Chapter 63: Orochimaru and Tsunade
The temporary camp along the front line of Mount Kikyo lay under the fading light of dusk, looking like a giant crouching low against the earth.
Rows of tents stretched along the foot of the mountain, their canvas still stained with dust and bits of dried grass from the long journey. The footsteps of patrolling shinobi rang out—steady yet hurried—while the faint clinking of ninja tools at their waists echoed clearly through the quiet air.
Izumo followed Kakashi through the scattered tents. The air was filled with the faint scent of gunpowder smoke and medicinal herbs, mixed with the damp, rotting smell of soil—the unmistakable atmosphere of a battlefield.
"Lord Orochimaru's command headquarters is in the central tent at the very front. Watch your words and your actions," Kakashi reminded him in a low voice.
Izumo nodded in understanding, his gaze sweeping over the shinobi around them.
All of them were elites pulled from various defensive lines. Their bodies were marked with scars of all kinds, yet their eyes were sharp as blades. It was obvious they were seasoned fighters who had walked the line between life and death countless times.
He could clearly feel the flow of Chakra in the air—dense and steady—merging into a pressure that felt almost suffocating.
Two Chūnin pulled aside the entrance curtain of the central tent, and a mixed scent of incense and ink from Ninjutsu scrolls immediately spilled outward.
The interior of the tent was spacious. At its center lay a large topographic map of Mount Kikyo, spread across a wide table. Dozens of small wooden pegs marked the positions of both allied and enemy forces. Lamplight illuminated the map down to the finest details.
More than a dozen Jōnin had already gathered inside, all standing on either side of the map with solemn expressions.
Izumo's attention was immediately drawn to the man standing at the map's main position.
He wore a black high-collared combat outfit, with subtle snake-scale patterns lining the ends of his sleeves. His skin was pale—almost translucent—reflecting a cold sheen under the lamplight. His long hair draped freely over his shoulders, its slightly curled ends brushing against his neck.
His narrow eyes resembled those of a viper, with deep yellow pupils that seemed to glow faintly. His gaze was dark and sharp, as if capable of piercing straight into a person's soul. His nose was high and refined, his lips thin, and the corners of his mouth constantly held a faint, ambiguous smile that radiated both strangeness and danger.
His fingers were long, with pale bluish-white nails. They idly toyed with a wooden peg on the map. Every movement he made carried an aura that felt lazy—yet lethally so.
Izumo's heart trembled slightly. This was one of the legendary Three Sannin: Orochimaru.
The chilling pressure that seeped into his bones far surpassed that of ordinary Jōnin on the battlefield. Even the Chakra in the air seemed tinted by his presence, turning cold and sticky.
At that moment, hurried footsteps approached from outside the tent, accompanied by a woman's bright, carefree laughter that cut cleanly through the heavy atmosphere inside.
"Sorry, sorry, I got a little delayed on the way. I didn't miss anything important about the strategic deployment, did I?"
Her voice was clear and melodious—cheerful, yet unrestrained.
Izumo turned toward the sound, and in that instant, all his attention was drawn to the figure who had just entered.
The woman wore a standard green Jōnin flak jacket. Yet on her, the ordinary vest fit perfectly, accentuating her strikingly attractive figure.
Her long blonde hair flowed over her shoulders like a waterfall, with a few loose strands falling beside her cheeks, making her snow-white skin appear as smooth as polished jade.
Her facial features were so beautiful it felt as if the heavens had carved them with care. Her brows resembled distant mountain ridges, her eyes were clear like ripples on autumn water, and her long, thick lashes fluttered with a lively, captivating charm.
Her nose was high and well-shaped, and her lips held a natural sakura-pink hue. But what drew the most attention was her figure—tall and full, with perfectly balanced curves.
The open collar of her vest revealed a slender neck and elegant collarbones. The gentle rise and fall of her chest with each breath created a striking visual presence.
Her waist was slim and firm, and beneath her skirt, a pair of long, straight legs hinted at both femininity and the agility of a shinobi.
She radiated a brilliant, mature aura. Within her cheerful smile lingered a faint sense of dominance, and her bright, honest gaze formed a sharp contrast against Orochimaru's gloom.
"Truly a rare day… meeting two legendary figures at once," Izumo murmured inwardly.
"Lord Tsunade," the Jōnin inside the tent greeted one by one with respectful nods.
Orochimaru lifted his gaze toward her. The gloom in his eyes softened slightly, and the curve of his smile deepened.
"So you finally arrived. To deal with Chiyo's poison, we cannot manage without you."
Tsunade walked over to the side of the map and leaned casually against the edge of the table. Her movements were natural and relaxed, completely free of stiffness.
She swept her gaze across the map, her brows knitting slightly. "That old hag Chiyo's poison really is troublesome. But don't worry. As long as I'm here, I'll neutralize it. As for other medical tasks, don't bother calling me for those."
Orochimaru nodded thoughtfully. "Other injuries will, of course, be handled by the medical unit."
Tsunade's gaze passed over the Jōnin in the tent. When it landed on Izumo, she paused for a moment, curiosity flashing in her eyes.
Orochimaru's gaze also shifted toward Izumo, his dark yellow pupils showing interest.
"You are Kamizuki Izumo?"
His voice was low and hoarse, carrying a uniquely magnetic quality. "The boy dubbed the 'Azure Gale' on the Kumogakure battlefield."
Izumo's heart began to pound. He hadn't expected Orochimaru to know his epithet.
"Lord Orochimaru, that's correct. That's me."
"Good." Orochimaru nodded slowly, his fingertip lightly tapping the table. "Achieving the rank of Jōnin at eleven years old. Killing three Kumogakure Jōnin. Even managing to confront the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki. These accomplishments already place you at the very top among Konoha's new generation."
His gaze swept over Izumo's body like a venomous serpent examining an intriguing specimen. "Minato speaks very highly of you. He says your speed and Taijutsu already surpass his at the same age."
Izumo answered humbly, "Lord Minato is being too generous. I was just a bit fortunate and happened to achieve some results."
"Fortunate?" Orochimaru chuckled softly, a laugh filled with hidden meaning. "In the shinobi world, fortune is always part of one's strength."
Then he turned toward Kakashi and said, "Kakashi, you may already have been surpassed by your peer. That Sharingan of yours carries quite a burden. How about I ask Tsunade to replace it with a normal eye?"
"Thank you for your concern, Lord Orochimaru, but that won't be necessary. This eye is a gift Obito left to me. I will use it in his place… to see the future," Kakashi replied firmly, his tone cold and resolute.
"Hehe… a useless emotional burden." Orochimaru did not continue the topic. He turned and pointed toward the map. "Very well, everyone is gathered. Shikaku, please explain."
A man with pineapple-like tied hair standing behind Orochimaru stepped forward. His finger pointed at the fortress atop Mount Kikyo.
"The main force of Puppet Master Chiyo's army is stationed here, totaling one thousand five hundred personnel, equipped with various poisonous puppets and traps. Our objective is to launch an assault at dawn, first probing the enemy's strength and defenses."
He paused briefly, then continued.
"Lord Tsunade, please lead the medical unit to stand by at the rear lines, responsible for treating the wounded and neutralizing Chiyo's poison techniques."
"No problem," Tsunade replied succinctly.
"Lord Orochimaru, please lead a Jōnin team to attack from the eastern mountain slope to restrain the puppet forces on the right flank."
Orochimaru nodded in acknowledgment.
"Kamizuki Izumo." Nara Shikaku's gaze shifted to him. "According to Lord Minato's intelligence, your speed is the fastest. Please lead a sensor-type shinobi team to climb the western cliff. Make sure to clearly scout the enemy's defenses and troop numbers."
"Understood!" Izumo answered in a steady voice.
After the task assignments were completed, Orochimaru's gaze swept across everyone present.
"At four in the morning, all forces will assemble. The attack will begin precisely at five. Remember—although Sunagakure's Puppet Techniques are formidable, they are not without flaws. Pay close attention to the mechanisms and poisons within the puppets."
His voice was low but powerful, carrying an undeniable authority.
"Mount Kikyo is Konoha's gateway. In this war, there is only one outcome: victory. Defeat is not an option."
"Yes!" All the Jōnin in the tent responded in unison, their voices strong enough to make the tent tremble slightly.
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