The Second Elder chimed in, "I think this opponent is no pushover. But no matter what, we have to stick together. We can't let outsiders walk all over us."
The Third Elder nodded. "The Elder has a point."
"Our priority is to strengthen Konoha as quickly as possible. Otherwise, even if those people from Hidden Mystery Village don't make a move, we won't be able to hold out ourselves."
"All right, I'll make the arrangements right away."
The three old men exchanged glances, then turned and left.
No sooner had the three old men left than Konoha's Clan Head turned around and swept his gaze over everyone in the Council Hall.
"You're all dismissed. Go back and train hard."
"Understood, Clan Head!"
"Yes, Clan Head!"
Responses rose from all around the crowd. Konoha's clanspeople dispersed in twos and threes, their footsteps gradually fading down the corridor.
The Elder was in no hurry to leave. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Just what is that Hidden Mystery village chief planning? Why would he save that woman? Don't tell me he's taken a fancy to her?"
The woman he meant was Tsunade.
The Elder spread his hands. "I'd like to know too."
"But with what little strength we have, we can't stop Hidden Mystery Village at all..."
"Heh." The Elder chuckled. "I've already thought this through. Konoha might not be the strongest village in the shinobi world, but we're not something just anyone can trample on. However vicious Hidden Mystery Village is, can they really swallow our entire village? As long as we weather this crisis, Konoha's strength will soar. Then, standing on equal footing with the Four Great Shinobi Villages won't be out of the question."
The Clan Head nodded, but another elder frowned and spoke up. "But there's another problem-the Hidden