In the Land of Rain, the sky was once again blanketed by unending drizzle.
Within a hidden cave, the air was dim and damp, carrying the chill of stagnant moisture.
Outside the cave lay scattered rocks and broken stone, with an opening barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through. Shrouded in mist and rain, this cave was almost impossible to spot—though every so often, enemy shinobi could be seen leaping past during their patrols.
It was only a matter of time before the place would be discovered.
Inside, the atmosphere was suffocating—heavy with tension and the smell of blood.
Within the shadows sat the Three Legendary Sannin—Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. Their faces were drawn and pale, their bodies covered with wounds; all three looked utterly battered.
Jiraiya, in particular, was in critical shape. Dried blood stained the corner of his mouth, his breathing was shallow, his lips had turned dark, and his face had taken on a sickly purple hue—a clear sign of severe poisoning.
Tsunade was kneeling beside him, her palms glowing faintly green as she tried desperately to suppress the spread of the toxin.
Orochimaru stood nearby, his eEXPression as cold and unreadable as ever, his slit-like eyes gleaming faintly in the darkness.
Even as elite jōnin—each nearing Kage-level strength—they had fallen into dire straits in the midst of the Second Great Ninja War.
Not long ago, they had encountered Hanzō of the Salamander—and his terrifying summoning beast, the giant salamander itself.
The creature's venom was so deadly that a single whiff could kill a shinobi instantly, leaving not even a corpse behind.
While on a mission, Jiraiya's carelessness had triggered one of Hanzō's traps, alerting his forces and drawing pursuit.
Now, outside the cave, not only Rain ninja but also Sand and Stone ninja were scouring the area.
Hanzō had temporarily formed an alliance with Iwagakure and Sunagakure, united against their common enemy—Konohagakure, the strongest of the three great villages at the time.
Besides Konoha's famed White Fang, Hatake Sakumo, the Sannin—disciples of the Hokage himself—were naturally prime targets.
Unfortunately, Jiraiya's weak sense of caution and easygoing nature had led them right into disaster.
"Tsunade, it's no use," Orochimaru said in his low, cold voice. "The venom of the salamander is too strong. Jiraiya won't last much longer. Instead of wasting your chakra, it would be wiser to save your strength—for a chance to live."
His tone was detached, almost mechanical—typical of Orochimaru's self-serving nature. He had always fought for himself alone, never truly caring about others.
Tsunade's brows are knitted tightly. "I won't abandon a comrade, Orochimaru. Never."
She continued pouring chakra into Jiraiya's body, her eEXPression firm and unwavering.
Orochimaru was silent for a moment. His pale face seemed even whiter under the dim light, and his serpentine pupils gleamed faintly.
"This is a battlefield," he said quietly. "Survival is the only goal. That passage outside only allows one person through at a time. If two try to escape, we'll be discovered. Neither will make it out alive."
His tone hardened. "So… I suggest we leave Jiraiya behind, and the two of us fight. The one who wins gets to live."
Tsunade laughed coldly, lifting her gaze to meet his. "That's really what you think, Orochimaru?"
"Yes," he replied flatly, unblinking.
"How calm… or maybe just cold-blooded," Tsunade said, her tone icy.
"There's no other way," he answered. "Better one survivor than all three corpses."
Tsunade's voice rose, sharp and angry. "And if you were the one lying here, do you think Jiraiya would say the same thing?"
Orochimaru froze.
He didn't need to answer. He knew perfectly well—this fool would never let anyone else die in his place.
After a long pause, Tsunade said softly, "There may be another way. One person goes out—draws the enemy's attention away—and tries to find the antidote to the salamander's poison."
"Who?" Orochimaru asked.
"I'll go." Tsunade's voice was resolute. "As a medical ninja, I'm the best suited for the task."
Orochimaru frowned. "You? Can you handle the enemy outside? Your monstrous strength is formidable, but your chakra is nearly depleted. If they catch you, you'll die for sure! And more importantly—if you leave, who will tend to Jiraiya?"
Tsunade smiled faintly. "You will, Orochimaru. I'm leaving him in your hands."
"Me?" Orochimaru's eyes widened in disbelief.
Just moments ago, he had suggested letting Jiraiya die—and now she was entrusting him with his care? Was she insane?
Surely she wasn't naïve enough to think he wouldn't just kill Jiraiya himself. After all, 'a man who doesn't put himself first will be destroyed by heaven and earth,' as the saying went.
"Do you… trust me, Tsunade?" Orochimaru asked, his slit pupils trembling slightly.
Tsunade shook her head. "It's not that I trust you—it's that this idiot trusts you."
Her gaze shifted to Jiraiya.
At some point, despite his half-conscious state, Jiraiya had managed to lift his hand weakly, eyes still closed—but with a faint grin on his face, giving Orochimaru a thumbs-up.
Orochimaru froze, staring blankly.
He… trusts me?
They'd trained together for years, but their bond had never seemed that deep. Among the three, Jiraiya's talent was the weakest, while Orochimaru's was the greatest.
He had always looked down on Jiraiya as a fool. Yet now, this very fool was the one placing his life in Orochimaru's hands—without hesitation.
A strange, foreign emotion stirred within him. Orochimaru didn't understand it, but it made his heart clench.
By the time he came to his senses, Tsunade was already at the cave entrance. She turned and looked back at him, her golden hair glinting faintly in the dim light.
"Orochimaru," she said softly, "Jiraiya believes in you—and so do I. Don't let us down."
Then she leapt out into the rain.
Moments later, the muffled sounds of battle and shouts filled the air outside. Tsunade had drawn the enemy's attention, leading them in the opposite direction.
Inside the cave, silence returned—broken only by the soft dripping of water and Jiraiya's shallow breathing.
After a long while, Orochimaru exhaled deeply, as if releasing a heavy burden from his chest.
For the first time, a faint smile appeared on his pale face.
"Fine then," he murmured. "I'll be a fool… just this once."
That day, the bond between the Three Sannin—Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru—was forever forged in blood and trust.
Land of Rain — Konoha's Forward Base
On a hill overlooking the misty plains stood a well-fortified encampment—not a temporary outpost, but a permanent stronghold built over time.
At its center was the Konoha Command Post for the Second Great Ninja War.
There, Hatake Sakumo, the White Fang of Konoha, stood silently before a large sand table, analyzing the battlefield with a calm, focused gaze.
As the man second only to the Hokage in prestige and power, he was the supreme commander of Konoha's forces. His presence alone was enough to deter their enemies.
Suddenly, the door to the command room burst open.
A black-clad ninja stumbled in—his body covered in wounds, blood dripping with every step, his breath faint and ragged.
Sakumo's sharp eyes lifted at once. Before he could even speak, the battered ninja forced out his final report with his dying breath.
"Lord Sakumo… the front lines clashed with Iwagakure's forces. Intelligence confirms—two elite Iwa assassination units have infiltrated deep behind our lines… within the defensive perimeter of our base…"
With that, the messenger collapsed, his voice fading as life left his body.
Sakumo's eEXPression hardened, the gravity of the situation settling on his shoulders like a stormcloud.
A new crisis had begun.
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