"Big brother..." Killer B growled, and the Tailed Beast Chakra stirred restlessly.
"Lord Raikage, please calm down!" Several elders hurriedly tried to stop him, afraid the future Raikage would make an irrational decision in his fury.
Just then, a relatively calm voice, though heavy with exhaustion, spoke up. It was Mabui.
"Lord A, everyone." Mabui stood up, holding a thick assessment report. Her expression was just as grave. "I understand your anger and grief. I feel the same way. But please allow me to lay out some realities we have to face."
She looked around the room, then fixed her gaze on A's blazing eyes. "Based on the information we have, Uchiha Ling's individual combat strength has already surpassed what we can currently handle. The technique called Susanoo has a defense even the Third Raikage's Hell Stab couldn't pierce, and its attacks can tear through our formations with ease. This means that until we find an effective way to counter it, we'll be at an absolute disadvantage in any large-scale frontal conflict—and may even suffer... far greater losses."
Mabui paused, her voice growing heavier. "In this battle, we lost not only Lord Third Raikage but also a significant number of the elite forces who accompanied him. The village's top combat strength has been dealt a severe blow. Iwagakure also suffered heavy losses, but its foundations remain intact.
"If we insist on revenge now and throw all our forces at Konoha, even assuming we can succeed, will the Land of Earth pass up the chance to invade while we're vulnerable?"
The harsh reality doused some of their fiery impulses like a bucket of ice water. The elite jōnin in the room fell silent. They knew Mabui was right. Cloud Village was beset by troubles both inside and out.
"Are we just