Chapter 111: Evacuation
"Hayato, have you compiled the latest intelligence?"
Tsunade sat in the main seat, her face marked by exhaustion. She had gone straight to the operating table upon arriving at the camp, so her fatigue was understandable. Despite this, she had saved the lives of several Konoha ninjas, and there was no hint of complaint in her demeanor.
"Sunagakure has no movements for the time being," Hayato began, his tone professional and concise. "However, it seems they have the full support of that miserly Daimyō of the Land of Wind. Iwagakure is stationed near the border with the Land of Birds, and the Third Tsuchikage is en route."
"We should retreat," Kawakaze proposed without hesitation, his expression hard and resolute. There was no mistaking his seriousness.
"But we've lost so many people..." one of the Konoha ninjas started, but Kawakaze cut him off sharply.
"Do you want to stay here too?" he snapped. His piercing gaze silenced the other ninja instantly.
"I know none of you want to hear this. I don't want to accept it either," Kawakaze continued, his voice firm and unyielding. "But right now, Iwagakure is bearing down on us with overwhelming force. Do we have enough people to fight them? Sunagakure has already regrouped, and they still have the Perfect Jinchūriki. If we're caught in a pincer attack here, how many of us will make it back alive? Use your heads and think about it!"
His eyes swept over the room, daring anyone to argue. Kawakaze clearly didn't care if he overshadowed Tsunade in this moment. The Konoha ninjas knew who carried the most weight in these matters, and besides, everyone was aware of the unspoken bond between Tsunade and Kawakaze.
"There are many wounded to consider as well," Sakumo interjected calmly, aiming to diffuse the tension. His words carried quiet agreement with Kawakaze's assessment. This isn't a battle we can afford to fight recklessly.
Facing the looming threat of Iwagakure, it was clear that even boldness had its limits.
"So we really just retreat?"