Although the two squads were conducting a joint operation, Orochimaru did not choose to deploy them as a single group.
Instead, he chose a far more dangerous plan.
He split the eight members of the two squads into three teams.
Tsunade led the first team.
She took the two girls from the Hyuga Clan and the Inuzuka Clan and began a carpet search of the area.
In Orochimaru's words, even if they had to turn the place upside down, they had to find that small Gold Mine.
If they failed to find it, he would report Tsunade's slacking off during missions to the Third Hokage.
Though Tsunade complained incessantly, she could only obediently lead her team away.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Chen led Mikoto, Kushina, and Nawaki—the three weaklings—as the third team.
They were stationed on the main route leading to the Land of Rain. Naturally, they were relatively safer as well, since they would only be operating along the outermost perimeter.
Orochimaru, meanwhile, acted alone as the second team, stationed between Tsunade and Uchiha Chen.
This arrangement drastically increased the danger.
After all, the enemy squad had a Jonin and several Chunin.
Aside from Tsunade, the only Jonin in her team, the rest were all students who had yet to graduate.
They did not even qualify as Genin. How could they possibly be a match for those Chunin veterans?
There was even less need to mention Uchiha Chen's team. They were all Ninja Academy students.
It was truly one god carrying three deadweights.
But the advantages were equally obvious. Spreading everyone out greatly improved both efficiency and the thoroughness of their reconnaissance.
This plan also suited Orochimaru's personality.
Like a venomous snake lurking deep within the jungle—dangerous, yet able to strike deeper.
As far as completing the mission was concerned, Orochimaru's