Such a meticulously planned ambush from both sides could only end in heavy losses.
In less than an hour, over three hundred Sand shinobi were completely routed by Konoha's forces.
It looked like an overwhelming victory on the surface, yet beneath the glory lay countless lives, injuries, and grief. The ground still carried the smell of blood, and the exhausted Konoha shinobi wore the faces of survivors, not conquerors.
At the front of the column, Orochimaru and Tsunade walked side by side, discussing the aftermath while taking in the grim battlefield.
"What are Konoha's losses?" Tsunade asked quietly. She kept her hands busy, sorting through materials she had collected for later treatment, though her voice carried the weight of responsibility.
Orochimaru, who had taken charge of tallying casualties, replied in his calm tone.
"Including elite Jonin, we have lost twenty-five in total. For Chunin and Genin combined, the casualties are around one hundred and fifty."
Tsunade fell silent. Her jaw tightened, and her gaze dimmed. No matter how many battles she fought, the death of her comrades never became easier. Every fallen shinobi carved another wound into her heart.
Sometimes, she even imagined marching straight into Sunagakure's gates just to scream at the Third Kazekage for all of this.
But that fantasy lasted only a heartbeat. If she truly did it, she would be captured immediately, and the humiliation alone would be unbearable.
"Don't shake your head," Orochimaru said, noticing her expression. "Losses like these are unavoidable if we want to win. Risk is inherent to victory. In my view, this battle was worth the price we paid. A few more ambushes like this, and the Sand Village will no longer have the strength to continue the war."
His tone took on an analytical, almost lecturing cadence, as if he were standing behind a podium. Tsunade's patience thinned instantly.
She understood all of this already. Despite the Senju clan's decline, she had received excellent education growing up. She might not flaunt it, but her background was far from the village-bumpkin image Orochimaru sometimes imagined.
Yet knowing something and accepting it were different matters entirely.
She hated war. She hated death. She hated measuring people's lives like numbers on a ledger.
So she cut him off with her usual bluntness.
"Sorry, Orochimaru. Please shut up."
His words halted mid-sentence. Orochimaru sighed, shoulders drooping just slightly. He rarely got frustrated, but moments like this poked at his pride. He wanted to share his insight, yet she dismissed it outright.
Before, this never bothered him.
Only because Jiraiya had been around back then.
Jiraiya understood very little of Orochimaru's strategic talk, which made it easy for Orochimaru to explain everything from the beginning, enjoy the teaching process, and feel superior in the process.
Now Jiraiya was away in the Land of Rain, and Tsunade wasn't exactly receptive to long lectures. The contrast stung more than Orochimaru expected.
He found himself wondering if Jiraiya was also feeling lonely out there, just like he was.
Trying to smooth the tension she caused, Tsunade shifted the topic.
"How's the medical unit doing?"
It was her way of giving Orochimaru space to continue speaking, but only in an area where he wouldn't lecture endlessly. It both soothed his bruised ego and kept him from irritating her again.
"There are still over a dozen medical ninja working. Treatment should finish in about half an hour," Orochimaru replied.
Tsunade frowned. "There are still too few." After hesitating, she asked, "If I propose to the Third Hokage that every squad should have one medical ninja, do you think he'll agree?"
"Why would you think of that?" Orochimaru blinked, then smirked slightly. "Unless something is wrong with his brain, he definitely won't agree."
Tsunade's eyes sharpened dangerously.
"What did you just say?"
"Think about it. We're in the middle of a war, short on both medical ninja and combat personnel. You won't have the time or resources for specialized training. Let alone placing one in every squad," he explained, shaking his head.
"I know it's difficult," Tsunade replied, her voice firm, "but the return is enormous. Having medical ninja directly increases squad survival. According to the medical department's records, many shinobi die from untreated wounds. With a medical ninja present, the injured can be stabilized immediately. The squad's overall endurance increases dramatically."
She continued, her conviction growing stronger.
"For example, in our team, how many times have you and Jiraiya survived because of me? You both practically treated me like I was some treasure."
Orochimaru began sweating internally.
How could she compare herself to ordinary medical ninja? Tsunade's physical power alone made her incomparable. A typical medical ninja couldn't replicate her presence in the slightest.
His mind churned over the problem. Traditional squads focused solely on combat capability, but as Tsunade said, the lack of medical support cost countless lives.
Replacing one combatant with a medical ninja, however, created a weak point that enemies would immediately target. And it reduced raw combat strength.
Before he could form a full argument, Tsunade's fist drifted dangerously close to his face. Orochimaru wisely stopped talking.
"Your suggestion is… workable," he said vaguely.
"Is that so?" Tsunade brightened. "Then why don't you bring it up at the Jonin meeting when we return to Konoha?"
"Why me?" Orochimaru finally muttered. "If everyone disagrees, where will my dignity go?"
"You want to keep your dignity, Orochimaru? And what about mine?" Tsunade shot back.
She eventually fell quiet, feeling slightly defeated. She had proudly crafted this entire proposal — even if she came up with it while squatting in the latrine — but Orochimaru refused to back her up. It honestly stung.
Before, this wouldn't have upset her so much.
Because Jiraiya had been there.
Jiraiya wasn't always reliable, but whenever Tsunade needed something, he did it instantly and without hesitation.
Now he was gone, and Orochimaru wouldn't help her at all. She suddenly felt strangely empty and found herself missing Jiraiya more than expected.
Still, if Orochimaru wouldn't support her, Tsunade could always find someone else.
Three-legged toads might be rare, but three-legged Jonin? Those were everywhere.
She already had numerous plans forming in her head, and medical system reform was just the beginning.
For instance, the village could allocate funds for her to gamble in the Land of Wind's casinos. She would win their money, drain their economy, and indirectly weaken their war effort.
Thinking of this absurd yet strangely convincing idea, Tsunade puffed out her chest and smiled triumphantly at her own brilliance.
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