"Still acting so improper in front of your juniors!" Tsunade said lightly, shaking her wrist.
"Clearly, the most improper one is... everyone knows who that is..." Jiraiya muttered under his breath, clutching his head.
Jiraiya looked around but saw no sign of his close friend. His expression turned serious. "Where's Orochimaru?"
"He's holding a strategy meeting." Tsunade waved a hand casually. "I was the only one free, so I came to pick you up."
"Has the situation become that dire already?" Jiraiya frowned deeply.
"Let's talk inside." Tsunade turned and headed toward the military camp, with Shizune following close behind. She occasionally stole glances at this legendary martial uncle—this pale-faced middle-aged man was worlds apart from the powerful figure Saitama had described.
At the camp gates, the young ninjas who had stopped Jiraiya earlier had no idea that they had just successfully blocked the path of one of the Three Sannin. It was enough to become a story they could boast about for life. The group hurried through the camp toward the central command tent, where an emergency meeting was underway.
Yagura of Kirigakure had brought immense pressure upon Konoha, especially since Konoha's forces could not find a ninja capable of matching him.
Orochimaru could barely hold Yagura back, but once the enemy entered a partial Tailed Beast transformation—or even fully unleashed the Tailed Beast's power—Orochimaru alone could no longer cope. In a clash several days ago, the partially transformed Yagura had nearly killed Orochimaru on the spot. Fortunately, with his extraordinary ability to survive, Orochimaru had returned to the battlefield after just two days of recovery.
Even Orochimaru, whose survival abilities were unrivaled in the ninja world, had been left in such a sorry state. Yagura's strength was obvious. Saitama secretly wondered: *Why would such a powerful man be