Main world.
Konoha Year 29, winter.
The Valley of the End.
Before dawn, at the coldest hour.
Orochimaru stood at the foot of Hashirama's statue, looking up at that enormous face carved from stone. Hashirama's eyes were empty, devoid of expression, but he felt Hashirama watching him. Watching him lead three thousand men into Kinkaku's trap.
Shinnosuke stood beside him, a short sword at his waist and a kunai in his hand. His fingers were icy, not from cold, but from nerves. His hand shook, but he did not let go.
"Lord Orochimaru." His voice was very soft.
"Mm."
"Can we survive?"
Orochimaru lowered his head and looked at him. He was silent for a moment.
"Yes. But don't run."
Shinnosuke's brow furrowed slightly.
"Don't run?"
"There's only one road through the gorge. Run, and they'll catch you. Get caught, and you'll die. If you don't run, you can still fight. If you fight, you can still live." Orochimaru's voice was calm, as though he were discussing the weather.
Shinnosuke was silent for a long time.
"Are we surrounded?"
"Not surrounded. We've walked into a trap. Kinkaku is waiting at the other end of the gorge. He thinks we'll charge through. We won't. We'll stay right here and wait for him to come."
A glimmer flashed through Shinnosuke's eyes.
"A last stand with our backs to the river?"
A faint smile curled Orochimaru's lips.
"Did your father teach you that?"
"My teacher did."
"Who's your teacher?"
"Mitokado Homura."
Orochimaru said nothing. Mitokado Homura could not teach Shinnosuke how to wage war. All he could teach Shinnosuke was how to serve tea in the Hokage Office.
Mitokado Homura certainly knew how to use the phrase "a last stand with our backs to the river," but whether he used it well was