Orochimaru announced the order to retreat.
The Konoha ninjas who were fighting in the Hot Spring Village retreated while fighting, all the way to the entrance of the Village.
Orochimaru scanned the remaining Konoha ninjas, his brow furrowed slightly.
Before coming, there were about a hundred people, but now, at a glance, including the injured ninjas, there are only forty people left at most.
This surprise attack on the Hot Spring Village, although about to succeed, came at a considerable cost.
This operation was only one step away from success, and that was Kuroyama;s neutrality.
Jiraiya, covered in blood, walked to his side and asked, "Orochimaru, how is that old man? Did he agree?"
"I don't know, but no matter what, we should retreat. We can't continue to linger here."
Jiraiya nodded seriously; indeed, they couldn't continue fighting.
Orochimaru believed that Kyriyama Tatsuji would definitely agree to his proposal.
If he didn't agree, then the Hot Spring Village would no longer need to exist in the future.
Orochimaru then announced: "Wait here for five minutes, guard this place, and wait for the rest of our comrades to join us. After five minutes, no matter what, we will retreat!"
Time passed by, second by second.
The ninjas stationed here, including Orochimaru and Jiraiya, unleashed ninjutsu towards The Hot Spring Village, preventing the approach of the Cloud ninjas and Hot Spring ninjas.
The most active person here now is Minato.
He used his mobility to constantly shuttle back and forth, rescuing a Konoha ninja each time.
Minato was already exhausted, but he was still persevering, thinking that he could save one more if he could.
Just as he was about to go in again to save someone, Jiraiya stopped him.
"Alright, Minato, you've done your best. Don't fight anymore. We're about to retreat, and you've reached your limit."
Minato pleaded: "But Teacher Jiraiya, there's still a little time left, let me go one more time."
Jiraiya shook his head: "You can't go anymore. Your speed has slowed down a lot, haven't you noticed? If you go again, you'll be in danger too, and there's not enough time to save another person. Orochimaru said five minutes is five minutes, and he will definitely not stay for an extra second."
"Besides, everyone who should have retreated has already retreated. Those who haven't retreated..."
Jiraiya didn't continue, but the meaning was clear: their chances were slim.
Minato lowered his head slightly and said nothing more.
When the time came, Orochimaru immediately said: "Retreat now! Place explosive tags on the way back! Go!"
The Konoha ninjas gathered here retreated together.
The retreat went smoothly, with almost no obstruction from the Cloud ninjas.
By the time they returned to the base, it was close to noon.
Yasu, who was severely overdrawn, had already returned to his tent to rest.
The others were either healing their injuries or resting.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya did not rest, because now was the busy time.
Orochimaru asked: "Jiraiya, have you finished the count? How many ninjas do we have left?"
Jiraiya reported: "Currently, there are only 43 ninjas left. Only 32 ninjas can still fight in the short term."
Orochimaru's expression was somewhat serious: "Now request reinforcements from Konoha. At least 60 ninjas must be sent to support, so that we can hold the line after advancing the front."
Jiraiya frowned: "Orochimaru, do you want to advance the front immediately? Isn't it too hasty? Should we wait for the support to arrive before advancing?"
Orochimaru looked at the sand table without raising his head and said: "Advancing the front must be done as soon as possible. Otherwise, once they react, our plan to advance the front will be hindered, then this surprise attack on the Hot Spring Village will become meaningless, and the sacrificed ninjas will have sacrificed in vain."
Jiraiya sighed and said: "I understand. I will follow up on this matter immediately. So, how far should the front be pushed?"
Orochimaru picked up the flag belonging to Konoha in the sand table and placed it on a position in the sand table: "At least ten kilometers!"
Jiraiya was surprised, "So far? Can we hold it?"
Orochimaru said very calmly: "With so few people, of course we can't hold it. And because we can't hold it, we have to push the front further."
Jiraiya didn't understand very much: "Why do we have to push the front further when we know we can't hold it?"
Orochimaru explained: "We need to have more room basically. The support ninjas that will be sent by Konoha will not be able to reach the Hot Spring Village in a day or two. If we conservatively advance a distance of the front, if the Cloud ninjas attack us, we will only be able to retreat back here again in the end."
"But if we push the front to a farther position from the beginning, and fight and retreat, then when the support from Konoha arrives, we will be able to hold the current position of the front."
Jiraiya understood his explanation and sighed: "Orochimaru, your brain is really good. If you had been the one who came to Land of Hot Water at the beginning, we might not be in the current situation."
Orochimaru said unceremoniously: "It's not maybe, it's definitely. Jiraiya, you are too conservative. War is like two beasts tearing at each other. As long as one side shows weakness, then the other side will inevitably bite you tightly until death."
Jiraiya sat on the chair and said: "I don't want to be so conservative either, but it's too difficult for me to attack recklessly like you. By the way, how is the situation on the other fronts of Konoha?"
Orochimaru replied: "The battle lines of the Stone ninjas and Sand ninjas are okay. The only trouble now is that the Hidden Mist Village may also enter the war. Besides that, the Cloud ninjas in here are too troublesome, so Teacher sent me to support."
Jiraiya sighed and said: "It hasn't been a few years since the Second Ninja World War ended in peace. I didn't expect there to be war again. Wouldn't it be nice for everyone to live peacefully together?"
Orochimaru's snake eyes glanced at him: "Jiraiya, you are still so naive."
Jiraiya smiled and said: "Sometimes it's not bad to be a little naive. It's too tiring to live so clearly and realistically like you. By the way, how is your disciple? Besides when you carried the injured me and Nawaki during the Second Ninja World War, it seems that you only carried that kid Yasu."
Hearing Nawaki's name, Orochimaru's snake eyes shrank, and then he calmly replied, "Yasu suffered some minor injuries and his body was overdrawn, but there is nothing serious."
--------------
Read advanced 85+ Chapters on my P@treon.
[email protected]/BilPreda