As the battle gradually stabilized, waves of tremors continued to echo from the distance.
Everyone from Konoha understood — that was Namikaze Minato still fighting against the Four-Tails.
"Damn it, I really don't have enough offensive options for a monster like this."
Minato's face looked grim. He had consumed more than half of his chakra, and even his summoning contract had already been released.
Gamabunta had returned to Mount Myōboku. After all, even the great toads of Myōboku couldn't do much against a tailed beast. After being pummeled repeatedly, Bunta simply couldn't hold out any longer.
"ROAR!!!"
Both the Four-Tails and its jinchūriki, Roshi, were formidable. Thanks to Lava Release, their combat ability was frighteningly powerful.
Adding in the Tailed Beast Bomb and that monstrous body, Minato simply couldn't withstand it head-on.
Although the Flying Thunder God Technique and Minato's superhuman reaction speed allowed him to avoid getting hit, he couldn't inflict any damage on the Four-Tails either.
"Damn Yellow Flash!"
"Stop jumping around if you've got guts!"
"Fight me head-on!"
Just as Minato couldn't do anything to the Four-Tails, the Four-Tails couldn't do anything to Minato either.
Its Tailed Beast Bombs couldn't hit him, its Lava Release couldn't hit him — it was driving the beast insane.
Suddenly, a slug crawled out from Minato's clothes — the very same one Tsunade had placed on him before the battle.
"Minato, that's enough."
"Iwagakure has already retreated. Hanzo the Salamander has pulled back too. The Five-Tails and Gekko Chizan still haven't returned."
"Tsunade-sama orders you to withdraw."
Hearing that, Minato's spirits lifted instantly.
It seemed the battle had truly turned in their favor — excellent news. He didn't want to keep tangling with the Four-Tails any longer anyway.
Without hesitation, he vanished with the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Seeing this, the Four-Tails instantly grew furious, stomping its feet as it roared in frustration.
"Bastard! Don't you dare run!!!"
Unfortunately, Minato didn't care in the slightest. He was already on his way back to the camp.
"Tsunade-sama, sensei — I'm back."
Minato reappeared beside Jiraiya via his technique formula, a trace of exhaustion showing on his face. He was tired too.
Seeing his beloved disciple return, Jiraiya laughed heartily and gave him two solid pats.
"Well done, Minato. Without you and that kid Chizan, this battle would've been a lot tougher."
"So, how's it going? Everything fine with the Four-Tails?"
Minato nodded.
"I didn't get too far away, but that area's a basin. Even if it wants to head back to the Land of Grass, it'll take a while to run there."
"No need to worry about it."
He paused for a moment before asking,
"How's the battle now? Hanzo retreated? And what about the Five-Tails?"
"Did Chizan come back?"
Minato still cared about Gekko Chizan. After all, he was a close friend, and as someone who also wielded the Flying Thunder God Technique, Chizan had inspired him greatly.
But Tsunade and Jiraiya both shook their heads.
Whether intercepting Hanzo or turning to fight the Five-Tails, Gekko Chizan had gone all out.
The five colossal snakes he'd unleashed had left a deep impression on Konoha's shinobi — that rampaging scene would not be forgotten anytime soon.
Even Tsunade and Jiraiya had to admit that Gekko Chizan had truly grown.
"How could this be? With the Flying Thunder God Technique, he should've been able to retreat anytime."
"Tsunade-sama, didn't you give him a slug?"
Tsunade's face stiffened. Could she admit she'd forgotten?
When the battle started, she had completely put it out of her mind — after all, Chizan had returned mid-fight. Could you really blame her for that?
Seeing her expression, Jiraiya and Minato both fell silent.
"Tsunade, you can't be serious."
"You actually forgot something like that?"
"You do remember that kid's the type to disappear mid-fight, right?"
Tsunade scratched her head awkwardly. She hadn't meant to — things were just too hectic at the time, and it really had slipped her mind.
"Alright, we don't need to worry about Chizan. He is fine, I'm sure of it."
"Everyone, start fortifying defenses along the border."
"Minato—"
"Hm?"
Just as Tsunade was about to assign tasks, several masked figures suddenly rushed in from the direction of the Land of Fire.
Each wore an ANBU mask.
Seeing them, Tsunade and Jiraiya exchanged glances — both sensed something was wrong.
"Tsunade-sama, Jiraiya-sama," one of the ANBU said respectfully.
"This is an urgent message from the Hokage."
"Hokage-sama orders Jiraiya-sama, Namikaze Minato, and Gekko Chizan to return to the village immediately. Something important has happened."
At this, Jiraiya frowned deeply, while Minato fell into thought.
"What happened? This is wartime — if Jiraiya suddenly leaves the front line, do you realize what that means?"
"Without a proper explanation, I won't allow them to be withdrawn from the battle."
Tsunade's tone was sharp and firm.
A general in the field did not blindly obey — she was the supreme commander of this forward front.
Without her order, no one left this encampment.
The ANBU exchanged glances, then left one member behind while the others spread out, guarding the perimeter vigilantly.
Seeing this level of caution, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Minato all frowned even more.
What on earth could be serious enough to make ANBU this wary?
Could something truly terrible have happened?
"Tsunade-sama, Jiraiya-sama — one of the Legendary Sannin, Orochimaru, has been confirmed to have defected on the battlefield in the Land of Hot Water."
Tsunade: !!!!
Jiraiya: !!!!
Minato: Ah…
"Impossible! Orochimaru would never defect!"
"There must be some kind of mistake!"
Jiraiya's emotions flared instantly. He refused to believe his comrade would do something like that.
Defect from the village? Impossible!
"Jiraiya-sama, please calm down. The matter has already been verified by ANBU, and Hokage-sama himself has confirmed it."
"Orochimaru truly has defected — but he didn't harm any comrades from the village."
"He simply escaped from the battlefield alone."
"Therefore, Hokage-sama requires your immediate return, along with Namikaze Minato and Gekko Chizan."
After finishing with Jiraiya, the ANBU turned to Tsunade.
"Tsunade-sama, under these circumstances, will you permit their return to the village?"
Tsunade fell silent. Orochimaru's defection… the impact on the village would be enormous.
After all, Orochimaru was one of Konoha's core powers — many even believed he would be the next Hokage.
And now, such a man had defected...
"So, Gekko Chizan, as his disciple, is also implicated?"
"That's not our concern. We're only responsible for escorting them back."
Tsunade shook her head.
"Jiraiya and Minato can return, but Gekko Chizan cannot. The battle just ended — he lured the Five-Tails away and hasn't returned yet."