The problem was, with Shiyu Uchiha's entry into the battle, their side might not even survive until that moment. Given this, Wen Ya couldn't help but begin considering a retreat.
Just at that moment, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted from the other side of the battlefield. Everyone turned toward the sound, watching as Kitsuchi and Renga Uchiha both flew outward from the blast center—clearly a mutually damaging outcome.
Although both were quickly rescued by their respective subordinates and out of immediate danger, seeing this, Wen Ya's heart sank. He understood perfectly well that Kitsuchi absolutely could not be allowed to come to any harm, or the consequences would be unimaginable.
For all Iwa-nin directly on the front lines, especially those who could think more clearly, it had already become clear—if that noble and esteemed "crown prince" unfortunately died right here, their inevitable fate would be nothing less than a tragic catastrophe, possibly even complete annihilation.
Therefore, after deep consideration, Wen Ya decisively made the immediate decision to retreat.
Meanwhile, with his sharp insight and exceptional intelligence, Wen Ya quickly perceived the battlefield's subtle shifts, swiftly formulating an effective retreat plan.
Despite being overwhelmed by intense dizziness, he forced himself to issue the retreat order with sheer determination.
The Iwa-nin fighting at another section of the battlefield, upon receiving this command, immediately displayed exceptional organization and discipline. They executed the withdrawal with military discipline, marching in a calm and orderly manner without panic or hesitation.
Although additional casualties were suffered during the retreat, their unified withdrawal never ceased. Only Han continued stubbornly locked in confrontation with Shiyu Uchiha, the tension between them reaching an extreme level.
Shiyu Uchiha keenly sensed Han's current resolve—an unwavering determination to fight to the very end at all costs. Facing this situation, Shiyu chose not to further press the opponent.
After all, he could clearly sense Han's deep guilt—blaming himself for having brought about this dire situation.
Seeing Han clearly ready to risk his life and showing no signs of backing down, Shiyu naturally wouldn't recklessly engage in direct confrontation. Furthermore, after intense combat, his chakra had already been significantly depleted, leaving only about a third remaining.
If his chakra continued draining, dropping below a certain critical level, it would pose serious danger to his own life. Weighing the risks, Shiyu decided to hold his ground. He used his strength alone to stall the Iwa-nin forces, giving Shinku Yuhi time to replace Renga Uchiha and take control of the battlefield.
At the same time, relying on his exceptional sensor abilities in ninjutsu, Shiyu noticed changes in the battle situation near where Renga Uchiha was stationed. He immediately focused his attention, closely monitoring the strategic movements of the entire Iwa-nin forces.
As expected, due to Kitsuchi sustaining serious injuries suddenly, the previously scattered Iwa-nin quickly gathered toward his location.
This outcome forced the Iwa ninja to indirectly admit defeat in this mission, allowing the Konoha side to catch a glimmer of dawn signaling victory, as if it were almost within their grasp.
Meanwhile, even the Iwa ninja currently confronting Shiyu Uchiha began immediately following the retreat order and withdrawing from the battlefield step by step, though they left a few ninjas behind to act as rearguard.
Faced with this scene, although Shiyu Uchiha had no intention of wiping out all these enemies completely, he could hardly allow such a golden opportunity to pass by.
Thus, he secretly pondered how best to take advantage of the situation and gain additional benefits—at least ensuring that every single one of the enemy's rearguard ended up staying here, paying a certain price.
Therefore, he did not issue orders to stop the Iwagakure retreat forcefully but timely passed important information to his own side: while not deliberately intercepting them, they absolutely would not allow the enemy to escape easily either. No matter what, they must tear off several pieces of "flesh" from the enemy!
After an intense battle that took its toll, only after the Iwa-nin rear-guard unit was completely annihilated could the main Iwa-nin force successfully withdraw from the battlefield.
They fled like startled birds, terrified beyond measure. However, just as Shiyu Uchiha was about to launch a pursuit and capitalize further on their advantage, an unexpected event unfolded.
Han—the Five-Tails Jinchuriki—suddenly flew into a rage after regaining his breath, launching several tailed beast balls with shocking destructive power. These tailed beast balls streaked across the sky like meteors, carrying devastating force straight toward Shiyu Uchiha and his allies.
Faced with such terrifying attacks, Shiyu Uchiha knew better than to try resisting head-on. He immediately called off the pursuit. After all, the destruction caused by tailed beast balls was simply too overwhelming; charging forward recklessly would likely cause even greater unnecessary casualties to their own side.
Thus, under the threat of those tailed beast balls, Shiyu Uchiha led Konoha's forces back to their base camp in disappointment. At the same time, they quickly tightened defensive lines, reinforcing fortifications everywhere and adopting a fully-prepared posture anticipating the enemy's potential new assault at any moment.
Right then, using this brief moment of respite, Shiyu Uchiha swiftly approached the wounded Renga Uchiha to check her injuries.
After a careful examination, the weight in his heart finally lifted—fortunately, her injuries weren't critical and she'd recover after some rest! Letting out a long sigh of relief, his tense nerves finally eased slightly.
Immediately afterward, Shiyu Uchiha began issuing clear commands to organize the cleanup of the chaotic battlefield. Everywhere lay broken weapons, soil stained red with blood, and fallen ninjas sprawled about haphazardly—both friend and foe alike…
Amid the wreckage, the Konoha shinobi went about their work in solemn silence, carrying away injured comrades for treatment while erasing traces that might expose intelligence or leave behind hidden dangers.
Eventually, after an exceptionally fierce clash between elite warriors, the Konoha forces emerged victorious through relentless determination and brilliant strategy, securing a hard-earned victory.
However, for Shiyu Uchiha, this confrontation wasn't a total loss, even if he failed to finish the chase. First off, after unleashing a barrage of Tailed Beast Balls, Han was sure to suffer worse injuries from overexertion, greatly reducing his combat effectiveness in the battles to come.
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