interests over the collective, but I am still willing to send him on the mission."

"Why?" Jiraiya asked in confusion.

"Before answering this question, I would like to ask you something. How do you think the head of a ninja village should use his subordinates correctly?"

Jiraiya unconsciously glanced at Minato Namikaze, hoping to get some clues from him, but Minato was leaning against the edge of the bathtub with his eyes slightly narrowed, and seemed unaware of what was happening here.

After a while, Jiraiya gritted his teeth and said, "Rewards and punishments are clear, and everyone is employed according to their talents."

Ye Shan nodded and praised: "What a great way to make the best use of one's talents! As the village leaders, every decision we make is of great importance and even determines the direction of the ninja world. Naturally, we must make the best use of one's talents."

"Orochimaru's sensitive identity is well known to everyone. To be honest, it wouldn't be strange if he killed me one day, so it's not surprising for him to be a spy."

"Double agent?"

"That's right," Uchiha Keiji added with a smile, "The Land of Rain is a mixed bag. The village wants to learn more about the so-called Samsara Eye, but you also know that ordinary ninjas do not have the strength to complete the task, otherwise they would not send Orochimaru there anyway."

"Why are you telling me this?" Jiraiya asked in confusion.

"Ten years ago, you took it upon yourself to stay in the Rain Country for nearly a year and trained three outstanding ninjas. Their names are Yahiko, Konan and Nagato. Do I need to say more about the rest?" Uchiha Keiji said with a smile.

Jiraiya's face flashed with pain, and after a few seconds he said: "I can swear in the name of the Toad Sage that I definitely did not teach them any ninjutsu involving the core of the ninja village. They were just some small self-defense techniques."

Ye Shan reached out to grab a cigarette from the side of the bathtub, lit it, took a puff and squinted his eyes and said, "I believe you, but the world emphasizes cause and effect. The cause you planted ten years ago has now become the result that threatens Konoha. No matter what role you played in it, you must bear the main responsibility."

There is nothing wrong with what he said. In the ninja world, there is no drama of teaching ninjutsu just because you have a unique bone structure. The master-disciple relationship means everything. Since Jiraiya taught the enemy ninjutsu ten years ago, he should deal with the enemy now.

"Then I'll be the spy!"

Ye Shan shook his head, handed the latter a cigarette and said, "You are not suitable."

"Orochimaru is the best candidate, and I won't let him work for nothing. At least he can get the corresponding freedom."

Namikaze Minato glanced at his sweaty master and finally couldn't help but said, "Master, you've made a mistake once. Now the Hokage has given you a chance to make amends. You must seize it!"

"In the past few years, you have been hanging around in these places of custom, and you seem to be very cool, but ask yourself, is this really what you want?"

Jiraiya's expression changed repeatedly. He was a little dissatisfied. It was the first time that one of the three ninjas spent the whole day doing nothing in the club. But if he was asked to push his childhood friend into the vortex of espionage in exchange for his own future, he would not do such a thing.

Namikaze Minato had long been unhappy with Orochimaru, and now he would not let go of this golden opportunity, and continued: "Orochimaru has committed serious sins and has caused irreparable negative impacts on the village. It is time for him to do something to make up for his mistakes. And Master, don't worry, Master, when the ninja world is unified in the future, the Hokage will not treat him unfairly."

Ye Shan put out his cigarette and said calmly, "I just mentioned it tonight. Whether to send Orochimaru to carry out the mission in the end still needs further investigation. You have close contacts with him on weekdays, so I will give you one day to do ideological work. The two of you will report to the Hokage's office at 10 am the day after tomorrow."

Uchiha Fugaku, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened his eyes and said with a smile: "Have you finished talking about the matter? If you have, let's go upstairs and give us a massage."

Several people left the bath one after another. Jiraiya sorted out his confused emotions and was about to follow, but his apprentice signaled with his eyes. The two of them came to a relatively secluded place, obviously having something to say.

Namikaze Minato didn't have any preface, he went straight to the point: "This mission is of great importance. If we do it well, it will be a great achievement. If we mess it up, the old party will be really ruined. The Hokage has limited patience with you guys, you must cherish the opportunity."

Jiraiya smiled bitterly and said, "It's not that I don't want Orochimaru to carry out the mission, I'm really worried that he will turn his fake act into reality and really become a traitor, which will bring immeasurable losses to the village!"

"With the wisdom of Hokage, you should have guessed this possibility long ago." Namikaze Minato hesitated for a moment, and finally revealed the truth to his master: "This mission is actually a deal. If Orochimaru wants to gain true freedom, he must carry out the mission honestly, otherwise he will stay in the Security Department as a low-level ninja for the rest of his life!"

"So don't worry. Even if Orochimaru really becomes a traitor, he will be a traitor loyal to Konoha! He will send back all the information that needs to be sent back, and after dealing with the Akatsuki organization, he will be free. Of course, the premise is still to abide by the rules and not do anything harmful to Konoha."

Jiraiya sighed and nodded to show that he understood. The two of them pretended nothing had happened and went to the massage room. Before they even entered the door, they heard Uchiha Fugaku's happy laughter.

"Really? You're only twenty?"

Seeing them come in, Uchiha Fugaku's face became stern, as if he had turned back into the serious Deputy Hokage. However, Uchiha Keiji had no scruples and continued to talk with the technician.

Ye Shan lay on his back on the bed, his eyes closed and he whispered, "Go to the border after the New Year. It's boring to stay in the village all the time."

Although he didn't specify who it was, Jiraiya knew that this was a promise to him, and he immediately said, "I am no stranger to border garrison, and I have a wealth of experience. Please rest assured, Hokage."

"It would be a waste of talent to have you join the garrison. It goes against my principle of employing people to the best of their abilities. Come to my office the day after tomorrow to discuss this in detail."

Jiraiya didn't say much after hearing this. He lay on the bed thinking about his troubles, but suddenly he heard the sound of loud high heels. He couldn't help feeling angry. When he was about to get up and scold, he shuddered and lay down again with a gloating expression on his face.

Ye Shan was enjoying a comfortable massage when he suddenly smelled a familiar fragrance. While he was still wondering who it was, a hand slapped his back with such force that it left a mark.

"Sigh~"

Because he was lying on the bed, Ye Shan couldn't see the face of the person who came, but he had already guessed who it was. He shouted angrily: "What are you going to do?"

Uchiha Keiji and Uchiha Fugaku looked at each other, walked out of the room tactfully, and stood outside the door, watching the situation inside happily.

Tsunade was very angry and slapped him again, shouting, "I'll give the Hokage a massage!"

Ye Shan was speechless for a while, and said weakly: "It's just a massage, why are you using so much strength?"

"I'll beat you to death, you heartless guy!"

My goodness, as soon as this sentence came out, several people outside the door disappeared instantly, looking like bad friends.

Ye Shan sighed and said, "What I do has nothing to do with you, please leave."

How does the saying go? If we can't have red eyes when we meet again, can we still have red faces? Tsunade's eyes turned red with hatred at this moment, and she wished she could strangle this damn guy to death.

"Do you really want to be a scumbag?"

Ye Shan: “…”

Well, it was you who wanted to break up in the first place, and it’s you who’s coming here to make a fuss now. So you’re really a non-stick pan, and all the mistakes are mine, right?