Watching Xia Yan abruptly vanish, and hearing the utterly grating words he had left behind, Ebizo looked rather grim.
The moment he saw the Flying Thunder God Technique, he had already known that the boy codenamed Nightingale could certainly escape their encirclement.
Putting himself in the boy's shoes, if he possessed a technique like that and ventured deep into enemy territory, he would surely have made preparations.
Now he understood why this brat dared to come alone. It was not because he had no value, but because he was far too valuable, and he did not need to worry about being surrounded at all!
It was easy to imagine that once this brat returned to Konoha, even though this was a secret mission that would never appear in any records, the boost to Konoha's prestige would be unimaginable.
And what a devastating blow it would deal to Sunagakure's already precarious reputation!
Taking a deep breath, Ebizo shook his head helplessly, then his gaze became utterly resolute again.
"He should be gone. You don't need to be so tense," Ebizo said impassively. "Gather the bodies of the dead, but check them for chakra reactions.
"Also, send someone to notify the troops that haven't reached us yet. Have them relay the information back.
"All Anbu squad leaders and captains are to mobilize for the capture operation.
"And get every village garrison unit moving. We cannot let this brat leave the Land of Wind. Understood?"
"Sir, isn't this a little..." One surviving Anbu hesitated upon hearing Ebizo's orders. "Mobilizing on such a scale, even deploying the garrison..."
"Go back and inform Lord Kazekage," Ebizo said slowly after glancing at the Anbu. "Tell him this is my decision, and inform Elder Chiyo as well. Do you have any other questions?"
"No, sir." The Anbu