Orochimaru sat there, looking at her, silent for a long time.
Then he spoke.
"When the teacher asked me to come," he said, his voice was very calm, "He said something."
Tsunade didn't look at him, just stared at the wine in the glass.
"He said, Tsunade might not come. Please don't force me."
Tsunade's mouth moved, not sure if he wanted to laugh or cry.
"But he also said," Orochimaru continued, "If Tsunade doesn't come, Konoha may really not be able to survive this battle."
Tsunade's hand paused.
Orochimaru looked at her, and there was something she couldn't understand in those golden vertical pupils.
"Tsunade." he said.
"I know you don't believe in Konoha. But for some things, it's not a matter of belief or not. It's a matter of need. Konoha needs you."
"Those ninjas who were injured on the battlefield need you. Those young people who have been poisoned by Chiyo need you. They are as old as Nawaki, just as stupid, and they think Konoha is the best place."
He paused.
"You can hate Konoha. But you can't let them die."
Tsunade was silent.
She sat there, the wine glass in her hand tilted slightly, the wine sloshing on the edge of the glass, almost overflowing, but it never happened.
Orochimaru shook his head secretly. In fact, this was not what Sarutobi Hiruzen told him at all. Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a death order and must let Tsunade go back. These words were just made up temporarily by him.
As for Nawaki's death, Orochimaru knew more or less the inside story, but he couldn't tell.
"Orochimaru."
Tsunade suddenly said, "Do you know why I always want to add a medical ninja to every team?"
Orochimaru looked at her and said nothing.
Tsunade raised his head, and suddenly there was a glimmer of light in his drunken eyes.
The light was very weak, like a candle in the wind, which could go out at any time, but it was indeed burning.
"Because Nawaki." she said.
"If there was a medical ninja beside him, even a medical ninja who knew the simplest hemostasis technique, he might not have died. He might have been able to hold on until rescue arrived, until I arrived, until..."
Her voice broke.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, as if she was pushing something back.
"I don't want to see anyone die like Nawaki again." She opened her eyes and looked at Orochimaru.
"I don't want to receive that kind of news again - 'died during mission, body has been collected'. I don't want to see those mothers crying, those fathers silent, those younger brothers and sisters standing at the entrance of the village waiting for someone who will never come back."
"I can't change the darkness of Konoha. I can't find out how Nawaki died.
I can't do anything with Danzo, I can't do anything with Homura, I can't do anything with Koharu, and I can't do anything with the teacher.
But there is one thing I can do - keep more children alive."
She looked at Orochimaru.
"This is probably the only thing I can do."
Orochimaru was silent for a long time.
Then he spoke.
"The teacher agreed."
Tsunade was stunned.
"What?"
"That thing you mentioned before." Orochimaru said, "Add a medical ninja to each team. The teacher agreed."
This is indeed true, because Sarutobi Hiruzen also knows that without any benefit, it is impossible for Tsunade to return to Konoha.
Tsunade's eyes suddenly opened wide.
"He said that it will be implemented after this war is over."
Orochimaru's voice is calm.
"Start with Anbu as a pilot, and then extend it to all combat teams. The training system for medical ninjas must also be rebuilt. Tsunade, you will be responsible for it. The budget will come from the village's finances. If it is not enough, he will go to the daimyo to ask for it."
Tsunade sat there, motionless.
The wine glass in her hand shook, and a few drops of wine spilled out and fell on the table, leaving a small wet mark.
She opened her mouth to say something, but found that something was stuck in her throat and she couldn't say a word.
Orochimaru looked at her without urging her.
He remembered many years ago, when Tsunade first proposed this idea.
She was still a young man at that time, with sparkling eyes, dancing around when she spoke, and wanting to attract everyone to listen to her plan.
"Add a medical ninja to each team! In this way, injured people can receive treatment as soon as possible, and the mortality rate can be reduced by at least 30%!"
At that time, the teacher listened, smiled, and said that the idea was good, but it was difficult to implement. Danzo said it was unnecessary and a waste of manpower. Homura said that the budget was not enough and we would discuss it later.
Koharu said that the training period for medical ninjas is too long and they can't wait.
Only a young man named Dan Katō echoed Tsunade's words.
Then...
Then there is no more.
Dan Katō is dead.
Tsunade later asked several times, but every time she was blocked by various reasons. Slowly, she stopped asking.
Tsunade lowered his head and looked at the few drops of wine stains on the table.
Her shoulders were shaking slightly, as if she was enduring something or supporting something.
"Orochimaru." Her voice was so hoarse that it was almost inaudible, "Are you telling the truth?"
"Yes, don't worry."
"The teacher really agreed?"
"Yes."
"Is this going to be implemented after this war?"
"Yes."
Tsunade was silent for a long time.
She sat there with her head lowered and her shoulders twitching.
Orochimaru couldn't see her face clearly, but he saw a drop of water fall on the table, and next to the few drops of wine stains, a small new wet mark spread.
Then another drop.
Another drop.
Tsunade cried.
She didn't make a sound, she just sat there with her head lowered, tears falling drop by drop. They hit the table, her hands, and her clothes that were stained with the smell of alcohol.
Orochimaru sat opposite, not moving or speaking.
He just looked at her quietly, watched her cry, and watched her squeeze out the things that had been suppressed for three, five, or ten years, drop by drop.
After a long time, Tsunade raised his head.
Her eyes were red and there were tears on her face, but there was something in those eyes that Orochimaru hadn't seen in a long time.
Not drunk, not angry, not sad.
It's a living thing.
"Okay." She said, her voice hoarse but clear, "I'll go back with you."
She picked up the glass of wine on the table and drank it down. The liquid burned through her throat, chest, and into her stomach. But this time, she felt something different.
"But it's not for Konoha." She put down her wine glass and looked at Orochimaru, "It's for those children. To prevent them from dying like my brother in a place where no one knows."
Orochimaru nodded.
"That's enough."
Tsunade stood up, took off the jacket that was full of alcohol smell, and put it on the back of the chair.
She took out a few crumpled bills from her arms and put them on the table as money for drinks.
"Let's go back, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru looked at the back of Tsunade.
I thought to myself.
I'm sorry Tsunade, but Konoha needs you now, and I need you too.