The newly constructed camp.
This camp was much smaller than before, and patrols were far stricter. At all times, at least one Hyuga Clan ninja had their Byakugan activated, monitoring every direction, including underground.
Although they had suffered a sudden attack, the Iwa-nin likely no longer had the strength to launch another assault like it.
But the Konoha Ninja were frightened. Only this way could they sit peacefully inside their tents and recuperate.
The central command tent.
Orochimaru sat in his seat, his expression grave as he studied the scroll in his hands. It contained the freshly compiled casualty report from Konoha's ambush.
The losses were severe.
It could be said that the losses from this battle exceeded several months' worth of Konoha's losses during peacetime.
But the Iwa-nin casualties were even greater.
With Orochimaru present, with his overwhelming strength as the foundation, the Iwa-nin ambush had failed. Their Advance Force had even been dealt a devastating blow and could barely maintain its formation. Their commander, Tu He, had also died.
Yet this battle could not be called a Konoha victory.
Konoha had to face the joint assault of the Three Great Hidden Villages. Although Konoha was powerful, the three villages combined were undoubtedly stronger.
If Konoha's casualty ratio against the Iwa-nin was one to one, then if this continued, Konoha would be the first to collapse.
So this battle had been a case of hurting the enemy by a thousand while losing eight hundred of their own.
Still, from the perspective of the ambushed side, this was already the best possible outcome.
"Lord Orochimaru, you summoned me."
Qifeng entered the tent, looking exceptionally bedraggled.
His face was somewhat pale, and he radiated an exhaustion he could not conceal. It was the result of excessive Chakra consumption.
Orochimaru set down