Chen looked at Orochimaru. "Since this is a deal, I need to see what I'm getting. I can't accept something mediocre in exchange for my powerful genjutsu."
Noticing that Chen hadn't outright rejected the idea, Orochimaru felt a surge of satisfaction. As long as there was an opening, no matter how small, he knew he could manipulate the situation to his advantage.
"I'm not sure what might interest Chen-kun," Orochimaru said carefully.
Chen frowned, irritated by the condescending tone. "Call me Chen directly. That 'Chen-kun' feels uncomfortable coming from you. First, show me your sincerity. Let me see what you're offering."
He knew well that Orochimaru had access to many of Konoha's forbidden jutsus, techniques stored in the Scroll of Seals and out of reach for most. Even he, with all his knowledge, craved to study some of these forbidden techniques, like the Edo Tensei.
Orochimaru fell into a thoughtful silence.
Though he possessed a vast collection of jutsus, most were ordinary techniques. After a long deliberation, he pulled out a scroll.
"Here, I have the Flying Thunder God Jutsu developed by the Second Hokage," he began with significance. "Also, the Impure World Reincarnation Jutsu and the Quintuple Rashōmon summoning technique from the First Hokage. I'm not sure if this will meet your expectations."
Chen froze.
The offer exceeded his expectations; they were all S-rank Jutsus.
However, he was aware that Orochimaru's apparent generosity masked a calculation. These ninjutsus, though powerful, were nearly impossible to master for most or required very specific conditions.
The Flying Thunder God Jutsu, for example, was a spatial technique that even Orochimaru hadn't been able to master. Edo Tensei, though fascinating, was notoriously difficult to perfect. And the Quintuple Rashōmon summoning, while impressive, consumed an exorbitant amount of chakra.
He understood that Orochimaru was offering techniques that, though valuable, were not a significant loss to him.
"I didn't expect Orochimaru-san to be so generous," Chen said with admiration.
"Then I won't beat around the bush any longer."
With a flick of his wrist, a scroll appeared in his hand out of nowhere. "This is the practice scroll of the Reincarnation of Horror."
Orochimaru couldn't hide the gleam of greed in his eyes at the sight of the scroll's appearance, but he refrained from asking.
Taking the scroll, he unrolled it impatiently, his fingers eagerly tracing the symbols.
After a thorough examination, he looked up, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. "Chen, you really are a genius," he said happily.
"You've developed such a powerful genjutsu. But if you give it to me so easily, aren't you afraid someone might use this illusion against you?"
Chen responded with a soft laugh. "Heh, since I dare to trade it, I naturally have no fear." His gaze locked onto Orochimaru.
What Orochimaru didn't know was that the effectiveness of the Reincarnation of Horror varied greatly depending on the user. The mental power of the caster significantly determined the strength of the illusion.
Moreover, Chen was confident that no one could use against him a jutsu he had created and researched thoroughly.
But most importantly, his trump card was the existence of an even more powerful genjutsu he had developed:
Infinite Reincarnation. This technique was practically incomprehensible to anyone whose mental power wasn't ten times greater than Chen's.
It was an improved and perfected version of the Reincarnation of Horror, a Super S-rank genjutsu that could only be compared to the Infinite Tsukuyomi and the fearsome Kotoamatsukami.
Orochimaru stood up. "Thank you, Chen. I won't bother you any longer, I'll take my leave." His eyes gleamed with anticipation, eager to study the new genjutsu.
Chen, still seated, waved a dismissive hand. "We're just getting what we need. There's no need to thank me. We might have more trade opportunities in the future."
"Then I look forward to our next deal," Orochimaru replied eagerly.
As Orochimaru slid toward the door, Chen watched him.
No sooner had he stepped outside than Orochimaru found himself face to face with Tsunade and the girls.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes, her stance immediately defensive. "Orochimaru, what are you doing here?"
"Ah, Tsunade-san!" Orochimaru smiled. "I just asked Chen for a little favor. I'm done, so I'll be on my way." Without waiting for a response, he slipped through the group, quickly vanishing into the shadows of the tents.
Tsunade frowned, muttering "That's strange" as she entered the house.
"What was Orochimaru after?" she asked, her eyes fixed on Chen.
Chen, still casually seated, toyed with a scroll. "He came to exchange a jutsu."
Curiosity sparkled in her eyes. "What jutsu? Let me see." She took the scroll and unrolled it, her eyes widening.
"These are all forbidden techniques! Even if Orochimaru is the Old Man's student, he couldn't obtain these, right?"
Chen shrugged. "Shouldn't you have access to these jutsus from the Senju clan?"
Tsunade shook her head in frustration. "We only have access to the ninjutsu left by Grandfather. Everything else was written in the Scroll of Seals by the Second Grandfather. Even the Senju clan can't see it without permission."
"The Second Hokage really didn't help the Senju clan at all. No wonder it's declined," Chen couldn't help but comment.
Tsunade sighed, handing the scroll back. "It's fine. After all, he's my second grandfather. We have no right to talk about him. Let's get some rest. We might be on the battlefield tomorrow."
Chen nodded, putting the scroll away.
Night fell over the camp, bringing with it an unsettling silence.
At dawn, a sudden commotion broke the quiet. Chen and the others were startled awake, the sound of agitated voices and hurried footsteps filtering through the earthen walls.
Chen quickly got up, rubbing his eyes as he headed to the dining area. "What's going on? Is there a fight?" he asked, ready to step out and take a look.
Upon entering the dining area, he stopped dead in his tracks.
He couldn't believe what he was seeing...
Tsunade stood there, wearing nothing but an oversized shirt that barely covered her body.
It was an old garment, hanging down to her knees, but the thin, worn fabric did little to disguise the provocative silhouette of her body.
Her neckline was dangerously open, exposing much of her enormous breasts, which seemed on the verge of spilling out.
Her nipples, hard and erect, were clearly visible through the fabric.
Every movement she made caused the shirt to ride up, exposing even more of her long, smooth legs, and the perfect curve of her hips, leaving little to the imagination.
It was an image Chen couldn't ignore: her voluptuous, completely naked body under that minimal garment triggered a desire he had been repressing.
The dim morning light accentuated every curve, making her bare skin glow as her lips curved into a lazy, seductive smile.
"No need to go out, it's probably just a minor enemy raid. Get used to it," Tsunade said as she yawned, stretching casually as she spoke. Her tone suggested she wasn't in any hurry, as if the commotion around them didn't affect her at all.
As she yawned, she stretched sensually, causing the shirt to rise even higher, revealing the tops of her thighs and hinting that she wore nothing underneath.
Chen was completely stunned, unable to take his eyes off Tsunade's body. So much time without a woman was affecting him.
"Mikoto, come. Let's cook. If you're not well-fed, you won't be able to fight properly," Tsunade said nonchalantly, as if she weren't aware of the devastating effect she was having on Chen.
She sat down at the table without a trace of modesty, her massive breasts swaying slightly under the fabric as she settled in.
Ignoring Chen, who was still mesmerized, she leaned forward, the shirt's fabric stretching dangerously and offering an even more scandalous view of her nipples.
The scene was so erotic that Chen could hardly contain himself.
The image of Tsunade, half-naked and completely indifferent, was seared into his mind, making everything else fade around him.
The background noise and bustle of the camp became irrelevant compared to the provocative display before him.
After breakfast, a messenger entered to inform them they were to gather, but Chen barely processed the words.
Gritting his teeth, he swore that Tsunade would pay for this.
Chen and the girls arrived at the meeting point.
The camp was buzzing with activity, ninjas of all ages and ranks forming orderly lines.
Chen scanned the area, noticing the furtive glances some were casting his way. He wasn't sure if it was because of his recent confrontation with Hiruzen or his youth, but to his surprise, he found himself assigned to the front-line combat force instead of the logistics department as he had expected.
Despite the seriousness of the situation, a barely perceptible smile crossed his lips.
With a sigh, he turned to Mikoto and Kushina, who had been assigned to the logistics department. His eyes fell on Konan, the little girl clinging to Mikoto's hand, her big eyes filled with fear and uncertainty.
"Take care of her," he said. Although he knew he could protect Konan even on the front lines, the idea of exposing the child to the horrors of battle turned his stomach. "I know she'll be safe with you."
Mikoto nodded, gently squeezing Konan's hand. Kushina, for her part, showed fierce determination in her gaze. "Don't worry, we'll protect her with our lives," she affirmed.
As Chen watched them walk away, a familiar voice resonated near his ear. "Little brat, is this your first time in a scene like this? Are you scared?" Jiraiya, with his imposing height of 1.87 meters, wrapped an arm around Chen's shoulders, who still looked small in comparison.
Chen ignored this. "No, actually I'm looking forward to this scene. The battlefield is a man's romance." He hugged Ryūjin Jakka against his chest.
Jiraiya raised an eyebrow. "You're just a kid, what kind of man could you be? But, you still like using a sword?"
Chen spun the sword in his hands with a skill that surprised Jiraiya. "My skill with the sword is very good. There would be no problem killing many toads with it. Want to try it?" With a defiant smile, he fixed his gaze on Jiraiya's steady eyes.
Jiraiya's face tensed. Without saying another word, he walked away, leaving Chen alone with his thoughts.
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