As time passed, the entire formation moved slowly across the road.
Part of the delay came from the weight of the supplies, and part of it came from the jonin instructors who, taking advantage of the safer terrain, used their spare moments to train the genin under their command.
Years of continuous war were finally showing their flaws.
A shortage of experienced fighters had forced the village to send out a huge number of genin. Many of them were civilians with barely a year of training. Some had never seen a real battle, and a few could barely control their chakra before being assigned to the front lines.
Their purpose was clear. Cannon fodder.
But to be of use, even cannon fodder needed to learn how not to die pointlessly. Because of that, the jonin's guidance was absolutely necessary. If these children weren't taught now, once they reached the battlefield, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Compared to the chaotic training scattered around the convoy, Orochimaru's sector was much quieter.
The Sannin had only been a jonin instructor for a few months before proudly "retiring," leaving the entire workload to Hayashi without hesitation.
Every time Orochimaru remembered this fact, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Having such a student was something he truly took pride in. After all, who wouldn't want a disciple who outshone every other shinobi of his generation?
After several days of travel, the unit finally approached the most remote town in the Land of Fire… Rogue Town.
Calling it a "small" town was inaccurate now. The bandits who once occupied it had been wiped out two years earlier, and the supplies poured in afterward had rebuilt the ruins into a miniature version of Konoha.
Standing before the familiar, yet unfamiliar streets, Hayashi felt a quiet melancholy touch his heart.
This was the location of his first mission. The old inn he'd once stayed in had long since been demolished.
With a few questions, he learned that some of the original residents had moved to the Daimyo's palace, while others, surprisingly, had gone to sea and become pirates. In just two years, several of them had already become famous names on the waves.
The place had truly earned its nickname—the town of beginnings and endings.
…
After the troops departed Rogue Town, the closer they drew to the battlefield, the more frequently intelligence reports from the front lines reached Orochimaru's hands. If the situation was urgent, he would call Tsunade over and, after discussing, deliver the next course of action.
During these strategy meetings, Orochimaru often summoned Hayashi to listen. Sometimes, he even asked for Hayashi's opinion.
His intentions were obvious—he was training him.
Not for power, but for the vision to see the battlefield as a whole.
Hayashi's physical strength and chakra abilities would continue to grow naturally, but Orochimaru couldn't teach more about the Sharingan. Claiming to understand it better than an Uchiha would be… embarrassing, even for Orochimaru.
So instead, he focused on teaching Hayashi strategy, leadership, and battlefield judgment.
Strength could be trained alone. But how to command, how to react to unexpected shifts, how to handle the responsibility of an army—those needed a mentor.
War and combat were drastically different things. A strong shinobi didn't automatically win a war. Only beings like Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara had ever come close to doing that through sheer ability.
To become a true commander, one had to study, learn, and adjust.
Orochimaru was investing heavily in Hayashi's future.
His eyes were already set on the next Great Ninja War. By then, Hayashi would likely shoulder the role of Konoha's commander. Not only because of his strength, but because in talent and leadership he was far ahead of his peers.
While Tsunade admired Orochimaru's foresight—acknowledging he had indeed chosen a remarkable student—she found herself wondering whether she should take on a disciple as well, someone to inherit her medical ninjutsu.
She had already passed on her monstrous strength to Hayashi, but her medical arts remained unpassed…
As for Kato Dan… she simply wished he would stop appearing in her line of sight. Romance wasn't on her list of priorities. Perhaps, in a time of peace, she might have entertained the idea. But not now.
Orochimaru found her disinterest in Dan oddly disappointing.
He couldn't quite explain it, but he dearly wanted Tsunade to settle down before Jiraiya returned—so Jiraiya would finally give up.
Unfortunately, fate never cooperated.
…
As the convoy continued, they crossed the border of the Land of Fire and moved through the territory of the Land of Rivers.
The Land of Rivers bordered the Land of Rain. After Konoha defeated the Rain forces, the front line shifted, opening a direct path through the Land of Rivers and straight into the territory of the Land of Wind.
Small countries were like rootless driftwood in the ocean of war, pushed around without control, uncertain when they would be swept under.
It was a pitiful sight.
"Incoming intelligence from the front line says the Sand shinobi may attempt a surprise attack on the supply convoy."
Inside the lead carriage, Orochimaru held a written report while a map covered in markings lay on the low table before him.
"Are they capable of that right now?" Tsunade asked after reading the report.
"I heard they were defeated on the main battlefield just days ago."
Orochimaru shook his head. "They aren't capable. And that's precisely the problem. Their two consecutive defeats show clearly that they no longer have the manpower to push an effective offensive."
Tsunade nodded. "Exactly. Which makes it even less likely that they'd try something as reckless as attacking a supply unit."
"That's where you're mistaken, Tsunade-sama."
At Orochimaru's gesture, Hayashi began explaining.
"As you know, during a previous mission, we cut off the Sand's supply route to the Daimyo's palace. Without that channel, their already low food reserves have grown desperate."
He pointed at the map.
"And the geography of the Land of Wind delays their autumn harvest by over a month. They still have weeks to go before new grain becomes available."
Tsunade exhaled slowly. "…Then they can't hold out."
"They can't," Hayashi agreed. "Which leaves only one option—steal food. Even if they weaken their main line, they'll send shinobi to rob the supply lines."
Orochimaru placed the intelligence report onto the map.
"We estimate the likelihood at well over eighty percent. Moreover, all front-line intelligence passed through White Fang's review. Sakumo-sama agrees with this assessment."
Tsunade leaned back slightly. "Then the question becomes: how many will they send?"
Indeed. How many shinobi could the Sand risk sending?
If they deployed a dozen jonin, the battle would be hopeless.
But Orochimaru slowly shook his head.
"They won't send many. They can't."
He tapped a point on the map.
"Because the Third Kazekage is likely to appear in person."
Hayashi froze.
Was this what people meant when they talked about a "jinx"?