Hiruzen Sarutobi walked at the rear of his troops, turning to look at the burning Forest. They were already far away, but he could still see the flames reaching into the sky. He had set the Forest ablaze to slow the Kirigakure ninja down. Whether they used Water Release to clear a path or took a detour, it would buy his force enough time.
In his mind, Hiruzen had already abandoned the entire territory of the Land of Whirlpools. Its people would all relocate to the area around Konoha Ninja Village, so the state of the land here no longer concerned him. He could therefore set the whole Forest ablaze without a pang of guilt, paying no heed to the consequences.
He looked over his troops. Their faces showed the exhaustion of battle, the joy of victory, and anticipation for the future. Without question, this victory had greatly bolstered their confidence. Holding back the enemy's advance with so few people was an achievement to be proud of anywhere.
Of course, a detailed tally of the losses would show that neither side had suffered particularly heavy casualties. The battle's greatest value lay in its effect on their morale. His own side had found hope and the courage to keep fighting, while the Enemy Forces had been frustrated and dispirited, their morale plummeting.
Hiruzen was a seasoned veteran. He did not need to send anyone to investigate to know what decision the Kirigakure ninja would make—the situation was already clear. If they truly defied common sense and dared to pursue him, he would make sure they understood exactly what a mistake they had made.
"Keep moving. We've only delayed them for now. A war doesn't end that easily," Hiruzen called to his troops, leading them toward the capital of the Land of