Chapter 883: Key Items

The meeting ended, and the high-ranking Konoha ninjas left the tent one after another, leaving only the three commanders sitting in their places, showing no intention of leaving.

The difference was that Orochimaru and Jiraiya both looked very composed, while only Tsunade's expression looked somewhat unpleasant.

After everyone had left, Tsunade scrutinized her two companions, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly.

"What exactly is going on?"

Tsunade knew in her heart that there must be some hidden reason for this; otherwise, Orochimaru and Jiraiya would not have proposed changing the strategy without informing her.

Tsunade did not hesitate and asked directly.

Orochimaru and Jiraiya certainly knew what Tsunade was asking about. The two exchanged a glance, and Jiraiya finally spoke with some helplessness.

"Regarding the active offensive, it was the old man's idea."

With just one sentence, Jiraiya explained the reason.

He knew better than anyone that Konoha already held the upper hand and that waiting for the enemy to tire was the best strategy.

But they were merely kites tied to a string in the sky; it was the person flying the kite who decided what to do.

Tsunade's expression changed slightly, and she closed her eyes, saying nothing more.

With that, everything made sense.

Waiting for the enemy to tire was, of course, the most suitable plan for the current situation.

But for both of them to simultaneously go against this and propose an active offensive was clearly illogical.

It turned out that Tsunade, who had proposed the defensive strategy, had not been isolated by her two partners.

Rather, it was an order from the Third Hokage that forced them to comply.

The reason the two hadn't discussed it with Tsunade beforehand couldn't be blamed on them; after all, Tsunade had spent the entire morning with Mizunuki Ryosuke, and they couldn't find her to discuss it first.

This led to Tsunade being caught off guard by Orochimaru's proposal during the meeting.

"Hoo."

Tsunade exhaled the pent-up frustration in her heart and then frowned.

Since it was the Third Hokage's order, they naturally couldn't defy it.

Even if they launched an active offensive, Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru all had the confidence to lead Konoha to victory.

But having said that, once they abandoned the advantage of waiting for the enemy to tire, it meant that countless innocent Konoha ninjas would die on the battlefield.

Thinking of this, Tsunade felt somewhat unwilling.

"Why?"

Tsunade asked her companions directly; for a moment, she clearly couldn't understand why Sarutobi Hiruzen would do this.

Regarding the strategy she had proposed earlier, she had informed the Third Hokage, and Sarutobi Hiruzen had expressed his approval.

Not to mention the Third Hokage's attitude at that time, why would Sarutobi Hiruzen order them to launch an active offensive from afar now, when this strategy had already achieved significant results?

After all, looking at it now, the only benefit of abandoning the defensive strategy to launch an active offensive might be to end the war in the Land of Rain a bit faster.

Compared to the drawbacks it brought, this advantage was negligible.

Facing Tsunade's question, Jiraiya clearly looked equally confused.

As for Orochimaru, he just gave Tsunade a strange look, as if there were deeper meaning behind it.

But clearly, Orochimaru had no intention of exposing everything in public.

"Since the old man has already given the order, we can only prepare."

"It will be very dangerous next, so you two should also prepare early."

Orochimaru said slowly, and as he finished speaking, he was the first to leave the tent.

Watching Orochimaru's back, Tsunade frowned again.

Orochimaru's expression made it increasingly clear that there was much more to this than met the eye.

But for a moment, Tsunade really couldn't guess the crux of the matter.

Compared to Tsunade, Jiraiya didn't have so many thoughts, and since he wasn't a person full of schemes, seeing the Third Hokage's order, he only guessed that it might be the pressure on the village that made the Third Hokage determined to end the war quickly, hence the urgency.

Therefore, Jiraiya only thought for a moment before casting it aside. Since Sarutobi Hiruzen had given the order, he only needed to carry it out.

"Tsunade, we are going to fight Hanzo of the Salamander head-on next."

"I think we both need to prepare."

"Whether we can defeat Hanzo of the Salamander, I think the key lies with you." ===== CHAPTER 885 =====