Slug Snake Toad

Konoha's head is big—really big.

This war was supposed to be fought with an unspoken understanding among the three great nations: no matter the outcome, the Land of Rain had to fall.

But despite that understanding, the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind were playing a game of using a tiger to drive out the wolf.

They hoped to take down the Land of Rain while also making arrangements for Konoha.

So now Konoha was holding the line, one against three.

Even though it was one against three, the Lands of Fire, Earth, and Wind hadn't yet entered a wartime footing. None of them were thinking about crushing anyone outright just yet.

They were all just testing each other, feeling out the others' situations.

But Konoha was already starting to fight for real.

Konoha's forces in the Land of Rain were split into two groups. One group was led by the Sannin, tasked with handling the Iwagakure and Sand Ninja.

The other group was led by Danzo and White Fang, responsible for opposing Hanzō and his Rain Ninja.

The Sand Ninja had opened a new battlefield on the Fire-Wind border, so they only kept a garrison in the Land of Rain to observe the situation.

Their focus was on the Fire-Wind battlefield.

So in the Land of Rain, the real fighting was only between Rain, Earth, and Fire.

Relying on decent Taijutsu and speed, along with Tsunade's antidotes, Danzo and White Fang barely held off Hanzō.

So the Sannin's side hoped to quickly break the deadlock against the Iwagakure.

Especially after receiving confirmed intelligence from Kumogakure, Konoha intensified its offensive, waiting for Kumogakure to deploy troops.

"Not here. Not here either. Not here."

Hyuga Ao was searching for the Sannin.

Konoha had just fought a major battle, and the troops were scattered everywhere. The Sannin had stayed behind to cover the retreat and lure the enemy away. Now their fate was unknown.

Ao had just arrived at the battlefield when she ran into Kikume Kōtō. He told her to take a squad to search for and rescue the Sannin.

Ao refused, because she was faster alone.

Activating her Byakugan with a ten-kilometer range, she swept across the map like a high-powered radar vehicle, constantly illuminating the terrain.

On the other side, Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya were trapped inside a small mountain cave.

Jiraiya was badly injured, and Tsunade was steadily treating him.

"Boom, boom, boom." Outside, the Iwagakure forces were relentlessly bombarding the hill with Rock Iron Cannons.

The hill was crumbling, on the verge of collapse at any moment.

Right now, the Sannin were putting on an annual drama of mutual restraint.

Jiraiya breathed with difficulty. Tsunade focused her Mystical Palm Technique, healing him. Her delicate face was full of gravity—she had to restore Jiraiya's mobility quickly, or all three of them would be trapped here.

Orochimaru approached from behind Tsunade, his footsteps echoing in the hollow space.

"Give it up, Tsunade," Orochimaru said hoarsely.

"The Iwagakure's Earth Release will destroy this mountain sooner or later."

"If you want to escape, you can't hesitate. You and I must leave now."

Tsunade turned her head to retort, "And Jiraiya!"

Orochimaru's brow furrowed, his face cold and stern. "Taking Jiraiya with us is impossible!"

Tsunade looked back into Orochimaru's eyes, dissatisfied. "That's why I'm using Medical Ninjutsu..."

But before she could finish, Orochimaru cut her off, his brow tightening further until his purple eyeshadow was squeezed into thin black lines.

He urged, "Tsunade, this is wartime. We can't lower the odds because of uncertain personal feelings!"

Tsunade demanded, "What odds?"

"The odds of our survival," Orochimaru replied coldly. "One person can't make it. Two might barely manage. But three..."

"We'll all die!"

Tsunade's eyes widened, her mouth slightly open, unable to believe Orochimaru would say such a thing.

"Keep healing," Orochimaru said, as if he had made some decision. He pulled out a Kunai, gritting his teeth. "It's fine. I'll send Jiraiya off myself!"

Tsunade lowered her head, her expression hidden, but her voice carried through.

"Take one step forward, and I'll kill you," Tsunade said firmly.

Orochimaru fell silent. For a moment, the three of them were locked in a stalemate.

Outside, the Iwagakure bombardment continued unabated. The Rock Iron Cannons were about to bring down the hill.

Tsunade broke the silence. "Looks like the three of us are restraining each other."

Orochimaru countered, "What are you saying? It's just you and me. It depends on who strikes first."

He tightened his grip on the Kunai, his tone heavy. "Jiraiya is already..."

What he was thinking was: rather than letting the gravely wounded Jiraiya be killed by a bunch of nameless nobodies later, it was better for him to end Jiraiya's suffering himself.

But then, Orochimaru saw Jiraiya trembling, yet his hand rose unwaveringly. Jiraiya's eyes were shut tight, and he smiled, flashing a V-sign with his fingers.

Orochimaru was momentarily choked up.

"Jiraiya trusts you from the bottom of his heart," Tsunade said, meeting Orochimaru's gaze. "That trust is enough to make you hesitate to strike!"

Orochimaru's brow furrowed deeply, his teeth clenched. The bonds of the three and his own code of conduct clashed violently within him.

"How boring!" Orochimaru snapped, humiliated at being seen through. He brandished the Kunai in his hand, as if trying to prove something. "I..."

A thunderous crash split the rock wall, cutting off Orochimaru's words.

"Orochimaru-sensei, reinforcements are here!"

Hyuga Ao leaped in, eyeing the scene before her with confusion.

As the dust cleared, Orochimaru stood with a Kunai aimed at Jiraiya, Tsunade blocked his path, and Jiraiya flashed a V-sign with a smile, utterly convinced Orochimaru wouldn't really kill him.

"You three... what's all this?"

Hyuga Ao teased.

She never expected to witness this sight firsthand.

Slugs eat snakes, snakes eat toads, toads eat slugs.

The Sannin's dynamic was laid bare in that moment!

The three froze for a moment, as if utterly unaware of Hyuga Ao's arrival.

After a while, Orochimaru let out a cold snort, sheathed his Kunai, and walked away.

Tsunade shot Orochimaru a sharp glare with her beautiful eyes, gave a delicate huff, and turned to support Jiraiya on her own.

As for Hyuga Ao, who had come to the rescue, she was left ignored.

Hyuga Ao shrugged helplessly, trailing behind the Sannin.

The Sannin's family drama—she had no desire to get involved.

Still, she hadn't expected to witness this scene, which had originally played out on a screen, in person.

The clash of the Sannin's ideals and personalities in that moment was incredibly striking.

"But," Hyuga Ao mused, stroking her chin, "I recall that in the original, it was Konoha's forces arriving that saved the Sannin. I didn't expect to be the one to get here first and rescue them."

"Butterfly effect," Hyuga Ao sighed.

Earlier, Hyuga Ao had spotted over thirty Iwagakure ninja gathered together, unleashing jutsu at a small hill with her Byakugan. Moving closer, she'd indeed detected the Chakra of Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya.

Then she'd quickly gone back to rally the troops, and while Konoha drove off the Iwagakure ninja, she broke through the rock wall to free the Sannin.

Just then, the squad that had driven off the Iwagakure ninja returned.

One of the Jonin from the Yamanaka Clan came over, patting Hyuga Ao on the shoulder approvingly. "Not bad, you found Orochimaru and the others that fast."

"So, how is it? Orochimaru, Tsunade, Jiraiya—are you all alright?"

The arrival of the Yamanaka Jonin broke the tense standoff among the Sannin.

Tsunade replied, "We're fine. Jiraiya's just a bit badly hurt."

She waved Hyuga Ao over.

"Thank you for finding us so quickly. Earlier, Orochimaru wanted to teach you the Yin Seal and even offered a lot of good stuff in exchange."

As she spoke, she shot another glare at Orochimaru.

"Come to me when we get back. I'll apply the Yin Seal for you then."

Happiness came so suddenly. Hyuga Ao sweetly thanked Tsunade while sneaking a peek at Orochimaru's reaction.

Sure enough, Orochimaru's originally stern expression froze, then slowly softened.

Tsunade really was different to Orochimaru.

Hyuga Ao recalled scenes from her past life.

"You heal my hands, and I'll revive the one you love most."

Looking back on those words now, they didn't seem like empty talk.

Snake-sensei was such a tsundere, Hyuga Ao silently ribbed him in her thoughts.