Chapter 7: "Reactions from All Sides - Part 2"

After Team A leaves Minato turns to his team and urges them to move back to the village and also suggests sending their findings back to the village so they can get a retreat order 

Shikaku (nodding) : Yeah we should do that we don't know what's going to happen next we should move back to our village

Suddenly

The trembling earth settled into an uneasy calm, and the chaos that had engulfed the world seemed to abate. In the Land of Fire, Team Minato observed the surroundings cautiously.

Minato: It seems the land has stopped shaking.

Kakashi: But the land still appears to be drifting.

Shikaku: It does seem that way. I'm guessing whatever this phenomenon was, it has stopped. However, looking at the land on the other side, which still seems to be drifting, it reinforces my theory about continents turning into islands. We'll know more in a few days.

Minato: Yeah, let's go.

In an instant, Minato flashed beside Kakashi and Shikaku, grabbing their shoulders, and they vanished from the site.

Similar conclusions were drawn on all battlefronts, and messages were rapidly sent back to the respective villages.

Back in Konoha, the evening seemed serene despite the ongoing wars. The recent seismic activities had caused the streets to clear momentarily, yet the village displayed minimal property damage. The shinobi present had likely cast protective jutsu, reinforcing the village's structural integrity.

In the village center, within the Hokage building's conference room, Hiruzen Sarutobi sat alongside Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane. An Anbu shinobi presented scrolls containing reports from the front lines.

Anbu: Hokage-sama, here's the summary for all the reports, and (presenting another scroll) here's the detailed information we received from each battlefield and other spies across the world.

Hiruzen took the scroll, opening it with a heavy heart. After reading through, he let out a sigh of relief.

Homura: What does the report say, Hiruzen?

Hiruzen (folding up the first scroll): According to the gist of it, our Land of Fire has become an island.

Koharu (frowning): What does that mean? We've become an island?

Hiruzen: It means exactly what I said. We've become an island.

Homura: We understand the literal meaning, but what are the implications? Who caused this, and what's the situation? We need more information.

Koharu nodded in agreement with Homura's statement.

Hiruzen (leaning back): As far as the reports say, the reason for this phenomenon is unknown. But from what appears, it's not just happening in the Land of Fire; it's a worldwide phenomenon. The entire continent is ripping apart, and every single piece seems to be becoming an island.

Koharu: What does it mean for it to become an island?

Hiruzen: Water keeps filling in between the cracks, and both opposite ends of the rift between lands seem to be drifting away from each other, forming islands.

Homura: Do you think some shinobi village is behind this?

Hiruzen (taking out his pipe): What I think doesn't matter. But it would be foolish to believe any shinobi village can do this. Otherwise, we would have long lost this war.

Koharu: Your point makes sense. Although due to this whatever freak accident it is, the war has stopped, we can't let our guard down. What do you believe is the next best course of action?

Homura: I believe we should call back our forces from the land and prepare for whatever this world is going to throw at us next. But completely removing forces from the front would be stupidity.

Hiruzen exhaled another puff of smoke, leaned back, closed his eyes for a moment of pondering, and then suddenly opened them. He commanded the Anbu.

Hiruzen: Send my order to all front lines. They are to be retreated, but keep a few elite teams for scouting the edges of this island so that no one sneaks in during the current chaos. Rest, all commanders, are to report back to Leaf Village. And while you're at it, try contacting Jiraiya and Tsunade.

Anbu: Yes, Hokage-sama.

With a poof, he vanished. Hiruzen then turned to the rest of the elders.

Hiruzen: Any news about Danzo? Where is he right now?

Koharu: Last I heard, he was on the border of the Hidden Grass and Hidden Rain villages, performing some mission.

Hiruzen: Hidden Rain? Hanzo?

Everyone remained silent on this matter.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Kage from their respective villages came to the same conclusion and ordered the main forces to retreat back to their respective villages while keeping elite scout teams active on borders to prevent enemy attacks