By then, Ye Feng and Minato Namikaze had returned to camp, but Minato looked utterly drained, his face still contorted with pain.
Ye Feng wanted to comfort him but did not know where to begin. He hoped even more that Minato could find his own way out of this predicament, so that he could become steadier and stronger.
Just then, the tent flap opened and a figure walked in. It was Konoha's commander, Orochimaru. He had already seen the lightning Kirin earlier, and had sensed Ye Feng and Minato's return immediately, so he had hurried over to find out exactly what had happened to warrant summoning such a terrifying lightning Kirin.
But the first thing Orochimaru saw upon entering was Minato on the ground, his face filled with pain. A bad feeling rose in Orochimaru's heart.
Orochimaru turned to Ye Feng and asked:
"What happened?"
Ye Feng concealed nothing, recounting everything in detail, particularly how he had controlled the Thunder Beast Kirin and killed over forty Konoha ninja.
As Orochimaru listened, his expression grew darker and darker. His fists clenched, and he lowered his head without a word, seemingly suppressing his anger.
Having witnessed so many deaths firsthand, Ye Feng had begun to waver over the plan in his mind. He looked at Orochimaru hesitantly and asked tentatively:
"How about we cancel the previous plan and find another way?"
To Ye Feng's surprise, Orochimaru answered firmly:
"No! They cannot have died for nothing. The plan continues. Sacrifices are inevitable in war. What we must do is make their sacrifices more meaningful."
After saying that, Orochimaru called out loudly:
"Someone, come here!"
Two Konoha ninja entered and knelt on one knee before Orochimaru, who said solemnly:
"Pass down the order. All Konoha ninja are to retreat and avoid engagement immediately upon