As the battlefield began to settle, distant tremors still echoed through the air.
Everyone in Konoha knew—it meant Minato Namikaze was still fighting the Four-Tails.
"Damn it… I really don't have a way to deal with this kind of monster."
Minato's expression was grim. Most of his chakra was already drained, and even his summoning had been canceled.
Gamabunta had returned to Mount Myōboku. After all, not even the great toads of the mountain could stand against a Tailed Beast for long. After taking a brutal beating, Bunta simply couldn't hold out any longer.
"Roar!"
Both the Four-Tails and its Jinchūriki, Rōshi, were formidable. With Lava Release, their combat strength was overwhelming.
Combined with the power of the Tailed Beast Ball and an incredibly tough body, it was more than Minato could counter.
His Flying Thunder God Technique and extraordinary reaction speed allowed him to avoid attacks, but he couldn't land a single effective blow.
"Damn Yellow Flash!"
"If you've got guts, stop bouncing around!"
"Fight me head-on!"
Just as Minato couldn't do anything to the Four-Tails, the Four-Tails couldn't do anything to him either.
Tailed Beast Balls missed, Lava Release missed—he was driving it crazy.
Suddenly, a small slug slipped out from Minato's clothes—the one Tsunade had given him before the battle.
"Minato, that's enough."
"Iwagakure has retreated, Hanzō of the Salamander has fallen back, and neither the Five-Tails nor Kazuyama has returned yet."
"Lady Tsunade orders you to withdraw."
The moment he heard that, Minato's eyes lit up.
It really looked like the tide of battle had shifted—a welcome development. He had no desire to keep sparring with the Four-Tails.
Without hesitation, he vanished on the spot using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
The Four-Tails immediately erupted in frustration, stomping the ground.
"You bastard! If you've got guts, stop running!!"
But Minato paid him no mind and headed straight back to base.
"Lady Tsunade, Sensei—I'm back."
Appearing beside Jiraiya, Minato looked visibly tired. He was completely worn out.
Seeing his prized student return, Jiraiya burst into laughter and gave him a hearty pat.
"Well done, Minato. Without you and Kazuyama, this war would've been a lot tougher."
"So? Everything alright with the Four-Tails?"
Minato nodded.
"I didn't run far, but the area's a basin. Even if he wants to chase me all the way back to the Land of Grass, it'll take him a while."
"Nothing to worry about."
He paused, then continued.
"What's the situation here? Hanzō's gone, right? What about the Five-Tails?"
"Has Kazuyama come back?"
Minato cared deeply about Kazuyama. Not only were they close friends, but Kazuyama was the only other person who could use the Flying Thunder God Technique—and his insights had inspired Minato more than once.
But Tsunade and Jiraiya both shook their heads.
Whether it was intercepting Hanzō or confronting the Five-Tails, Kazuyama had gone all-out.
The five massive serpents he summoned left a lasting impression on the Konoha shinobi. The sight of them rampaging across the battlefield was unforgettable.
Even Tsunade and Jiraiya had to admit—Kazuyama had truly grown strong.
"That's strange. With the Flying Thunder God Technique, he should've been able to retreat easily."
"Lady Tsunade, didn't you give him the slug?"
Tsunade's expression turned awkward. Could she admit she forgot?
Once the battle began, it completely slipped her mind. And Kazuyama had returned mid-battle—it wasn't entirely her fault, was it?
Seeing her expression, both Jiraiya and Minato were speechless.
"Tsunade, are you serious?"
"You forgot something like that?"
"Did you forget that little punk disappears the moment a fight ends?"
Tsunade scratched her head. She hadn't meant to, but with everything happening so fast, it really had slipped her mind.
"Alright, forget it. We don't need to worry about Kazuyama—he's a sly one."
"Everyone, start setting up fortifications along the border."
"Minato..."
"Hm?"
Just as Tsunade was about to give out assignments, several masked figures came rushing in from the direction of the Land of Fire.
They were ANBU—no question about it.
Seeing them arrive, Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged a glance. Both of them immediately sensed something was off.
"Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya."
"We bring a message from the Hokage."
"Lord Jiraiya, Minato Namikaze, and Kazuyama Gekkō are to return to the village immediately. Something important has happened."
Jiraiya's brows furrowed as he heard this. Minato fell silent, clearly deep in thought.
"What happened? We're in the middle of a war. Do you realize what it means for Jiraiya to suddenly leave the front?"
"If you don't give me a proper explanation, I won't let them withdraw from the battle."
Tsunade's tone was firm. Orders or not, she was the commanding officer on the front lines. Without her approval, no one was leaving.
Kazuyama: ??? What about me?
Tsunade: Get lost! Keep talking and I'll kill you!
The ANBU exchanged glances, then left one of their own behind while the others spread out to secure the area.
The move only deepened the frowns on Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Minato's faces. What could be so serious that the ANBU were taking such precautions?
Was something truly this grave?
"Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya, this concerns Orochimaru. One of the Three Sannin has officially defected on the battlefield in the Land of Hot Water."
Tsunade: ?!!!
Jiraiya: ?!!!
Minato: ...yeah, figures.
"No way! Orochimaru would never defect!"
"There's got to be a mistake!"
Jiraiya's voice rose with emotion. He simply couldn't believe his comrade would do something like that.
Leave the village? That wasn't possible!
"Lord Jiraiya, please calm down. This has already been confirmed by ANBU—and by the Hokage himself."
"Orochimaru did indeed defect. But he didn't harm anyone from the village."
"He left the battlefield alone."
"That's why the Hokage needs you to return immediately—along with Minato Namikaze and Kazuyama Gekkō."
After relaying the message to Jiraiya, the ANBU turned to Tsunade.
"Lady Tsunade, under these circumstances, can you authorize their return to the village?"
Tsunade went quiet. Orochimaru's defection... the impact on the village would be enormous.
He wasn't just any shinobi—he was a cornerstone of the village. Many believed he would be the next Hokage.
And now, someone like that had turned traitor...
"So Kazuyama's being called back because he's Orochimaru's student too?"
"That's not our concern. We were only ordered to ensure their return."
Tsunade shook her head.
"Jiraiya and Minato can go. But Kazuyama can't."
"The battle just ended, and he's still out there after leading the Five-Tails away. He hasn't returned yet."