The war started quickly, and ended just as fast.
The moment Chiyo shouted "retreat"—
All the Sunagakure shinobi began retreating in an orderly fashion.
Especially those at the rear—the way they retreated was so fast, it was as if the ground beneath them was a sea of fire, and staying even a second longer would get them burned alive.
"Eh? They're retreating already!"
"Hey! Don't go!"
"Come play some more!"
Jinlin could feel the golden sand on her body gradually losing its power. The Sunagakure shinobi who controlled the gold sand was retreating rapidly, turning the withdrawn sand into golden walls to block Konoha's attacks. Jinlin couldn't help calling out to stop them.
She wasn't done playing yet!
"Hmph! Don't get too excited just yet!"
"Retreat!"
"Take the wounded with you!"
Rasa, face gloomy, shouted the order to retreat once again.
The Sunagakure shinobi retreated even faster, but along the way, they grouped up in threes and fives to search for their injured comrades and carried them off the battlefield together.
Just as Konoha's shinobi were preparing to pursue them, Orochimaru spoke up.
"No need to chase! Everyone, treat the wounded quickly!"
With Orochimaru's command, the Konoha shinobi still on the battlefield swiftly moved around, treating the injured.
Then he arrived in front of the golden python.
"Hehehe... So it was Chizan-kun who summoned you, huh..."
"Golden python..."
Orochimaru looked at the massive golden serpent in front of him, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.
As a fellow summoner of Ryūchi Cave, he was well-acquainted with serpents.
But this golden python—he was seeing for the first time.
"Oh? You're a Ryūchi Cave summoner too, but... you don't seem to have received the inheritance."
"No wonder you couldn't summon me."
Jinlin glanced at Orochimaru and then ignored him, slithering toward where Gekko Chizan stood.
"Hehehehe... Chizan-kun, not bad..."
Orochimaru didn't take offense at the golden python's words. Instead, he grew even more pleased with his disciple.
He too turned and walked toward his own camp.
"Chizan, it's over already?"
"I'm not done playing!"
Gekko Chizan glanced at Jinlin and thought to himself: Not just you—I haven't killed enough either!
I just unlocked a brand-new skill! Only got to use it once and they retreated!
"Alright, it's still wartime. You'll have plenty of chances to come out again."
"But Jinlin, I'm curious—where did Manda go?"
After all, Manda was Orochimaru's iconic summoning beast, a powerful Ryūchi Cave serpent.
"Tch, why are you always thinking about that guy? What's so great about him?"
"He doesn't even train Sage Arts properly, always wants to eat this or that—total glutton."
Jinlin was full of disdain toward Manda.
Her tone was dripping with contempt.
"Manda's den was indeed taken over by us. The three Snake Princesses specifically gathered a few of us together to replace Manda as your summons."
"That's how I know your name."
"You're quite popular with the Snake Princesses, you know—they went out of their way for you."
"You should know, we're serpents who have long trained in Sage Arts. We're not something Manda can compare to."
Gekko Chizan was slightly stunned.
The Snake Princesses arranged that specifically?
Damn, are they eyeing me?
No... probably just after the tasty things I can bring them...
He recalled the time the three Snake Princesses devoured all the Snake Berries he brought, each one eating with such satisfaction—tsk, truly, food is the key to winning hearts.
"Alright, since there's no more fighting, I'm heading back."
"Oh right, Snake Princess-sama asked me to tell you: next time, bring more Snake Berries."
"Snake Berries?"
Gekko Chizan's face was instantly covered in black lines.
What did I just say! Total gluttons!
"I got it. Next time I go to Ryūchi Cave, I'll bring them some."
"By the way, Jinlin—you mentioned 'a few snakes.' So there are other snakes too?"
"How do they compare to you in strength?"
Gekko Chizan was genuinely interested—who wouldn't want powerful summoning beasts?
Look at Hanzo of the Rain, the so-called Demigod—he had a single poisonous salamander that terrorized the world.
"Hehehe, you'll find out when the time comes."
"I'm off!"
"Poof!"
Jinlin didn't answer him, instead vanishing in a huge puff of white smoke.
"Tch, fine, don't tell me. I'll find out eventually!"
Gekko Chizan curled his lips and then saw his teacher walking toward him with a smile.
"Chizan-kun... You sure can sleep, huh..."
"Slept for two whole days—I was really worried about you..."
Hearing the amusement in Orochimaru's voice, Gekko Chizan laughed.
"When I opened my eyes and saw I was being carried... scared me half to death."
"Sensei, looks like there was chaos at Sunagakure's rear lines, just as we predicted."
"Could it be that Sasori kid succeeded?"
Playing dumb while fully understanding the situation—Gekko Chizan had mastered it to perfection. Unless someone used Mind Reading, no one could see through his thoughts.
Orochimaru showed a trace of contemplation, then slowly said:
"If it was an assassination... he might've succeeded. That kid's poison is extremely troublesome."
"We still haven't found an antidote. Sigh, we'll have to rely on Tsunade."
"Don't know if she's returned to the village yet."
Hearing Tsunade's name, Gekko Chizan immediately pictured blonde hair and... enormous... uh, no, stop! Don't think about it!
He forcibly cleared the paid-content images from his mind.
"She should have been found by now."
"I already reported the approximate location."
"If they still can't bring her back... the Anbu should just disband."
Orochimaru couldn't help but burst out laughing.
He had to admit, chatting with Gekko Chizan was quite fun—this kid had no filter and dared to say anything.
"Alright, let's head back. Now that Sunagakure's attack has failed, I doubt they'll try again anytime soon."
"If you want to return to the village, go ahead. I'll hold things down here."
Gekko Chizan nodded. He did want to return—after all, River Country was only the beginning of the Third Shinobi World War. Many more events were coming, and he didn't want to miss them.
And now that Minato's squad had become his squad, he needed to tread carefully.
...
At the same time, deep in the desert southwest of Sunagakure—
A red-haired boy was dragging a corpse deeper into the sands, face twisted with rage.
"Haneda Zaimon..."
"Don't think death will settle your debts..."
"I'm going to turn you into the strongest puppet! That will repay what you owe me."
"Cough... cough..."
"Damn it... this body... humans are so fragile..."
"Pain comes with injury, death follows, and then there's nothing..."
"Only by surviving can you have everything. Transcending death and becoming eternal—that is everything..."
As he spoke, a glimmer of longing flickered in the red-haired boy's eyes.
From this moment on, he would pursue his own path!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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