He raised his hand to indicate that there was no need for formalities.
Yūya Uzumaki stared at the person opposite him who had straightened up with his eyes that had lost some of their color and said, "New mission: Now you will select 29 people from the entire Clan."
"The requirements are talent, current strength, and loyalty to the Clan. You can judge and choose based on these three aspects."
"And while you're making the selection, you'll lead a group to gather all the children under 10 years old and the most talented young adults under 15 years old from your Clan."
Upon hearing the order from the other side, Yoshitoki Uzumaki's expression immediately turned ugly.
Hearing these words from the clan chief, he understood all too well what they meant!
"I'll give you a place. Take these people there as soon as possible and hand them over to these three." Ignoring the changing expressions on the other side, Yūya Uzumaki pointed at the three Senju had come to deliver the message and continued in his calm tone, "As the person in charge, you'll be among the last to leave. Remember to complete this matter as quickly as possible!"
"..." Yoshitoki Uzumaki Yoshitoki's eyebrows furrowed immediately.
The joy he felt upon seeing the three Senju soldiers earlier, which had been accompanied by reinforcements, vanished completely upon hearing the order from the other side.
Has things really come to this?
He hadn't come to terms with it, but his problems were already evident in his expressions and various subtle details.
Looking at his loved one opposite him, Yūya Uzumaki took off his Ninja Tool Pouch from his waist and handed it over, his tone slightly fluctuating as he said, "This is a backup plan, just in case. You can activate it when you receive the information."
"Take good care of Jiu... the children!"
With his hand still holding the Ninja Tool Pouch suspended in mid-air, Yoshitoki Uzumaki stared blankly at the object in front of him for a moment.
After a moment, he reached out and took the items, bowed, and said slowly and deliberately, "Chieftain, rest assured!"
He waved to the person who hadn't yet raised his head, Yūya Uzumaki his gaze to the three allies.
He put on a smile and said in a pleading yet polite tone, "Thank you all for your help!"
Senju Nobusada and the other two did not respond. They stood up and bowed their heads to the clan leader behind the desk.
Within the Senju Clan Compound.
The previous meeting adjourned shortly after the two officials returned.
The remaining high-ranking members of the Senju faction who remained in the village all began their preparations according to their mission.
Of course, all these preparations and actions were carried out according to the suggestion made by the Sixth Elder.
At least on the surface, the movements of these people did not arouse any further speculation from Sarutobi.
The only unusual order—"all the Senju Ninja return to their ranks and prepare for battle"—would likely be interpreted by most as a precautionary measure!
However, some people in key positions have other speculations because a few individuals did not leave the council chamber!
Deep underground in the Senju Clan Compound, in a room covered with Sealing Jutsu, eight people of different ages sat around a Low Table.
The three people sat in the main seats, while the other five people were arranged in a semi-circle on one side of the Low Table.
Some of the five were wearing armor, while others wore the classic Beige robes of the Senju.
Although the five people were dressed differently, their expressions were all the same!
"Isn't it a bit too early to start a full-scale war?" Sawagen Senju, with his gray hair, frowned deeply and said in a somewhat stiff tone.
He had just arranged for four Mixed Large Unit to provide advance support in the South.
Of course, since the clan's orders hadn't arrived yet, he used the pretext of filling in the southeastern defense line!
But... suddenly, an order came from within the clan to bring him back using the Flying Thunder God Technique!
After listening to what her grandson-in-law across the Low Table say, she looked at the two people who were clearly on the same side.
After expressing his opinion, he softened his tone and added, "If we start fighting now, it's very easy for both sides to lose!"
"I'm not worried about fighting Sarutobi, but the situation after the fight is what I'm really worried about."
He nodded in agreement with the First Elder's words.
It hasn't returned for many years, remaining hidden in the dark underground.
The Third Elder, whose complexion had noticeably changed, replied in a somewhat sinister tone, "The situation in the shadows is good. Personnel are being gathered as usual. We can wait. Even if we suffer a loss at the hands of the Uzumaki this time..."
"If we just increase our efforts secretly, these cuts will fully grow back in about two years and regain their dominant position!"
He followed the First Elder and expressed his opinion.
After a pause, the Third Elder looked at the two adults opposite him and Uka and said, " Lady Mito, Clan Chief, there's really no need for us to rush."
"Time has always been on our side. Even if Sarutobi gains another Uchiha, the advantage will still remain with us!"
After he finished speaking, he shut his mouth and looked silently at the three people opposite him with his eyes full of doubt.
When he was urgently summoned home, he initially thought it was because of the Uzumaki, but he never expected to hear that a full-scale war had broken out!
Of course, he always believed that Senju Toka, the clan head, and Lady Mito were not fools; their agreement must mean they had information or trump cards that the other party didn't know about.
Normally, he would just obey orders and act like a fool, but this time, with the fate of the Clan at stake, he has to give a reasonable explanation!
Otherwise, if he can't even get past his own hurdle, how can he explain it to his allies and others?
With these two taking the lead, the other three elders also gave their opinions.
In particular, the Fourth Elder and the Sixth Elder, who agreed to attend the clan meeting, were more willing to carry out the previous plan rather than choose to start a war now!
Because they were all in the same village, they had a clearer understanding of the relevant intelligence and the overall situation.
They have a much deeper understanding of the current situation!
Despite the objections and disagreements from the five people opposite, Uka Senju did not speak up to argue further, but simply sat quietly to the side and waited.
He had already convinced his Aunt and Grandma Mito, and now it was up to the two elders to decide how to deal with the people in front of him.
After all, if you can't control the specific amount of force, saying too much or too little will only cause trouble!
After silently listening to Uka's account and the objections from the other side, Senju Toka glanced at her nephew who was pretending to be dead with his head down and not saying a word, then put down her teacup and interrupted all the noise in the secret room!
Upon seeing the clan leader's action, the five of them simultaneously shut their mouths and assumed a posture of attentive listening.
However, Senju Toka did not say a word to the five key Senju leaders on the other side.
She simply opened her hand, which had just set down the teacup, and then circulated the Chakra within her body!
A tiny green sprout appeared in her palm, followed by its rapid growth.
It kept stretching its body, its graceful posture captivating and mesmerizing, leaving the five people opposite it dumbfounded!
As soon as slender branches sprouted from its body and green leaves grew, the five people opposite it immediately reacted.
The First Elder trembled with excitement; the Third Elder's pale face, honed from years underground, became unusually rosy; the Fourth Elder stretched out his somewhat thin hand, pointing at the tree, his body shaking uncontrollably; and the Fifth Elder stood up and brought his large face close to the tree for a closer look.
Compared to the excitement of the other five, the Sixth Elder was the calmest.
When the tree appeared in Senju Toka's hand, he visibly let out a long sigh of relief, as if all his worries had been completely put back into his stomach!
I was waiting for my Aunt to explain, but to my Aunt, she didn't say anything and just demonstrated Wood Release?
The excited expressions of the five people opposite him only made Uka Senju even more puzzled!
When I awakened Wood Release, everyone in the council hall was excited, but they didn't lose their composure like this. Why is my Aunt behaving like this during her demonstration?
Time passed amidst the excitement of the crowd and the contemplation of Uka Senju.
About five minutes later, everyone calmed down and sat back down in their original seats.
Senju Toka casually placed the tree on the Low Table!
With his graying hair, Sawagen Senju's face was rosy, showing no trace of the sorrow he had felt when he first returned.
He looked at the other side with a loud laugh and said, "You tell me how to fight, and when to fight!"
"With the plan set, let's get started."
After speaking, he turned his gaze to the Red-Haired Woman and reassured her, saying, "Before returning, I had already dispatched four Mixed Large Unit to provide support."
"They can't defeat them even with the combined power of the Uzumaki, but retreating with more people shouldn't be difficult!"
Upon hearing this, Mito Uzumaki, who had maintained a blank expression, nodded with a grateful smile.
The First Elder opposite me is the South Commander-in-Chief and the head of the Itayasu Branch. He does indeed have the authority to grant such permission, but he did so without receiving specific orders.
Actually, the First Elder did violate some rules!
But as the beneficiary of the other party's actions, she was extremely grateful!
This shows that the person on the other side also remembers the friendship between the two races and their own contributions, rather than just paying lip service.
The fact that the Uzumaki Clan could form an alliance with such an ally shows that Grandpa certainly had foresight!
The Third Elder's pale face had an unusual rosy hue.
He gave a strange smile and said, "Clan leader, all the capable fighters from underground can be mobilized. The only problem is that the Clan needs to assign some people to lead them."
"Clan leader, what do you think we should do?" the Fifth Elder asked with a smile.
The atmosphere inside had completely changed; now there was no one left in the small room to object.
They inexplicably gained confidence in the impending war.
They didn't ask too many questions, simply because they saw a Wood Release that wouldn't appear in Senju Toka's palm.
While Uka Senju was somewhat puzzled, Senju Toka looked at the five people opposite her, coughed lightly, and spread a map out on the Low Table!
"The four Large Unit already dispatched to the Land of Whirlpools have been ordered to change their objective to leading the Uzumaki Clan in a retreat."
"The key point of the retreat should be Ihyo Castle. Tell them to fight and retreat simultaneously, and try to buy as much time as possible!"
Senju Toka's finger swept across the map, finally tapping on a city on it.
"Yes, I will send the message to them shortly!" the First Elder replied.
" The Third Elder will send six Large Unit to Ihyo Castle, while the First Elder will leave a Middle Unit to take over. These men will be the reserves for this battlefield. You two go and decide on the specific personnel!"
"Yes, Clan Chief!" The two elders exchanged glances and replied in unison.
Four well-matched mixed units with sufficient combat strength, plus six rookies mostly composed of Genin —this was the support the Senju could provide to Uzumaki in this war.
They need to hold off the enemy; even if they are defeated, they cannot retreat immediately, but must proceed slowly and gradually!
Upon hearing the arrangement made by the Senju Clan Head beside her, Mito Uzumaki smiled and nodded slightly in acceptance of the plan.
The children have already been transferred in advance. With ten Large Unit plus the power of the Uzumaki itself, the elderly and women without combat capabilities should also be able to evacuate.
With the great battle of the Senju about to begin... this arrangement is sufficient!
Sensing the emotions of the three, after making arrangements for the Land of Whirlpools, Senju Toka pointed to the other side of the battle line and said, " Fifth Elder, your task is to keep an eye on the people on the other side."
"Once the battle begins, the last position we retreat to is this one, and we must hold off all the enemy."
Looking at the last known location on the opposite side of the map, the Fifth Elder immediately nodded to indicate that he understood.
He needed to trap the enemy in a military fortress about fifty kilometers away from Konoha!
" Southwest, retreat slowly, and attack from the rear immediately when the battle begins."
"The second group split into two groups and retreated from the South. After the battle began, the second group immediately turned and attacked Konoha from the south."
Using a map, Senju Toka explained her battle plan to the First Elder.
"Yes, clan leader!" the First Elder replied.
As the Commander-in-Chief of the South, these matters fell to him when the other two leaders were not present!
He will refine the battle plan that the clan chief described and distribute it to the specific people in charge when he gets back.
Withdrawing her hand from the map, Senju Toka looked at the group opposite her and said, "According to intelligence, the enemy will launch a full-scale attack on the Land of Whirlpools as early as tonight, or at the latest tomorrow, so your preparations need to begin immediately."
"After the Third Elder, Sixth Elder, Fourth Elder, and First Elder have assigned specific personnel numbers, you will begin preparations for battle, personnel evacuation, and other related tasks."
" Lady Mito and I will proceed with the planned meetings with the neutral clan chiefs and the allied clan chiefs. Fourth Elder and Sixth Elder, once the meetings are concluded, you should immediately arrange for coordination with the allied clans."
"Gentlemen, we must give it our all in this battle!"
"Yes, clan leader," the seven bowed in response.
Nodding, Senju Toka glanced at the two people beside her, then got up and walked towards the passage leading to the outside world.
Mito Uzumaki and Uka Senju quickly followed and left the small underground room!
After the three figures disappeared, the remaining five people in the room continued to sit around the Low Table and negotiate.
"I will issue a mobilization notice shortly under the pretext of the War in the Land of Whirlpools. They will evacuate immediately once the battle begins, but I need at least four Large Unit to escort them."
"If our allies also evacuate like us, then we'll need at least ten Large Unit in total!"
Looking at the four people in front of him, the Fourth Elder made his request.
With the war in the Land of Whirlpools ongoing, it wouldn't be difficult to gather the old and weak within the clan. However, in order to prevent the leakage of battle information, the only option is to begin the evacuation after the battle has started.
In this situation, it's definitely unacceptable for the elderly and infirm to be without Guard Unit!