Time ticked steadily away.
Before long, half an hour had passed.
As the sky darkened, a loud horn call rang out from a distant Kirigakure warship.
In an instant, the Kirigakure ninja desperately holding back the Konoha ninja snapped to attention.
They abandoned the warships before them and rushed toward the one sailing away into the distance.
Indeed, they had given up on all the other warships.
Seeing more and more of the troops they had brought dying, the Kirigakure commander immediately ordered a retreat.
Ships could be rebuilt, but if everyone died here, Kirigakure would be hard-pressed to carry out its upcoming deployments.
Standing atop Sea-Viewing Cliff, Yechen gave the order, and everyone stopped pursuing. Without needing further instructions, they began clearing the battlefield and excitedly sailed the Kirigakure warships into the stronghold's harbor.
About half an hour later, a unit appeared in everyone's sight.
It was none other than the reinforcements Yuna Kurozawa had sent.
Unfortunately, their trip was destined to be wasted.
When the Jonin leading them learned what had happened, he did not know what to say.
They had rushed over to provide support, only to find that the battle had ended half an hour earlier.
Then they looked at the casualty ratio and the captured supplies, and every one of them burned with envy.
Although they had come for nothing, Yechen did not let them leave. Instead, he kept them there to bolster his forces. He was probably the only person who would dare do such a thing.
Three days passed in a flash.
Kirigakure made no further moves. What had happened three days earlier had dealt them a heavy blow. Yechen's strength and actions had made it clear that breaking through Sea-Viewing Cliff would be impossible.
Breaking through the other defensive lines would not