No matter how Sasori swore to himself now, he was still only an ordinary twelve- or thirteen-year-old Jōnin. He had no ability to influence the current battle at all.
Sarutobi Toru paid no attention to the differing expressions on the Sand Shinobi's faces, maintaining a faint smile.
"Lord Kazekage, you don't intend to discuss Konoha's treaty with me here, do you?"
The Third Kazekage sighed. "Come on. Let's return to Sunagakure."
The group of Sand Shinobi returned to Sunagakure in silence. At this point, the Third Kazekage could not help but appreciate his own foresight.
Fortunately, he had not widely publicized the matter of fighting Sarutobi Toru. After all, eight people ganging up on one person was already humiliating enough. And the person they had surrounded was not even the Hokage, merely a relatively famous Jōnin from Konoha. If word got out, Sunagakure's reputation would be utterly ruined.
But what was even more tragic was that eight of them had attacked one man—and still lost. This was no longer a matter of losing face; it meant that the entire Sunagakure had been trampled beneath Konoha Village's feet.
If Sunagakure's ordinary shinobi learned of this, the whole village would explode. They probably would not be able to face anyone afterward.
As for now, only a dozen or so higher-ups and Sunagakure's promising young talents knew. Issuing a gag order would be enough. At least it would give Sunagakure something to hide behind. Even if Konoha spread some news in the future, Sunagakure could simply deny it to the death, couldn't they?
No matter what Konoha said, Sunagakure had heard nothing!
Not long afterward, Kazekage's Office was filled with people once more.
They were still the same people, but the atmosphere was completely different from before.
Sunagakure's former arrogance and determination to