Jonin were a village's top combat strength. To a certain extent, the number of jonin reflected the rise and fall of a ninja village.
Konoha had relied on its overwhelmingly powerful ranks of jonin to dominate the ninja world and intimidate all sides. In particular, its never-ending stream of top experts had carried the village from the era of the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha onward. The Second Hokage, the Third Hokage, Danzo, White Fang, the current Three Ninja, and the future Yellow Flash were all examples of this.
Every jonin wielded considerable authority within the village. Those trusted by the Hokage even had the right to mobilize the Anbu. Thus, even the Third Hokage treated the jonin with great courtesy and never forcibly assigned them duties over minor matters.
Twenty-three jonin, along with nine jonin from the Hyuga Clan, split into sixteen teams. The whole process took barely ten seconds, clean and efficient. They were clearly experts who had survived the battlefield.
Hiruzen's expression eased slightly. As long as the jonin held things down, Konoha would stand as steady as Mount Tai.
Yet, whether intentionally or not, among all thirty-two jonin, including those from the Hyuga Clan, there was not a single member of the Fire Fan Clan.
"Cloud Ninja spies have kidnapped the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Go and pursue them. You must bring the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki back. Kill without mercy anyone who stands in your way."
A map of the Land of Fire lay spread across the table. Hiruzen tapped his pipe against the valley where Kikuchi's flower fields were located. A large red X had been drawn over the tiny spot, its frenzied strokes reflecting the anxiety and fury of the man who had held the pen.
"This is where it happened. Remember, you must not let the