### Chapter 189

The war in the Land of Rivers had reached a critical stage, and the Sand Village was desperate to bolster its forces. 

Although the Sand Village had deployed a significant number of ninjas to the battlefield, Konoha had sent even more. Sand Village's inferior manpower, the lower quality of its ninjas, and its lagging logistics placed immense pressure on Chiyo, who oversaw the frontlines. 

Previously, the Third Kazekage had pulled some troops from the camp, forcing a contraction of Sand Village's defensive line. This withdrawal gave Konoha the opportunity to press forward, further expanding its advantage. 

Now, with the Third Kazekage requesting yet another round of reinforcements to chase Konoha's operatives into the Bear Country, Chiyo's patience was wearing thin. 

"But hasn't the front line already started to shrink? Drawing more people will only increase the pressure," Rasa said, his voice tinged with disbelief. 

If Konoha seized the opportunity to push Sand Village's defensive line to the border of the Wind Country, it would signal a catastrophic defeat. A defensive line within one's own borders was more than a tactical loss—it was a massive blow to morale. 

Chiyo closed her eyes, exasperated. There were truths she couldn't share with Rasa and burdens she had to shoulder alone. 

---

In stark contrast to Chiyo's grim mood, Orochimaru was feeling surprisingly cheerful. 

First, his long-anticipated experiment was about to begin, thanks to Shinki's cooperation. Second, the Sand Village's shrinking front line indicated that their manpower was stretched thin. Orochimaru saw this as the perfect opportunity to advance. 

"If you dare to retreat, I dare to push forward!" Orochimaru declared with confidence, his strategic mind already at work. 

Full-scale wars were not won with ambushes but with the overall strength of the participating villages. Orochimaru wasn't afraid of Chiyo attempting underhanded tactics—he was ready to push the Sand Village back to its borders if they faltered. 

---

With Tsunade now back in Konoha, Shinki had taken over her duties at the front-line camp. Thanks to the abundance of medical ninjas already in place, Shinki's workload was lighter than expected, leaving him free to focus on more pressing matters. 

"The old man wanted us to send reinforcements to the Bear Country to support the two elders, but I refused," Orochimaru said, his smirk bordering on mischievous. 

Shinki raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you afraid the Hokage will kick you out for that?" 

Both the Third Hokage and the Third Kazekage were eager to send reinforcements to their respective camps in the Bear Country. For the Hokage, ensuring the safe return of Koharu Utatane and Mitokado Hamura was paramount. However, Orochimaru had outright ignored the Hokage's orders. 

Instead of acting immediately, he had left the scroll containing the directive on his desk, planning to "discover it later" and reply that he'd been too busy to notice. 

To Orochimaru, the war's progress took precedence over the lives of the two elders. 

"The Hokage won't, and he dares not," Orochimaru replied confidently. "The battlefield is stable, and we have the upper hand. As long as I avoid falling into a trap, I can ensure that the enemy continues to retreat." 

He leaned back in his chair, his smirk widening. "The old man wouldn't risk destabilizing the battlefield just to reprimand me, and Tsunade wouldn't allow him to, either." 

Shinki couldn't help but chuckle. "You're not wrong. Tsunade might give him more of a headache than you ever could." 

Between Tsunade's blunt objections, Orochimaru's subtle defiance, and Jiraiya's complete absence, the Third Hokage was left in an increasingly isolated and helpless position. 

---

Shinki shifted topics. "By the way, when are you starting your experiment?" 

"In a few days at most," Orochimaru replied, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. 

Despite managing the front-line camp, Orochimaru still found time for his research. His shadow clones handled much of the camp's administrative work, leaving him free to pursue his interests. 

"You're addicted to shadow clones, aren't you?" Shinki teased. 

---

In the Bear Country, Koharu Utatane and Mitokado Hamura were in dire straits. 

Hidden in a secluded valley, Koharu sat with her left hand heavily bandaged, her face pale and drawn from exhaustion. 

"When will reinforcements arrive?" Koharu asked, her voice tinged with frustration. 

Mito Hamura sighed as he looked at her injuries. "Hiruzen said he sent an order to the camp in the Land of Rivers. Considering the distance and the time it takes to avoid enemy patrols, it'll be at least two more days." 

Koharu's face twisted with a mixture of anger and resignation. "Two days? Can we even hold out that long?" 

Hamura hesitated before responding. "Koharu... are you sure we shouldn't consider retreating?" 

His words hung heavily in the air. 

---

Meanwhile, in the camp, Orochimaru's plans moved forward. The delay in responding to the Third Hokage's orders had bought him time to strengthen Konoha's position. 

The Sand Village's continued contraction would only hasten Konoha's advance into the Land of Wind. Orochimaru's confidence in his strategy was unshakable, and he couldn't help but revel in the chaos unfolding on the enemy's side. 

>>>>>

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