"He went alone to intercept the Two-tailed Jinchuriki?"
Hearing this news, Hatake Sakumo was shocked. He instinctively took up the White Fang Short Blade, intending to go support Uchiha Yoichi.
However, he quickly realized that even if he went now, he wouldn't be able to find Uchiha Yoichi, and the Konoha Camp needed him.
"Why didn't you talk him out of it? And the mission is already overdue by seven days..."
"Sorry, Jonin Sakumo, but we couldn't persuade Captain Yoichi."
Inuzuka Daikichi said with a bit of grievance. If Uchiha Yoichi were that easy to persuade, they would have returned to Konoha by the eighth day of the mission, instead of being overdue for so long.
Hatake Sakumo asked, "What has your squad been doing all this time? Report in detail."
"In the past few days, we've been clearing out the Hidden Cloud Ninja in the mission area. After taking down five Hidden Cloud Squads, there were no more Cloud Ninjas in that region, and then Captain Yoichi wanted to venture deeper..."
Inuzuka Daikichi detailed their squad's experiences during this period. In simple terms, they acted on their own initiative but achieved significant merit.
In total, they eliminated forty-one Hidden Cloud Ninjas, including several Jonin, which can be considered a remarkable achievement; and they returned with fully loaded Ninja Tool Bags. Inuzuka Daikichi even brought back two extra Explosive Tags, casually mentioning it as if it were restocking inventory.
In other purge squads, usually, taking down one Hidden Cloud Squad requires a long rest, and taking down two necessitates returning to camp for resupply.
But having slayed ten Hidden Cloud Squads, no other team in the entire camp could keep up.
A squad like Uchiha Yoichi's, which can take down several Hidden Cloud Squads and still maintain full stamina, is a rare elite unit. Such achievements inevitably made Inuzuka Daikichi and the others agree to Uchiha Yoichi's proposal.
Hatake Sakumo guessed that they didn't fail to persuade, but after two attempts, they felt it was safe to proceed further, so they followed along.
"Since Mr. Yoichi is confident, let's look forward to his return. I'm somewhat confident in his abilities and believe he won't do anything that would cost him his life..."
Hatake Sakumo recalled Uchiha Yoichi's Lightning Release Chakra Mode. If Uchiha Yoichi wanted to flee with all his might, fewer than five people in the Hidden Cloud Village could catch him, right?
"As for intelligence on the Two-tails, you did very well. Mr. Sango, gather all the Jonin. We must adjust the camp."
Even though many scouting patrol ninjas were deployed outside, if the Hidden Cloud managed to infiltrate and find the camp, they could take it all down at once.
Once all the Jonin gathered, Hatake Sakumo shared the news. Everyone was shocked to hear that the Hidden Cloud was going all in, deploying both Jinchuriki for battle.
Isn't the Hidden Rock Village on guard?
"Adjust the camp. From today, disperse the camp a bit more. Protect the logistics and medical camps, and relay this message back to the village. Let the village inform the Hidden Rock Village."
Hatake Sakumo instructed. Since the Hidden Cloud gathered such powerful forces on the border of the Land of Hot Water, their defenses against the Hidden Rock must be lax. It's best to provoke an attack from the Hidden Rock to put some pressure on the Hidden Cloud.
After giving these instructions, Hatake Sakumo could only wait in the camp for good news from Uchiha Yoichi.
On the other side.
Hyuga Yoshimura's analysis was correct. The Hidden Cloud wouldn't rely solely on one means of communication. Though Communication Ninjas can better convey the Third Generation Raikage's intentions, they have other ways to communicate.
Upon receiving a message from the Extreme Falcon but without the Communication Ninja returning, Dodai realized the Communication Ninja might be in trouble, and the intelligence might have been intercepted by the enemy.
Proceeding according to the original plan would likely encounter the enemy. However, if Yugito is not sent to the front line, it could delay Lord Raikage's plan.
After contemplating, Dodai quickly made a decision.
Continue sending Yugito to the front line.
This is the Hidden Cloud's transportation supply line, so there shouldn't be many enemies. Plus, having just intercepted intelligence, Konoha wouldn't provide much support; as long as he sends more men and relays the message to A and Bee, who are searching for the Konoha Lightning Fang outside.
There definitely won't be a problem!
Dodai suspected that the interceptor was the Konoha Lightning Fang. Very few in Konoha could operate so fearlessly behind enemy lines, with the strength to intercept Communication Ninjas.
Perhaps they could use the intelligence on Yugito to lure the Konoha Lightning Fang and kill two birds with one stone.
With a decision in mind, Dodai immediately went to organize, selecting several elite Hidden Cloud squads to escort Yugito.
Once everything was arranged and it was time to depart, Dodai shared his plan with the leading Jonin.
They nodded solemnly; no one would underestimate the Konoha Lightning Fang, who had cut off one of Lord Raikage's arms, and would definitely give their all to respond.
The group left the village and headed towards the Hidden Cloud front line in the Land of Hot Water.
For Yugito, this was her first time leaving the village, and she was full of curiosity about everything, looking around even while on the move.
"Yugito, don't look around. Stay alert."
A Hidden Cloud Jonin reminded, "We might encounter enemies this time. We have to be on constant guard."
"Understood,"
Yugito immediately replied, then curiously asked, "Senior Ransuke, does it take this many to go to the front line?"
"Only you are going. We're here to escort you."