After the shinobi on both sides returned to their formations, they looked at one another.
At that moment, neither the Cloud Shinobi nor Konoha had any desire for a full-scale battle. Konoha simply had not made sufficient preparations, while Kumogakure's situation was even simpler: after estimating the strength of both sides, the Third Raikage concluded that his side likely could not defeat the enemy.
The Fourth Raikage A had just been seriously injured and could not take the field. At present, he was the only Kage-level fighter in all of Kumogakure. If not for Hatake Sakumo, then with the Strongest Shield that was the Lightning Release Armor, he was confident he could hold back every Konoha Village powerhouse at once. Unless Might Duy opened the Gate of Death, no other shinobi possessed the ability to break the Strongest Shield.
But now, so long as Hatake Sakumo casually teamed up with another Kage-level fighter, the Third Raikage would undoubtedly be walking into certain death if he fought head-on. The balance of high-end combat power between the two sides had already been completely overturned. Naturally, he would not seek trouble for himself.
Although Hatake Sakumo had swaggered into Kumogakure's main camp, killed quite a few of their Cloud Shinobi, then fought him before leaving with ease, leaving the shinobi of the entire village deeply resentful, once the Third Raikage's hot blood cooled, he still chose to prioritize the larger picture.
Once the Third Raikage came to that decision, the Konoha shinobi's gradual withdrawal met with no obstruction.
Before long, every Konoha shinobi had departed. The Third Raikage's face showed neither joy nor sorrow. The Fourth Raikage A, however, despite his severe injuries, still stood at the edge of the battlefield and angrily slammed his fist into the wooden gate of Kumogakure's camp,