The worst-case scenario never came to pass.
After Akaseki sincerely proved their story, the samurai of the Land of Iron believed them.
At the supply depot, the Konoha squad not only replenished their supplies, but also found a master swordsman stationed there. After learning of their situation, he briefed Orochimaru on the current state of the war in the Land of Iron.
Standing before the map, Orochimaru looked at a mountainous region a little farther west and said, "I see. So the Land of Rain has already reached this far..."
"..."
For Konoha, this intelligence was a mixed blessing.
The good news was that, just as Orochimaru had predicted, the front had not yet reached this area. The village they had passed earlier had been massacred by an enemy mobile squad operating behind the lines...
The bad news was that the actual front had advanced faster than Orochimaru expected, and the Rain Ninja's mobile squads behind their lines were also giving the Land of Iron a headache.
Hearing Orochimaru's tone left Tetsuji, the Land of Iron's master swordsman, feeling rather uncomfortable. He pointedly stressed, "Those ninjas from the Land of Rain... they're utterly despicable! They always attack us under cover of poison mist. Our men can only fight them at the cost of their lives!"
Clearly, the Land of Iron had suffered grievous casualties against the Land of Rain's tactics.
"To think things have come to this... The Land of Rain won't be easy to stop. I suggest the Land of Iron's general request aid from Konoha immediately," Orochimaru said calmly.
Tetsuji froze at his words, then replied sullenly, "Well... there's no need... I mean, that's not my decision to make."
Of course Orochimaru wanted the Land of Iron to ask Konoha for aid outright. After that, it could only