Tsunade's beautiful eyes widened at Orochimaru's words. She stared at him in disbelief, unable to believe he could say something so cold and heartless.
Who was Jiraiya? He was their companion, someone who had grown up with them, been assigned to the same team after graduation, and become Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple alongside them.
They had trained together, grown together, killed enemies together, and fooled around together. They were comrades who had faced life and death together for years, bound by deep bonds. And now Orochimaru wanted to abandon Jiraiya?
"Absolutely not! I will never leave Jiraiya here alone to die! If you want to leave, go by yourself. I'm staying to treat him!"
After a long silence, Tsunade shouted those words.
Orochimaru looked at her helplessly. How could he bear to abandon Jiraiya? At this point, he had not yet resolved to sever his bonds completely. His feelings for Jiraiya were no weaker than Tsunade's.
But he was a rational man who considered the bigger picture. Compared to Jiraiya, their position at the Front Lines was more important.
Hanzō's surprise attack on Dan Katō's forces had already inflicted devastating losses. Now, the only army remaining at the Front Lines in the Land of Rain was the one they commanded. If Hanzō wiped it out, even reinforcements sent by Konoha afterward would face an extremely difficult situation.
What was more, Iwagakure was watching hungrily from the sidelines. If Hanzō destroyed the army at the Front Lines and brought the war into the Land of Fire, the daimyō might cut Konoha's supplies in his fury, making its situation even worse. Orochimaru had no choice but to make this decision.
While Tsunade and Orochimaru argued, Qingyun finally reached the area after searching for some time. Concealing himself near the Rain Ninja, he made