Konohagakure — Hokage Tower, Hokage's Office.
The Konoha Elder Council—often referred to as "Konoha's Four Elders" (Konoha's Four Elders)—were gathered together.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was not wearing his familiar Hokage robes. Instead, his body was wrapped in bandages, clearly showing signs of serious injury.
During the previous battle, several of Hiruzen's ribs had been broken, and his internal organs had suffered considerable shock. Both his arm and leg bones had sustained fractures of varying severity.
Although none of the injuries were fatal, they would take considerable time to heal.
Furthermore, following the advice of Konoha Hospital, Hiruzen had refused treatment with advanced medical ninjutsu like the Mystical Palm Technique. Instead, he chose to recover slowly through rest.
After all, while medical ninjutsu such as the Mystical Palm Technique (Shōsen Jutsu) could produce miraculous healing effects, their fundamental principle was stimulating cells to rapidly divide and regenerate.
But the number of times human cells could divide in a lifetime was limited.
Accelerating that process was, in a sense, reducing one's lifespan.
Therefore, unless the situation was extremely urgent, medical ninja at Konoha Hospital would avoid using Mystical Palm–type techniques, relying instead on conventional treatments.
This was especially true for someone like Hiruzen, who was already advanced in age and had little remaining lifespan.
"Shikaku has sent the latest report."
Hiruzen pushed several documents forward as he spoke.
"They've completely repelled the Allied Shinobi Forces. The Battle of Kikyō Mountain has concluded."
"He also included the casualty report and the follow-up operational plan."
"Take a look."
Shimura Danzō stepped forward first, impatiently grabbing the documents and scanning through them.
"Two thousand three hundred forty-six killed in action… five hundred eighty-nine severely wounded… seven hundred twenty-two incapacitated due to injuries… light injuries uncounted… thirty-three missing… over six thousand enemies eliminated…"
Danzō barely lingered on the casualty report.
He was far more interested in Shikaku's next operational plan.
"The remaining two thousand-plus Iwagakure shinobi have been divided into more than a dozen groups… The plan is to use a 'pack of wolves devouring a tiger' strategy during the pursuit, gradually reducing their combat strength…"
"And finally annihilate them at Tenchi Bridge in the Land of Grass…"
Danzō narrowed his single eye and looked at Hiruzen.
"The plan for dealing with the Iwagakure forces seems fine."
"But why is there no plan targeting Sunagakure or Kumogakure?"
"The Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure is seriously injured and escaped with only a few dozen survivors."
"The Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure is also on the brink of death. Only that old woman Chiyo escaped with barely over a thousand shinobi."
"Right now is the perfect opportunity to deal with them!"
Danzō's voice grew increasingly heated.
"What is Shikaku Nara thinking? Is he planning to just let the Sunagakure and Kumogakure forces escape?"
His anger mounted as he began questioning Shikaku's intentions.
Hiruzen's gaze remained calm and unfathomable.
It seemed as though Danzō's accusations had not stirred the slightest emotion.
Yet Danzō suddenly sensed a cold chill hidden deep within Hiruzen's eyes.
His heart tightened.
He quickly calmed himself.
After the incidents involving the assassination attempt on the Hokage, colluding with enemy forces, and provoking war, Hiruzen's tolerance toward him had clearly reached its limit.
The relationship between them had already fully broken down.
The days when they could maintain the unspoken arrangement of "You advise, I rule" were gone.
Danzō no longer had the privilege of throwing tantrums, slamming tables, or acting arrogantly before the Hokage.
He had lost Hiruzen's indulgence.
Silently, Danzō closed his mouth and said nothing further.
Homura Mitokado took the documents from Danzō and examined them before speaking.
"Danzō, didn't you read the casualty numbers Shikaku reported?"
"There are fewer than three thousand Konoha shinobi still capable of fighting at Kikyō Mountain."
"They're only able to pursue the Iwagakure forces because of the momentum from their victory."
"What exactly do you expect them to use to chase the Sunagakure and Kumogakure armies?"
"If they split their forces further, even if they win, it would be a pyrrhic victory."
"And how many of those three thousand shinobi would still be alive afterward?"
Koharu Utatane also took the documents and added:
"And this only accounts for the casualties at Kikyō Mountain Fortress."
"If we count everything from a few days ago—"
"The Kumogakure envoy causing chaos in Konoha, the pursuit of that envoy, the battle blocking the Kumogakure army before Kikyō Mountain…"
"And the collapse of our border units in the Land of Grass and the Land of Rain…"
"All combined, Konoha has already suffered over one thousand casualties before this battle even began."
"Add the three thousand casualties from Kikyō Mountain, and we're already approaching five thousand losses."
She paused before continuing gravely:
"If the remaining three thousand shinobi at Kikyō Mountain are also wiped out…"
"That would mean eight thousand casualties."
"And if that happens—"
"Even if we win the war, what then?"
"Konoha would fall from being the strongest village in the shinobi world to becoming the weakest among the Five Great Villages."
Koharu sighed and shook her head.
On the surface, Konoha had achieved a magnificent victory—defeating three villages at once and eliminating over six thousand enemies.
But those six thousand losses were shared among three villages.
Even if they traded two lives for one, the enemy villages would still consider it a worthwhile exchange.
Homura concluded:
"Shikaku's decision is correct."
"Sunagakure already had the weakest foundation among the Five Great Villages. Losing three thousand shinobi has already crippled them."
"Even if we let the remaining thousand return home, it won't matter much."
"As for Kumogakure, although their total troop losses weren't as high, their high-level combat power suffered greater damage."
"The Eight-Tails jinchūriki is still in our hands."
"After this battle, Kumogakure will have no choice but to bow to us."
"As long as we can wipe out the remaining two thousand Iwagakure troops, they won't be able to start another large-scale war for quite some time."
He then turned to Hiruzen.
"Hiruzen, issue an order to the border defense forces in the Land of Rivers."
"Have them keep watch over the remaining Sunagakure forces and guard against a surprise attack from their border troops."
"As long as Sunagakure doesn't cause trouble, let them withdraw."
Hiruzen exhaled a ring of smoke from his pipe and nodded.
"That is my opinion as well."
"But we must remain vigilant regarding Sunagakure."
"Right now we only have five hundred border defense troops stationed at the Land of Rivers."
"Sunagakure already has five hundred troops there to contain us."
"Add the thousand survivors fleeing from Kikyō Mountain, and that makes fifteen hundred shinobi."
"And that doesn't even account for the possibility that Sunagakure might send reinforcements."
"With such a numerical advantage, there's no guarantee they won't harbor other intentions."
Hiruzen paused.
Then he continued:
"So I've decided to send another powerful shinobi, along with two hundred troops, to oversee the Land of Rivers border."
"They will remain there until this war completely ends."
As he spoke, Hiruzen's gaze slowly shifted—
And settled on Shimura Danzō.
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