The rare relaxation of New Year's Eve was suddenly interrupted by an unexpected distress signal, causing all the support teams lurking within the Land of Rain to become tense and rush towards the signal source.
"Can you keep up? If you can't, don't force it. Just focus on your own safety."
Before departing, Captain Aburame looked at Tatsuma and Minato. He leaned towards advising them not to go. After all, if they rushed into battle immediately upon arrival, and if Tatsuma and Minato struggled to keep up but were unable to fight effectively upon arrival, it would only increase the danger.
However, upon hearing the question, both Tatsuma and Minato immediately shook their heads. After all, it was their sensei who sent the distress signal.
Seeing this, Captain Aburame did not insist further. After all, seeking assistance was a matter of urgency, and there was no time to persuade others.
The team also didn't bother to conceal their tracks. With so many people in the group, they were bound to be exposed. Trying to conceal their presence would be futile. It was better to save time and reach their destination as soon as possible.
Everyone formed hand seals simultaneously and activated the Body Flicker Jutsu, following behind Captain Aburame. Captain Aburame held a device resembling a Dragon Ball detector, adjusting the direction as he watched the small blinking light on the crude screen.
Tatsuma and Minato struggled to keep up without falling behind. Along the way, they rendezvoused with several other lurking teams.
From night until dawn, during breaks in his sensory duties, Tatsuma could sense a large concentration of chakra gathering in the distance. The support teams were already in a state of readiness, clearly prepared to engage in combat at a moment's notice.
Meanwhile, inside a cave, Tsunade was treating Jiraiya's injuries sustained from their pursuit of battle.
Such was the nature of the battlefield; those already injured were more susceptible to further harm, often leading to fatal consequences.
The cave continued to shake as it endured the onslaught from the Hidden Rock Village ninjas. The continuous barrage of ninjutsu attacks dimmed Orochimaru's eyes with each passing moment.
"Give it up, Tsunade."
Finally, hoarse and cold words came from his mouth as he looked at Tsunade, who still refused to stop. He said, "The attacks from the Hidden Rock Village will eventually break through this mountain. If you want to escape, there can be no hesitation. Right now, you and I must leave."
"What about Jiraiya?" Tsunade said, discontented.
Orochimaru pursed his lips and replied, "Trying to take Jiraiya, injured as he is, is simply impossible."
"That's why I need to treat him."
"Tsunade, this is war. We cannot let personal feelings decrease our chances."
"What chances?" Tsunade asked, turning to Orochimaru. Orochimaru looked at Tsunade's anxious face and said, "The chance of survival and the chance of completing the mission. In our current situation, escaping alive with one person is impossible. Perhaps with two people it might be possible, but with three people, it's certain death."
Listening to Orochimaru's increasingly cold expression, Tsunade's anxiety turned to shock. She knew Orochimaru treated emotions more indifferently than most, but how could he be so indifferent? These were teammates, these were friends.
!
Stared at by Tsunade, Orochimaru finally averted his gaze and said, "Killing Jiraiya, killing a teammate, that's something I'll take care of. Once there's no one left to save, you'll be willing to leave, right?"
With that, Orochimaru took out a Kunai and approached them. Tsunade also turned her head back, the Chakra glow attached to her hands for Medical Ninjutsu becoming increasingly intense. When Orochimaru came up behind her and raised the Kunai, seemingly aimed at the unconscious Jiraiya, Tsunade's voice became incredibly cold as she said, "If you dare to do this, I'll kill you."
"Rumbling~"
The shaking of the cave intensified, and light could even be seen through some cracks. Orochimaru took a deep breath and said, "Then let's see who strikes first."
Just then, Jiraiya, who had been unable to move, suddenly trembled in his right hand. Then, he slowly raised his right hand, gesturing a thumbs-up toward Orochimaru.
Seeing this, Tsunade said, "Given the circumstances, Jiraiya still trusts you. In the face of this trust, can you still act?"
".Boring."
Orochimaru gritted his teeth and made a decision. Seeing Orochimaru still intending to act, Tsunade no longer concealed anything and said, "Orochimaru, I've called for reinforcements. The support team will arrive soon."
"You called for reinforcements? When... no, do you know what this means?"
Upon hearing Tsunade's words, Orochimaru briefly lost focus, then anger appeared on his face. He said, "Do you want Konoha to become the enemy of the entire Shinobi world? Land of Rain, Land of Earth will declare war on us, and if we lose even once, just once, the Land of Lightning, which has been neutral so far, will immediately act, just for the sake of one Jiraiya?!"
Tsunade continued to treat Jiraiya, even though the Mystical Palm Jutsu had limited effectiveness on internal injuries. She didn't stop, remaining silent for a moment before responding, "Then we just won't lose even once!"
Seeing Tsunade still so stubborn, Orochimaru said angrily, "Can you guarantee that we won't lose even once?! Even if you can, can you guarantee that more people won't die because of this? You are too selfish!"
"Me selfish?" Tsunade's hands trembled slightly. Indeed, from Orochimaru's perspective, if the war escalated as a result, more people would die than if they gave up on Jiraiya now. Sacrificing more lives for the sake of one person could also be considered selfish. But... no, there was no 'but.' Tsunade could only stubbornly say, "I will do everything I can to prevent people from dying."
"Kill Jiraiya, cancel the operation before the support team takes massive action, cover their tracks!" Orochimaru no longer argued with Tsunade about that statement. He knew Tsunade realized her mistake, but Tsunade's character wouldn't change. Now they could only try to remedy the situation before it further deteriorated.
Orochimaru speculated that Tsunade must have called for help only after they were besieged and Jiraiya was injured again, seeking refuge in this cave. If it had been just half an hour ago, they might have been able to cancel the operation in time to deceive the Rain Country ninjas, but what he didn't know was that Tsunade had sent out the distress call last night.
Orochimaru raised his Kunai once again, this time without hesitation in his motion to stab Jiraiya. He had to deal with Jiraiya as quickly as possible, take Tsunade away, and then call off the support team's operation.
"Boom!"
Despite the deafening explosion and the subsequent collapse of the cave, Orochimaru's actions were not deterred. But just as the Kunai was about to pierce Jiraiya, Tsunade turned around and firmly grabbed his right wrist holding the Kunai.
With his left hand also seized by Tsunade's other hand, Orochimaru could even hear footsteps. Despair appeared on his face. It was all too late.
"Jiraiya! Tsunade! Orochimaru!"
Upon hearing the voices of the approaching individuals, Orochimaru felt like his heart had stopped, but Tsunade's face lit up with hope. Just as Orochimaru was puzzled by Tsunade's change in demeanor, the sound came again.
"Reinforcements have arrived!"
Accompanied by some Wind Style Ninjutsu, seemingly aimed at dispersing the dust inside the cave, Tsunade released Orochimaru's right hand at this moment and pushed him forward, creating some distance between them.
As the dust settled, Orochimaru was several steps away from Tsunade and Jiraiya. Although he held a Kunai, no one would suspect that he intended to kill Jiraiya.
Tsunade gave Orochimaru a stern look, saying no more. Both she and Jiraiya, who was half-lying on the ground, understood that what happened here today must not be known to others.
There was no right or wrong in the different decisions made by Orochimaru and Tsunade. Orochimaru opted for the lesser of two evils, abandoning Jiraiya to avoid escalation of the war, which was not wrong. But Tsunade chose to support in order to save her comrade, which was also not wrong. Moreover, it was what their sensei, the Third Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen, would have demanded.
Many things are not disputes of right or wrong. Different people choose different answers, which is why people often cannot persuade others.
At this moment, Orochimaru turned around and said to the Ninja who came to support, "You arrived really fast."
A Ninja from the Inuzuka Clan nodded and said, "We received the distress signal last night and hurried over without stopping. Come out first, the cave is about to collapse."
Upon hearing that the distress signal was sent last night, Orochimaru knew there was no way to salvage the situation. He could only nod awkwardly. At this point, the others also entered the cave and helped Jiraiya, who had lost his ability to move.
As they walked out of the cave, Orochimaru saw the Rock Village Ninjas who had surrounded them, now engaged in continuous battle with the Konoha Ninjas, and even recognized some familiar faces among them.
"My grandfather established Konoha to protect everyone. I won't do anything that goes against his will," Tsunade said to Orochimaru at this moment. Orochimaru didn't reply, but continued to look towards the battlefield. Tsunade also turned her head, following Orochimaru's gaze.
However, with just one glance, the slight ease that had finally appeared on her face quickly turned into tension again. She saw her disciple and Jiraiya's disciple mixing in with the team, battling against the Rock Village Ninjas.
Especially seeing her disciple's left shoulder already stained with blood, and his movements somewhat unnatural, clearly indicating he was injured, Tsunade couldn't help but exclaim, "Do they not realize the danger they're in?!"
"The strength of the First Hokage-sama is enough to protect everyone, but we... instead need those who should be under our protection to protect us," Orochimaru's tone was tinged with self-derision. The will of the First Hokage is something no one can inherit now.
Meanwhile, Tatsuma and Minato in the distance didn't have as many mixed feelings. They had just learned that all three of them were alive, so they were quite happy. After all, being able to help others was also a kind of joy.
No longer worried about the condition of their sensei and others, Tatsuma looked at the Rock Village Ninjas in front of him and said, "You've all been lurking in the Land of Rain so silently for so long, indeed you're all very powerful, but today's victory belongs to us!"
With that, he threw a Shuriken, and his diligently practiced Shuriken Shadow Clone Jutsu for nearly half a year was also unleashed. Hundreds of Shuriken appeared out of thin air and flew towards the Rock Village Ninjas. At the same time, he shouted loudly, "Minato!"
"Ninja Art! Fire Release! Super Phoenix Sage Flower Light Wheel Flame Dance 2nd Style!" Minato shouted loudly, causing his hands, after completing the seals, to pause in front of his chest for a while. His right hand then formed a trumpet shape near his mouth as he took a deep breath. Then, a huge flame, enveloped in oil, spewed out, igniting the hundreds of Shuriken Shadow Clones.
Meanwhile, Tatsuma's mouth twitched. Under Minato's expectant gaze, he could only look at the numerous Rock Village Ninjas engulfed in flames. He imitated Minato's excitement and shouted, "Good job!"
Minato nodded, but still felt a bit regretful. Tatsuma's shout had enough momentum, but it was a bit short.
----
Check out my Patreon for more advanced chapters up to 50 at patreon.com/HellGolt