"Withdraw!"
"Retreat!"
"The commander's orders are in! Retreat, withdraw immediately!"
In the vast woodland before Konoha, whether through the communication network established by sensory ninjas or the quiet calls of nearby comrades, the same message was being relayed.
The message to retreat—no, to withdraw.
At once, as if granted a pardon, nearly everyone present turned and ran. In the dense forest, a tide of retreating people appeared almost instantly, surging wildly out of Konoha like countless streams.
After we return, we should immediately send an envoy.
No! I should come personally and hold some form of negotiation with Taki Chiba.
First, we must explain as quickly as possible that this attack was entirely Uchiha Nobuhiko's scheme, and insist that everything was forced upon us by Uchiha Nobuhiko.
Second, we can form an alliance with Taki Chiba as quickly as possible. Compared with Uchiha Nobuhiko, since our lives are in someone else's hands either way, it is more appropriate to choose Taki Chiba, who at least treats us like people.
As he moved through the forest alongside the crowd after briefly bidding Kabuto Yakushi farewell, Baki thought this to himself.
But...
What about Gaara? At that thought, Baki, who had made up his mind, could not help but furrow his brow.
Ultimately, the deepest implication concerning allegiance hidden within Taki Chiba's actions—the question of whether they stood with Uchiha Nobuhiko or with Taki Chiba—did not concern only the present. It also concerned the future. In other words, Taki Chiba was not merely asking whose side they wished to take now. He was also asking whose side they wished to take in the future.
That was to say, if they retreated now, Konoha would not only refrain from holding it against them, but would also be willing to restore friendly relations with