"Ibuse, break the Ninjutsu on the other side first," Hanzō commanded.
"Ooh-wah, ooh-wah," Ibuse cried loudly, moving its massive body with surprising agility. With a flick of its tail, it obliterated the combined Ninjutsu from the Konoha side, reducing it to ashes.
"Ooh-wah, ooh-wah," the creature seemed to boast to Hanzō, who crouched down and patted its head in encouragement.
Manda's expression shifted as he watched Ibuse. This big guy won't be easy to deal with, he thought grimly.
"Damn, Hanzō's Summoning Beast is incredibly strong," Orochimaru muttered, recognizing Ibuse's power from just that single attack. Facing Hanzō directly, he began to understand why the man was called Demigod.
The Konoha Ninjas and Ame Jōnin clashed in close combat, their Ninjutsu lighting up the battlefield. The chaos claimed lives on both sides.
Orochimaru unsheathed his sword, engaging Hanzō's Kusarigama in a fierce duel. After only a few exchanges, Orochimaru found himself on the back foot, forced to keep an eye on Ibuse's poisonous breath while fending off Hanzō's relentless assault. Frustration mounted as the battle intensified.
Spotting an opportunity, Orochimaru unleashed his Ninjutsu. "Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!" From his sleeves, large snakes shot out, lunging to bite and entangle Hanzō.
"Kenjutsu, Iaidō!" Hanzō's sickle flashed, cutting the snakes apart with ease. The attack left Hanzō unharmed. Seizing the moment, Orochimaru retreated to Manda's back.
Manda, however, was visibly weakened, his body marred with wounds. He had been poisoned—though still holding on, Orochimaru could tell it wouldn't be for much longer. Manda snapped up several Amegakure Ninjas, swallowing them whole to sustain himself.
"I can't hold out much longer. Take care of yourself," Manda warned, continuing to keep Ibuse occupied and away from the Konoha Ninjas.
Orochimaru spat out a mass of snakes. "Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!" The writhing serpents surged toward Hanzō.
"Again? Is that all you've got, Orochimaru—just more snakes?" Hanzō taunted, standing firm. Ibuse devoured the incoming snakes effortlessly before burrowing underground. Moments later, it surfaced, lifting Manda high into the air.
"Orochimaru, I can't hold on much longer."
With those words, Manda vanished in a puff of smoke, retreating to the Ryūchi Cave to recover from his wounds.
"Without your Summoning Beast, you're even less of a match for me," Hanzō sneered, charging at Orochimaru with his kusarigama raised.
Meanwhile, Ibuse unleashed its full destructive power on the battlefield, spewing a dense purple poison mist. The toxic cloud swept across the area, killing many Konoha Ninjas instantly. Even the strongest among them began to falter, their movements sluggish as they succumbed to the poison. Amid the chaos, the Amegakure Ninja pressed their advantage, cutting down the Konoha forces mercilessly.
Orochimaru grimly recognized the inevitable outcome of this battle. Not when Manda vanished, but from the moment he had led this army into the fight, the conclusion had been clear.
"Earth Release: Earth Substitution!" Orochimaru evaded Hanzō's strike, using the technique to escape. He turned his focus to the surviving Konoha Ninja still able to move. "Retreat!" he ordered, leading the remnants of his forces in a desperate flight.
Seven months earlier, the Amegakure Ninjas had been decimated. This time, Konoha had suffered an even greater loss. War showed no mercy to the weak, leaving behind only tragedy—and now, a growing number of orphans.
"Shall we pursue them?" someone asked, appearing beside Hanzō. Like his leader, he wore a gas mask, for Ibuse's poison was indiscriminate.
"Forget it. Killing the Hokage's disciple would bring unnecessary trouble," Hanzō replied. He was unwilling to provoke an all-out confrontation with Konoha. The Land of Rain was still far weaker than the Land of Fire in overall strength.
"Kill the rest and return," Hanzō ordered coldly, without a trace of emotion.
As the Amegakure forces withdrew, the rain began to fall, drenching the battlefield. Blood mixed with the rainwater, staining the ground a deep red. Only a dozen of Orochimaru's forces survived, and aside from those who fled with him, none remained.
"Lord Orochimaru, what should we do?" one of the remaining Konoha Ninjas asked, his voice weak and body trembling from the poison.
"We're safe for now—Hanzō didn't pursue us," Orochimaru replied, his tone sharp but composed. "But we've suffered a crushing defeat. We must return to the village immediately, and your wounds need treatment."
Despite the loss, Orochimaru's mind remained clear. He harbored no illusions about the reality of war—the weak always suffered. Yet, a fleeting thought crossed his mind: If Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Kawakaze had been here, would things have turned out differently?
But such musings were futile. Defeat was final, and Orochimaru accepted it. He led the survivors back toward Konoha. Along the way, three more ninjas succumbed to their poisoning and died. The atmosphere was bleak, the group shrouded in silence. Injuries slowed their progress, and it took four days to return to the village.
Fortunately, Orochimaru carried Tsunade's antidote pills, which kept the poison at bay for some. Even so, only one ninja remained conscious by the time they reached Konoha's gates. The rest collapsed from exhaustion and injuries.
"Send them to Konoha Hospital," Orochimaru instructed the gatekeepers, his voice calm but heavy with authority.
The Chūnin at the gates recognized him and immediately rushed to summon help, not bothering to verify his identity. Medical staff quickly arrived, taking the injured to the hospital. Orochimaru watched in silence as they were carried away, then turned and made his way to the Hokage building.
His duty as commander was clear—he had to report their defeat.
Upon entering the Hokage's office, escorted by Anbu, Orochimaru faced his teacher.
"Sensei, we suffered a crushing defeat in this battle," he admitted without hesitation.
...
"It was my incompetence."
For someone as proud as Orochimaru to admit this, it was clear the weight of this battle had been far greater than it appeared.
"Hanzō of the Salamander personally intervened?" the Third Hokage asked. "No wonder you lost. I underestimated him."
His face showed no anger, only a heavy gloom as he continued to puff on his pipe. The room fell into an oppressive silence. The two Hokage counsellors, Koharu and Homura, remained quiet, unable to suggest immediate countermeasures.
"You may leave for now. I will think about it," the Third Hokage finally said, setting his pipe down with a long sigh.
After Orochimaru left, the Hokage turned to his counsellors. "Koharu, Homura, what do you think?"
"Send reinforcements and continue fighting," Koharu said.
"The Ninjas of Konoha cannot die in vain," Homura added.
Though their words differed, their intent was the same.
"Good. I will approach the Daimyō for supplies," the Hokage declared, his expression steely. This time, he would not be lenient in his request.
Orochimaru stepped out of the Hokage building, his eyes vacant, tears quietly slipping down his face.
Only one's own strength can be truly relied upon, he thought bitterly.
He looked up at the sky above Konoha, its deep blue hue contrasting starkly with the turmoil in his heart. The breeze stirred, and leaves fluttered gently around him.
For a moment, Orochimaru stood there, unsure of where to go.