Qianyu spent nearly a full day lying in his tent before he finally stirred.
He rubbed his throbbing temples and pushed himself up. Time to find Orochimaru first, then hunt down something to fill his stomach.
On his way to Orochimaru's tent, he passed several ninja.
Their eyes landed on him. Widened. Then dropped away, shadowed with fear.
Word of his exploits in Yugakure had spread through the entire camp. The fact that he'd critically wounded Yugakure's leader, Kuroiwa Tatsuji… it was unbelievable. The universally despised traitor brat was now this strong?
The fear had another source. Besides Minato, others had also seen Qianyu hand that ninja, Daigo, the explosive tag. Someone that cold, that ruthless—how could they not be afraid? Especially when some of them had been among those who'd jeered at Qianyu on the streets years ago. A gnawing worry ate at them: if they were wounded in battle, would Qianyu just hand them a tag too? Use them as disposable fodder?
Qianyu ignored every stare. He walked straight past them and into Orochimaru's tent.
Empty. He probably had to check the command tent instead.
He headed there. This time, he found him. Jiraiya was there too.
"Orochimaru-sensei. Lord Jiraiya."
He gave a curt nod to both.
Orochimaru acknowledged him with a silent incline of his head.
Jiraiya grinned. "Hey kid. Rested up?"
"Sufficiently," Qianyu replied.
Orochimaru spoke then, voice calm. "Qianyu. Prepare yourself. The plan is to begin advancing our front line tomorrow. We push forward ten kilometers."
Qianyu's brow furrowed for a second, then smoothed. He'd already pieced it together. "You've already requested reinforcements from Konoha. So tomorrow, we advance ten kilometers, then fight a delaying action, retreating gradually until we link up with the reinforcements and solidify the new line. Is that correct, sensei?"
Jiraiya's jaw went slack. He stared. "Seriously? He said one sentence about advancing ten kilometers and you got all that?"
"It's not complicated," Qianyu explained with a light shrug. "The Yugakure raid was always a prelude to advancing the front. Since it succeeded, we must capitalize immediately. Wait too long, and the Cloud will regroup. The opportunity vanishes.
"Advancing ten thousand meters… with our current numbers, holding it is impossible. Since you're still ordering it, sensei, you must have a contingency in place.
"Our greatest shortage is personnel. Konoha's reserves are thin, but compared to other fronts, the Cloud in the Land of Hot Water poses the greatest threat and pressure. A request for reinforcements would be approved."
Jiraiya looked utterly floored. He turned slowly to Orochimaru. "Your student… his brain works a little too well."
Orochimaru didn't hold back the praise. "Qianyu has always possessed excellent strategic awareness and judgment."
Jiraiya squinted at Qianyu, not ready to concede. "But hold on. The raid was to drive the Cloud out of Yugakure. They're not out. The plan isn't a success yet. How can you say it succeeded?"
A faint, knowing curve touched Qianyu's lips. "Lord Jiraiya, the purpose of the raid was never to physically expel the Cloud from Yugakure. Whether Yugakure reaffirms its neutrality or forces the Cloud out is irrelevant to our front-line advance.
"The purpose was intimidation. To make them hesitate, to make them cautious. To ensure our advance proceeds smoothly. You and sensei killed a significant number of Yugakure and Cloud ninja there. The desired effect was achieved. So the plan did succeed."
Jiraiya let out a low whistle, thoroughly impressed. "Alright, I'm convinced. Your kid's brain is a strategic asset, Orochimaru."
Orochimaru then posed a question, a test. "Qianyu. When we advance, will the Cloud act?"
Qianyu thought for a moment. "They will act. But it will likely be limited to reconnaissance and harassment. A full-scale confrontation is unlikely."
"Then the solution?" Orochimaru pressed. "How do we advance ten kilometers with minimal cost?"
Qianyu had already considered this. "A show of force. Create the illusion we have far greater numbers.
"Use Shadow Clones and basic clones. Every ninja produces a set number of clones. Then, surround those clones with a layer of Shadow Clones. Position our actual ninja on the outermost perimeter to intercept any Cloud scouts.
"This creates the illusion of a massive reinforcement wave. It will make the Cloud even more hesitant to commit."
Orochimaru gave a slow, approving nod. "A sound strategy. The layered clones would confuse enemy sensor types. Combined with the real perimeter guard, it would indeed project a formidable image."
Jiraiya sputtered. "That's… that's almost exactly the plan you just outlined earlier!"
Qianyu glanced at Orochimaru, mildly surprised their thoughts had aligned so closely.
Orochimaru's tone was matter-of-fact. "No need for dramatics, Jiraiya. It is simply the most viable tactic given our constraints."
He turned his gaze back to Qianyu. "I have reported your achievements in Yugakure to the Hokage. However, you have only recently been promoted to Chunin. A jump to Jōnin is uncertain, but Tokubetsu Jōnin is a strong possibility."
Qianyu nodded. "Understood. Thank you, sensei."
"It is what you earned," Orochimaru dismissed with a wave. "There is one more matter. Regarding the reinforcements from Konoha."
Qianyu's eyes narrowed slightly. Orochimaru specifically mentioning it to him… he could guess.
"The reinforcements…" Qianyu ventured. "Will they include ninja from the clans this time?"
Jiraiya felt a wave of exhaustion. These two. Master and student, both impossibly sharp. Orochimaru barely hints at something, and Qianyu unravels the rest.
He wondered if he should tell Minato to keep a little more distance from Qianyu in the future. His own student was a decent, straightforward guy. Jiraiya had faith in Minato's talent, but in other areas… he worried the boy might get outmaneuvered by someone like Qianyu.