Within the Land of Rain.
High above, dark clouds gathered across the sky, casting a solemn shadow over the land.
"Rumble!"
A terrifying clap of thunder suddenly rang across the heavens, and a flash of light as bright as day lit up the sky!
Inside a tent at one of the outposts.
The heavy atmosphere seemed almost tangible, pressing down on everyone until they could barely breathe.
Everyone in the tent wore grim expressions. Their eyes were lowered, their faces tinged with sorrow.
At their head, a golden-haired woman with a ponytail leaned against the tent wall, head bowed. She seemed utterly drained of strength.
Her face was pale, her expression hollow and desolate.
Just then.
A hoarse, gloomy voice slowly sounded within the tent.
"The results have already been reported to the village. We'll wait for its next orders."
At his words, everyone in the tent except Tsunade, who was still leaning against the wall, lifted their heads and looked at the pale, grim-faced Orochimaru.
"This time... Konoha suffered heavy losses..."
Fukadera Shizuka's face seemed to have even more wrinkles than before. His cloudy eyes stared ahead as he spoke in a raspy voice.
At his words, everyone frowned and fell silent.
"That's enough for now... We'll wait for the village's orders. Until then... we'll temporarily suspend the war..."
Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade by the tent wall, then spoke in a hoarse voice.
At his words,
everyone let out a heavy sigh and slowly left.
After the others had gone,
Orochimaru remained in the tent, looking at Tsunade, whose face was deathly pale and whose gaze seemed lifeless. His voice rasped as he said,
"Sosuke... wouldn't want to see you like this... Tsunade..."
Tsunade didn't react. She kept her head bowed.
Seeing this, a complicated look flashed through Orochimaru's