Silence shrouded the Hokage's Office. The Third Hokage braced his forehead with both hands over the Hokage's desk. Shoulders that even illness had failed to crush were now hunched over. For a moment, the desolate sorrow radiating from the Third Hokage made his back seem several years older.
Only after a long while did the Third Hokage straighten his shoulders again. He closed the intelligence scroll sent back by his most prized disciple, then took a light breath and opened the two scrolls handed over by the intelligence ninja.
He was, after all, the Hokage. He bore an entire village upon his shoulders; he could not simply wallow in grief.
He had many matters more important than indulging in sorrow.
Moreover, the village was still at war. He had to deal with these matters.
So it was indeed like this! After reading both intelligence scrolls, the Third Hokage narrowed his eyes and murmured thoughtfully. Slowly lowering the scrolls, he suddenly leaned back in his chair. With a faint sense of relief, along with the heavy sorrow he had suppressed now surging forth again, he sank against the Hokage's chair.
One of these scrolls was a report from the front lines, while the other came from Kannabi Bridge.
The Kannabi Bridge mission had been completed. Kakashi's team had successfully destroyed Kannabi Bridge, completely severing Iwa's supply line. The news would soon spread throughout Iwa, and the Third Great Ninja War had officially entered its final stage.
At the same time, under Orochimaru and Nara Shikaku's planning, Iwa's largest supply camp had been destroyed. Iwa's defeat and retreat had become an established fact. They would withdraw in short order, further accelerating the progress of peace talks and an alliance.
Together with the intelligence Orochimaru had sent back while tracking Chiba, Kumogakure's Third