Mist hung thick in the air, a blood-tinged glow illuminating the Konoha forces as they retreated toward their camp.
In the battle of Mist Valley, Konoha lost no fewer than fifty ninja—
at minimum chunin, with some special jōnin and even full jōnin among them.
Aside from the scouts and camp personnel who died on site, the wounded who had withdrawn to the foothills and were now being sent toward the Fire Country border headquarters were, in truth, also unlikely to survive.
Hanzō's poison still had no antidote.
Preemptive detox pills could only slow the spread—it still required surgery to physically remove the toxin.
And how many medical ninja could the frontline headquarters spare?
A single high-difficulty detox surgery required at least three to four chunin-level medical ninja working together.
So—
Even though the Rain leader had been repelled, the Konoha ninja present could only stand in silence, mourning the fallen.
Above the Rain Country border, black storm clouds loomed like an ever-hungry beast, devouring all sunlight.
Rain and dampness seemed to take root in the land itself, denying any hint of spring or hope.
This—
was the battlefield.
Several months earlier, Orochimaru and another Sarutobi jōnin had led just over two hundred frontline ninja, defeating a Rain force of roughly three hundred at the cost of forty to fifty lives, killing the enemy's jōnin commander.
Then, one month ago, another frontline base—the Rain Rock Camp—
Sarutobi Hikohiko, a veteran jōnin, battlefield commander, and elder of the Third Hokage's generation—who had once coordinated with Orochimaru to kill a Rain high-ranking officer—
fell in battle.
All fortifications at Rain Rock Camp were crushed under Hanzō's advance.
The rear-support Mist Valley Camp, with only thirty to forty ninja, was forced to take in the retreating survivors.
Now, Hanzō personally led another assault.
With barely twenty men—and with Hanzō doing almost all the fighting himself—the Mist Valley Camp, which Konoha had held in Rain Country for two years, was annihilated.
This intelligence was soon delivered to the Third Hokage's office via scrolls.
Sarutobi Hiruzen was deeply grieved.
So many elite Konoha ninja had died.
The Rain Country front was completely lost.
Combined with the recent Uzushio battle and the death of Uncle Hikohiko—
Konoha's chunin reserves were no longer sufficient.
In other words, the frontline now required newly promoted chunin.
There was no longer time to train them slowly.
Even—
Genin, once meant to be kept away from the battlefield, now had to be organized into squads and given open mission access.
That said, as a rule, genin teams were still forbidden from taking battlefield-level B-rank or higher missions—even with chunin or jōnin leaders.
The battlefield was simply too dangerous.
Inexperienced genin would become nothing more than living targets.
Another point in the report stood out:
In the final clash, Hanzō had used a B-rank Water Release to create a disaster-level mudslide—power rivaling forbidden techniques.
It was countered only by Uchiha Keishin's bloodline limit—the Mangekyō Sharingan.
"Mangekyō Sharingan…"
"The Uchiha…"
Hiruzen took a deep breath, gazing out over the village streets.
After long consideration, he decided to promote Uchiha Keishin from second-tier battlefield commander of the Uchiha support unit to first-tier battlefield commander, placing him on the same level as Orochimaru.
As for why "previously"…
That was because the intelligence scroll had been personally delivered by Orochimaru, who had already withdrawn from the front.
"Orochimaru-sensei!"
"Long time no see!!"
At the Senju compound, Orochimaru's first stop was to visit Nawaki, hoping to dispel the darkness the battlefield left behind.
—After all, Orochimaru had been the highest-ranking commander at Mist Valley.
"How's the battlefield?!" Nawaki asked excitedly.
"I heard you beat Rain ninja and earned huge merits for the village~!"
"What are you back for this time?"
Only Konoha's upper leadership and major clans had access to frontline updates.
Genin had no such clearance.
Seeing Nawaki's bright, innocent face, Orochimaru gently patted his head, a trace of melancholy in his eyes.
"It was fine."
"You know your teacher's strength, don't you?"
After brushing him off, Orochimaru glanced at the familiar scene on the ground.
"Still only able to summon that one green snake with your summoning jutsu?"
"Ah—" Nawaki scratched his head awkwardly.
"I don't know why… other snakes don't seem to like me. Only Qingqing responds."
"I see."
Orochimaru sighed inwardly.
Compared to Shikkotsu Forest or Mount Myōboku, Ryūchi Cave's powerful snakes required passing trials.
And passing a trial only meant acknowledgment of the contract.
Manda was the perfect example.
As Nawaki continued chatting—especially about the Uzushio battle and regaining face after nearly dying to Mist ninja—Orochimaru's thoughts drifted.
So the intelligence was true after all.
Mito… really did go to war.
And killed the Third Mizukage.
"…Still," Orochimaru mused inwardly,
"For the Third to allow an elderly jinchūriki onto the battlefield…"
"That doesn't seem like Sensei at all."
As summer winds stirred fallen leaves, Orochimaru pondered deeply.
The Will of Fire… or the value of life—
Which matters more?
Though Orochimaru had done everything he could, rumors spread.
Abandoning comrades—even if tactically correct—shattered people's faith.
Thus, the name he had earned long ago was now fully cemented:
The Cold Lord.
—A man unmoved by the deaths of enemies or allies alike.
In truth, Orochimaru believed those doomed ninja deserved to be honored on the Memorial Stone and receive proper funeral rites.
But—
No one understood him.
That evening, hearing that Might Dai wanted a physical checkup, Team One held a rare dinner together.
Afterward, Orochimaru invited Dai to his home for examination.
Baixing and Nawaki followed out of curiosity.
Night lights cast a faint glow on the red walls of the Hokage Tower.
Who would have thought—
A Hokage's disciple, infamous as the "Cold Lord," future Sannin—
lived in a single-story, aging house with a rooftop balcony.
On the rooftop, Baixing and Nawaki sat atop the white parapet.
Beyond lay the village wall; in the distance, the Hokage Tower.
Orochimaru had spent his money on medical equipment and research tools instead of comfort.
Chemistry and ninjutsu research were money pits, after all.
"Baixing-ge…"
"You think—"
"Stop. I don't know," Baixing cut him off.
(Even Orochimaru isn't that twisted—why are you kids mutating?)
"…Did Sensei really do something wrong?"
Baixing glanced at the distant streets—children playing, even kids from the Uzushio clans.
"No."
"Orochimaru-sensei did nothing wrong."
"Ninja carry many burdens."
"Mistrust. Misunderstanding."
"That's normal."
Compared to Sakumo's fate in canon, Orochimaru's treatment was mild.
Then—
"I want to go to the battlefield," Nawaki said quietly.
"I want to help our comrades… and protect Grandpa's village."
Baixing: "..."
Please don't drag me into your death wish.
Inside, Orochimaru emerged with a medical report.
"From today on," he said calmly,
"Do not use the Eight Gates recklessly anymore."
Might Dai froze.
"Why…?" he asked softly.
"Your body is full of irreversible internal damage," Orochimaru explained.
"From developing the Eight Gates… and excessive training."
"To be blunt—"
"You've already spent your entire future."
"If you keep using it, your body may collapse completely."
Then, firmly:
"I advise you to quit being a ninja."
"Submit this forbidden technique to the village."
"You'll be compensated."
Silence fell.
Then—
"I've decided!" Dai shouted.
"My training isn't enough!"
"I haven't earned my body's approval—or yours!"
He bowed deeply.
"Sensei, thank you—for everything."
"Especially this examination."
Then he looked up, resolute.
"I'll donate the technique."
"For free."
"…And you're serious?" Orochimaru asked.
"Yes!"
After a long pause—
"Very well," Orochimaru said.
"Starting tomorrow, I'll help you fully develop it."
"Prepare yourself."
Dai's eyes shone.
Later, Orochimaru told Baixing and Nawaki Dai was fine, and that starting tomorrow, he'd personally train all three—and prepare them for battlefield missions.
"B-rank or C-rank," he said calmly.
"And one more thing—Rain's defeat means Fire Country itself may soon become a battlefield."
Baixing understood.
Orochimaru added:
"Relax. B-rank war missions will be patrols, escorts, logistics."
"Not too dangerous."
Baixing: "..."
Easy for you to say—you can always escape.
That night, Baixing reflected.
Rain's defeat…
Yes, that aligned with canon.
Otherwise, how would Orochimaru have had time to personally lead Nawaki to the battlefield?
And Nawaki was still so innocent.
Without Uzushio ninja joining Konoha, Nawaki would've likely become a chunin this year.
Then—
Early August.
Rain Country.
A hidden explosive tag.
End.
"…Being a ninja really doesn't pay," Baixing sighed under the shower.
By August, after a month of training—
Nawaki and Dai had grown significantly stronger.
Baixing?
Barely.
One month of training, reversed—less than ten percent lost.
(Hard to hide when someone's watching.)
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