"Retreat! Retreat!"
Hiruzen's voice echoed across the battlefield, filled with despair.
He fought as he retreated, his hands constantly forming hand seals as he used various ninjutsu to hold off the Raikage's pursuit.
Flame Dragon Bullet, Earth Flow Wall, Shuriken Shadow Clone...
Fortunately, his own strength was solid enough that he could slow the Raikage down.
"Lord Hokage, go!"
Several Anbu desperately covered his retreat, blocking the Raikage's path with their bodies.
"Earth Release: Earth Prison Dome!"
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"
Their ninjutsu struck the Raikage, unable to break even that layer of golden armor.
With a casual sweep of his hand, the Raikage sent several of them flying into trees, blood spraying from their mouths.
Hiruzen gritted his teeth, turned, and ran.
He ran for a long time, only stopping to lean against a tree and gasp for breath once the battle cries behind him gradually faded and Kumogakure's banners were no longer in sight.
Fewer than half his people had followed him out.
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu were among them, both covered in dirt, their faces filled with terror, without a trace of their dignity as advisers.
Hiruzen looked at them, then into the distance, unable to say a word.
On the battlefield, the Raikage stood amid the wreckage, looking in the direction Konoha's surviving troops had fled, his brow slightly furrowed.
"B, what do you think happened to Konoha's Jinchūriki?"
He asked.
Killer B had already ended his Tailed Beast Transformation and scratched his head.
"No idea, big bro."
"Never saw them the whole time. If the Nine-Tails came out, things would've gotten wild, yeah!"
The Raikage pondered for a moment, a flicker of confusion crossing his eyes.
It wasn't as though Konoha had no Jinchūriki, and its Nine-Tails Jinchuriki should have been well