Orochimaru announced the order to retreat.
The Konoha shinobi, who were currently fighting in Yugakure, began to fall back, retreating steadily toward the entrance of the village.
As they regrouped, Orochimaru scanned the remaining Konoha forces. His sharp eyes narrowed slightly in displeasure.
Before this mission, their numbers had likely been just under a hundred—perhaps around ninety shinobi. Now, as he counted, including the injured, barely forty remained.
Although the surprise assault on Yugakure was nearing success, the cost had been devastatingly high.
The outcome of this mission now hinged on a single factor: Kuroiwa Tatsuji's neutrality.
Jiraiya, his body bloodied from the battle, approached Orochimaru and asked, "Orochimaru, what about that old man? Did he agree?"
"I'm not sure," Orochimaru replied, his voice steady but cold. "But regardless, we need to pull back. We can't afford to continue fighting."
Jiraiya gave a solemn nod. He was exhausted beyond measure and knew their forces couldn't last much longer.
Still, Orochimaru was confident that Kuroiwa Tatsuji would accept his proposal. If not, then Yugakure would cease to exist. Orochimaru's resolve was absolute.
Turning to his remaining forces, Orochimaru issued a final command. "We wait here for five minutes. Stay sharp and hold your positions until the rest of our comrades join us. Once five minutes are up. We leave—no exceptions."
Time ticked by, each second dragging like an eternity.
The Konoha shinobi, including Orochimaru and Jiraiya, unleashed jutsu after jutsu toward Yugakure, ensuring neither the Kumogakure shinobi nor the Yugakure shinobi could mount an effective counterattack.
The most active among them was Namikaze Minato.
Relying on his incredible speed, Minato darted back and forth across the battlefield, rescuing a Konoha shinobi with every pass. His movements were relentless, almost a blur.
But Minato was reaching his limit. He was exhausted, his chakra reserves nearly depleted. Still, he pressed on, determined to save as many as he could.
As he prepared to dash back into the fray one more time, Jiraiya stepped in and stopped him.
"That's enough, Minato," Jiraiya said firmly. "You've done everything you can. Don't push yourself any further—we're about to retreat, and you're at your limit."
"Jiraiya-sensei, please!" Minato pleaded, his voice desperate. "There's still a little time left. Let me go one more time."
Jiraiya shook his head. "No, Minato. You can't. Your speed has already started to slow down—haven't you noticed? If you go back now, you'll be putting yourself in danger, and there's not enough time left to save anyone else."
He glanced briefly toward Orochimaru. "Orochimaru said five minutes, and he meant it. He's not going to wait even a second longer. Everyone who could be saved has already been evacuated. As for those who haven't…"
Jiraiya trailed off, his expression grim. The unspoken truth was clear—the situation was beyond saving for those still trapped inside.
Namikaze Minato lowered his head slightly, falling silent.
When the five minutes were up, Orochimaru spoke decisively: "Retreat now! Place detonating tags along the way as we fall back. Move!"
The remaining Konoha shinobi gathered at the entrance of Yugakure and began their retreat as a unit.
The withdrawal went smoother than expected, with minimal interference from the Kumogakure forces.
By the time they reached their encampment, the sun had risen high—it was almost noon.
Sora, who had pushed himself far beyond his limits during the battle, had already retired to his tent to rest. The others, exhausted and injured, sought healing and recovery wherever they could.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya, however, didn't take a moment to rest. There was too much to do.
"Orochimaru," Jiraiya began, "the headcount is finished. We have 43 shinobi remaining. Out of those, only 32 are currently capable of combat."
Orochimaru's expression darkened, his features tightening as he digested the grim news. "Send an immediate request to Konoha for reinforcements. We'll need at least 60 additional shinobi if we want to hold the line as we push forward."
Jiraiya frowned. "Orochimaru, are you planning to advance the front immediately? Isn't this a bit too hasty? Shouldn't we wait for reinforcements to arrive before making such a move?"
Orochimaru focused on the sand table before him, but he didn't look up. "The advance must happen now. If we delay, the enemy will have time to reorganize, and our momentum will be lost. The entire point of this assault on Yugakure will have been for nothing, and the sacrifices we made will be in vain."
Jiraiya sighed, reluctant but understanding the logic. "I understand. I'll handle the request for reinforcements. How far do you plan to push the front?"
Orochimaru picked up a small Konoha flag from the sand table and placed it ten kilometres from their current position. "At least ten kilometres," he replied firmly.
Jiraiya's eyes widened in surprise. "That far? Can we even hold that position?"
Orochimaru's tone was calm, almost clinical. "No, not with our current numbers. That's precisely why we need to push the front further."
Jiraiya was confused. "I don't get it. Why push the front forward if you know we can't hold it?"
Orochimaru's gaze didn't waver from the sand table. "It's simple. We need room. Konoha's reinforcements won't reach us in a day or two. If we advance conservatively and hold a closer position, the moment Cloud Shinobi mount an offensive, we'll be forced to retreat back to this camp." He tapped the sand table with his finger, emphasizing their current location. "But if we push the front farther now, we'll have the space to fight while retreating strategically. By the time reinforcements arrive, we'll be able to hold the line here, at this position."
Jiraiya finally understood the logic, though he couldn't help but sigh at Orochimaru's calculated approach. "I have to hand it to you, Orochimaru. Your strategic mind is something else. Honestly, if you had been in charge of this operation from the beginning, we might not be in this mess at all."
Orochimaru didn't mince words. "That's not a possibility—it's a certainty. You're too cautious, Jiraiya. War isn't a game. It's like two wild beasts locked in a fight to the death. The moment one shows weakness, the other will seize the opportunity to tear it apart."
Jiraiya leaned back in his chair, his expression tired. "I don't want to be overly cautious, but charging ahead recklessly like you do isn't my style either. Anyway, how's the situation on Konoha's other fronts?"
Orochimaru turned his sharp, snake-like eyes toward Jiraiya. "The battle with Iwagakure and Sunagakure is holding steady. The real trouble right now is Kirigakure—they may join the conflict soon. And, of course, the situation here in Land of Hot Water is especially problematic. That's why the Hokage sent me to handle it."
Jiraiya sighed deeply, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's only been a few years since the Second Shinobi World War ended. I can't believe we're already in the middle of another one. Would it really be so hard for everyone to live in peace?"
Orochimaru's lips curled into a faint, condescending smirk. "You're as naive as ever, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya chuckled lightly. "Maybe. But there's nothing wrong with a little naivety now and then. It's exhausting living with your kind of clarity all the time."
After a pause, Jiraiya's tone softened. "By the way, how's your disciple? During the Second Shinobi World War, besides you and Nawaki, the only one who could keep up with me was that kid, Yahiko."
At the mention of Nawaki, Orochimaru's golden eyes narrowed slightly, though his face remained impassive. "Yahiko sustained minor injuries and overextended himself, but he'll recover soon. There's nothing to worry about."
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