Chapter 53: The True Choice!
Inside the cave, Tsunade's voice echoed, filled with fury.
But Uchiha Yosuke, who was busy treating Jiraiya, lowered his head in silence, making it impossible to read his emotions.
"Captain Tsunade, I—"
His hoarse voice was suddenly cut off by the rumbling sound of the mountain shaking.
"Not good! Iwa-nin are here!"
Orochimaru's expression changed as he moved toward the cave entrance. Outside, he could see hundreds of Iwa-nin approaching, densely packed.
"The target is inside the cave, along with an additional chakra source."
One of the Iwa-nin sensors, having located Tsunade and her group, shouted urgently, detecting Uchiha Yosuke's chakra presence as well.
"Forget the rest; everyone, use jutsu to destroy the mountain and bury the Konoha ninjas!"
The leading Iwa-nin jonin calmly commanded the others, and they began to use their techniques in unison.
""Earth Release: Rock Bullet Technique!""
Each Iwa-nin formed hand signs and spat small stones that grew in size as they were imbued with chakra, transforming into stones ranging from the size of a grindstone to small houses, and bombarding the mountain.
The cave shook violently, threatening to collapse.
"It's hopeless. Iwa-nin's Earth Release will eventually destroy this mountain. If we want to escape, we can't hesitate; we need to leave now!"
Having assessed the Iwa-nin's numbers, Orochimaru returned and, in his usual detached tone, suggested breaking out immediately.
"If we act before the main force arrives, we still have a chance to get out."
Tsunade, who was recovering her chakra, frowned and reprimanded, "And what about Jiraiya?!"
Her words made Orochimaru's face tense, but then his eyes glinted with cold resolve as he replied, "Trying to escape while carrying Jiraiya is impossible. But this kid here might still be able to break through with us."
In the dimly lit cave, Orochimaru was ready to leave Jiraiya behind, while Uchiha Yosuke had risked his life to help them, creating a stark contrast.
Yet, for a ninja, such decisions were not about right or wrong!
Although abandoning Jiraiya pained him, Orochimaru could only wrestle with that pain internally.
"Tsunade, this is wartime. We cannot lower our chances of survival over uncertain emotions!"
Tsunade's expression was full of anger as she retorted, "What do you mean by 'chance'?"
"Our chance of survival!"
Orochimaru's gaze turned toward Uchiha Yosuke, who was quietly tending to Jiraiya.
"The two of us, along with this kid, might be able to make it through. But with Jiraiya slowing us down… we'd all die!"
His cold voice reverberated through the cave, making Tsunade's eyes narrow.
Ninjas were cruelly trained to make such decisions, and now they faced a moment of choice.
Orochimaru raised his kunai toward Jiraiya, "If no one objects, I'll end his life now."
He moved toward Jiraiya, but before he could strike, a voice filled with resolve cut through the tension.
"Take one more step, and I'll kill you!"
Tsunade's fierce gaze held Orochimaru back. At that moment, a kunai glinting with cold light was suddenly pressed against her neck.
Tsunade's pupils shrank, and even Orochimaru looked shocked.
"Captain Tsunade, a commander should understand the meaning of sacrifice. In this regard, I think Lord Orochimaru surpasses you."
No one expected Uchiha Yosuke to turn on Tsunade, holding a kunai to her neck.
"Heh, it seems the young Uchiha is more level-headed than you, Tsunade."
Orochimaru's hoarse voice sounded. The pain of abandoning a comrade weighed on him just as heavily, but as Yosuke pointed out, ninjas must grasp the concept of sacrifice!
"You little—!"
Tsunade's eyes were filled with disbelief, then anger. She couldn't believe that this kid would betray them at the last minute.
"But!"
Just as Orochimaru was about to move on Jiraiya, Yosuke's next words made him pause.
"But the sacrifice doesn't have to be Lord Jiraiya!"
His calm words caught both Orochimaru and Tsunade off guard, while Jiraiya, barely conscious, watched the scene unfold, sensing his fate slipping from his hands. Driven by his will to survive, he tried to lift his hand, but Yosuke's calm voice interrupted him.
"Lord Jiraiya's injuries are temporarily stabilized. Before we came here, I left a few hypnotized hawks a hundred kilometers away in the forest, just waiting for my signal. They're strong enough to carry someone across the border."
"Lord Jiraiya's chakra is weak right now, and these hawks aren't summoned animals, so they're unlikely to be detected by enemy sensors."
As he spoke, Yosuke's steady voice hinted that they might not need to abandon Jiraiya after all.
Tsunade's expression softened, and even Orochimaru's sharp eyes showed a flicker of surprise.
"Yes, if we're making a choice, then Jiraiya, as a Konoha elite and a jonin capable of facing kage-level opponents, would be crucial in future battles. However, that leaves one question: who will hold back the Iwa-nin?"
Orochimaru's cold gaze rested on Yosuke, whose mouth curled into a smile as he calmly opened his jacket, revealing rows of explosive tags on his chest.
"I can summon the Slug, perfectly posing as Captain Tsunade. The Iwa-nin will likely prioritize her as a target."
With a nonchalant tone, he chose to risk his own life, and Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with reluctant admiration.
The cave shook, and Tsunade's eyes widened, seeing the explosive tags Yosuke had prepared.
"Uchiha Yosuke!"
This was the true meaning of sacrifice.
He intended to stay behind, drawing in the Iwa-nin to buy them enough time to escape.
"Don't move, Captain Tsunade!"
Yosuke adjusted the kunai against her neck, his calm gaze unwavering as Tsunade's expression shifted from disbelief to complexity—and then to anger.
"Captain Tsunade, calmness is the foundation of a ninja."
Orochimaru watched this scene with a mixed look, then sighed, putting away his kunai with a shake of his head.
"Such a waste, Yosuke. It seems this is as far as your path will go."
Returning his kunai to his pouch, Orochimaru didn't feel much sorrow. After all, Jiraiya was his true comrade.
"If Yosuke can hold the Iwa-nin for a minute, Tsunade and I should be able to get Jiraiya out of here, even with him as a burden."
Sacrifice!
Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya had known each other since school and had become comrades on countless missions, sharing life-and-death situations together.
When it came to sacrificing Jiraiya, they clashed. But would the outcome be different if it were Uchiha Yosuke instead?
**(End of Chapter)**