Orochimaru gave the order to retreat.
The Konoha ninja fighting in Hot Water Village disengaged step by step, pulling back all the way to the village gates.
Orochimaru swept his gaze over the remaining forces. His brow furrowed slightly.
They had started with just under a hundred, maybe ninety-plus shinobi.
One look now told the story. Counting the wounded, they had at most forty left.
The surprise attack on Hot Water Village was on the verge of success, but the price had been devastatingly high.
Only one final step remained for victory: Kuroiwa Tatsuji's neutrality.
Jiraiya, covered in his own share of blood, walked up to Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, what about the old man? Did he agree?"
"Unknown. But regardless, it's time to withdraw. We cannot afford to prolong this fight any longer."
Jiraiya nodded gravely. He was right. They couldn't keep fighting.
Orochimaru was confident Kuroiwa Tatsuji would accept the proposal.
If he refused… then Hot Water Village would have no reason to continue existing afterwards.
"Hold here for five minutes!" Orochimaru announced. "Secure the perimeter and wait for any remaining comrades to regroup! In five minutes, we withdraw, no matter what!"
The seconds ticked by.
The ninja holding the line, including Orochimaru and Jiraiya, unleashed a barrage of jutsu into the village, holding back the advancing Cloud and Hot Water shinobi.
The most active figure here was Minato Namikaze.
Using his blinding speed, he flashed back and forth into the chaos. Each trip brought out another Konoha soldier.
Minato was running on fumes now.
But he pushed on. Just one more. Save one more.
As Minato tensed to dart in again, Jiraiya's hand clamped on his shoulder.
"That's enough, Minato. You've done all you can. Don't go back in. We're pulling out soon. You've hit your limit."
"Jiraiya-sensei, there's still time," Minato pleaded, his voice strained. "Let me make one more run."
Jiraiya shook his head. "No. Your speed has dropped. You haven't noticed? If you go in now, you're the one in danger. And that little time isn't enough for another rescue. When Orochimaru says five minutes, he means it. He won't delay a second for anyone. Besides… by now, anyone who could make it out, has. Those who haven't…"
He didn't finish. The meaning was clear. Their chances were slim to none.
Minato lowered his head, silent.
"Time's up!" Orochimaru's voice cut through. "Retreat! Plant explosive tags along the escape route! Move!"
The gathered Konoha forces withdrew as one.
The retreat was surprisingly smooth, meeting almost no resistance from Cloud ninja.
By the time they reached their camp, it was nearly noon.
Qianyu, severely depleted, had already returned to his tent to rest.
The others tended to their wounds or grabbed what sleep they could.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya had no time for rest. The real work was just beginning.
"Jiraiya," Orochimaru asked, "the tally. How many do we have left?"
"Forty-three shinobi total," Jiraiya reported. "Of those, only thirty-two are fit for combat in the short term."
Orochimaru's expression tightened. "Send a request to Konoha. We need at least sixty reinforcements. Only then can we hold a new, advanced frontline."
"Orochimaru," Jiraiya frowned, "you plan to advance the line now? Isn't that too rushed? Shouldn't we wait for the reinforcements?"
Orochimaru didn't look up from the sand table. "The advance must happen immediately. If we wait for them to regroup, our plan meets resistance. Then this entire operation, all the sacrifices… they become meaningless."
Jiraiya sighed. "Understood. I'll send the request immediately. How far do we push the line?"
Orochimaru plucked the flag marking their current position and planted it firmly at a new point on the map. "At least ten kilometers."
"That far?" Jiraiya was taken aback. "Can we hold it?"
"With our current numbers? Of course not." Orochimaru's voice was ice-cold. "Precisely because we can't hold it, we must push the line even farther."
Jiraiya was lost. "Why push farther if we know we can't hold?"
"The same reason as before. We need room to maneuver," Orochimaru explained. "Reinforcements from Konoha won't arrive in a day or two. If we advance conservatively and the Cloud attacks, we'll be forced all the way back here. But if we start from a position far forward, we can fight a delaying retreat. By the time Konoha's support arrives, we'll have fallen back to a line we can hold."
The logic clicked for Jiraiya. "Orochimaru… your mind really is something else. If you'd been in charge here from the start, we might not be in this mess."
"Not 'might.' We wouldn't be," Orochimaru stated without false modesty. "You're too cautious, Jiraiya. War is two beasts tearing at each other. Show the slightest weakness, and the other will clamp down. It won't let go until you're dead."
Jiraiya dropped into a chair. "I don't want to be cautious. But asking me to attack with your… disregard for consequences is a tall order. Speaking of other fronts, how are things elsewhere for Konoha?"
"The lines against Stone and Sand are holding," Orochimaru replied. "The current complication is the Mist Village likely making a move. Beyond that, the Cloud here in Hot Water is the primary threat. That's why the Hokage sent me."
Jiraiya let out another weary sigh. "Only a few years of peace since the last great war, and here we are again. Would it be so hard for everyone to just… live in peace?"
Orochimaru's serpentine eyes slid toward his old teammate. "Still as naïve as ever, Jiraiya."
Jiraiya managed a tired grin. "What's wrong with a little naivety now and then? Living with your level of clarity looks exhausting. By the way, how's your student? I haven't seen you carry anyone since the last war, when you hauled my wounded hide and Nawaki. Until that kid, Qianyu."
At Nawaki's name, Orochimaru's pupils contracted for a fraction of a second. His voice remained flat. "Qianyu sustained minor injuries. His body is exhausted. He will recover."