Jiraiya leaned against the doorway, arms folded, watching the scene in silence. His expression was cold, his eyes flickering with thoughts he couldn't quite bury.
If he'd gone all out back then.
If he'd stopped Orochimaru when he was younger.
Would Hiruzen still be lying in a hospital bed?
Would Tsunade be hovering on the edge of death right now?
And if Tōma hadn't arrived in time… Jiraiya didn't even want to imagine what would've happened to Shizune after burning through that much chakra.
He knew he couldn't have stopped her.
And truthfully, he hadn't wanted to.
Tōma focused on Tsunade's condition, his expression steady but serious. The injuries were brutal. Anyone with a weaker constitution would've died on the spot. Even now, though she'd passed the most critical phase, leaving her unattended was out of the question.
Night had long since fallen.
Tōma sat unmoving, continuously channeling medical chakra into Tsunade. He hadn't shifted position once.
Naruto had already been ordered to rest, but Jiraiya remained at the doorway, standing guard. From time to time, his gaze drifted outward, alert to any sign of danger.
At last, the most severe wounds stabilized.
Tōma wiped the sweat from his brow and finally stopped.
"Is it done?" Jiraiya asked immediately.
"For now," Tōma replied. "The remaining injuries aren't life-threatening. We can continue tomorrow. I'll check on Shizune first."
He paused briefly. He'd completely forgotten that he'd formed a contract with Katsuyu. In the chaos earlier, it hadn't even crossed his mind. Explaining that now would just complicate things. Tsunade could handle it herself later.
"I owe you," Jiraiya said quietly.
Tōma nodded and moved to the next room.
Shizune was already awake, staring at him warily.
"Tsunade-sama is stable," Tōma said calmly.
Recognition flickered across Shizune's face. She relaxed at once. "Thank you."
"Let me treat you as well."
"I'm fine—" she started, then winced sharply.
"I've got this," Tōma said, not waiting for permission this time.
"…Thank you."
Compared to Tsunade's condition, Shizune's injuries were manageable. As he worked, Tōma finally asked about what had happened.
Jiraiya didn't hide anything.
Shortly after leaving Konoha with Naruto, he'd received Tōma's warning. They'd moved fast. Still, along the way, Jiraiya sensed someone watching them and paused to investigate. Whoever it was never revealed themselves and eventually vanished.
Tōma already had a good guess who that had been.
Once the presence disappeared, Jiraiya resumed the search and finally tracked Tsunade down. Before they could gather proper intel, Orochimaru reached her first. Their battle was loud enough to draw attention.
By the time Jiraiya arrived, Tsunade was already gravely injured, with Shizune desperately shielding her. Jiraiya seized an opening, grabbed both of them, and fled. That was when he sent for Tōma.
"And Orochimaru's side?" Tōma asked. "Who was with him?"
"I'll answer that," Shizune said quietly.
There had been three attackers.
Orochimaru, of course. One of the legendary Sannin. No explanation needed.
The second wielded his own bones as weapons, clearly a bloodline user. Terrifyingly strong, though visibly sick, coughing blood during the fight.
The third hadn't fought at all. He wore a forehead protector and showed extensive knowledge of medical techniques, supporting the bone-user from the rear.
Orochimaru. Kimimaro. Kabuto.
Tōma's expression tightened.
None of them were small-time threats. Kabuto, especially, had terrifying potential. Even now, he wasn't someone to underestimate. Kimimaro was worse in direct combat, despite his illness.
"So what's your plan, Jiraiya-sensei?" Tōma asked.
Jiraiya fell silent. Rage simmered beneath the surface, but he hadn't formed a real strategy yet.
"…What do you think?" he asked finally.
"The safest option is for me to teleport everyone back to Konoha," Tōma said. "But if we do that, finding Orochimaru again will be nearly impossible."
Jiraiya nodded. He knew that better than anyone.
"This might be our best chance to deal with him for good," Tōma continued. "Between you, me, and Tsunade-sama once she wakes up, we have a shot."
Jiraiya sighed and revealed the truth.
Tsunade still suffered from hemophobia.
That was why things had gone so badly.
Which meant, realistically, only Jiraiya and Tōma were combat-ready.
"That complicates things," Tōma muttered. He wondered if Tsunade's near-death experience had cured her fear. If not—
"If I send Tsunade back alone," he continued, "Orochimaru won't engage us. He knows he can't kill us outright."
"Our position is already exposed," Jiraiya added. "There are snakes watching us. I don't know why they haven't attacked yet."
Before Tōma could respond, a messenger toad hopped in and spat out a note.
Jiraiya read it. His face changed.
He showed it to the others.
Three days later.
Autumn Wind Plains.
Decisive battle.
Shizune and Tōma stiffened.
"He should've ambushed us," Jiraiya said. "That's how Orochimaru operates."
"He's afraid I'll teleport Tsunade back to Konoha if he does," Tōma said coldly. "This is an invitation. He's confident."
Confident that Tsunade was no longer a threat.
The thought left a sour taste in the room.
"At least the next three days should be safe," Tōma said. "Let's wait until Tsunade-sama wakes up and decide together."
"…Agreed," Jiraiya said.
They didn't trust Orochimaru's word for a second. Guard duty would remain tight.
Shizune, meanwhile, clutched her hands together, eyes drifting toward Tsunade.
If it came to a battle…
She would protect Tsunade-sama.
Even if it cost her life.