Analyzing the Situation

Chiyu followed Orochimaru to the Land of Hot Water.

After several days of arduous travel, Chiyu and Orochimaru finally arrived at Konoha's encampment in the Land of Hot Water.

Konoha's encampment lay along the border between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire.

Tents stood one after another, with several ninja patrolling the area.

Whenever they saw Orochimaru, the ninja respectfully called out, "Lord Orochimaru."

Orochimaru led Chiyu straight into the innermost tent.

Inside the tent were Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze.

When Jiraiya saw Orochimaru arrive, his face lit up with delight. "Orochimaru, you finally made it. The old man said you were coming to the Land of Hot Water to support us. That's a huge weight off my mind."

Orochimaru did not reminisce with Jiraiya and went straight to the point. "How is the situation now?"

Jiraiya said gravely, "It's very bad. Our forward positions have been pushed back again and again. We're practically at the point where there's nowhere left to retreat."

Orochimaru walked over to the sand table, and Jiraiya explained the current situation in the Land of Hot Water.

The moment Chiyu entered the tent, he began sizing up Minato Namikaze.

After several years apart, Minato Namikaze had changed greatly. He had grown noticeably taller, his features had become more resolute, and he had developed a sharp, formidable air.

Minato Namikaze was likewise studying Chiyu.

In Minato Namikaze's eyes, Chiyu had changed just as much.

Chiyu shifted his gaze and walked over to Orochimaru's side, wanting to see the current situation in the Land of Hot Water for himself.

Jiraiya explained to Orochimaru, "It seems that Kumogakure has reached an agreement with the Hidden Hot Water Village of the Land of Hot Water. A large number of Cloud Ninja are stationed there.

"The border between the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Fire is very long. With so few ninja, it's difficult for us to stretch our lines that far. At present, we can only do our utmost to barely keep the Cloud Ninja outside the Land of Fire's border.

"At the same time, Kumogakure has stationed many ninja in the Land of the Moon. Whenever their combat strength is depleted, the ninja stationed in the Land of the Moon will promptly reinforce the Land of Hot Water and replenish their forces.

"If this situation continues, we may very well be forced to withdraw from the Land of Hot Water completely and retreat into the Land of Fire."

Orochimaru stared at the sand table, his brow tightly furrowed.

He had prepared himself for the possibility that Konoha's situation in the Land of Hot Water would be bad, but he had not expected it to be this bad.

Meanwhile, Jiraiya was overjoyed inside. Ever since arriving in the Land of Hot Water, he had been wearing a worried expression every day.

If it had only been about fighting, Jiraiya would not have cared.

But all the troop deployments and task assignments required Jiraiya to handle them personally.

Jiraiya felt like his head was about to split in two.

Now that Orochimaru had arrived, he could dump all those matters on him. After all, Orochimaru was best at this sort of thing.

Orochimaru stared at the sand table, deep in thought.

Jiraiya looked toward Chiyu. "Kid, it's been a long time. I didn't expect you to become Orochimaru's disciple. Orochimaru is extremely picky about disciples. Not bad."

Chiyu bowed to Jiraiya. "It has been a long time, Lord Jiraiya."

After greeting him, Chiyu ignored Jiraiya and studied the sand table alongside Orochimaru.

Seeing how aloof Chiyu was, Jiraiya curled his lips and muttered, "Just as expected of master and disciple. Both of them are so cold."

Chiyu looked at the flags representing Konoha's side on the sand table, his expression somewhat strange.

Their line was practically right on the Land of Fire's border.

If they retreated any farther, there would be no border line left to defend. They would be directly retreating into the Land of Fire.

Orochimaru turned his head toward Chiyu and asked, "Chiyu, how do you think we can change the current situation?"

Not only Chiyu, but Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze also looked at Orochimaru in surprise.

They had not expected Orochimaru to ask Chiyu how to change the situation.

Orochimaru said, "Just say what you think. This is a battlefield."

Orochimaru's meaning was obvious. The battlefield was the best place to earn merit.

If Chiyu wanted to enter Konoha's core, he had to seize every opportunity to prove himself.

Orochimaru was helping Chiyu earn merit.

Chiyu frowned slightly and fell silent in thought.

Jiraiya whispered to Orochimaru, "Orochimaru, isn't it a little rash to ask a kid about something this important?"

Orochimaru smiled. "Jiraiya, don't underestimate my disciple. He's even smarter than I am."

Jiraiya looked skeptically at the deeply contemplative Chiyu. "Really?"

After quite a while, Chiyu emerged from his thoughts.

Orochimaru asked, "Chiyu, what do you think?"

"I have an idea, but it may not be entirely sound."

"Go ahead. I'll judge whether your idea is feasible."

Chiyu nodded, then asked, "Before that, I would like to ask Lord Jiraiya a question. The reason Konoha's ninja have not retreated into the Land of Fire and can still hold the border line is because of you, Lord Jiraiya, correct? My following idea is based on that question, so I ask that Lord Jiraiya answer me."

Jiraiya rubbed his chin and replied, "Though I may be flattering myself a little, you could say that's one of the reasons. After all, I am one of the Legendary Sannin, renowned throughout the ninja world."

Chiyu began his analysis. "In my view, Kumogakure must not yet be prepared to go to war with Konoha. Otherwise, given the vast disparity in strength between the two sides, the Cloud Ninja would certainly be capable of attacking us and forcing us back into the Land of Fire.

"Lord Jiraiya has played a crucial role in this. As one of the Legendary Sannin, your direct presence here proves to Kumogakure that Konoha is determined to hold the border line.

"If even Lord Jiraiya were unable to hold the line, Konoha would inevitably send more ninja here as reinforcements, and that would not serve their interests.

"After all, we know Iwagakure has already allied itself with Kumogakure. If Konoha sends ninja to reinforce the Land of Hot Water, Kumogakure will face enormous pressure. Though they are allies, Kumogakure presumably does not want to bear Konoha's pressure alone while Iwagakure sits comfortably.

"Therefore, in my opinion, Kumogakure will not take further action before the full-scale war begins. Instead, they will maintain the current situation.

"That way, once the full-scale war begins, they can easily break through the border defenses, invade the Land of Fire directly, and begin the war there."

As Jiraiya listened to Chiyu's analysis, his expression became extremely serious.

Just as Chiyu had said, in the Land of Hot Water, Konoha's ninja were vastly outnumbered by Kumogakure's ninja. If Kumogakure gathered a force to attack them, they could only retreat into the Land of Fire.

But ever since they had fallen back to the border line, Kumogakure's attacks against them had become far less frequent.

If that was the case, then this kid Chiyu's analysis was correct. Kumogakure was deliberately maintaining the current situation in the Land of Hot Water.