Chapter 25: The Three Sannin's Worries
Aizen felt no emotion at all, while the surrounding jonin looked visibly uneasy.
They all saw the same thing—a fatal flaw buried within what seemed to be a flawless plan.
Yet, looking at the smiling Third Hokage and at Danzo, who sat motionless with his eyes half-closed but clearly alert, everyone knew better than to speak up.
Anyone who dared to question the plan would instantly find themselves branded as insubordinate—perhaps even imprisoned for "undermining unity."
It was well known that Sarutobi Hiruzen was tolerant of Danzo's methods, but that tolerance went both ways. Danzo was also the Hokage's most obedient enforcer—his loyal, unthinking executor. Once the Third made a decision, Danzo carried it out without hesitation or restraint.
Now that the Hokage had given his order, Danzo would ensure its absolute execution.
As for whether that order made sense? The two advisors meant to check the Hokage's authority—Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado—had long since earned their nickname: "The Paper Elders." Their opinions carried no weight.
And Aizen, though he held the title of deputy advisor, didn't possess the political authority to intervene.
He could clearly see the gaping hole in the plan, but all he could do was frown, hesitate, and finally sigh—convincing himself to remain silent.
Around the table, every jonin mirrored his hesitation, furrowing their brows yet forcing stiff smiles. No one dared to challenge the Hokage's "wisdom."
The meeting ended in what appeared to be a triumphant atmosphere.
The Third Hokage proudly dispatched the order to the command post on Konoha's western front in the Land of Rain.
---
When the order reached the front lines, the Three Sannin were utterly stunned.
To temporarily abandon the Rain Country front—after years of preparation—and withdraw completely back to Konoha, ceding ground to the Sand and Rock forces… it was unthinkable.
Was the Third Hokage out of his mind?
The document bore his seal. The ANBU who delivered it were familiar faces, their expressions bitter but resigned. There was no mistake—it was an official command.
The Three Sannin stared at the scroll, its weight far heavier than its size suggested.
Based on one uncertain piece of intelligence, they were being asked to abandon an entire line of defense that had taken years to fortify, all for the sake of "strategic flexibility."
Jiraiya sighed deeply. "This is bad. Something's going to happen."
"...Yeah." Tsunade's tone was grim as she studied the scroll again.
No matter how dissatisfied they were, the Hokage's order was absolute.
In Konoha's doctrine, the Hokage's word was law.
If the Hokage ordered you to die, you died.
If the Hokage ordered you to retreat, you retreated.
It didn't matter if you agreed or not.
Hiruzen had proudly labeled his plan an "open strategy", but for those who truly understood the battlefield, it was complete nonsense.
How could anyone give up tangible strategic advantages for the faint hope of an enemy's miscalculation?
"Putting all his faith in the enemy's stupidity and some invisible mutual understanding…" Orochimaru hissed, his eyes narrowing. "Sensei is getting old."
His tone dripped with contempt as his serpent-like features twitched. Flicking his tongue, he stared at the scroll's confident script and shook his head in quiet disappointment.
"Teacher," he muttered, "you're using Konoha's logic to interpret Iwagakure's mind. That's a fatal mistake. The Rock Ninja know better than anyone that they can't absorb the Sand Village by themselves. The war's gone on long enough—everyone understands the limits."
He tapped the scroll with a pale finger. "And the Water Defense Line is vital. Abandoning it is suicide."
Tsunade exhaled sharply. "But if we defy the order, we'll be branded traitors. None of us can bear that title—not even the three of us."
"The old man really outdid himself this time," Jiraiya muttered bitterly.
Tsunade clenched the scroll tighter, the frustration visible in her eyes. "He's never been to the front lines. He doesn't understand how the Rock and Sand forces are positioned."
Her words were edged with anger.
The Rain Country had always been the crucible of great wars—a battlefield shaped by the wills of three nations. Even with the Demigod Hanzo's presence, the land was destined to be torn apart by greater powers. That was the unspoken truth shared by all shinobi nations.
Yes, the Sand Village was struggling. Yes, some of their fortresses had fallen. But anyone with sense knew they couldn't mobilize a true army fast enough to launch a strategic-level assault.
By the time such an army formed, the Cloud Village would already be itching to join the fight.
Iwagakure couldn't invade the Sand while guarding against both Kumogakure and Konoha—not even with Konoha's withdrawal.
Only Konoha possessed the military power and confidence to make such a move.
That was why the Rock Village's true goal was never to conquer the Sand Village.
They didn't want to annex it—they simply wanted to bleed it dry.
Regardless of how the Rock Ninja managed to overrun the Sand Village so swiftly, one thing was certain—the Sand shinobi were not completely annihilated.
The One-Tailed Shukaku still existed.
Even amid civil war, the Sand's strength could not be underestimated. Their greatest weapon wasn't numbers—it was specialization.
Puppeteers and poison masters.
A single puppeteer could rival a three-man cell in combat efficiency. While their raw strength lagged behind other villages, their expertise in guerrilla warfare made them lethal. Against enemies unprepared for toxins or traps, each puppeteer was a one-man army.
To attempt to "consume" such a volatile force was insanity.
Even if the Rock Village went mad enough to challenge Konoha, they would never dream of devouring the Sand. At most, they would advance just enough to pressure the Sand into defending their borders—gaining leverage, not conquest.
The Sand may be the weakest, Jiraiya thought bitterly, but the Rock isn't much stronger. And with the Cloud breathing down their necks, how could they possibly hold out?
Whether Konoha abandoned the front or not, the outcome would remain unchanged. But now that they had withdrawn, the Rock and Sand shinobi finally had a reason to unite.
If they joined hands with the Cloud—and even coordinated with the Mist—then Konoha's situation would become dire.
A defensive line could be built easily, but regaining lost ground would take blood.
Even realizing this, the Sannin knew it was useless.
The decision had already been made.
The Hokage's word was law.
No ninja in Konoha, not even the Legendary Three, had the authority to overrule him.
"…What do we do now? Are we really following orders and retreating along the prescribed route?"
Jiraiya's voice broke the silence. His gaze lingered on his two teammates, both pale and brooding over the sand table.
"Those two mysterious informants left us the Sand and Rock's deployment data," he continued, his tone low and frustrated. "We've got every advantage—troop positions, supply caches, ambush routes. Are we just going to throw it all away?"
"We have no choice." Orochimaru's voice was calm, but his words were ice. "The teacher's order came with urgency. He wants to see the Rock and Sand destroy each other while the Cloud makes its move—and only Konoha stands to gain. His will isn't ours to question."
"But we're giving up too much!"
Tsunade's clenched fists trembled as she glared at the map covered in red and blue markers. Her amber eyes burned with restrained fury.
Those symbols represented the lives of thousands of Konoha ninjas—men and women who had bled and died to carve out each stronghold.
And now… they were being handed away.
"If the Western Front is being abandoned like this," she muttered bitterly, "what about the Eastern Front? Takigakure, the Land of Hot Springs…? Even the veterans are being recalled for 'review and rest.' Minato too."
She slammed her hand against the table, rattling the markers. "Everything points to one thing—the old man's too confident. He either made some secret deal with the Rock, or he's convinced that no one can challenge Konoha. Either way, he's thinking like a man sitting on top of the world."
That arrogance, they all knew, was the first crack in the Will of Fire.
Konoha wasn't in danger yet—but something inside it was breaking.
The ideals they fought for, the trust they carried, the flame that bound them together—it all felt hollow now.
"…Pass the order."
Jiraiya finally spoke, his tone heavy. "Have all shinobi collect their personal belongings and supplies. Seal everything and prepare for withdrawal. We'll fall back to the Land of Fire and await redeployment."
He exhaled slowly, his eyes dim. "Tell them this is the Hokage's direct command. Once the Rain Country front is cleared, leave only the outposts. Everyone else—return home."
The messenger ninja hesitated. "…Understood."
"Go," Jiraiya said softly.
As the messenger disappeared through the tent flaps, Jiraiya slumped into his chair, pressing a hand to his forehead. "What are we even fighting for anymore…?" he whispered under his breath.
Tsunade stood frozen before the sand table, her jaw clenched, her breath shallow.
Every inch of the map reminded her of fallen comrades—names, faces, lives.
Her teeth ground together. "Damn it all!"
With a furious stomp, she turned and stormed out of the tent, her voice choked by rage and grief.
Only Orochimaru remained.
His golden eyes were fixed on the Hokage's scroll lying on the table. The elegant handwriting, once a symbol of wisdom, now felt like a testament to decay.
He saw in that parchment not authority—but decline.
So this is what happens to great men, he thought coldly. They grow old… and their strength becomes arrogance.
When power gathers too tightly, the system around it withers.
Even the advisory council had become meaningless under Hiruzen's shadow.
Orochimaru's gaze darkened.
(That's why I'll live forever… I refuse to decay like this. I won't let death or weakness touch me.)
The image of Kato Dan's blood-soaked body flashed before him—then Nawaki's pale, hollow corpse, organs drained by poison and grief.
He closed his eyes.
(It's time… to join them.)
<><><><><><>
Read Advanced Chapters on:
~ [email protected]/FanficLord03
~ Every 100 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter!
~ Push the story in the rankings using your
[Power Stones]
~ https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9