"Orochimaru, we of Kumogakure agree to end this war," Killer B, the Eight-Tails' Jinchuriki, said, speaking without authorization.
At this point in the battle, Kumogakure still had the upper hand in terms of numbers and could likely continue fighting until the summoning of Manda ended. However, there was a risk that Konoha could turn the tide. But none of this took into account the unpredictable factor that was Orochimaru.
According to standard logic, after such a long and intense battle, the enemy would be low on chakra and probably exhausted. Orochimaru, however, seemed to remain untouched, making it unclear if he was really drained or simply pretending.
Killer B didn't want to gamble with such uncertainty. Orochimaru was far too mysterious, with countless tricks up his sleeve. Who knew what might happen if the fighting continued?
More importantly, his older brother's injuries were severe.
Killer B glanced at Raikage, who was being treated by medical ninjas. Though the bleeding had been stopped, the wound showed no signs of healing. The consequences of such an injury were unknown, and Killer B knew that more comprehensive treatment was needed immediately. Time was of the essence.
Killer B understood his brother's temperament. Raikage's pride would never allow him to bow to defeat, but in this case, Killer B could see no other option but to speak up.
As for the consequences of his own actions, Killer B didn't care. He had already experienced enough hardship as a supporter of Kumogakure and was prepared to face whatever came.
"Killer B, you..." Raikage groaned, clutching his side. The two brothers had an unspoken understanding, and he knew exactly what Killer B was thinking.
But as the Raikage, how could he let his brother bear the burden of defeat for him?
Raikage tried to rise, but a tentacle stopped him, pulling him back to the ground.
"Take the Fourth and leave. I'll cover you," said Orochimaru, standing tall atop Manda, his voice cold and firm.
With no opportunity for Raikage to protest, and with the other Kumogakure ninjas hesitating to challenge the village leader's wishes, they quickly responded. They helped carry Raikage away to safety.
The Eight-Tails' massive form lumbered behind them, its huge body dragging as it moved backward.
As the dark clouds cleared and the cold night wind blew, Orochimaru remained silent, standing high above on the head of Manda, allowing the Kumogakure forces to retreat without a word.
"Master Orochimaru, aren't we going to pursue them?" Uchiha Fugaku asked, unable to contain his curiosity. Even a slight distraction would make Kumogakure uneasy in their retreat, and it could serve to harass them just a little longer.
Orochimaru turned his head, the moonlight casting a cold glow over his face, causing Uchiha Fugaku's heart to skip a beat.
The dark red hue replaced his previously pale complexion, and drops of blood, like wriggling insects, crawled out of his pores. Beneath his skin, an unknown number of capillaries burst, signaling that Orochimaru's injury had not yet healed.
Uchiha Fugaku realized that Orochimaru's condition was far worse than it appeared, and in this situation, it would be better to avoid any unnecessary risks.
"Orochimaru, remember my uncle's reward," Manda said, his voice tinged with urgency. "Ten times!"
Manda's eyes narrowed as it glanced at the figure above its head. With a yell, it disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.
"Hmph… This stupid snake will find its chance to 'reward' him," Orochimaru muttered as he adjusted his position in the air and landed smoothly on the ground, his face dark with displeasure at Manda's performance.
He glanced at Fugaku, his gaze cold, and ordered, "Call your subordinates. Let's return to the fortress."
"Yes, Lord Orochimaru!" Fugaku replied, obeying immediately.
---
As time passed, the sun slowly rose, and dawn broke across the sky.
While the Konoha Ninja Army had been quick to reach the battlefield, their return to the fortress was slower. The delay was due to exhaustion and the large number of wounded. With only a few medical ninjas available, they could only tend to the most critically injured, and even Orochimaru's medical skills were stretched thin from overuse.
It wasn't until dawn that they finally arrived at the Konoha fortress.
The two Hokage advisors, who had been waiting up all night, immediately opened the fortress' defensive barrier as soon as they received word that the ninja army had returned. They went out to greet them.
Koharu, still groggy from lack of sleep, noticed Orochimaru's condition and asked, "How did the battle go?"
Orochimaru, though much improved after continuous treatment along the way, still appeared pale and drained. Tsunade couldn't help but feel anxious seeing him in such a state.
"Do you want to ask me now?" Orochimaru replied grimly, casting a cold glance at her as he walked straight into the fortress.
The Konoha ninja army followed behind without saying a word. After fighting through the night and traveling back, they were utterly exhausted. Several of the seriously wounded were still struggling to stay alive, so they weren't in the mood for questions.
Had they been defeated, however, they wouldn't have dared to act this way.
Koharu, witnessing the scene, furrowed her brows in anger.
Hamura, noticing the tension, quickly stepped forward to pull her aside, ordering, "Get the medical team here, quickly! Rescue the wounded!"
At his command, the ninjas stationed at the fortress sprang into action.
Once the seriously injured were taken care of, the Konoha ninjas dispersed, some heading to rest while others waited for the cooks to start preparing food.
In a room at the back of the fortress, Orochimaru sat cross-legged on a stone bed, recovering. At the same time, he reached out mentally to communicate with the Lamp God.
"You, why didn't you take the chance to kill Raikage?" Orochimaru asked, his voice low.
Others were unaware of the Lamp God's final sword strike, believing that breaking Raikage's body had been the ultimate power. But Orochimaru knew better—what had been revealed was just the tip of the iceberg.
"Why not kill Raikage?" Orochimaru pressed.
The Lamp God, floating in the air with its upper body exposed, smiled and replied, "Isn't your goal to end the war? If you killed Raikage, it might provoke Iwa to take action, and that would lead to a large-scale war across the entire ninja world."
"You see," the Lamp God continued, "Raikage's internal injuries won't heal for a long time. His flanks and internal organs will require extensive recovery, and for a while, he'll be incapable of leading his people into battle."
"I understand," Orochimaru nodded. "But that's not the whole reason, is it? There's more to this."
The Lamp God smiled mysteriously but didn't answer directly. "Chakra is a combination of physical and spiritual energy," it said, shifting the conversation.
Orochimaru frowned, confused by the sudden shift to such a basic concept.
"Most life forms have both physical and spiritual energy," the Lamp God continued, "which means they have the potential to form chakra."
It spread its hands. "This energy is incredibly valuable to an entity like me, who can travel between worlds."
Orochimaru's expression changed, realizing what the Lamp God was hinting at.
"The Fourth Raikage has mastered a rare form of chakra transformation," the Lamp God explained. "It's a treasure that should not be destroyed so easily."
"The whole ninja world is a field for me to harvest," it added with a smile. "Your vision is too small, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru's lips twisted into a wry smile. "But, my Gengami, it seems you can't change your contractor before I die, and you can't copy Raikage's abilities. My wish is still eternal life."
"That was before," the Lamp God replied, shaking its head.
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