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"Now, we need to be wary of the Cloud ninjas. Losing the Two-Tails Jinchūriki, the Cloud Village might act like madmen, possibly scouring our camp and then deploying Tailed Beasts."
Yōichi spoke after bringing Yugito back, prompting Sakumo to call all the Jōnin to discuss the situation.
"The Cloud ninjas have hidden their hand well. On my way back, I encountered their A and B team combo. It seems that Cloud Village has gathered many strong ninja in the Land of Hot Water. They will likely intensify their efforts to scout our Leaf camp."
Many had anticipated this situation. The Jinchūriki of a Tailed Beast is typically one of the most crucial individuals in a ninja village, especially in a village like Cloud that has a detailed method of controlling the power of the Tailed Beasts.
Losing such a figure would prompt a village like Leaf to relentlessly seek their return.
Sakumo asked, "Yōichi-kun, do you have any suggestions?"
"I don't have many ideas, just to increase patrols around our camp to prevent Cloud ninja squads from getting close, and to prepare for a potential decisive battle."
Yōichi said, acknowledging that their enemy seemed stronger, not only in numbers but also in the caliber of their Jōnin and other powerful ninja.
Leaf, in this war, did not have the initiative and could only defensively respond.
A Jōnin suddenly spoke up, "What if we use the Two-Tails Jinchūriki as leverage to force Cloud to withdraw? As long as they abandon the war, we will return the Two-Tails Jinchūriki to them."
"How did you become a Jōnin? Who was the examiner? What mission did you undertake?"
Yōichi cut him off, his tone quite harsh, which suddenly chilled the atmosphere in the tent.
If I recall correctly, he's a Jōnin from the Sarutobi clan, named Sarutobi something...
"Uchiha, if you have objections to my proposal, you could state them directly instead of questioning my ninja rank!"
Sarutobi Ichirō's face reddened with anger. Even if it's the famous Leaf's Raijin, what gives him the right to question him in such a manner? Did he imply that his Jōnin rank was unearned? Absolutely outrageous!
"I have already shown you respect. If this time we send back the Two-Tails Jinchūriki in exchange for Cloud's withdrawal, what next? Send the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki or myself? If Cloud demands to take me in exchange for peace, would you send me too?"
"I've said this before and I'll say it again, if you're afraid of dying, you can go back to the village. I'll take care of that portion of the enemy for you, instead of disrupting our resolve here!"
Yōichi's words were unapologetic, practically pointing out that Ichirō was a coward who should go back to the village.
"Also, don't make decisions using my captive. If you want to use a Tailed Beast Jinchūriki to make Cloud withdraw, the Land of Hot Water still has the Eight-Tails."
"Yōichi-kun!"
Sakumo interjected with a helpless expression, trying to calm Yōichi down as the discussion heated up again.
Although Yōichi's comments were somewhat extreme, his reasoning was sound. Cloud had already brought the fight to their doorstep with two Tailed Beasts deployed, and sending the Two-Tails back could invite further attacks from the thieving-style village.
However, these points could have been conveyed to Ichirō more tactfully, without the need for such extremity.
"Ichirō-kun, Yōichi-kun's words were a bit harsh, but currently, we cannot possibly return the Two-Tails Jinchūriki. If Cloud keeps being erratic, we'll have to face two Tailed Beasts."
"Yōichi-kun, try not to do this in the future."
Sakumo addressed both men, but Ichirō remained angry after hearing these words.
To him, Sakumo's words sounded like a reprimand for him but a mere glossing over for Yōichi. In Ichirō's view, Sakumo was clearly siding with Uchiha, stepping on him in the process.
"Let's focus on the essential matter. War is inevitable. We should have been prepared for this when we arrived here. Next, I will assign more people to carry out clearing missions, and they will operate in teams of two squads each."
Sakumo told the group, anticipating crazy retaliation from Cloud, who would undoubtedly deploy many elite squads; previously, a four-man squad might not handle an elite Cloud team, but an eight-man would be more suitable.
Besides joint team clearing missions, their Jōnin would also lead elite ninja in similar tasks.
"If a decisive battle is initiated, we'll also need a plan to handle their Eight-Tails Jinchūriki."
"Leave it to me."
Yōichi spoke up, "I'll handle the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki and the Third Raikage's son. Also, I have Orochimaru's summoned snake from Ryūchi Cave; it's stronger than an average Jōnin and can also aid in battle."
"Alright, if there are no objections, that's it for now."
Sakumo gave a resigned smile, acknowledging that Yōichi-kun really doesn't take any losses. Even though he asked him not to make such harsh remarks, he turned around and used his summon to mock Ichirō.
After the heated argument, who could replace a Jōnin if not the summoned creature?
Eventually, Ichirō was the last to leave the tent, his face very grim. Shikaku came over and patted Ichirō's shoulder, saying nothing, just accompanying him back to the tent.
The Sarutobi and the Ino-Shika-Chō clans have generations of close ties, and Shikaku was particularly unimpressed by Yōichi's remark about his "captive." He felt that Yōichi was too self-interested, treating the Two-Tails Jinchūriki as his own property.
Such an important hostage should be managed by the village.
——————————————
Upon entering his own tent, Yōichi saw a blonde-haired young girl with a face full of hatred staring at him.
However, Yōichi was unconcerned about such expressions of anger, hatred, and fear; he had seen them all too often.
"Have you guys decided what it will take to send me back?"
"I've said before, if you want to die, no one will stop you, but going back is not an option!"
Yōichi lay down on his bed, ready to rest a bit, though lying down, he suddenly asked, "What about your parents in Cloud Village?"
"My parents died in the war."
"Then you better get used to life in Leaf soon."
Yugito paused, then realizing what was implied, her face twisted in anger as she clenched her fists and shouted, "I will not stay in Leaf, I must return to Cloud Village. The Third Raikage will definitely save me."
"Give up. I won't let you go back, and when your Third Raikage realizes that he can't get you back through war or politics, he'll try to have you killed."
Yōichi said, resting with his eyes closed on the bed, knowing even without looking that Yugito didn't believe him.
"Don't overestimate your importance. Cloud Village values the Two-Tails, not you. Without the Two-Tails, you're just another ninja, at most a Jōnin."
"But without you and with the Two-Tails, Cloud has a continuous supply of Jinchūriki. If they really can't get you back, the Third Raikage will do everything to have you killed and then capture the Two-Tails once it reincarnates."
After hearing this, Yugito's heart trembled, and her eyes reddened, but she still fiercely glared at Yōichi lying on the bed, "It's all because of you, otherwise I'd still be in Cloud Village."
"Kids will be kids, even on the battlefield."
After that, Yōichi no longer paid any attention to Yugito.
Without chakra and weapons, she was just an ordinary young girl. Once back in Leaf, he would have Mina apply another seal on Yugito.
If she could change her mindset and become his subordinate, he would gradually unlock the seal. If not, she could just be a battery for Yōichi.
Seeing Yōichi no longer speaking, Yugito still wore a face full of anger. However, now she couldn't even refine chakra; every time she tried, the two seals on her disrupted the gathering process.
The Four Symbols Seal and the Five Elements Seal were both sealing techniques from the Uzumaki clan, but the Iron Armor Seal and the Five Elements Seal were entirely incompatible, locking her chakra tightly, making it impossible to mobilize.
This was Yugito's first battlefield experience since graduating from the ninja academy, and now she had been captured by the enemy and might never return to Cloud Village.
Such a massive change made the young girl gradually fear, especially after Yōichi's words—that if she couldn't return, the village people would try to kill her to let the Two-Tails reincarnate.
This nearly broke Yugito's psychological defense. Then she too lay down on the bed, curling up, and soon tears silently began to flow.
A bed had been prepared in the tent for her; this place was temporarily where Yugito was detained. The Two-Tails Jinchūriki was very important, and Yōichi did not trust her anywhere else.
In the afternoon, the tent flap suddenly opened, and a head peeked in.
Seeing Yōichi, Kurenai walked in smiling and said, "Yōichi-sensei, we're back. Who is this?"
"She's an important captive from Cloud, currently detained here by me."
Yōichi sat up, saying after resting for a while he felt much better, though soldier pills couldn't restore all his chakra; he still needed food and rest.
Kurenai looked at Yugito skeptically a few times, believing she was a Cloud captive by the deep-seated hatred in her eyes; but why the tear-streaked face, what had Yōichi-sensei done to her?
She then closely observed Yugito, a girl not much older than herself from a rival village.
"What are you looking at, how's the recent mission going? Never mind, let's go to your tent and talk."
Yōichi asked, then led the three to another tent where they began reporting on their recent missions.
Aside from reconnaissance, they had performed various tasks, including joining another squad to eliminate a Cloud ninja squad that had come to gather intelligence.
With Yōichi's admonishment, the Uchiha clan members took relatively good care of Kurenai and her group; other Genin without such backgrounds didn't receive such favorable treatment. Genin in the village without connections often had to face growth alongside the death of their comrades.
Kurenai and her team essentially grew from the experience of their seniors. Although it was dangerous, such risks were minimized.
"Well done, but what you've experienced is just the initial stage of the war. What comes next will be ten times more dangerous, so you must also be ten times more cautious."
Yōichi cautioned the three, "In recent days, I've killed dozens of Cloud ninja by my hand, many of whom died because they were careless, including some who were far stronger than you."
The upcoming war would only be more fierce, and any negligence could mean Yōichi visiting their memorial stones instead.
"Yes, Yōichi-sensei."
The three were soberly admonished by Yōichi, and any slight pride they might have felt was thoroughly suppressed.
As expected, Cloud was just as Leaf had predicted, clearly intent on waging war, desperately wanting to retrieve Yugito.
Even the Third Raikage's plans were extreme—if they couldn't retrieve her, then they'd kill her in the war!
Killing Yugito immediately would allow the Two-Tails to reincarnate. If Leaf managed to move the Two-Tails, it would be too late; Leaf's sealing techniques were far superior to Cloud's, and they had even stolen their method of training with the Tailed Beast's power.
So, after hearing this news, the Third Raikage almost sent out two hundred squads to engage in a desperate purge and counter-purge with Leaf.
Yōichi also continually went to the battlefield, his strength terrifying; each encounter with Cloud ninja ended in their instant death, only Jōnin could withstand a few moves against him, but ultimately they too couldn't escape death.
His teammates were all sensory-type ninja, helping Yōichi search for enemies and then stand by to prevent being surrounded.
In just ten days, sixty Cloud ninja died at the hands of Yōichi; in total, Cloud lost a hundred ninja in ten days, with sixty percent dying by Yōichi's blade.
Leaf's Raijin, this title became like the Grim Reaper reaping lives among the Cloud ninja. In missions, even Jōnin struggled to survive encounters with Leaf's Raijin.
Even the Third Raikage considered whether to initiate a decisive battle, as Yōichi was like a ghost on the battlefield, elusive and continuously harvesting the lives of Cloud ninja.
Moreover, what infuriated the Third Raikage most was Yōichi no longer destroying the bodies, leaving clear, fatal blade marks representative of him, then dropping the bodies at the border of the Land of Hot Water.
Cloud ninja tasked with collecting the bodies grew increasingly fearful; comrades who had greeted each other in the morning turned into cold corpses by the next day, and within ten days, they collected sixty bodies with similar deaths, including their own village's Jōnin.
Once this news spread, such psychological pressure shackled every Cloud ninja squad sent out for purging and reconnaissance; none of them wanted to encounter Leaf's Raijin.
Yōichi's reputation grew even louder, the name Leaf's Raijin becoming a deterrent for Cloud ninja unwilling to confront him.
And the news of Yōichi's reputation, along with the Two-Tails Jinchūriki and the possibility of Cloud initiating a decisive battle, quickly spread throughout Leaf.
(End of Chapter)