Deep into the night.
The camp was much quieter than it had been during the day.
The candlelight in the main tent was dim. Shikaku sat in the seat of honor, while Shin sat quietly to one side.
"Has the Fuma Squad not returned yet?"
"No. We've already sent members of the Inuzuka Clan to search the area he was assigned to."
Shikaku frowned deeply, sensing that something was wrong.
"We need to prepare for the worst."
Intelligence was crucial in war. If they lost the initiative, it would only make things worse for an already weakened Konoha.
Minato was currently outside the country, while Jiraiya had led a team out to search for the enemy's trail. If the Cloud Ninja found them first...
"Lord Minato has returned!"
A shout suddenly rose from outside. Shikaku instantly stood up, but before he could leave the tent, Minato had already entered.
"Minato!"
"Lord Minato!"
Everyone inside the tent rose to greet him, a clear sign of his influence.
No one in the village failed to respect the blond young man before them.
Part of it might have been due to the Third Hokage building him up, but more of it came from his own charisma and strength.
That was what Shin thought.
"Minato, how did it go?" Shikaku asked impatiently.
Minato walked over to the map and examined it carefully. He then took out a crude map he had sketched earlier, compared the two, and made several markings on the map on the table.
"Here in the Land of Rice Fields is the Cloud Ninja encampment."
He spoke slowly, his expression grave. "The enemy has a great many troops. I estimate around seven thousand, led personally by the Fourth Raikage."
The tent instantly fell deathly silent.
Shock appeared in Shikaku's eyes.
The