Hinata, Stop Pretending

"Let Kakashi lead his team as the first squad. However, considering that Kakashi's team is understaffed, Neji Hyuga from Might Guy's team will temporarily join them."

"Meanwhile, Kurenai Yuhi, Asuma Sarutobi, Might Guy, Fukawa Masashige, and Ukita Tono will temporarily form an elite jōnin team."

"I hope that while Kakashi and the others draw sufficient attention, you can make direct contact with this potential threat as much as possible."

"Considering that having Kakashi alone lead a team of rookie ninja might arouse suspicion, I've decided that Yagi Rei, also a jōnin, will accompany Kakashi's team on their mission."

As Tsunade's voice fell, every elite jōnin who had heard their name immediately responded.

To be honest, sending out seven of Konoha's elite jōnin at once carried some risk. After all, there were not many true elite jōnin in the Hokage's faction to begin with.

In Iwagakure of the Land of Earth, the Stone Ninja office, the upper ranks of the Stone Ninja led by Ōnoki, Kurotsuchi, and Kitsuchi seemed to have just concluded a meeting.

The contents of the meeting were still unknown, but it was obvious that they had reached some extremely important decision during it.

Ōnoki seemed very satisfied with his current control over things. He then jumped down from his seat, only for a sharp crack to follow.

The white-haired Ōnoki let out a painful howl. "My back! My back! My back!"

Kitsuchi looked somewhat sheepish. Kurotsuchi's breathtakingly long legs were on full display as she sighed at the sight. "Father, you're already so old. Can't you be more careful when you do things?"

As she spoke, she walked over, grabbed Ōnoki off the ground, and placed him back in his seat.

Kurotsuchi then said, "But speaking of which, Father, although everything has been arranged now that you've