Mitokado Homura could barely control his emotions, and Utatane Koharu was filled with resentment as well.
Where were the reinforcements you promised? If you hadn't said reinforcements would definitely come, we would have withdrawn long ago. We wouldn't have suffered such enormous casualties and losses.
It was because of those repeated delays, two days after two days, that things had gradually reached this point.
"Orochimaru defied orders."
The Third Hokage closed his eyes in pain. "He wanted to launch a crucial all-out offensive, so he was unwilling to pull personnel away."
"Orochimaru!!!"
Mitokado Homura froze for several seconds, while Utatane Koharu furiously began cursing outright.
They had considered every possibility, except that Orochimaru, who had always been so obedient, would actually stab them in the back.
Defying orders?
Those words, "defying orders," had nearly gotten them killed in the Land of Bears.
"Why would he do this? Was it his own idea, or was someone behind the scenes pushing him into it?"
Utatane Koharu flew into a rage, firing off question after question.
The Third Hokage opened his eyes and sighed.
"No one pushed him. It was Orochimaru's own idea. He wanted a victory. He wanted to turn the full-scale war in the Land of Rivers into a localized war in the Land of Wind, and he succeeded. Together with Jingyi, he drove Sunagakure back into the Land of Wind."
"Jingyi?"
"Jingyi Hyuga? He was at the camp?"
Mitokado Homura urgently pressed on.
"Did he complete his mission? Why did he go to the Land of Rivers camp?"
"He completed it."
Though it would hurt his two old companions, the Third Hokage had to tell the truth, even if the truth was painful.
"After completing his mission, he went to the camp to see Tsunade. Tsunade wanted to return to