On the way back, Senju Touka's injuries worsened, forcing her to stop at a defense line set up by Iwagakure to use some of their medicine. Even so, it couldn't fully heal Senju Touka. Konohagakure's medical ninjutsu was just starting, and Iwagakure's was, of course, no better.
During this time, everyone received intelligence from the Iwagakure Ninja who had gone out to investigate: the riots in the Land of Rice Fields had essentially stopped. Not only were all the provisions and supplies in the granaries destroyed by the rampaging Kinkaku, but the Land of Rice Fields itself was also affected, suffering countless unexpected losses.
"Now, the Land of Lightning will have to retreat," Fūmori Masaki said to the others. "Although Kinkaku caused us a lot of trouble, and Lady Momoka is now severely injured and unconscious, he also did a few good things: he cut off their own supplies and caused an unwarranted disaster for the Land of Rice Fields, which had always remained neutral."
"The Land of Rice Fields deserves it. Even though they didn't side with the Land of Lightning, if they hadn't given them passage, would we have been so passive?" Senju Risa said angrily, looking at the still unconscious Senju Touka. "If it weren't for this, we wouldn't have had to undertake such a risky mission, and Lady Momoka wouldn't have suffered such injuries."
"For the Land of Rice Fields, this punishment is enough. There's no need for us to keep being hostile towards them," Fūmori Masaki said. Trying to sort out this messy situation would only lead to more trouble.
"Masaki, why do you say this is a good thing?" Hyūga Kei asked. He didn't think Fūmori Masaki felt this way just because the Land of Rice Fields suffered losses.
"Because the Land of Rice Fields has always maintained a neutral stance, offending no one. But now the Land of Lightning has actively offended them, whether intentionally or not," Fūmori Masaki said. "Compared to the Land of Fire, the Land of Rice Fields will hate the Land of Lightning even more. Therefore, the Land of Fire might be able to form an alliance with the Land of Rice Fields."
"Form an alliance with the Land of Rice Fields?" Everyone exchanged glances, wondering why they should ally with the Land of Rice Fields. Because of the Land of Rice Fields granting passage, the Ninja Village held grudges against them. Once the Land of Lightning was driven out, they expected to continue fighting the Land of Lightning within the Land of Rice Fields, saying they would make the Land of Rice Fields pay.
"I believe that war should always adopt methods that minimize losses and maximize gains. Yes, the actions of the Land of Rice Fields were annoying, but they have already been punished. We shouldn't dwell on these things, but rather consider how to end this war faster," Fūmori Masaki said. "The future battlefield will likely shift to the Land of Rice Fields. If we fight against the Land of Rice Fields as well, we would be adding an enemy out of nowhere. While the opponent would be the same, it wouldn't benefit us. On the contrary, if we ally with the Land of Rice Fields, we can get assistance within the Land of Rice Fields. What do you think the final outcome would be? We gain an ally, receive assistance on the battlefield, while the Land of Lightning is isolated and faces greater pressure."
The others fell silent. They were all contemplating Fūmori Masaki's words. If they cast aside their ill feelings towards the Land of Rice Fields and didn't act on personal emotions, Fūmori Masaki's method of forming an alliance and isolating the enemy was excellent. Everyone inwardly acknowledged this.
"Lady Momoka was indeed injured during this mission, but ultimately, it was because of Kinkaku," Fūmori Masaki stated unequivocally. "I will never let Kinkaku go. Regardless of whether this war ends in peace talks, Kinkaku must die."
Fūmori Masaki would not implicate others without reason. Responsibility for actions should be borne by those who committed them. Therefore, he wouldn't blame Senju Touka's injuries on the Land of Rice Fields, but on Kinkaku, the true culprit.
"After we return, I will propose this suggestion to sensei. For now, let's wait for the news of the Land of Lightning's retreat. I estimate the Raikage has already fainted from anger," Fūmori Masaki said.
The Raikage was indeed furious, but he hadn't fainted. He secretly stimulated his cells with Lightning Release Chakra to stay awake because a war council was currently in session.
He couldn't collapse in front of everyone; that was his dignity as Raikage. To those present, the Raikage's body occasionally flashed with lightning, and his face was distorted, sending shivers down their spines. They believed the Raikage must be incredibly angry.
A was certainly furious. With all the supplies in the granaries destroyed, it meant they had no further provisions. The food stored in the city could only sustain their Ninja, but what about the tens of thousands of Samurai? Should they just send them home? In that case, the Kumogakure Ninja Squad might as well go back too. How could a Ninja Squad alone fight against the Land of Fire's Ninja Squad and Samurai Corps?
What was that scoundrel Kinkaku doing? He had placed all his hopes for the safety of the granaries on him, and this was the result. A couldn't help but glare at Ginkaku, but Ginkaku didn't notice, looking at the Kumogakure Ninja who had come to report, asking, "How is the unit there?"
"Yes, how is the unit?" Darui asked subsequently. His disciple Sora was there, and Ginkaku was also worried about his brother Kinkaku.
"I am very sorry, the unit was almost completely wiped out. Only Lord Kinkaku and a few others are still alive, and Lord Sora —" The Kumogakure Ninja looked up at Darui, then lowered his head and said, "According to those who survived, she was abducted by Konoha Ninja."
Darui's worst fear hadn't come to pass, but he didn't relax because of it. Being abducted by Konoha Ninja was not a good thing either. In war, everyone tacitly took prisoners. Sora not being directly killed clearly meant she had value, but this also meant the initiative was now in the enemy's hands.
"What exactly happened this time? Were the attackers very powerful?" Darui couldn't help but ask. He couldn't understand how, with someone of Kinkaku's strength present, the granaries could suffer such heavy losses. What kind of enemy could it have been?
"They were very powerful, but not as strong as Lord Kinkaku, it's just that —" The Kumogakure Ninja hesitated.
"Speak!" A saw the man stammering and immediately widened his eyes. He needed to know the full story.
"Yes!" Seeing the Raikage's anger, the Kumogakure Ninja quickly said, "Actually, it's because Lord Kinkaku was severely wounded by the enemy midway, which caused him to use the Nine-Tailed's power. He then went berserk, forced all the Konoha Ninja to retreat, and began wantonly destroying everything around him. The provisions and supplies were all..."
"What! Kinkaku is injured? Who did it, and is he seriously hurt?" Ginkaku immediately shouted, his eyes wide.
"Lord Kinkaku lost an arm, and his skin has burns. Other than that, there's nothing else, he's just unconscious," the Kumogakure Ninja said. He then saw Ginkaku smash the ground fiercely, glaring at him, and asking who did it.
"I heard it was Fūmori Masaki," the Kumogakure Ninja said.
"Fūmori... Is he the Second Hokage's disciple?" Ginkaku gritted his teeth. "Very well, I've remembered him. I'll take his life on the battlefield!"
Ginkaku and Kinkaku regarded human lives as mere trifles, but their brotherly bond was deep. If someone harmed one, the other would stop at nothing to avenge them. Ginkaku had already come to hate Fūmori Masaki.
"A! I want to lead the troops out!" Ginkaku turned and shouted at A.
A didn't reply immediately. Instead, he had the Kumogakure Ninja explain the entire situation. When he learned that Kinkaku had indulged in pleasure, hadn't gone out to perform reconnaissance, and was suspected of intentionally letting the enemy in, he immediately became furious: "Enough! Ginkaku, because of your brother's poor defense, Sora was captured, and the granaries were destroyed. We are already in a disadvantageous position. Do you still want to lead people out and give the enemy another opportunity because of your recklessness?"
"Recklessness? My brother lost an arm. Do you expect me to just stand by and watch this grudge?" Ginkaku retorted fearlessly.
"I will give you a chance for revenge, but not now. We will prepare to retreat first." A suppressed his anger. Ginkaku held high prestige in Kumogakure, so a direct refusal wouldn't work, but he couldn't actually agree. The best course of action now was to return immediately; continuing to fight would only lead to running out of supplies.
Ginkaku didn't openly defy the Raikage, but he declared that others wouldn't want to return in such a humiliating way. If public sentiment became enraged, what would A, as Raikage, do? Clearly, Ginkaku intended to use his influence among the war hawks to force A to attack Konohagakure.
A grew increasingly annoyed with Ginkaku. After the war council, he and Darui walked towards the tent to discuss the next specific battle plan. Along the way, Darui heard A sigh and say, "Darui, I was wrong. You suggested at the time that Wa should defend the granaries, but I didn't trust the young Ninja and instead let Kinkaku defend, which resulted in this situation."
"It's too late for regrets now; we can only find a way to overcome this difficulty," Darui said after a moment of silence.
"Mhm, don't worry, I will definitely find a way to rescue Sora," A said, knowing that Darui must be heartbroken about his disciple being captured, and indicating that he would not abandon her.
"Mhm," Darui nodded, silently praying that Sora would return safely from the Konoha Ninja.