"Now we need to be wary of the Hidden Cloud Ninja. Ever since losing the Two-tailed Jinchuriki, the Hidden Cloud Ninja might act like madmen, possibly conducting crazy explorations of our camp, and then... deploying the Tailed Beast."
Uchiha Yoichi said this after bringing Yugito back, and Hatake Sakumo called all the Jonin for a meeting.
"The Hidden Cloud Ninja concealed a move. I encountered their AB Team on my way back. With this calculation, the Hidden Cloud Ninja have gathered many powerful ninjas in the Land of Hot Water. They will likely become even more crazed in probing our Konoha Camp's whereabouts."
Many had predicted this situation; a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki is undoubtedly the most important person in a Ninja Village, especially in those like Hidden Cloud Village, where they have detailed methods of controlling Tailed Beast Power.
One Tailed Beast signifies that they consistently have powerful ninjas emerging, particularly those with strategic significance.
If such a person were lost, Konoha would surely go crazy trying to retrieve them.
Hatake Sakumo spoke up: "Mr. Yoichi, do you have any suggestions?"
"I have no particular ideas; just to increase patrol tasks around the camp to prevent Hidden Cloud Squads from getting close, and to prepare for their launch of a decisive battle."
Uchiha Yoichi remarked, noting that the opposing side evidently had the advantage, not just in numbers but also in the count of Jonin and powerful individuals.
Konoha holds no initiative in this war, only capable of passive defense.
A Jonin suddenly said, "How about we use the Two-tailed Jinchuriki to threaten the Hidden Cloud Ninja to retreat? As long as they abandon the war, we will return the Two-tailed Jinchuriki to them...."
"How did you get promoted to Jonin? Who was the examiner? What task was done?"
Before this Jonin could finish speaking, Uchiha Yoichi couldn't help but ask, his tone quite unpleasant, instantly creating tension in the tent's atmosphere.
If memory serves, he seems to be a Jonin from the Sarutobi Race, named Sarutobi something....
"Jonin Uchiha, if you have objections to my suggestion, you can directly voice them instead of questioning my rank as a ninja!"
Sarutobi Ichiro said, his face somewhat flushed with anger. Even if it's the Konoha Lightning Fang, what gives him the right to question him with that tone?
This implied querying whether his Jonin rank was pulled through the backdoor? Absolutely outrageous!
"I've already spared your dignity; this time, we exchange the Two-tailed Jinchuriki for a Hidden Cloud withdrawal, next time what? Exchange the Nine-tailed Jinchuriki or myself? If the Hidden Cloud Ninja proposed to send me out for peace, would you do it?"
"I've said this before, and I can repeat it now: if you're afraid to die, you can return to the village. I'll kill his share of the enemies rather than disrupting the belief in opposing the enemy here!"
Uchiha Yoichi's words were blunt, nearly pointing at Sarutobi Ichiro's face and calling him a coward, suggesting he retreat back to the village.
"Also, don't make decisions on my captive. If you want to use the Tailed Beast Jinchuriki to make the Hidden Cloud Ninja retreat, there's still an Eight-tailed in the Land of Hot Water...."
"Mr. Yoichi!"
Hatake Sakumo spoke with a face of helplessness to calm Uchiha Yoichi, as he wasn't paying attention, the two sides had started arguing again.
Although Uchiha Yoichi's words were somewhat excessive, they made sense; the Hidden Cloud Ninja had already reached the doorstep, deploying two Tailed Beasts. Sending the Two-tailed back now, given Hidden Cloud's village's bandit-like manner, they might just turn around and attack again.
However, these words could be communicated well with Sarutobi Ichiro, without resorting to such extreme approaches.
"Mr. Ichiro, while Mr. Yoichi's words may have been a bit harsh, currently sending the Two-tailed Jinchuriki back isn't an option for us; if Hidden Cloud acts unpredictably, we'll have to face two Tailed Beasts."
"Mr. Yoichi, refrain from acting this way in the future."
Hatake Sakumo said something to both, but Sarutobi Ichiro was still enraged after hearing it.
His words contained an air of reprimand, whereas Uchiha Yoichi's were brushed past. In Sarutobi Ichiro's eyes, Hatake Sakumo was siding with the Uchiha, stepping on him.
"Let's still focus on the main issue. War is inevitable; by the time we came here, we should have realized this. I'll deploy more personnel for clearance missions, specifically two squads working together."
Hatake Sakumo declared to everyone, predicting the Hidden Cloud would launch a frenzied counterattack, surely dispatching many elite squads; previously, four-man squads couldn't handle elite squads from Hidden Cloud, eight might suffice.
Besides the joint execution of clearance missions by two squads, these Jonin need to lead elite ninjas for clearance missions, too.
"If a decisive battle is initiated, we need a method to handle their Eight-tailed Jinchuriki...."
"Leave it to me."
Uchiha Yoichi spoke up, "The Eight-tailed Jinchuriki and the Third Generation Raikage's son, leave them to me. Besides, I have the Great Snake from Ryuchi Cave, more powerful than an average Jonin; it can assist in combat."
"Alright, if there's no problem, let's end here."
Hatake Sakumo gave a helpless grin and said this; Mr. Yoichi really wasn't willing to concede anything, though advised not to utter those excessive words, he turned to use his Summoned Beast to subtly slight Sarutobi Ichiro.
Regarding the average Jonin, after the recent dispute, which Jonin could be replaced by this Summoned Beast was obvious.
Ultimately, Sarutobi Ichiro was the last to leave the tent, his face was extremely sullen, while Nara Shika stepped up and patted Sarutobi Ichiro's shoulder, saying nothing, joined him back to the tent.
The Sarutobi and Ino-Shika-Cho were generations good allies, and Nara Shika was not fond of Uchiha Yoichi's comments about his captive, feeling Uchiha Yoichi was too selfish, treating the Two-tailed Jinchuriki as his own possession.