By the time Yagura reached the northern front, it was already dusk. After a day of fierce fighting, Kirigakure's defenses across the outer island chain had been shattered by the eight-pronged army. Not only had they lost a large number of islands, but their casualties were continuing to mount.
The moment Yagura arrived, he ordered the entire army to retreat to the central island. Because of Konoha's carrier fleet, the Mist Ninja's mobility on the outer islands was completely at a disadvantage. Since the island-chain defense line was already useless, continuing to fight would only cause further casualties. It was better to preserve their strength and defend the central island directly.
On the central island, which was as vast as a small continent, no matter how formidable the fleet was, it would be unable to make much of a difference. Both sides' mobility would once again be on equal footing. By relying on guerrilla tactics, the Mist Ninja could delay long enough to complete negotiations with Sunagakure.
Once night fell, the navy and air force had their vision obstructed. To avoid an unexpected ambush, the Konoha Shinobi Army did not pursue them, allowing Kirigakure's forces to retreat smoothly back to the central island.
After Yagura ordered a round of headcounts, he discovered that only forty-two thousand Mist Ninja remained combat-ready. Of the other eight thousand shinobi, aside from the small number already confirmed dead or wounded, most had been scattered during the battle and were missing. Fortunately, the air force had withdrawn in time. Apart from the two thousand men lost in the first wave of attacks, they still retained eight thousand. For Kirigakure, this was a small mercy amid great misfortune.
Although Kirigakure's air force had been utterly outmatched by Konoha's during the daytime battle, these eight thousand airmen