Shinji and the others had withdrawn decisively, adding another layer of strangeness to an already complicated battlefield.
Even the Third Hokage, with his wealth of battlefield experience from several Shinobi World Wars, could barely make sense of the situation.
The same was true of Nagato's side.
Their earlier fierce battle with the mysterious group had cost them the Six Paths of Pain and drained much of Nagato's Rinnegan power.
Nagato had mostly recovered by now, and still had plenty of trump cards. But the situation was simply too complicated. The mysterious group had not been completely eliminated, the Five Great Shinobi Villages' allied forces were close at hand, and Obito's faction remained a threat. So Nagato made no rash moves.
Konan glanced toward Konoha's formation. Her gaze lingered on Jiraiya for a moment, then she turned to Nagato beside her. "Nagato, now isn't the time to confront the Five Great Shinobi Villages. Let's withdraw for now!"
"Mm!"
Nagato nodded.
Konan immediately formed hand seals. In an instant, countless sheets of paper gathered around Nagato, spreading into a pair of paper wings behind him.
Then Nagato and Konan flew away from the battlefield without looking back.
As for the wooden cart Nagato had been riding in earlier, the mysterious man had already destroyed it while fighting Obito in Kamui Space.
Once Nagato and Konan withdrew, Itachi and Juzo Biwa, who were farther from the battlefield, left as well.
Nagato and the others withdrew just moments after Shinji's group. The shinobi village forces worried that pursuing Nagato might provoke Shinji's group to turn back and resume fighting, setting the whole battlefield ablaze. So they held back once more.
"How long until the allied forces from Kumogakure and Iwagakure arrive?"
The Third Hokage asked, his face dark.
A shinobi from the communications unit