Kumogakure.
The atmosphere in the Raikage's office was grave.
"Is the intelligence reliable?" The Raikage's carrot-thick fingers tapped back and forth across the desk.
Mabui held a stack of documents as she answered, "Reliable."
"This intelligence was sent to us by Akatsuki."
"Akatsuki has developed rapidly over the past two years."
"Beyond those famous bounty rogue ninja, their intelligence is also extremely accurate."
"And their intelligence network has spread to nearly every corner of the Shinobi World."
"That is also why their mission completion rate remains so high."
The Raikage looked up and turned his gaze toward Dodai, who sat in the corner.
Dodai was leafing through the recent battle reports from the conflict with Hidden Mist Village, page by page.
Everyone present knew Dodai was analyzing and consolidating the intelligence, so the entire office remained silent.
After a long while, Dodai raised his head.
"Judging from our encounters with Hidden Mist Village, although Karatachi Yagura occasionally takes the field."
"He can only barely maintain Hidden Mist Village's dignity."
"According to the information on Uchiha's wanted notice for the Tiger-Masked Man."
"Combined with Hidden Mist Village's closed-door policy over the past several years."
"No matter how dire Hidden Mist Village's situation became, they never sent the Six-Tails Jinchūriki to the front lines."
"Although the Six-Tails Jinchūriki's identity is a mystery, one thing is certain: the Six-Tails Jinchūriki has not become combat-ready."
In the Shinobi World, if a Jinchūriki possessed combat strength, they would definitely be deployed.
After all, a nuclear bomb that could bombard your main force from extreme range at any time was terrifyingly deterrent.
That was Hashirama's so-called Tailed Beast balance.
Even if they could not properly control a Jinchūriki, throwing one onto your position to perish alongside you could still crush your main force.
The reason Kumogakure