Under Jiraiya's gaze, which was full of concern for the mentally challenged, the Sand Shinobi commander calmly directed his army's orderly retreat, while returning Jiraiya the exact same look.
Seeing his forces gradually withdraw beyond Konoha's striking range, the Sand Shinobi commander could not help sighing. "Jiraiya, what a good man! If the Sand Shinobi can preserve their strength today, the credit will be yours. If Konoha elects the Fourth Hokage, I'll definitely vote for you."
On Konoha's side, Jiraiya had no idea someone had handed him a Friend Zone Card. He was busy ordering the ninja to clear the battlefield and treat the wounded. He still did not know what the Sand Shinobi were planning, but clearing the battlefield could not wait.
Under Jiraiya's orders, everything proceeded in perfect order. Any Sand Shinobi who had survived by luck were all sent to the intelligence unit in the rear. Interrogate those who needed interrogating, torture those who needed torturing—just get every last thing they knew out of them.
As for enemies who were barely breathing and clearly beyond saving, Konoha's ninja, in the spirit of humanitarianism, kindly stepped forward and gave them another stab.
Since they could not be saved anyway, rather than waste medicine, it was better to give them a quick death. Medical Ninja were scarce, so they should be saved for their own people! Thinking this, the Konoha ninja became even more efficient with their blades.
"Lord Jiraiya, aren't we pursuing them?" someone from the Staff Department stepped forward to ask. This was the perfect opportunity to press their victory and chase down the defeated enemy, an opportunity that came once in a thousand years.
"No rush. The Sand Shinobi fought this battle too strangely. I suspect their retreat has another purpose. They may have already set