As news spread that Rasa had been gravely wounded and left unconscious, and that Chiyo had died in battle, Sunagakure erupted in uproar.
Several Sunagakure elders gathered in a conference room in the Kazekage Building. Their faces were drawn with worry, and an unusual silence hung over them.
No one spoke first. The situation was deeply unfavorable to Sunagakure.
At last, one elder said, "Withdraw the troops. Continuing to fight will only bring more casualties. The Sand Shinobi have little will to fight left.
"Unless a true powerhouse emerges to restore the Ninja's confidence, we have no one like that in Sunagakure."
"I support withdrawing. With no Wind Shadow in the village, let's send Konoha a ceasefire agreement first.
"The details will need to be negotiated. How bad are Rasa's injuries? Will he be able to continue serving as Wind Shadow?"
The room fell silent again. A Ninja in charge of intelligence said, "It's unlikely. We don't even know if he'll survive.
"The medical facilities at the Camp are rudimentary. Pakura says the village needs to send more Medical Ninja and supplies to the Land of Rivers.
"Once Rasa's condition is stable, we can bring him back to Sunagakure for treatment. Given his injuries, even if he wakes, he won't be able to remain Wind Shadow. He'll only be fit for a minor post."
An elder slammed the table. "Damn Konoha! There's no one left in the village suited to be Wind Shadow.
"Rasa is gravely wounded, and Sasori of the Red Sands has disappeared. They were the village's two finest talents."
"We have to face reality. Of the younger generation, only Pakura shows promise. Everyone else is either too old or too young.
"I thought Sunagakure's chance to rise had finally come. Instead, we were crushed before the war