Inside the Commander's tent, in front of a conference table several meters wide, the Konoha high-ranking Ninja from the two large camps stood before the table, taking advantage of the time before the meeting to gather in small groups, catching up and chatting.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, Minato Namikaze, Ino–Shika–Chō, Nara Choumei, Hyuga Hizashi, and Sarutobi Shinnosuke were all gathered.
These individuals represented nearly half of Konoha's high-end combat power.
Without them, the Land of Fire would fall in minutes.
"It seems everyone is here."
Everyone stopped talking and turned to look outside the tent, only to see Sakumo Hatake enter the camp, carrying his short sword, 'White Fang.'
His powerful aura made everyone present solemn, and they all greeted him.
"Shikaku!"
Nara Shikaku walked to Sakumo Hatake's side and whispered, "Since you've arrived, let's officially begin."
"Alright! Then let's hurry, it's getting late."
Sakumo Hatake nodded, walked to the main seat, and sat down.
After he was seated, the others followed suit.
This pre-war meeting of Konoha's high-ranking Ninja had begun.
"Time is pressing, so I won't waste any words," Sakumo Hatake said in a deep voice, then turned to look at Nara Shikaku, who was standing beside him.
The latter understood, took out a huge map, and spread it on the table; it was the enlarged version of the map Ren and his team had brought back.
"Our spies in Sunagakure and Iwagakure have sent back news that they have confirmed an alliance.
You all should be very clear about what this means."
Aside from Tsunade, Jiraiya, and others who were already aware, everyone else's expressions became somewhat grave.
"However, the good news is that the map brought back by the reconnaissance team has greatly helped us secure advantageous terrain in the future.
Additionally, neither side can fully trust the other, so our chances of victory are not small."
"Shikaku, next time, please finish your sentences in one go."
"Exactly!"
As Jiraiya spoke, a chorus of voices followed, clearly dissatisfied with Shikaku's habit of pausing for dramatic effect.
"Cough, cough, I apologise," Shikaku coughed awkwardly twice, then pointed to the map and continued, "Let's continue.
Now, let's pre-assign our opponents for tomorrow."
As soon as Nara Shikaku finished speaking, Jiraiya was the first to speak.
"Leave that Four-Tails Jinchuriki from Iwagakure to me.
I'll try to defeat him before he fully transforms into a Tailed Beast."
"Then he's entrusted to Jiraiya senpai," Nara Shikaku nodded, indicating his agreement.
After all, Jiraiya was the most suitable person present to fight a Jinchuriki; the others were not quite as suited.
"The Commander of the Iwagakure is Shiroyama, right?
He's mine."
Tsunade crossed her arms, exuding a powerful and domineering aura.
No one else had any objections.
It was well known that both Shikamaru and Tsunade were taijutsu-type ninjas, so this kind of head-on battle was indeed more suitable for Tsunade.
"Then the Commander of Sunagakure, Chiyo, will be handled by me," Sakumo Hatake said from the main seat, and everyone nodded in agreement.
Getting back to the main topic, as soon as Rasa was brought up, Minato Namikaze raised his hand to signal Nara Shikaku.
"Shikaku, leave that Rasa from the Hidden Sand Village to me."
"Alright."
Nara Shikaku nodded and agreed.
He had great trust in Minato; after all, he was Lord Jiraiya's disciple, and his strength was among the best of their generation, so he could rest assured entrusting Rasa to him.
"The Advisor from the Hidden Sand Village, Ebizo, will be handled by our Ino–Shika–Chō."
Finally, Nara Shikaku assigned a powerful opponent to his three-person team.
Although Ebizo's strengths were mostly in his strategies, his combat prowess was by no means to be underestimated.
Even if he wasn't as strong as his sister Chiyo, he could still hold his own against individuals like Rasa and Ye Cang.
"Lastly…" Nara Shikaku paused, then slowly continued, "The Bakuton Ninja of Iwagakure, Hiroki!"
"Shikaku, I…" Hyuga Hizashi abruptly stood up, about to volunteer for the task, when he saw Nara Shikaku shake his head.
"Hizashi, I understand your desire to help ease the pressure on everyone, but your Gentle Fist Art is countered by Bakuton.
Once you engage, you'd likely only be able to unleash sixty or seventy per cent of your full strength, or even less.
Do you understand?"
"Yes…" Although Hyuga Hizashi was unwilling, he knew this wasn't the time to show off, so he could only sit down helplessly.
"What about Shinnosuke?
You…" Nara Shikaku turned his head to Sarutobi Shinnosuke, who, understanding his meaning, showed a troubled expression.
Before he could speak, Jiraiya, sitting nearby, spoke up to help him out.
"There are a pair of very powerful twin puppet masters in Sunagakure.
Their strength has both reached the Jonin level, making them rare strong individuals below Chiyo, Ebizo, and Rasa in Sunagakure.
Shinnosuke's abilities are quite effective against them.
As for this Hiroki…"
Jiraiya pondered for a moment, then uttered a name that surprised everyone.
"Let that kid Ren handle him."
"Eh?!"
Everyone gasped in surprise, and Tsunade, sitting across from Jiraiya, also spoke up.
"I support that."
"No, Lady Tsunade, Lord Jiraiya, isn't it too early for Ren to fight Hiroki?
This…" Shinnosuke suddenly stood up, looking at the two with an anxious expression.
After all, although Ren had experience fighting Ye Cang, that was a two-on-one situation, completely different from a one-on-one.
If another ten years passed, no, even five years, Ren's strength could fully reach their level or even surpass them, so there was no need for him to go to his death now!
"Calm down, Shinnosuke!" Jiraiya said in a deep voice.
"But…"
"Sit down!" With Sakumo Hatake's command, Sarutobi Shinnosuke could only sit down helplessly, but his tense body showed his inner turmoil.
"Shinnosuke, as my disciple, I understand him better than you," Tsunade said faintly, glancing at Shinnosuke.
"If he avoids this time, can he avoid the next?
Who among you here hasn't struggled on the brink of death?
Moreover, you underestimate him too much.
What about Hiroki?
Tomorrow, those Iwagakure guys should prepare to collect his corpse."
Tsunade's domineering declaration directly stunned everyone.
They exchanged glances and collectively fell silent.
"Let him handle it.
Don't measure that child's strength by his age.
Besides, with so many of us here, it wouldn't be difficult to save him at a critical moment.
What do you say, Sakumo?"
After Jiraiya finished speaking, he turned to Sakumo Hatake, who was sitting silently in the main seat, asking for his opinion.
Sakumo Hatake did not speak, only nodded, and the matter was thus settled.
Tsunade leaned back in her chair, a hint of a smile flashing in her eyes.
It's just a Bloodline Limit; it's not like Ren doesn't have one too.