Granny Chiyo arrived in time with Sakura Haruno, and the tide of battle turned completely.
Mujo, the lord of Hozuki Castle who had been covering for everyone, was now held in check by Granny Chiyo, shifting the pressure directly onto the Ghost Lantern Guard.
Without orders to retreat, they could only grit their teeth and keep fighting.
They had already been outmatched in the earlier fighting.
The combined attacks of the elite fighters from the various hidden villages put far too much pressure on the Ghost Lantern Guard.
The elite fighters from the Hidden Jun Village were especially formidable, coordinating seamlessly and knowing how to use cooperation ninjutsu.
Their performance had been the most outstanding in this battle.
So much so that the Ghost Lantern Guard lucky enough to survive had little fighting spirit left.
After a single round of clashes, every Ghost Lantern Guard fled with his hands over his head, scattering in all directions.
Yet without orders to retreat, they could only scurry around within the battlefield, not daring to take a single step beyond its boundaries.
Finally, the wounded Mujo, lord of Hozuki Castle, could no longer endure being repeatedly held in check by Granny Chiyo and gave the order.
"Retreat!"
He took the lead, charging toward the edge of the battlefield first.
The Ghost Lantern Guard felt as though a great weight had been lifted upon receiving the order. No longer caring about appearances, they fled toward the battlefield's edge in utter disarray.
Soon, only faint tremors of battle emanating from within the eggshell-shaped earthen wall remained on the battlefield.
Rumble!
The exceptionally tough earthen wall finally buckled under the strain, and a hole was blasted straight through it.
Deidara, missing one hand, was the first to climb out through the hole.
He glanced at the