"So? Did you confirm the intel?"
Jiraiya could barely contain himself, the words bursting out of him. He'd spent the entire time buzzing with restless energy, picturing the glorious battle ahead—a perfect chance to show Tsunade his cool, dashing side.
He could already see it: Tsunade, utterly captivated, finally seeing him in a new light, perhaps even handing him a love letter.
The real question was, would he play it cool and refuse, or graciously accept? It was a difficult dilemma.
That fantasy however shattered with Yuta's next words.
"The bandit camp holds twelve bandits in total," Yuta reported, his voice low and steady. "Including two missing-nin from the Village Hidden in the Sand. Their rank is unconfirmed—could be Chunin or Genin. One is overseeing six civilian prisoners, forcing them to build fortifications. The other is in the mess hall, eating with four bandits."
"The remaining six are on patrol: two at the main gate, and one in each of the four watchtowers. The lookouts are armed with telescopes."
'Missing-nin from Sunagakure?'
The mission briefing had failed to mention that critical detail.
Jiraiya's bravado faltered. Even he recognized the severe spike in the mission's difficulty. He fell silent, his brow furrowed in uncharacteristic thought.
"This significantly increases the mission's risk," Orochimaru analyzed, his serpentine eyes narrowing in calculation. "However... Our core strategy remains viable, with adjustments. We should operate under one key assumption: the ninja guarding the civilians will not be drawn away by a frontal assault. He will likely use them as human shields."
"Therefore," he continued, "the rescue team must be capable of neutralizing that missing-nin instantly, before he can harm a single civilian. Furthermore, the watchtowers present a major complication. Their sight lines mean we could be detected long before we breach the perimeter, robbing us of our element of surprise."
"We should assign roles. Who will lead the frontal diversion? And who will spearhead the hostage rescue?"
'Incredible,' Yuta thought. Orochimaru had digested the raw intelligence and formulated a tactical assessment in seconds. His analytical mind was terrifying, especially for a six-year-old.
"I'll take the guard," Yuta stated, his tone leaving no room for debate. When no one else immediately volunteered for the most dangerous job, he stepped up.
Frankly, he trusted his own skills to protect the civilians more than he trusted anyone else's.
"Then I will secure the civilians and escort them to safety," Kurama Meyuri said, stepping forward.
Yuta gave a slight nod. That was the right choice. Aside from Orochimaru, Meyuri was the most meticulous among them. She was perfect for the delicate task of herding the panicked civilians.
"A sound strategy," Orochimaru conceded. "But we must plan for a worst-case scenario. What if the second missing-nin reinforces the first instead of engaging our diversionary force? The two of you would be overwhelmed."
"You'll need a third. Someone to tip the scales."
"Then I'll go with them."
Orochimaru's eyes flickered with surprise as Tsunade volunteered to join Yuta's team.
He had been about to suggest assigning Yuta's entire squad to rescue the civilians, but closed his mouth, giving a curt, approving nod instead.
"Very well. It's settled. Myself, Jiraiya, and Sarutobi Osamu will handle the frontal assault. The three of you will infiltrate and secure the hostages during the chaos."
The plan was set. The only one who seemed to hate it was Jiraiya, who shot a glare sharp enough to kill at Yuta.
'Damn it!' he screamed internally. 'Tsunade is going with him ! How am I supposed to show my cool side to her from the front gate?'
If he'd just spoken up a few seconds sooner...! But his moment of hesitation had cost him. Yuta had seized the glory.
Helpless, Jiraiya could only watch as Yuta, Kurama Meyuri, and Tsunade melted into the shadows, heading for their infiltration point.
Noticing his teammate's sulking expression, a smirk touched Orochimaru's lips.
"Jiraiya," he said, a thread of dry amusement in his voice. "It's your time to shine. We need a loud distraction. The bigger, the better. If there's one thing you're a natural at, it's making a spectacle."
Sarutobi Osamu blinked. 'Was that... a compliment?'
It sounded insulting. But Jiraiya, puffed up with renewed purpose, seemed to take it as high praise from his usually aloof teammate.
"So, what's the plan for this 'spectacle'?" Osamu asked, wary.
The answer was Jiraiya's triumphant, foolhardy grin.
Before Osamu could process it, Jiraiya broke from cover, sprinting directly toward the stronghold's main gate with zero attempt at stealth.
'He's not—? He is!'
What happened next made Osamu's jaw drop.
Jiraiya planted himself squarely in front of the massive gates, cupped his hands around his mouth, and yelled:
"HEY, YOU FILTHY BANDITS INSIDE! SURRENDER NOW AND THE GREAT JAIRAIYA MIGHT LET YOU LIVE! RESIST, AND FACE MY WRATH!"
Osamu stared, his eye twitching. He slowly turned to Orochimaru. "Let me get this straight... he's just an idiot, right?"
Orochimaru's shrug was a masterpiece of eloquent confirmation. Defending his teammate's intelligence was a battle not worth fighting.
"So... Do we join him?" Osamu asked. "Or do we just... stand out there and yell with him?"
Orochimaru gave him a look that questioned his very sanity. "No. We hold this position. From here, we can provide immediate support if Jiraiya bites off more than he can chew. More importantly, if the second missing-nin doesn't show himself at the gate, we must be ready to reinforce the rescue team instantly."
He glanced back at Jiraiya, who was now trading insults with a bewildered bandit from a watchtower. "As for him... those common bandits are no threat to him. Let him have his fun. It's the most useful part he'll play."
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