The next morning.
On an island somewhere in the Land of Water.
The surviving Kirigakure ninja gathered there.
Led by Karatachi Yagura, Terumi Mei, Kisame Hoshigaki, and the others, they had used the sea to escape the pursuing Kumogakure ninja.
But no one felt happy.
More than half of Kirigakure's ninja had died at the hands of Kumogakure's forces.
Many others had become separated during the retreat.
Fewer than a thousand Kirigakure ninja had gathered on the island.
"I've already sent the Anbu to notify Elder Genshi."
After a long silence, Karatachi Yagura spoke.
"Did you send any Anbu to find Lord Mizukage?"
Terumi Mei asked. "Aside from the Anbu squad sent to notify Elder Genshi, all the other Anbu ninja have been sent out to look for Lord Mizukage."
Karatachi Yagura answered.
Just as he finished speaking, a sensor ninja suddenly approached them.
"Has Kumogakure caught up with us?"
Karatachi Yagura's heart tightened as he asked.
"No."
The sensor ninja shook his head. "We found Lord Ryogetsu and Lord Zabuza, both severely wounded."
"What did you say?"
Karatachi Yagura looked shocked.
"Just those two?"
Terumi Mei asked urgently.
"Just those two," the sensor ninja answered.
"Bring them here, quickly!"
Ringo Ameyuri immediately said.
The sensor ninja turned and left.
A short while later, Hozuki Ryogetsu and Momochi Zabuza were carried over.
Both were covered in blood and gravely wounded.
"How are they doing?"
Karatachi Yagura asked with a frown.
"Their lives are no longer in danger."
The medical ninja treating them answered.
"That's good."
Karatachi Yagura breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "Can you wake them up briefly?" "I'll try."
The medical ninja immediately crouched down.
After a long while, Hozuki Ryogetsu weakly opened his eyes.
"What happened to you? How is Lord Mizukage?"
Karatachi Yagura asked impatiently.