The team led by the two commanders had just suffered heavy losses during a mission.
They had been ambushed by a large group of Iwagakure Ninja acting in collaboration with Sunagakure Ninja, led by Elder Chiyo of the Hidden Sand Village.
"Now is not the time to dwell on these things."
Orochimaru stood with his arms crossed, looking at the map hanging on the wall.
He had sustained some minor injuries himself.
It was thanks to his timely deduction of enemy troop movements that he guessed Homura Mitokado and the others were being ambushed.
He had led his subordinates to provide timely support and rescued them.
"What happened in the past is meaningless now."
"Chiyo and the others appearing here means this area has already been occupied by them, and our front line is wide open."
"Unfortunately, Elder Homura's subordinates suffered heavy losses."
"Sunagakure and Amegakure could cross through here at any time."
"They could drive straight in to threaten this place as well as multiple logistics storage bases in the rear."
"Once we fail to intercept them, it won't be as simple as just getting bogged down in a quagmire."
Orochimaru's pale, slender finger pointed at the map, his voice raspy.
"In that case, without sufficient logistical support, so many of us wouldn't be able to sustain ourselves in the Land of Rain."
"We would likely have no choice but to retreat to the border for defense."
Jiraiya spoke gloomily.
"That absolutely cannot be allowed to happen!"
Homura Mitokado shouted, but then winced as the movement aggravated his injuries.
Tsunade gave the man a sharp, annoyed look.
She slapped her hand onto Homura Mitokado's body, activating the Mystical Palm Technique to repair the reopened wounds.
"Isn't this the mess you caused anyway?"
Homura Mitokado fell silent for a moment after being rebuked by the three.
Before they arrived, the more than two thousand Konoha Ninja stationed in the Land of Rain were able to rely on the border for defense.
They prevented the flames of war from reaching the homeland.
If they still had to do the same after his arrival, wouldn't that prove his incompetence as a commander?
Especially since the direct cause was his own improper strategic arrangements and his defeat by Chiyo in a head-on battle.
This led to heavy losses and left their front line wide open.
In this situation, Homura Mitokado couldn't shift the blame to others even if he wanted to.
He had to make up for his mistakes with merit!
Even if it meant paying a price.
Homura Mitokado pondered for a long time before finally speaking.
"Have each team allocate a portion of their manpower."
"If the current framework is spread too thin and we are still short-handed, then mobilize the strategic support units guarding the second line to come up and assist."
"Are you sure?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed, but then quickly returned to normal.
They would have to go through this eventually, and then it would slowly become the norm.
Although he had been too busy to see his two disciples for the past two months, Orochimaru still had some confidence in them.
With Nawaki's case as a precedent, Orochimaru had already taught them everything he could.
He had prepared everything else that could be done.
If an accident still happened, it could only be attributed to fate.
They couldn't stay in the rear forever; otherwise, there would be no point in becoming Ninja.
"Yes, I know."
"There are many children from influential Ninja Clans in the second-line units who came here to pad their resumes."
"Not only is Monkey's son there, but even the nephews of my own family are there."
"But they must eventually undergo the baptism of true war."
"I think you all understand this."
"That's how Monkey, Danzō, and I came up, and it was the same for you back then."
"The new generation also needs to experience the baptism of war to support Konoha's future after us."
Homura Mitokado nodded slowly as he spoke.
As soon as the mobilization order was issued, early the next morning, Uchiha Gen's entire team immediately assembled.
They set off from the second-line position they originally belonged to, heading for the front line.
There, they finally saw their long-lost teacher, Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sensei, it's been a long time."
Uchiha Gen, wearing a green Konoha Ninja flak jacket, spoke as he looked at Orochimaru standing before him.
Compared to the Orochimaru who used to wear casual clothes, he was now wearing a set of iron-colored metal battle armor with a robe wrapped over it.
Compared to two months ago, there was a bit more murderous intent between his brows.
The fierce aura brought by war made him look more like the cold and dangerous Orochimaru in his memories.
However, after seeing his three disciples, the fierce light in Orochimaru's eyes faded slightly.
"I have to go on a mission again immediately, so I won't chat with you for too long."
A thick brown giant snake slithered out from under Orochimaru's robe and spat out a scroll from its mouth.
"This technique is not very difficult."
"With your abilities, you should be able to learn it quickly."
"As long as you leave the technique's mark in a prepared position in advance, it only requires three seals to perform."
"Once you're proficient enough, it's nearly instantaneous."
"When there's no time to form seals for other Ninjutsu in a crisis, this can help save your life."
"It's best if you can perform it with one-handed seals; that way, you can continue to practice the subsequent advanced Ninjutsu."
Uchiha Gen took the scroll and spread it out.
This was a C-Rank Ninjutsu, Hidden Shadow Snake Hands.
By mixing blood with other materials in advance to tattoo a semi-permanent Summoning Seal on the arm, one could simplify the hand seals of the Summoning Jutsu.
It allowed using only three seals to summon several large snakes to fight for oneself.
For a head-on assault, the strength of this technique could only be considered average.
But its advantage lay in its extremely fast activation and sufficient stealth.
It could produce impressive results when used for sneak attacks or as an emergency measure to buy time in dangerous moments.
After reaching the proficiency level of performing it with one-handed seals, one could then practice the advanced version of this technique.
This was the Hidden Shadow Many Snake Hands, which was B-Rank in difficulty.
The activation time was even shorter, making it more unpredictable.
It could mobilize Chakra to summon more and stronger snakes in a short period, making it even more powerful.
"Additionally, I have transferred you to the defense zone managed by Zixiao."
"Everyone there is one of ours."
"If you encounter a situation you can't handle, fire a signal."
"Reinforcements will definitely arrive within five minutes."
After Orochimaru hurriedly gave them a few more instructions, he left in a rush.
He was very busy now, arguably the busiest Konoha Ninja on the Land of Rain battlefield.
Homura Mitokado and Kome Aki—a powerhouse close to Kage-level and an Elite Jōnin—had been severely injured.
Although their lives were not in danger thanks to the presence of Tsunade, a master of medical arts, and they would eventually return to full strength...
Their bodies still needed rest and they could not exert their full power.
The burden could only be carried by Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade.
They were practically doing the work of one and a half people each, and the most exhausted was undoubtedly Orochimaru.
Team Hiruzen had been established since they were six years old.
While others might not know of Orochimaru's strategic and intellectual capabilities, Tsunade and Jiraiya knew them all too well.
Coupled with previous events proving Orochimaru's unique perspective and strategic vision...
He had now practically become Homura Mitokado's deputy.
He oversaw the command of most Konoha Ninja in the Land of Rain while the latter was injured.