She knew exactly what kind of power a given amount of Chakra explosive would yield.
"I was just thinking of taking you back to Ryūchi Cave."
Ichikishimahime rested her chin on her hands, transformed into a white snake, and slithered into Orochimaru's clothes, coiling around her neck.
"I rarely do things I'm not confident about."
Orochimaru pressed Ichikishimahime's head and looked at Little Bug, who was flying back with Tsunade and Jiraiya.
"Orochimaru!"
Little Bug flew back with Tsunade and Jiraiya. Before it even landed, Tsunade jumped off its back, landing in a mud puddle and almost falling.
Orochimaru instantly appeared in front of Tsunade, reaching out to catch her as she lunged forward.
Tsunade hugged Orochimaru tightly. Because she didn't have much Chakra left, her embrace was far less powerful than usual.
Why do I feel so superfluous at a time like this!
Jiraiya was crying inwardly, wishing that at a time like this, a beautiful and sexy older sister would throw herself into his arms and sweetly say to him, "Lord Jiraiya, are you alright! I was so worried about you!"
It would be even better if she added a fragrant kiss.
Seeing that there was nothing left for it to do, Little Bug shook off the rain from its body and, with a 'bang,' vanished in a puff of smoke, returning to the Mangrove Forest in the Land of Waves.
"Do you believe me now?"
Orochimaru gently patted Tsunade's back.
"I thought you..."
Tsunade hesitated, stopping mid-sentence. She had thought Orochimaru's words were meant to make her and Jiraiya leave first.
"That's why you're an idiot. Did you forget I can use the Flying Thunder God Technique? If I wanted to escape, taking you two with the Flying Thunder God Technique would be very easy."
Orochimaru tapped Tsunade's forehead.
"Don't always call me an idiot. If I really become stupid, it's all your fault!"
Tsunade was too tired to punch, so she opened her mouth and bit Orochimaru's cheek.
"Wah—!"
Ichikishimahime suddenly poked her head out, opening her mouth to reveal her pink forked tongue and fangs, startling Tsunade into taking a step back, almost falling into the muddy ground.
"Hahaha! You're easily startled, aren't you!"
Ichikishimahime laughed happily.
"Reinforcements are here."
Orochimaru pressed Ichikishimahime's head back into her white robe, signaling her to be quiet.
What... what on earth happened here?!
The arriving Konoha Ninja were deeply shocked, looking at the crater hundreds of meters in diameter. Seeing Orochimaru and her companions' exhausted appearance, they didn't press for details about what had happened.
They must have endured an extremely brutal battle.
Late at night, after the rain, the sky cleared, dotted with stars. The Milky Way, streaking across the sky like a brilliant silver vortex, cast its cold moonlight upon the earth, and into the large crater blasted by the Chakra explosive.
Several Hidden Stone Ninja stood at the edge of the pit, a hint of horror in their eyes. They didn't know what kind of Ninjutsu could kill hundreds of Hidden Stone Ninja in an instant.
Even if most of them were Genin, they were still Ninja who had been on the battlefield many times!
Konoha Medical Logistics Camp, Orochimaru and Tsunade's tent.
"Don't you two want to rest?"
Orochimaru lay on the makeshift bed, covered in sweat, breathing slightly, her pale white skin flushed red. She was simply too tired to keep up with them, her eyes barely able to stay open, and her hands cramping a little.
Ichikishimahime was one thing, but Tsunade's energy was a mystery, as if she had a hidden backup power source.
Didn't they use the same stamina bar on the battlefield and in bed?
"You scared me, so you should compensate me..."
Tsunade steadied her breathing and kissed the Yin Seal on Orochimaru's abdomen. Every time she saw the Yin Seal on her abdomen, she couldn't help but want to kiss it. Leaning against her, and remembering the previous danger, she opened her mouth and bit her chest.
"I also worked hard observing the enemy's movements for you two."
Ichikishimahime, full of energy and showing no signs of fatigue, hugged Orochimaru's arm.
"Sleep..."
Orochimaru pulled her hand out of Ichikishimahime's embrace, sat up, and pulled up the blanket that was almost kicked to the floor.
It was quite cold on a deep night after the rain. It wouldn't be good to get sick because of something like this.
War was cruel, but it was also a place where feelings could develop. Through their constant companionship, Tsunade had long since stopped disliking Ichikishimahime, but she still felt annoyed by some of her actions.
Like when she clung to Orochimaru...—
The war between Konoha and Iwagakure, Kumagakure, and Hidden Mist continued.
The first to falter was Hidden Mist, which was fighting a two-front war against Sunagakure and Konoha. The Hidden Mist forces withdrew from the Land of Fire and returned to Hidden Mist Village in the Land of Water.
The conflict between Konoha and Iwagakure and Kumagakure had long since transitioned from large-scale warfare to small-scale wars of attrition.
Even with the rebirth pills developed by Orochimaru, years of war continuously weakened Konoha's strength.
If not for Konoha's deep reserves and numerous Ninja Clans with Bloodline Limits and secret techniques, it would have long been defeated by Iwagakure, Kumagakure, and Hidden Mist in a war of attrition.
Even so, the prolonged war still caused Konoha heavy losses.
This war was far less bloody than the First Shinobi World War, yet it was still a war where Konoha fought against multiple opponents.
Tens of thousands of Ninja died on the battlefield, and the war deeply affected the lives of people in various countries.
Konoha Year 35, a hot summer.
The friction between Sunagakure and Hidden Mist had always existed. The Third Kazekage had been closely observing the war between Konoha and the various Various Ninja Villages, and for the past few years, Akagitsune and Eryu, living in Konoha, occasionally sent back intelligence.
He believed it was time to destroy Konoha, which had been largely depleted by the other Various Ninja Villages, and to demonstrate Sunagakure's power to the Ninja World!
Betraying an alliance?
During the First Shinobi World War, all Various Ninja Villages had done it, not just Sunagakure!
The Third Kazekage's proposal was approved by almost all of Sunagakure's Higher-Ups, with only Chiyo opposing it.
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