"No."
Before the Jonin could finish speaking, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, interrupted him.
"According to intelligence from Elder Danzo Shimura, the Stone Village's Third Tsuchikage, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, and the Five-Tails Jinchuriki are all powerhouses possessing 'Kage-level' strength."
"On the Land of Earth battlefield, Konoha lacks shinobi capable of resisting these three. Every battle requires sacrificing countless lives just to hold back the Stone ninja offensive."
"Therefore, not only myself, but Clan Leader Sarutobi and Elder Kagami must also head to the Land of Earth battlefield with me."
"And that is why I was so eager to achieve a decisive victory against the Cloud ninjas."
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a headache coming on.
He hadn't expected Danzo Shimura to be unable to hold back even one of the Stone Village's top combatants.
He had heard that Danzo Shimura had lost an eye to the Five-Tails Jinchuriki and had an arm broken by the Third Tsuchikage, Onoki...
In other words, among the high-end forces on the Land of Earth battlefield, Konoha had no one available.
If not for this, Hiruzen Sarutobi could have left with just Sasuke Sarutobi or Kagami Uchiha.
Having one of the three garrisoned here would have significantly eased the pressure.
But now, he was forced to take away all three top combatants from this front.
Because on the Land of Earth battlefield, Konoha ninjas were truly using their lives to delay the advance of the Stone Village's Tsuchikage and Jinchuriki.
If the losses among the rank-and-file ninjas became too great, even if Konoha defended its borders, they wouldn't have enough ninjas to complete the Land of Fire's missions. They could only watch as the Daimyo assigned other missions to different ninja villages.
Therefore, the three of them absolutely had to rush to the Land of Earth battlefield to stop the Third Tsuchikage Onoki, as well as the Four-Tails and Five-Tails Jinchuriki, from slaughtering ordinary Konoha ninjas.
"This..."
Hearing the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi's explanation, the dozen or so Jonin fell silent.
Indeed, compared to the Land of Earth battlefield, the current front between Konoha and the Cloud ninjas was much better off.
At the very least, after this major battle, the Cloud ninjas wouldn't be able to launch an attack against Konoha in the short term.
"Huh? Master Hiruzen, didn't we win?"
"Why do you all look so unhappy?"
Just as silence fell, Tsunade entered the command tent. Sensing the low mood, she couldn't help but ask in confusion.
"Ah, it's Tsunade."
"Lady Tsunade."
"Lady Tsunade."
The ninjas in the meeting frowned slightly when someone entered unannounced.
High-level meetings and their contents were considered "classified" information for most ordinary ninjas.
Many missions were decided in these meetings and then dispersed to avoid severe losses to the village if intelligence was intercepted.
Furthermore, strategically, the village leadership sometimes had to make sacrifices.
Occasionally, to complete crucial missions, "suicide" missions were issued to interfere with enemy villages' judgment or divert enemy ninjas' attention.
If ninjas knew they were part of a suicide mission, not many would willingly face death.
Therefore, such matters had to be kept secret from ordinary ninjas.
However, upon seeing it was Tsunade, warm smiles appeared on everyone's faces.
In this ninja world, anyone might betray Konoha, but Tsunade wouldn't.
In Konoha, Tsunade was the undisputed princess.
The First Hokage, the Second Hokage, and Lady Mito Uzumaki – these three doted on Tsunade immensely.
Under their influence, almost everyone in Konoha village treated Tsunade with great tolerance.
Even though the First and Second Hokage were gone, this tolerance hadn't diminished in the slightest.
In fact, with Tsunade being taken as a disciple by the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, many ninjas and villagers already viewed Tsunade as Konoha's "Fourth Hokage."
This sentiment was shared even by the current Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Despite Tsunade's young age, everyone except her closest relatives addressed her as "Lady Tsunade."
"It's like this, Tsunade."
Hiruzen Sarutobi beckoned Tsunade to sit beside him and explained Konoha's current situation to her.
"I see."
After hearing Hiruzen Sarutobi's explanation, Tsunade nodded in understanding. "You're worried because after you leave for the Land of Earth, there won't be anyone strong enough here to resist the Third Raikage and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, so you feel troubled."
"But, isn't Anshi still here?"
"Wouldn't it be fine to have Anshi stay here?"
"Or, Clan Leader Sarutobi and Elder Kagami could stay here, and Anshi could go with Master Hiruzen to reinforce the Land of Earth battlefield..."
"Anshi?"
This unfamiliar name spoken by Tsunade made the ninjas present pause for a moment.
Then, they all understood.
Indeed, on this battlefield, besides the Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sarutobi clan head Sasuke Sarutobi, and Kagami Uchiha, there was another super powerhouse.
It was just that everyone had been unfamiliar with this suddenly emerged expert, not even knowing his name.
Although they had immediately arranged for information gathering after the war ended, feedback hadn't come back so quickly.
So, they hadn't considered this unknown expert.
Now, hearing the ninja's name from Tsunade, they exchanged glances, wondering internally if this stranger named "Anshi" was part of the Senju clan's hidden foundation.
"Tsunade, is the 'Anshi' you mentioned the ninja who killed the Two-Tails Jinchuriki and severely injured the Third Raikage?"
"I know he killed the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, but he severely injured the Third Raikage afterward?"
Tsunade paused.
She knew Li Anshi had killed the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
But she hadn't known that after separating from them, Li Anshi had gone on to severely injure the Third Raikage.
"Yes."
"Tsunade, is this ninja named Anshi one of your clansmen?"
"How could that be possible?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
"Ever since Great-Grandfather allowed the Senju clan to integrate into Konoha, the only Senju clan members left now are me and Nawaki."
Tsunade showed no particular sadness about the dwindling number of her clansmen.
Rather, because the Senju clan had integrated into Konoha, Tsunade felt that all the people of Konoha village were her clansmen.
"Anshi is just an ordinary civilian ninja, a student from the first class of the Ninja Academy established by Great-Uncle Tobirama."
"However, due to the unique properties of his chakra, Anshi can't use other ninjutsu."
"So, three years ago, because he didn't pass the Ninja Academy's assessment, he was eventually dismissed from the school."