Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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With the speed only a trained shinobi could maintain, the journey from Konoha to the battlefield—straddling the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire—took just four days and three nights.
Jiraiya was still in the Land of Rain and hadn't returned yet. In his absence, the frontline command had fallen to Orochimaru.
When Orochimaru saw Guts arrive with Tsunade, his snake-like eyes narrowed with curiosity.
The corners of his lips curled unnaturally, a forked tongue flicking out briefly in habit.
"Sending someone this young to the battlefield?"
He mused, voice smooth and eerie.
"Tsunade, you're either very confident… or very reckless with your new student~~"
Guts instinctively tensed. Orochimaru's presence was cold, unsettling.
But the Sannin's gaze wasn't just on him—it lingered on the pendant hanging from Guts' neck.
Orochimaru, who had grown up alongside Tsunade, immediately recognized it. He knew what that pendant meant to her.
"I'll explain later,"
Tsunade cut in sharply.
"Spare me the theatrics. Just update me on the battlefield."
She clearly had no patience for Orochimaru's drawn-out observations.
With a smirk, he nodded and led them into the command tent. A detailed map of the region hung at the center.
"Sand Shinobi's main forces are being led by the Third Kazekage, the puppet master elder Chiyo, and her younger brother Ebizō—who's nearly Kage level,"
Orochimaru began, voice turning serious.
"The Kazekage's Magnet Release is formidable, but the real problem is Chiyo's poisons."
"One touch and you're dead. We've already lost several to them. That's why we needed you, Tsunade."
"I'll start treating the poisoned right away,"
She said, her expression tightening.
"The Land of Wind is harsh," Orochimaru continued.
"Their supply lines are weak. They'll aim to end this quickly. We've taken a defensive posture to stall them, grind them down, then strike back hard."
Guts listened closely, surprisingly thoughtful. For all his creepiness, Orochimaru knew his tactics.
He might be twisted now, but there was no denying he had real talent.
No wonder he'd once been in line for the title of Hokage—only to be passed over for Minato. It must have stung.
After all he'd done for Konoha, all the missions, all the bloodshed... and still, he was cast aside.
Guts could see how that might sow resentment.
Once Orochimaru had finished his rundown, he began assigning missions.
His gaze eventually returned to Guts, who stood silently beside Tsunade.
A slow grin crept across his face.
"And what do we do with you? Maybe kitchen duty? Camp cook?"
"I think that suits him,"
Tsunade replied with a chuckle, playing along. Truthfully, she'd planned to keep Guts far from the front lines.
She brought him here mostly to keep him away from that old vulture, Danzo.
"Put me in the kitchen and I'll slip laxatives in everyone's food," Guts muttered flatly.
Tsunade blinked, then glared.
"You little—! Are you picking a fight with me on purpose?!"
"This one's got spirit," Orochimaru said, amused.
"Fine. You want a taste of the battlefield? Let's test that resolve."
He gestured to a nearby aide, who nodded and left the tent. A few minutes later, five shinobi entered.
Leading them was none other than Kato Dan—the same man Guts had punched into the dirt back at the Konoha cemetery.
Guts squinted. "Whoa. You're not dead yet?"
The words were genuine. Not sarcastic.
Tsunade winced in embarrassment.
Kato Dan's face turned dark as storm clouds. The other four behind him looked stunned.
He'd already humiliated Kato once, and now his first words were a death wish?
Orochimaru said lazily, waving away the tension. He turned to the map and pointed to a marked location.
"Our scouts from the Hyuga clan spotted a supply cache hidden by Sand Shinobi near their forward base. Heavily guarded. Too risky to act on it without proper support."
He tapped the map again.
"Sand's biggest weakness is logistics. Take out this cache, and we can starve them out."
"It's a high-priority strike mission. Dan's spiritual technique makes him the perfect lead."
Then, Orochimaru's golden eyes slid back to Guts.
"You want in, boy? Join the raid team as a temporary member."
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