Yasu stood at the front of the group, expressionlessly watching the ninjas who had already split into two teams.
Five days had passed since they requested assistance from Konoha.
Based on the distance between Konoha and the Land of Hot Water, plus the time needed to arrange ninja support, it would likely take at least another day and a half for support to reach here.
Therefore, Yasu and the others' current mission was to withstand the pressure from the Cloud ninjas within these 36 hours and defend as much of the front line as possible.
Standing at the back of the group, Jiraiya exclaimed: "He really is like you, this disciple of yours. He's also very capable, but his personality is too cold. We're all comrades, why say such heartless things?"
Orochimaru retorted: "As a leader, there's no such thing as comrades. There are only commanders and subordinates. Only in this way can Yasu make the most accurate judgments without being influenced by other factors."
"His approach is the most correct. Establish the rules first, then orders will be followed. Otherwise, everything will be chaotic, and how can you command the team well?"
Orochimaru glanced at Jiraiya: "Jiraiya, you're too emotional on the battlefield, which is why you're constrained everywhere. Sometimes, you have to abandon what needs to be abandoned, otherwise, it will cause even greater losses."
Jiraiya sighed: "That's why I'm not suitable to be a leader and command operations. Speaking of which, Yasu seems cold to everyone. That's not good. It's a pity that Minato and him don't get along, otherwise, I would have liked them to become partners. Alas, what a pity."
"But it's not certain. Didn't we used to be at odds with each other, and now we're close friends? Orochimaru, do you think your disciple and Minato will be like us?"
Orochimaru looked at Jiraiya with a meaningful gaze but didn't say a word.
Jiraiya asked in confusion: "Why are you looking at me like that? Am I wrong? Maybe Yasu and Minato will develop into close friends like us during this war, isn't that possible?"
Orochimaru turned his head back: "Think what you want."
Jiraiya felt that Orochimaru was acting a bit strange.
Orochimaru crossed his arms and looked at Yasu in front, his mind filled with thoughts.
He was no longer bound by worldly ethics. He now had only one goal, which was to obtain eternal life and learn all the ninjutsu in the ninja world.
As for his disciple Yasu, he currently only had one goal, which was Kushina Uzumaki.
Whether it was him, or Yasu, they would both use any means to achieve their goals.
Orochimaru knew very well that even as his teacher, if Kushina Uzumaki was involved, Yasu would not hesitate to see him as an enemy.
But he was the same. If his disciple hindered him from obtaining eternal life, then he would also see him as an enemy.
A snake appeared at Orochimaru's feet, reporting the situation of the Cloud ninjas to him.
Orochimaru looked at Yasu and nodded.
Yasu understood and announced: "Everyone, let's go!"
He then led the Konoha ninjas to retreat.
...
Fifty Cloud ninjas had all begun to move, approaching the Konoha ninjas' camp.
The Cloud ninjas were very careful as they advanced.
Because setting traps around the camp was a basic operation for all stationed ninjas.
Sure enough.
The Cloud ninjas discovered a trap during their advance.
Just as they were dismantling the trap and preparing to continue advancing, a terrified shout came from the team.
"It's a double trap! Be care..."
Before the word 'ful' could be uttered, the trap hidden within the trap was triggered.
In an instant, explosions rang out one after another, and a large number of shurikens rode the storm of the explosion, shooting rapidly towards the Cloud ninjas' team.
The quick-reacting Cloud ninjas dodged one after another.
While the slower-reacting Cloud ninjas were either injured or killed.
However, these triggered traps could only bring a little trouble to the Cloud ninjas and did not cause much casualties.
However, with the previous example, the Cloud ninjas became more careful and cautious, and when checking for traps, they would also check whether they were double traps.
This also bought valuable time for the Konoha ninjas.
The Cloud ninjas' speed slowed down, and Yasu's speed also needed to slow down.
After all, their goal was not to escape.
A snake had been wrapped around his arm, and this snake could relay the information obtained by Orochimaru in the rear to him.
"Stop, now all ninjas and shadow clones, set up traps on the spot. Those who don't have explosive tags or insufficient ninja tools should create fake traps!"
After waiting for a while, he once again received feedback that the Cloud ninjas were approaching, and ordered everyone to continue moving forward.
After a chase, the distance between the Cloud ninjas and the Konoha ninjas still began to gradually close.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya had already seen the Cloud ninjas emerging from the forest.
Jiraiya stood on a tree trunk, rapidly forming hand seals.
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"
Jiraiya refined chakra into oil, and while spitting out the oil that filled his mouth, he used Fire Release ninjutsu to burn it.
The surging flames swept towards the Cloud ninjas.
The Cloud ninjas who were stained with this flame found it difficult to extinguish it by conventional methods due to the characteristics of the oil.
At the same time, because the surroundings were all forests, the fire burned more and more vigorously, successfully hindering their footsteps.
The Cloud ninjas' commander also discovered Orochimaru and Jiraiya making his eyes narrow.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya were both here, which meant that the current commander of the Konoha ninjas was not them.
The Cloud ninjas' commander immediately commanded: "Divide into two teams of seven, pursue from the flanks, go around to the front of the Konoha ninjas, and try to force them to stop! At the same time, request support from the nearest comrades!"
Two teams of Cloud ninjas immediately detoured, bypassing Orochimaru and Jiraiya, to pursue.
Yasu turned a blind eye to everything behind him, commanding the team to continue retreating.
During the retreat, Minato accelerated and came to his side to report: "Yasu, traces of Cloud ninjas have been found on the right flank!"
"Can you confirm the number?"
"Unable to confirm, we only have one sensory ninja here!"
Yasu frowned and said to Minato: "You go back to the team first."
Minato originally thought that Yasu would act immediately, but he didn't expect him to seem to have no intention of doing so.
Those Cloud ninjas must be planning to intercept them. Minato felt that it would be better for them to strike first before the Cloud ninjas attacked them.
He opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, he was interrupted by Yasu: "You yourself said that we only have one sensory ninja. We can't confirm the number of the enemy right now. Acting rashly will only put us at a disadvantage. Go back to the team!"
"Yes."
Only then did Minato retreat back to the team.
Yasu summoned the system and opened the exchange shop.
The fact that they had too few sensory ninjas in their team was a hard injury, and he was not good at sensing, so now he could only see if he could find a suitable sensing ability in the exchange shop.
--------------
Read advanced 85+ Chapters on my P@treon.
p@treon.com/BilPreda