The Bigger Picture

"Orochimaru, Kumogakure agrees to end this war."

The Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, Killer B, spoke without authorization.

In the current battle, Kumogakure still had the advantage in numbers. They could hold out until Manda's summoning time ran out, and they might even turn the tide against Konoha in terms of fighting strength.

But that was assuming Orochimaru wasn't involved.

By all rights, after fighting battle after battle, his Chakra should have been nearly depleted. His current unscathed appearance was probably just an act.

But Killer B didn't dare gamble. Orochimaru was simply too mysterious, with one strange technique after another. Who knew what else he might pull if they kept fighting?

More importantly, his brother's injuries were severe.

Killer B glanced at the Raikage, who was receiving treatment from a medical ninja, and furrowed his brow.

The bleeding had been stopped, but the wound showed no sign of healing. They didn't know what consequences that might have, and he needed more thorough treatment. They couldn't afford to waste time.

Killer B knew his brother's temperament well. And as Raikage, he couldn't be forced to back down, so Killer B had to speak up.

As for the consequences of making the decision on his own, Killer B didn't care. He was Kumogakure's Jinchuriki; he'd experienced enough to know what that meant.

"Killer B, you..."

The Fourth Raikage clutched his side. The brothers had always understood each other, and he immediately realized what Killer B was thinking.

But as Raikage, how could he let his brother bear the bitter fruit of their defeat in the war for him?

He struggled to his feet, but a tentacle pulled him back.

"Get the Fourth Raikage out of here. I'll cover you."

That interruption left the Fourth Raikage no chance to speak. The other Kumogakure ninja couldn't risk anything happening to their village's Kage, so they answered and helped the Raikage retreat.

The Eight-Tails, Gyuki, lumbered after them, moving backward as it withdrew.

The clouds parted. Beneath the cool night breeze, Orochimaru stood high atop Manda, silent as he let the Kumogakure forces retreat.

"Lord Orochimaru, aren't we going to pursue them?"

Fugaku Uchiha couldn't help asking. Even a little harassment would make things extremely difficult for Kumogakure in their current situation.

Orochimaru turned around. Moonlight fell across his face, making Fugaku Uchiha's heart skip a beat.

A deep red had replaced his formerly deathly pale complexion. Drops of blood seemed like writhing mites, all struggling to crawl out of his pores. Beneath that skin, who knew how many capillaries had burst?

Only then did Fugaku Uchiha understand that Orochimaru's injuries hadn't fully healed. At a time like this, it was better not to invite further trouble.

"Orochimaru, remember my payment! Ten times the usual, and double the amount!!"

Manda rolled its eyes upward, peering at the figure on its head. After shouting, it vanished in a puff of white smoke.

"Hmph... That stupid snake. I'll have to find a chance to give it a proper 'payment.'"

Orochimaru adjusted his position in midair and landed steadily on the ground, his expression turning extremely dark. He was clearly dissatisfied with Manda's behavior.

He glanced at Fugaku behind him and ordered, "Gather the men. We're returning to the fortress."

"Yes!"

Time passed. The sun rose, and before long, dawn had come.

Compared to their journey to the battlefield, the Konoha Shinobi Army moved somewhat slowly on the way back.

First, they were exhausted. Second, there were many wounded, but few medical ninja. They could only provide temporary aid to the seriously injured, while Orochimaru, whose Medical Ninjutsu was the most refined, had used up much of his strength and wasn't in a condition to help.

It wasn't until daybreak that they finally returned to Konoha's fortress.

The two Hokage Advisors had spent the entire night sitting up. When they heard the army was back, they hurriedly activated the fortress's defensive barrier and went out to meet them in person.

Utatane Koharu glanced at Orochimaru and asked, "How did it go? What's the situation on the battlefield?"

After receiving treatment throughout the journey, Orochimaru had recovered considerably. But his face was naturally deathly pale, without a trace of color, so Utatane Koharu couldn't tell the difference. Her question came with a hint of urgency.

"You're asking me about that at a time like this?"

Orochimaru's expression darkened. He shot her a cold glance and walked straight into the fortress.

The Konoha Shinobi Army behind him followed without a word.

They had fought all night and then traveled back and forth. They were exhausted to the point of collapse, and several severely wounded ninja were still clinging to life. They had no energy to submit to any kind of questioning.

Of course, they could act this way because they had won the battle. If things had gone the other way, they wouldn't have dared show such an attitude.

Utatane Koharu saw this and knitted her brows, anger visible on her aged face.

Mitokado Homura, standing beside her, noticed something was wrong. He hurriedly pulled her behind him, then turned and ordered, "召集医疗班,赶快救助伤员..."

At his string of orders, the ninja stationed in the fortress sprang into action.

Once the seriously wounded had been taken over, the Konoha Shinobi Army dispersed. Some found rooms to rest in, while others waited for the cooks to start a fire and prepare food...

In a room that faced away from the sun, Orochimaru sat cross-legged on a stone bed, recovering. At the same time, he directed a portion of his thoughts toward speaking with Genie.

"Why didn't you take the chance to kill the Raikage?"

Others had no idea what Genie's final sword strike was capable of. They thought that piercing the Raikage's body was the full extent of its power, but Orochimaru knew that was only the most basic function.

The energy contained in the blade had remained gathered and unreleased to the very end. It had only revealed its sharp edge.

"Why would I kill the Raikage?"

Genie's upper body floated in the air as he smiled. "Wasn't your goal to end the war? If you kill the Raikage, there's no guarantee Iwagakure won't take the opportunity to attack. Then we'd have a war that could engulf the entire Shinobi World."

"Isn't the situation good as it is? The Fourth Raikage's side and internal organs won't heal anytime soon. He'll probably have to cut away a layer of flesh along the wound before he can gradually recover. For a long time, he won't be able to wage war."

"I understand that." Orochimaru raised his head. "But that's not your reason. At least, not your only reason."

There were ways to end the war even if he killed the Raikage. Orochimaru couldn't shake the feeling that Genie had some other scheme in mind.

Genie smiled but didn't answer Orochimaru directly. "Chakra is a combination of physical and spiritual energy."

Orochimaru furrowed his brows, unsure why Genie was bringing up something even a child knew.

"Most living things possess both kinds of energy, which means they have the potential to refine Chakra."

Genie shrugged. "An energy with such broad applicability is valuable to someone like me, who can travel between worlds."

Orochimaru's expression shifted. He knew what Genie was about to say.

"The Fourth Raikage has mastered the pinnacle of Lightning Release nature transformation. He's a rare treasure in the Shinobi World. How could I destroy him so easily?"

Genie smiled as if the entire Shinobi World were his field of leeks. "You're thinking too small, Orochimaru."

Orochimaru's mouth twitched. He couldn't help but retort, "But, my dear Genie, it seems you can't change contractors before I die. You can't copy the Raikage's abilities. And my wish is to gain eternal life."

"That was before."

Genie shook his head.