Arima didn't feel it was his place to interfere in Jiraiya's personal life.
After all, the boy was now an adult and had to be responsible for his own actions. Still, as his teacher, there were some things Arima had to say.
With firm but patient words, Arima said, "Jiraiya, what I want to remind you is this, you must understand the affairs of the ninja world.
You can't rely entirely on Orochimaru. I can overlook a few faults in your personal life, but when it comes to your growth as a shinobi, I want to see genuine improvement soon."
Jiraiya dropped his usual carefree grin. He knew his teacher rarely spoke this seriously, so he took the advice to heart.
Seeing Jiraiya begin to reflect, Orochimaru didn't press him further. Instead, he turned to their teacher and asked, "Is there anything else about the Bounty Exchange you haven't told us?"
Arima sighed helplessly. "This… actually has a lot to do with Konoha."
The other three blinked, momentarily unable to process the connection. Then, Orochimaru blurted out, "Don't tell me it's related to the Second Hokage?"
Arima nodded. "It's one of the village's deepest secrets, known only to a handful of the highest-ranking members of Konoha."
Jiraiya, who'd just been in the middle of self-reflection, immediately perked up. His gossip-loving heart burned with curiosity once again.
Tsunade didn't know much about it either, but she did recall her granduncle once maintained a secret research facility guarded solely by the Senju clan's inner circle.
Arima explained, "Before Konoha was founded, the ninja clans were constantly at war. Old grudges ran deep, and assassination contracts were placed in secret all the time.
Around that time, Second Hokage was heavily invested in developing new jutsu and needed a lot of human specimens.
So he secretly created the early version of the Bounty Exchange, trading money for experimental 'materials.'"
Jiraiya couldn't help interrupting. "So is the Bounty Exchange still under Konoha's control? Why are they selling information about you, sensei? And why are we all on their hit list?"
Arima shook his head. "Originally, the Exchange was run entirely by the Senju clan. But once the other clans found out, Second Hokage redistributed control among the major ninja clans to avoid isolating the Senju.
Over time, however, all those clans gradually lost their grip on the Exchange. Even when they tried to regain control, they would mysteriously lose it again."
Tsunade frowned. "But there must be people staffing it, right? Agents, subordinates, can't we trace them?"
Arima lifted his head and looked at the full moon above. He said softly, "There are many secrets in the shinobi world.
The Sage of Six Paths was real. He brought hope to this world, but also left behind problems we're still dealing with."
The three younger shinobi were stunned. This was the first time their teacher had ever confirmed the Sage's existence so directly.
And knowing how cautious Arima was, they understood he wouldn't speak without certainty.
Orochimaru had thought a lot about the secrets of the ninja world himself. He asked bluntly, "Sensei, earlier you mentioned the ultimate secret of the shinobi world. What is it?"
Tsunade and Jiraiya leaned in as well, curiosity shining in their eyes.
Arima gave a faint smile. "There's much I still can't tell you. Many things are just my own conjecture. All I'll say is everything leads back to the Sage."
The three couldn't make much sense of that. They were missing too many key pieces of the puzzle.
Arima had only offered the conclusion. Still, perhaps once they gained more experience and maturity, they would slowly come to understand the deeper meaning behind his words.
This conversation was just a brief interlude on their journey to Uzushiogakure. After that, they didn't talk much, just focused on traveling.
By dusk, they finally reached the outskirts of Uzushiogakure.
It had been ten years since Arima last stood here. He couldn't help but feel overwhelmed.
If Tsunade hadn't accidentally broken the seal on his prison back then, he might still be wandering that dark void, waiting endlessly for someone to find him.
Thinking of that, he instinctively reached out and gently took Tsunade's soft hand, drawing warmth from her touch.
Tsunade had been about to mention her last visit here a decade ago, but the moment she felt Arima's fingers intertwine with hers, her heart skipped a beat.
She smiled in quiet joy and firmly laced her fingers with his.
She, too, recalled that day. "When you were accidentally sealed inside that Shinigami mask, I was completely lost.
If Orochimaru and Jiraiya hadn't figured it out and told me you were still alive… I would've broken down. You promised you'd never leave me all alone, remember?"
Arima's expression softened with guilt. "That was my fault. I won't ever let you worry like that again."
Tsunade gave a gentle smile and leaned against his chest, feeling the comfort of his familiar scent. As far as she was concerned, as long as Arima was there, she was at peace.
Watching the two of them get all lovey-dovey, Orochimaru and Jiraiya turned away in unison.
"We didn't even eat," Jiraiya muttered. "So why do I feel so full right now?"
Orochimaru smirked at his expression. "Don't tell me you have a thing for Tsunade?"
Jiraiya shrugged coolly. "I admire all women of great… generosity. But every time I see Tsunade, I just remember how ordinary she looked as a kid. That kills the mood for me."
Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "So the one you like, is she from Konoha?"
Jiraiya started to respond, then caught himself. Orochimaru was baiting him. He just grinned mysteriously and said, "Heh. If I said it was love at first sight, you wouldn't believe me. But it doesn't matter. I don't expect to spend my life with her. After all, I've got a world to save."
Orochimaru snorted. "Tch. Playing mysterious now, are we?"
A moment later, Arima called them over. "Let's move."
They resumed their journey. But as soon as the buildings of Uzushiogakure came into view, they noticed signs of recent conflict.
The village had clearly been attacked, walls reduced to rubble, houses badly damaged. Many villagers had been forced to pitch tents in the streets.
When they arrived at the village gates, someone came to greet them.
Arima immediately recognized him, it was Uzumaki Aruo, the clan's elder. By bloodline, Arima was supposed to call him granduncle.
He remembered meeting the village elders years ago, when Mito brought him here and formally passed on her legacy in the clan's ancestral shrine.
Aruo's face lit up when he saw Arima. The grief in his expression vanished in an instant.
"Arima! Thank god you're here. It's been ten years! You've grown up so well, more promising than that brat Hashirama ever was."
Then he turned his gaze to the young woman beside Arima. She bore a faint resemblance to a young Mito.
Aruo chuckled. "You must be the little girl who used to cling to Arima's side all day, Tsunade, right?
Wonderful! Even more spirited than Mito was in her youth. Each generation outshines the last. Ah, when you get old, you can't help but reminisce…"
Tsunade blushed in front of the elder. She'd always relied on Arima. Now, recalling their shared past, her heart overflowed with sweetness.
But Arima couldn't linger on pleasantries. He got straight to the point. "What happened here?"
Aruo's face fell instantly, heavy with sorrow.
"We suffered a terrible blow. I regret not listening to you back then, about setting up a teleportation array with Konoha."
Your Granduncle Ashina… he gave his life to protect the village.
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