Night had fallen.
The camp in the Land of Rain was unusually quiet. Only the light footsteps of Konoha shinobi on patrol and the patter of rain against the ground broke the silence.
While Konoha and Sunagakure fought, Amegakure had chosen to lie low, drawing most of its forces back into the village.
Unlike the Land of Rain, the Land of Wind was far from peaceful. Even late at night, the Third Kazekage remained busy.
Across the vast desert, the Sand Shinobi who had retreated to the Land of Wind had gathered together.
Every shinobi looked battered, a far cry from the confidence they had shown when they first arrived in the Land of Rain.
Back then, they had been certain they could break into Konoha. None of them had expected such a swift and crushing defeat, not even the Third Kazekage.
The Third Kazekage, Chiyo, and several Sunagakure squad leaders sat on the ground.
"Lord Kazekage, what do we do next? According to the scout ninjas, the Hokage and his people are now stationed at the camp we left behind in the Land of Rain.
"They may be planning to invade the Land of Wind and put an end to us once and for all," a jonin squad leader said.
"The Hokage has just come through a major battle. He won't attack in the next day or two, not before he's settled the wounded.
"Besides, the Konoha shinobi in the Land of Rain alone would be walking to their deaths if they tried to invade the Land of Wind.
"Our best course now is to use the terrain of the Land of Wind and keep them occupied.
"Konoha shinobi have no experience fighting in the desert. This is our ground, and we can bog them down here.
"The situation