Kumogakure's main camp, Land of Fields.
After receiving news of Iwagakure's crushing defeat, the Third Raikage immediately called a meeting of the jōnin.
"Iwagakure actually lost that badly?"
"They're one of the Five Great Villages, yet Konoha utterly routed them. It's hard to imagine."
"If you leave Natsuki out of it, Iwagakure and Konoha are actually pretty evenly matched."
"Natsuki is bound to become a formidable enemy of Kumogakure."
"His strength is growing incredibly fast."
The Kumogakure jōnin began discussing the news.
"Lord Raikage."
Dodai asked, "What should Kumogakure do?"
"What do you think?"
The Third Raikage turned the question back on him. "Judging by the strength Konoha has demonstrated, we'll need to concentrate all our forces to handle them."
After thinking for a moment, Dodai said, "I suggest we abandon our attack on Konoha and defeat Kirigakure first, rather than fight on two fronts."
"What do the rest of you think?"
The Third Raikage looked at the others.
The jōnin exchanged glances, then all agreed.
Though Dodai's suggestion diminished Kumogakure's prestige somewhat, it was realistic.
Most importantly, Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato had blocked them from accomplishing anything.
They had followed the Third Raikage into the Land of Fire for a surprise attack precisely to catch Konoha off guard.
But none of them had expected Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique to be so troublesome.
Once Jiraiya arrived, it became even harder to make any headway.
Now, stationed in the Land of Fields, they could only maintain a stalemate with Konoha's ninja.
Unless they sent more ninja or a jinchūriki. But Konoha could send reinforcements too.
After all, the war between Konoha and Iwagakure was already over.
The mere thought of Natsuki being sent their way was enough to make their scalps prickle.
Both Natsuki and Namikaze Minato possessed Space-Time