On the battlefield, with the Tailed Beasts having withdrawn, Chiyo directed the Sand ninjas to move slowly toward the edge, seeking to seize an opportunity to escape the war.
A black eagle circled overhead, emitting piercing screeches that could be heard by nearly every ninja on the field.
"This is?!"
A ninja in black looked up in shock. As second-in-command of the Rain Village and temporary battlefield commander in Hanzo's absence, he immediately recognized the messenger beast Hanzo had deployed.
Rain Country ninjas… retreat!
Hesitant but obedient, he issued the order. Rain Village shinobi did not hesitate; they had long wished to leave this hellish battlefield. The disparity in strength between them and the Leaf ninjas was immense—like a ragtag militia facing a professional army.
Though the Leaf forces did not understand the code, they observed the Rain ninjas beginning to withdraw.
In this situation, two possibilities emerged.
The first, most likely: Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya had been defeated—or even killed—by Hanzo. The retreat signal allowed Rain reinforcements to safely withdraw while Hanzo provided cover.
The second, far less believable: the Leaf trio had won, and Hanzo, defeated, issued a retreat to preserve his forces. No one reasonably believed this; after all, this was the demigod. Even the Third Hokage had struggled against him, and Jiraiya and the others were merely his disciples. Their victory seemed implausible.
Yet, deep down, hope lingered. Even the most downtrodden held dreams. After fighting for two long years in the Rain Country, who didn't long for home?
Chiyo, however, was far less optimistic. Her hatred for the slug-trained girl burned brightly—she looked forward to Tsunade's demise. She allowed herself a thin smile, believing the three had likely died when Hanzo freed his hands to issue the signal.
But her smile froze.
Three familiar voices rang out simultaneously from the battlefield.
Summoning Technique!
Smoke cleared to reveal three giant summoning beasts, each bearing a rider, scanning the battlefield with fierce determination.
Orochimaru's voice, laced with chakra, carried across the field:
Leaf ninjas, we have won this war!
Leaf forces below erupted in astonishment and relief. Shouts and cheers tore through the sky.
Shock spread across Chiyo's face. She stared at the disheveled trio, her anger igniting. They had endured an intense battle—Hanzo could not have failed to finish them off. The only conclusion: he had deliberately spared them.
Hanzo, you bastard!
The three jumped from their summons, weaving through the remaining ninjas to place themselves at the battlefield's center.
"Are you three okay?"
Hyuga Tenku rose, staring at the wounded trio. He could scarcely fathom Hanzo's strength, seeing them injured so gravely. Yet Tsunade, eager to return to the fray, offered only minimal treatment.
"We're fine," Jiraiya replied with a shake of his head.
Tsunade's gaze swept across the retreating Sand forces, finally settling on the small but fierce Chiyo. Sparks seemed to fly from their eyes.
Meanwhile, the Rain ninjas had regrouped under their black-clothed commander.
"Let them leave."
Orochimaru and the others commanded the remaining Leaf forces. There were few Rain ninjas left, and Hanzo had shown goodwill by sparing the trio. Killing the remaining soldiers would serve no purpose.
As the Rain forces withdrew, Chiyo's twitching expression barely steadied. She commanded in a low voice:
"Sand ninjas, continue your retreat!"
Nawaki, standing beside Uchiha Hayashi, frowned. "Letting Rain retreat I understand because of Hanzo—but why the Sand?"
"Look at their position," Hayashi explained. "Most are on the battlefield's edge. We have no opportunity to force them to stay. The Sand main force is elsewhere, and a clash with them is inevitable. Dividing our troops to chase these stragglers weakens us. Better to focus on the Rock Village ninjas here. Eliminating them removes the Third Tsuchikage's support entirely."
"Chiyo, you old hag, we're not done! I'll get my revenge!" Tsunade shouted at Chiyo, who resembled a cornered dog.
Chiyo glanced back, snorted, and retreated swiftly.
As the Sand ninjas disappeared from sight, the Leaf forces exhaled in relief. Continuing against the combined Sand and Rock troops would have cost far more.
Yet the Rock ninjas' faces darkened with fear. Commander Kimura's complexion was pale. He had designed the encirclement perfectly, but now it was unraveling. He might die here.
The recent battle had already proven the Leaf forces' strength. Alone, the Rock troops were no match.
Grimacing, Kimura declared, "We have numbers. If we fight to the end, Leaf will suffer losses too. Today, we withdraw. I guarantee the Land of Earth will not oppose Leaf again."
Even Kimura doubted his words. After the last Shinobi World War, few peace agreements lasted. Words were worthless.
Jiraiya chuckled. "Then lay down your arms. We guarantee your safety."
"No room for negotiation?" Kimura growled.
Orochimaru shook his head, unwilling to waste words.
"Leaf ninjas, obey orders. Annihilate the Rock troops. Leave no one alive."
_______
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