"Write the old man a letter about what happened here and send it along with the battle report. As for us, we'll withdraw to the Land of Grass border first."
Kitsuchi looked at everyone after he finished speaking.
No one had any objections, and they nodded in agreement.
Kitsuchi began writing the letter and soon finished it. Then he beckoned a ninja over and handed him the letter.
"Deliver this to the Tsuchikage!"
Kitsuchi patted the man's shoulder, then had everyone continue retreating.
After all, their losses were too great now. If Konoha sent reinforcements at short notice, they would probably struggle to get out alive.
"I'll take a look around!"
Didaze, meanwhile, intended to look around Kusagakure and see whether he could find Karin's mother.
After all, Karin's mother was also an orphan of the Uzumaki Clan, and her talent certainly wouldn't be lacking.
"All right!"
Although Kitsuchi didn't know what Didaze was going to do, their days together had taught him that Didaze wasn't reckless.
Didaze nodded, then flew up on his Giant Bird, while the Iwagakure ninja below continued on their way.
And so, a day later, the Iwagakure ninja retreated to the Land of Grass border.
Iwagakure.
The Tsuchikage's office.
"Lord Tsuchikage! A battle report from the Iwagakure front!"
Ōnoki accepted the battle report. Although he had sent Didaze there, he hadn't expected too much.
After all, Han was there too, and he hadn't driven Konoha back either.
"Mm, put it there."
Ōnoki waved a hand, and the ninja respectfully placed the battle report on his desk.
"Hmm... let's have a look..."
Ōnoki stretched, then picked up the battle report first and read it.
"What?"
A sudden surge of emotion broke across Ōnoki's previously placid face!
"Didaze actually wiped out all the Konoha ninja?"
"Orochimaru of the Konoha Sannin died too?"
"Hahahaha!"
Ōnoki floated up in excitement, then flew back and forth around his office.
"Wonderful! Iwagakure finally has someone to carry on its legacy!"
Ōnoki had long wondered whether he would ever find a successor, but Didaze's appearance dispelled his doubts.
Iwagakure still had geniuses, and Didaze was his finest successor!
Then Ōnoki forcibly suppressed his excitement and continued reading the battle report.
"Konoha sent reinforcements, and Hatake Sakumo came too..."
Reading the later report about fighting the enemy to a draw, Ōnoki sank into thought.
In truth, a draw was already a great gain for him. After all, those were numerous clan heads and Hatake Sakumo!
There was also Shimura Danzō, who had been unharmed before that, and he was Kage level too.
"And this... Susanoo..."
As Ōnoki read about Uchiha Fugaku awakening his Mangekyō in the battle report, he recalled the terror of being at Madara Uchiha's mercy all those years ago.
Although he still feared Madara Uchiha after so many years, his convictions for the village could help him resist that fear!
It had to be said that Ōnoki's Will of Stone really was better than the Will of Fire. After all, one genuinely made sacrifices, while the other manipulated others into making them.
"Contact Kirigakure for me!"
Ōnoki summoned an Anbu, who nodded and vanished.
Ōnoki's eyes flickered, as though he had made some decision.
Konoha.
The Hokage's office.
"The Mangekyō Sharingan??"
Hiruzen Sarutobi read the battle report, which clearly stated that Uchiha Fugaku had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan and that his power already posed a threat to him.
"Damn it... the Uchiha Clan has the Mangekyō Sharingan again..."
Uchiha Fugaku's Mangekyō Sharingan shocked Hiruzen Sarutobi even more than Orochimaru's death. After all, in his eyes, a pair of Mangekyō would give the already dissatisfied Uchiha Clan every reason to consider a coup.
"What should I do..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked as he considered how to suppress the Uchiha Clan.
But in truth, as long as Hiruzen Sarutobi delegated power to the Uchiha Clan, they wouldn't insist on seizing it by force.
But Hiruzen Sarutobi had been deeply poisoned by the Second Hokage's influence and had no goodwill toward the Uchiha Clan to begin with. There was no way he would expand their authority.
"And there's the news of Orochimaru's death..."
After failing to reach a solution, Hiruzen Sarutobi turned his attention to the news of Orochimaru's death.
This was his most prized student, and Orochimaru's passing undoubtedly pained him.
He had always groomed Orochimaru to become the Fourth Hokage. Although Hatake Sakumo was a rival, Orochimaru had still had a chance. But now that Orochimaru was dead, the Fourth Hokage could only be Hatake Sakumo.
But Hatake Sakumo had no connection to him whatsoever. He was neither Hatake Sakumo's teacher nor his friend. Their only relationship was that of superior and subordinate.
"Ah..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi pressed his forehead in anguish.
He was considering whether to tell Tsunade and Jiraiya about Orochimaru's death. If those two learned that the close friend they had grown up with was dead, they probably wouldn't even feel like fighting.
"I can't tell those two yet..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi intended to conceal Orochimaru's death a little longer. Although he knew this wasn't a lasting solution, and that Jiraiya and Tsunade would certainly be angry with him once they learned the news, he still decided to do it to keep the situation on the Sunagakure front stable.
"Uchiha Clan... if you dare destroy Konoha..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi smoked, but an unprecedented killing intent shone in his eyes!
Kusagakure.
"Quick, get over here!"
An injured Grass ninja lay on the ground, while a red-haired girl walked toward him with fear in her eyes.
She was Kusagakure's healing supply. After the Land of Whirlpools was destroyed, her parents had come to Kusagakure to live in seclusion. Later, her parents died in an accident, and it was discovered that her chakra could heal injuries.
And so, the Grass ninja discovered that her chakra could heal injuries, and she became a tool they used specifically for healing.
She was only eleven or twelve now, but her entire body was already covered in bite marks, all left by Kusagakure ninja.
"Get over here! Stop dawdling!"
A Kusagakure ninja roared, then kicked Nanako Uzumaki, sending her stumbling.
Seeing Nanako Uzumaki kicked toward him, the Grass ninja lying on the ground lit up, then bit down on her arm!
"Ah..."
Nanako Uzumaki cried out. The Kusagakure ninja bit so hard that he even drew blood from her arm.
The Kusagakure ninja heard her cry, but paid it no mind. After all, compared to his own life, what did she matter?
"A survivor of the Land of Whirlpools..."
Just as the Kusagakure ninja was absorbing Nanako Uzumaki's chakra, a voice suddenly came from the sky.