The Third Hokage was preparing to hold a meeting for the Jonin. To minimize disruption on the battlefield, a temporary meeting spot was set up midway between the two defense lines.
Not every Jonin was required to attend; only about a hundred who were currently available. After all, maintaining the battlefield was the top priority.
When Tsunade on the Suna Defense Line heard about this, she couldn't hide her excitement. The fighting on her front had been relatively light, and thanks to her exceptional medical skills, no new injuries had been reported in two days. She was free to attend the meeting.
She figured Orochimaru, stationed on the Iwa Defense Line, would definitely be there as well. Given his strategic importance, it wouldn't make sense for him to miss this. In other words, after being separated for so long, she'd finally get to see him again.
On the other side, Orochimaru was slightly taken aback when he heard about the Hokage's meeting.
His gaze drifted over to Nawaki, who was standing not too far away.
He recalled that in the Second Great Ninja War, Konoha had indeed held a Jonin meeting… but only after Nawaki had died.
Now, seeing Nawaki alive and well in front of him, Orochimaru couldn't help but feel a subtle satisfaction at having altered his student's fate.
"Sensei, are you going to the Jonin meeting?" Nawaki asked, noticing Orochimaru's thoughtful look and jogging over with a grin.
Orochimaru came back to his senses and gave a slight nod. "Yes, what's on your mind?"
"When you see my sister, put in a good word for me, okay?" Nawaki said, his tone serious. "I know I didn't do anything spectacular this time, but I didn't embarrass her either."
Orochimaru smiled faintly, feeling a rare warmth at the young man's earnest expression. "Nawaki, don't sell yourself short. You've done well."
"Really, Sensei?" Nawaki's eyes lit up.
"Of course," Orochimaru replied. "You've performed better than many who are on the battlefield for the first time."
"Heh, am I really that good?" Nawaki said, scratching his head in embarrassment.
Orochimaru didn't answer directly, just gave him a reassuring smile and ruffled his hair.
The temporary meeting place was set up northwest of Konoha Village, in an open field with a large tent in the middle. By the time Orochimaru arrived in the afternoon, many Jonin were already gathered around the tent.
"Lord Orochimaru!"
"Lord Orochimaru!"
The Konoha Jonin greeted him warmly as he passed. Even Akimichi Takafu, an elder from the same generation as the Third Hokage, nodded at him with respect in his eyes.
But the most eye-catching presence was a woman with blonde hair tied in a ponytail.
The moment Orochimaru appeared, she rushed toward him without any regard for those around her.
"Orochimaru!"
A familiar scent filled his senses as Tsunade threw herself into his arms. At that moment, she looked as excited as a long-lost wife finally reunited with her husband.
Orochimaru smiled slightly, feeling a rare sense of calm at her embrace. "Tsunade… it's been a while."
"Did you miss me?"
"Is that really something you should be asking here?" Orochimaru replied, a trace of humor in his voice.
No matter how brutal the war was, just seeing Tsunade's face had a way of easing his mind.
Only then did Tsunade realize how many eyes were on them. Noticing the stares from the surrounding Jonin, she blushed slightly in embarrassment. "Let's go somewhere a bit more private to talk!"
Without waiting for a response, she grabbed Orochimaru's arm and led him to a quieter spot.
The war may not have been overly long, but it had still been over half a year since they'd last seen each other. Naturally, Tsunade had a lot to talk about.
Of course, she didn't bring up the topic of Wood Release right away, it didn't seem appropriate to discuss such matters as soon as they met. Instead, they caught up on everyday topics, discussing the war and, of course, Nawaki.
They were so engrossed in their conversation that neither of them noticed the white-haired figure watching them from a distance.
"So, what do you think of my proposal?"
After explaining her plan to him, Tsunade looked at Orochimaru with hopeful eyes.
"Adding a medical ninja to every squad?" Orochimaru replied thoughtfully. "I think it's a good idea, but it probably won't pass."
"Why not?" Tsunade asked, visibly disappointed.
"Isn't it obvious?" Orochimaru shrugged. "You know why."
"Hmph, I believe I can convince them!"
"Then give it a try," Orochimaru said with a hint of a smile.
Just then, the Third Hokage entered the tent, flanked by several ANBU and a few other guards. He wasted no time and promptly began the Jonin meeting.
The meeting covered various logistical issues that hadn't been resolved in time on the battlefield. Topics included team compositions, Jonin assignments, and casualty reports.
Orochimaru recognized many faces in the crowd. Alongside Akimichi Takafu, there were familiar names like Hatake Sakumo and Uchiha Fugaku. His gaze eventually settled on Kato Dan.
At the sight of Kato, Orochimaru couldn't help but glance sideways at Tsunade. A strange feeling surfaced within him.
According to how events were supposed to unfold, Tsunade and Kato Dan would have eventually become a couple.
But now… well, she'd long since cut ties with him, in more ways than one.
The feeling was hard to put into words, but it left Orochimaru amused. It was like taking something from someone else without them ever realizing it. There was a certain satisfaction in that sense of control.
As these thoughts played out in his mind, the meeting was already well underway.
Many attendees voiced concerns and reported various issues they'd faced during the conflict.
When Orochimaru finally snapped back to attention, Tsunade was just about to bring up her historic proposal.
She suggested establishing a system to train medical ninjas and assign one to each squad in the field.
However, as soon as she proposed this, several voices spoke out in immediate opposition.
"Adding medical ninjas to every team?"
"That doesn't seem practical."
"Agreed. Tsunade-sama, not every medical ninja has your level of combat prowess…"
Many Jonin argued against the idea, dismissing it outright. In a typical squad of three to six people, only one member was usually a sensory-type ninja. That left only a few actual fighters. Adding a medical ninja would reduce combat strength further, and, in a fight, one person would likely have to protect the medic. In essence, it would mean sacrificing two combatants.
It seemed absurd to them, so they rejected it without much debate.
But amid the chorus of objections, a different voice suddenly spoke up.
"I think it's a good idea."
Kato Dan had stood up in support of Tsunade's proposal, causing Orochimaru to raise his eyebrows slightly.
***
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