Apparently the rebel attack had gone favorably, for before long the Imperial soldiers began retreating. Those poor souls that had no clue how to defeat Ryozan were only to happy for an excuse to flee, but for most of them, engaging Tōketsuha had sealed their fate. "Kōri Kasui no Jutsu!" Ryozan made a few quick seals, and a dozen spikes of ice emerged from the ground. The soldiers were correct in thinking that they could outrun him so long as he wore that macabre armor, but they were mistaken in turning their backs to him. With a single gesture, the spikes flew out of the ground, and into the backs of seven fleeing soldiers, which served as motivation for their comrades to flee a bit more quickly. And that was the end of the battle for Ryozan. He could see some shinobi giving pursuit, but he decided not to join them lest he interfere with a sensitive operation and earn himself a permanent exile. 

With a sigh, he released his Seiryu no Kawa and began walking back to the entrance to the village where he would wait for Takeo to give him his answer. The ice melted off of his skin, leaving a bloody puddle beneath him. As he returned to what he hoped he would still be able to call home, he leaned against the wall next to the village gate and awaited the Jounin commander. If Takeo wished to hear him, Ryozan would be in plain sight.