Once the senior officers dispersed, Orochimaru remained alone in the dimly lit command room.
"Lord Orochimaru, a letter from Maruboshi Kosuke!" a Konoha shinobi suddenly reported, appearing at the doorway.
Orochimaru rose smoothly to his feet, accepted the letter, and broke the seal. His eyes scanned the contents quickly.
"How many Suna forces are left?"
"Approximately two full regiments," the shinobi answered.
"Send word to Inoichi Yamanaka and Choza Akimichi. Have them assemble their troops—we're going to finish what's left of Sunagakure's army."
"We aren't waiting any longer?"
"Make sure to notify Tsunade as well. Tell her to coordinate with us."
"Yes, sir!"
"And bring Hyūga Hayakumo and Uchiha Megumi to my side."
"By your command!" The shinobi rushed out to carry out the orders.
Orochimaru stepped toward the doorway, murmuring with a faint, chilling smile:
"Maruboshi Kosuke… you really know how to cause me trouble."
Suddenly, a voice spoke up in the seemingly empty room. "Maruboshi Kosuke has run into danger?"
Without looking back, Orochimaru replied, "He insists I send reinforcements. He believes he'll be targeted by Suna's incoming strike force."
"Then isn't your response… unnecessary?"
The speaker's meaning could not have been more obvious—letting Kosuke die would benefit them.
A cold chuckle escaped Orochimaru's lips. "He has a grudge with you. Not with me," he said, eyes narrowing.
"Don't forget—you're one of Root."
"The letter wasn't sent to me alone," Orochimaru continued calmly. "Tsunade will have received her copy as well."
Silence.
After a moment, the figure lurking in the shadows seemed to accept that logic.
"…Then why request two chunin to be assigned to you?"
"That is my own business." Orochimaru's slit-pupiled eyes glinted with danger. "Or do you intend to control that as well?"
"…"
A quiet scoff. Orochimaru left without another word.
The voice in the darkness muttered after he was gone:
"...Cold-blooded snake."
"...No sense of loyalty whatsoever."
…
...
...
Elsewhere on the Konoha front—Tsunade's command base.
Standing beside her was Shikaku Nara.
"So Orochimaru intends to keep them surrounded until they're completely exhausted?" she asked.
"Yes. It's the approach that minimizes our casualties," Shikaku replied.
Tsunade nodded. "It's a sound strategy. How's Asuma doing?"
"Asuma's performance has been remarkable—hard to believe he's a newly promoted chunin."
The chunin selection of this generation was exceptional. Tsunade had seen their files and knew their capabilities well.
Shikaku continued, "There's a boy in a green jumpsuit… I believe his name is Might Guy. His taijutsu is frightening. I saw him push back a jonin."
"You mean Might Duy's son?" Tsunade blinked, recalling the thick-browed kid with abysmal academic scores.
"That's him. War has taken many of our comrades… but it's also forged new strength."
"Konoha will win this war," Tsunade said with absolute conviction.
"A message from Lord Orochimaru!" a messenger suddenly reported.
Tsunade opened the scroll and skimmed the contents. She immediately understood Orochimaru's urgency—his sudden offensive, and his insistence on reinforcing Maruboshi Kosuke.
But the part that puzzled her was the request for two chunin to be transferred to his side.
She voiced the question to Shikaku.
"I know them," Shikaku replied. "Two of the three most gifted chunin of their entire class."
"Oh?"
"Hyūga Hayakumo, Uchiha Shisui, and Uchiha Megumi. They were the top three finishers in the recent Chunin Exams."
"They are genuine prodigies!"
The number of participants in this year's exams was several times higher than usual. To stand out among so many and take the top three spots made the title of "prodigy" no exaggeration. Their performance at the time had been deeply impressive, showcasing strength far beyond their years.
"So, Orochimaru wants to protect Konoha's rising stars?" she asked.
Shikaku exhaled.
"That's what it looks like."
"Perhaps…" Shikaku Nara said thoughtfully. "It could be that Lord Orochimaru has taken a liking to their talent. He might even be considering taking them as disciples."
"That's a rare thought," Tsunade scoffed. "Orochimaru, wanting students? That's hard to believe."
"How have they performed?"
"Uchiha Megumi has killed five genin and three chunin. As for Hyūga Hayakumo—seven genin, three chunin… and even one jonin."
"Even a jonin was killed by that Hyūga boy?"
"Yes… it's hard to imagine. His strength has probably long surpassed the level of a chunin."
"And what about Uchiha Shisui?"
"From what I've heard… he was reassigned to Jiraiya's unit."
"…Fine." Tsunade exhaled. "At least Orochimaru is taking Kosuke-senpai's safety seriously. No point nitpicking over minor details."
"Let's move out!"
…
...
...
The moment the massive, monstrous body of Manda descended straight into the center of the Suna camp—
The final assault began.
Manda's enormous form crashed head-on into their defenses, tearing through the carefully constructed lines like paper.
In an instant, the battlefield descended into chaos.
Flesh and blood filled the air.
Then the rest of Konoha's forces surged forward, unleashing a relentless barrage upon the enemy.
The battle began suddenly—
And ended just as quickly.
Once morale shattered, the Suna forces could no longer mount any effective resistance. They were cut down mercilessly, with hundreds surrendering in desperation.
"I don't need prisoners," Orochimaru said flatly.
"Understood!" The Konoha shinobi, already burning with rage after the earlier trap, no longer held back. With that single order, the last restraint on their fury vanished.
The battlefield became a river of blood.
"Orochimaru, you…" Tsunade found herself at a loss for words.
Though her eyes were still covered, she didn't need to see to know—
This place had turned into a living hell.
"What are you hesitating for?" Orochimaru's voice cut in coldly. "Whose life matters more—Maruboshi Kosuke's, or these pieces of trash?"
"Or do you think you can bring these burdens along when you go to reinforce him?"
"But Kosuke-senpai never said he was already in danger…" Tsunade tried to argue.
"With his personality? If there weren't danger, would he send such a desperate request?" Orochimaru sneered. "Tsunade, don't be soft."
"This is war."
"A war where it's kill or be killed."
The sheer force of his presence crushed her words.
Bit by bit—
Command of the army had slipped into Orochimaru's hands.
Especially after this battle.
Time and again, he had led from the front—vengeful, ruthless toward enemies, yet fiercely protective of his own.
That image had carved itself into the hearts of every Konoha shinobi present.
They had won.
They had annihilated the enemy.
They had avenged their fallen comrades.
And all of it—
Had been achieved under Orochimaru's command.
At first, a single voice shouted his name—
"Orochimaru!"
Then more joined in.
"Orochimaru!"
"Orochimaru!"
Soon, the entire battlefield echoed with it.
In that moment, his prestige reached its peak.
The balance that the Third Hokage had carefully maintained—placing Tsunade as a counterweight—
Now seemed hollow and powerless in the face of Orochimaru's overwhelming support from the troops.
"…The authority over the army…" Shikaku Nara sighed quietly.
"…has slipped away."
...
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