Chapter 69: Nagato and the Little Trio
"We have many people poisoned now, so we must hurry back to Konoha as soon as possible," Tsunade said, taking out the antidote that Lady Katsuyu, the Slug, had delivered. "I now have the antidote, and I can quickly prepare a large batch."
"How long will your antidote last?" Jiraiya asked, frowning as he glanced behind him at the pale, terrified faces of some Konoha ninjas. He feared that if they collapsed, they might never rise again.
"If we don't fight, it will last long enough to get us back to the village alive," Tsunade replied, confident in her medicine. But she knew if another battle broke out, the poisoned Konoha ninjas would have little chance of survival.
"Then let's set off immediately."
"Sakumo, please take care of them. We're still injured," Orochimaru said politely to Sakumo's group.
"Understood," Sakumo replied with a nod.
Duy, Shinku Yūhi, and the other surviving Jōnin also nodded in agreement.
"Let's go," Kawakaze said to Tsunade as the group followed the main contingent. Sakumo and the others led the way.
As they advanced, the damage from the battle was evident: destroyed homes, the lifeless bodies of civilians, and orphans wandering aimlessly. Despite being on the victorious side, Konoha's forces felt no pride—it was their actions that had caused this devastation.
After a brief rest that night, the Konoha troops resumed their journey. The poisoned ninjas' conditions did not worsen, and, as Tsunade had assured, the antidote pills were effective.
The following day, Kawakaze and his group of four lagged slightly behind the main force, eating dried food as they walked. Rain began to fall, quickly turning into a downpour. The group took shelter under a bridge.