Qianyu followed Orochimaru to the Land of Hot Water.
After several days of travel, they finally arrived at the Konoha ninja encampment situated on the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water.
Tents stood in rows. A few sentries patrolled the perimeter.
Any ninja who saw Orochimaru offered a respectful bow and a muttered, "Lord Orochimaru."
Orochimaru led Qianyu straight to the command tent at the center of the camp.
Inside, Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze were waiting.
Jiraiya's face lit up the moment he saw Orochimaru. "Orochimaru! Finally! The old man said you were coming to reinforce us. Damn, I can breathe again."
Orochimaru skipped the pleasantries. "Report. What's the situation?"
Jiraiya's expression turned grim. "Bad. We've been pushed back again and again. We're almost out of room to retreat."
He moved to a sand table, gesturing for Orochimaru to join him. Qianyu entered the tent and immediately sized up Minato.
Years had changed him. He was taller. His features were sharper, more resolute. A keen, battle-honed edge hung around him like a cloak.
Minato was studying Qianyu with equal intensity. The changes in the boy were just as profound.
Qianyu shifted his gaze and walked to Orochimaru's side, focusing on the sand table.
Jiraiya pointed at the terrain. "Kumogakure's forces appear to have struck a deal with Hot Water's local ninja village. They've massed a significant contingent there. Our problem is the border itself—it's too damn long. With the forces we have, stretching the line is impossible. We're barely holding them at the border as it is."
He tapped another point on the map. "They also have a large reserve force in the Land of the Moon. The moment our front line weakens, those reserves move in to plug the gaps and keep the pressure on. At this rate… we'll be forced to withdraw completely into the Land of Fire."
Orochimaru stared at the sand table, frowning. He'd expected a difficult situation, but not this desperate.
Jiraiya, however, was secretly relieved. He'd been running himself ragged since arriving—not just fighting, but handling logistics, assignments, and strategy. A massive headache. Now Orochimaru was here. Let him deal with the paperwork and troop placements. The man was a genius at this stuff.
As Orochimaru pondered the map, Jiraiya turned to Qianyu. "Hey, kid. Long time no see. Never thought you'd end up as this guy's student. He's picky. You must be something."
Qianyu gave a slight bow. "It has been a while, Lord Jiraiya."
Then he ignored him, his attention fixed on the sand table alongside his sensei.
Jiraiya scoffed quietly. "Yeah. Definitely master and student. Both about as warm as a glacier."
Qianyu studied the markers representing Konoha's positions. His expression grew strange. The front line… it was on the border. Literally. One more step back, and they'd be fighting inside the Land of Fire itself.
Orochimaru glanced at him. "Qianyu. Your assessment. How do we change this situation?"
Not just Qianyu, but Jiraiya and Minato both looked at Orochimaru in surprise. Asking a genin for strategic advice?
"This is the battlefield," Orochimaru said calmly. His meaning was clear: This is where you prove your worth. This is how you climb.
Qianyu's brow furrowed. He fell silent, thinking.
Jiraiya leaned toward Orochimaru, whispering, "Isn't this a bit much to ask a kid?"
Orochimaru smiled thinly. "Don't underestimate my student, Jiraiya. In some ways, he's sharper than I am."
Jiraiya eyed the pensive youth with open skepticism. "Really?"
After a long moment, Qianyu looked up.
"Well?" Orochimaru prompted.
"I have an idea. It may be flawed."
"Say it. I will judge its viability."
Qianyu nodded. "First, I need to ask Lord Jiraiya a question. The reason we're still holding this border line and haven't been driven back into Fire Country… it's primarily because of your presence here, correct? My theory hinges on this."
Jiraiya rubbed his chin. "Feels a bit like bragging, but… yeah. That's a factor. I am one of the Sannin. My name carries weight on a battlefield."
"Good," Qianyu began, his voice cool and analytical. "Then my analysis is this: Kumogakure is not ready for full-scale war with Konoha. Not yet. If they were, given the current disparity in forces, they could easily overrun this position and push us back into our own territory. They haven't. Why?"
He pointed at Jiraiya. "Because of you. The presence of a Sannin signals Konoha's serious commitment to holding this border. If a Sannin falls here, Konoha would have no choice but to pour significant reinforcements into this theater. That doesn't serve Cloud's interests. We know they're allied with Iwagakure. If Konoha shifts major forces here to fight Cloud, the pressure on Cloud increases, while Stone sits back comfortably. It's an alliance of convenience. Cloud won't want to bear the brunt of Konoha's fury alone."
He traced a line on the sand table. "So they maintain this stalemate. They probe. They harass. They keep us pinned. But they don't commit to a decisive push. Not until the wider war truly begins. Then they smash through this weakened border in one move and bring the war directly into the Land of Fire."
Jiraiya listened, his earlier levity gone, replaced by a deep seriousness. The kid was right. The attacks had lessened once they dug in at the border. Cloud was playing a waiting game.