"Can it be confirmed?"
Inside the Hokage Office, Minamikawa Yuu looked at Danzo Shimura before him, the smile on his face fading. "Has Kumogakure really made a move?"
"In all likelihood, yes."
Danzo Shimura nodded. "My men have already investigated Kumogakure's movements. Large numbers of Kumogakure Ninja are mobilizing, and they are heading toward the Land of Whirlpools."
"How long ago did this news arrive?"
Minamikawa Yuu followed up.
"About ten days ago."
"Then I'm afraid it's already too late."
Minamikawa Yuu shook his head. "In ten days' time, barring any accidents, Kumogakure has likely already prepared to act."
"Then what should we do?"
Danzo Shimura asked, "Should we declare war on Kumogakure?"
"That would be a bit excessive."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke up. "Regardless, let's gather everyone to discuss it first."
He sent someone to notify the others, and just a moment later, Uchiha Kagami and the others rushed over.
Uchiha Kagami, Homura Mitokado, along with Danzo Shimura who was already present—this was basically the current high command of Konoha.
Over the past two years, it was precisely due to the assistance and hard work of these people that Konoha had been able to develop into what it was today.
Upon entering the Hokage Office, Uchiha Kagami and the others were initially a bit surprised to see Danzo Shimura, but then, seeing Minamikawa Yuu's serious expression, they realized something was wrong.
"What happened?"
Utatane Koharu asked.
"Kumogakure has made its move."
Minamikawa Yuu was concise. "Danzo's men detected Kumogakure troop movements heading toward the coast of the Land of Fire."
"A troop movement on such a large scale is either a preparation for war against the Land of Fire, or it's for the Land of Whirlpools."
"It's most likely the Land of Whirlpools."
Danzo Shimura added, "If they were going to strike the Land of Fire, they wouldn't be coming from this direction."
"Are they finally making their move?"
Hearing the news, everyone present couldn't help but frown.
They weren't actually surprised by this news; they had been mentally prepared for it as early as two years ago, having been warned by Minamikawa Yuu.
However, the fact that they were preparing to act so quickly was indeed beyond their expectations.
It had only been two years since the rebellion of the Kinkaku Brothers, and yet Kumogakure was already so impatient to act.
"Regardless, the Land of Whirlpools must be saved."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke, immediately setting the tone. "Senior Koharu, how many people do we have prepared in the base near the Land of Whirlpools?"
""
"There are a thousand in total. According to your instructions, Hokage, they are all well-trained Chunin."
Utatane Koharu replied, "Excluding those who must remain on guard, the mobilizable force is about eight hundred."
"Eight hundred?"
Minamikawa Yuu nodded. "That should be enough."
Limited by distance and time, even if he decided to support the Land of Whirlpools, it was impossible to bring too many troops for the rescue.
But the so-called size of a force was often just a relative concept.
The number of people Konoha had stationed near the Land of Whirlpools wasn't very large, and since Kumogakure was launching a long-distance raid, the number of troops they could deploy wouldn't be too many either.
As long as those eight hundred people were utilized properly, they would be enough to buy Konoha a significant amount of reaction time.
As long as they held out until Konoha's main force arrived, everything would be in time.
"The commander of that base is Kawaaki, isn't it?"
Minamikawa Yuu looked toward Uchiha Kagami. "And Setsuna and the others are also there?"
"Yes."
Uchiha Kagami nodded. "This was personally arranged by you in the past, Hokage-sama."
Stationing Uchiha Kawaaki near the Land of Whirlpools was a decision based on strength.
After all, it was a base specifically set up to prevent a sneak attack from Kumogakure. If the commander's strength was too weak, it might not achieve the desired effect.
Relatively speaking, Uchiha Kawaaki's strength was quite good.
As the former clan head of the Uchiha Clan, he possessed top-tier Sharingan. Combined with his own techniques and Genjutsu, his strength was enough to reach the threshold of Kage-level.
With such a person, paired with elite Jonin of the Uchiha Clan like Uchiha Setsuna, they could stall any Kage for a long time, unless they directly faced that freak, the Third Raikage.
"Send orders to Kawaaki."
Minamikawa Yuu spoke. "Tell him to act as he sees fit and closely monitor intelligence on the Land of Whirlpools."
"Once Kumogakure truly makes a move, he is to delay them as much as possible."
"No matter what, Kumogakure must be stalled in the Land of Whirlpools for at least three days."
"After that, Konoha's reinforcements will arrive, and everything will improve."
"Yes."
Uchiha Kagami's expression was solemn. "But... what if they really can't hold them back?"
"Then buy time for the Uzumaki Clan to evacuate."
Danzo Shimura spoke coldly. "Even the Uzumaki Clan's Bloodline Limit and Sealing Techniques—I would rather they be completely destroyed than fall into the hands of Kumogakure."
"If that truly happens, they will be the sinners of Konoha!"
These words were indeed somewhat cold and heartless, so much so that everyone present frowned upon hearing them.
Uchiha Kagami turned his gaze to Minamikawa Yuu, clearly waiting for Minamikawa Yuu's instructions.
"It's fine."
Minamikawa Yuu's face was calm. "Let Kawaaki and the others do their best."
"If it really doesn't work out, I will personally rush to the battlefield."
"Kawaaki and the others just need to delay as much as they can."
He didn't think this was an impossible task.
The Land of Whirlpools was isolated overseas, and the land where the nation sat was itself protected by barriers set up by the Uzumaki Clan.
Under these circumstances, combined with the Uchiha elites led by Uchiha Kawaaki and his group, stalling for three days shouldn't be a big problem.
Of course, he never liked to force people to do the impossible, nor did he like to pin his hopes on others.
If Uchiha Kawaaki and the others truly couldn't do it, then he would go himself.
The Flying Thunder God Technique Kunai were already prepared. If it really came down to it, he could teleport to the Land of Whirlpools at any time via the Flying Thunder God.
By then, there would naturally be other ways to deal with it.
At this thought, his mind stirred. "The experiments regarding the Nine-Tailed should also be about time to try..."
""
During these two years, besides the Ghost Bud Technique and the Reincarnation Jutsu, he had not relaxed his research into the power of the Nine-Tailed Chakra.
And from the look of things now, that research was just about ready for the first trials.
Returning to the laboratory, he walked into the depths of that area.
There, a Nine-Tailed Fox lay quietly on the ground.
He looked as if he were cultivating, lying prone on the ground, giving off a surprisingly harmonious feeling.
With his breathing, wisps of invisible Natural Energy surged into his body, combining with his own power and amplifying his strength.
"You're here."
Before Minamikawa Yuu even reached him, the Nine-Tailed had already sensed his presence and opened his eyes.
As the Natural Energy gradually surged into his body, the hostility about him seemed to have dissipated a lot. His entire frame carried an invisible force, giving off a different feeling.
Compared to two years ago, the Nine-Tailed's current state was clearly quite good.