"I have received a secret report that the Akatsuki Organization has mobilized in its entirety!"
"Although my people are currently unaware of what the Akatsuki's sudden objective is..."
"I suspect that this move by the Akatsuki is likely an attempt to seize the opportunity while the Ninja World is in chaos, with the forces of the Great Ninja Villages scattered within their respective borders, leading to a lack of strength at their bases..."
"To once again capture the Tailed Beasts!"
"However, I believe the Akatsuki's actions will likely target Kumogakure and Iwagakure; the possibility of them targeting our Konoha is not high."
"After all, that Black Zetsu of the Akatsuki is an intelligence expert. He surely knows that Konoha currently possesses many powerhouses, and even several former Hokage have been brought back through Reanimation. Therefore, as long as the Akatsuki is sane, they won't move against Konoha at this stage."
"Unless they wait for the Three-Tails and Six-Tails of the Hidden Mist to be reborn, and only after the Akatsuki has truly captured all eight Tailed Beasts, will they concentrate their full power against our Konoha."
"The question now is, what should Konoha do?"
"Should we warn the Other Ninja Villages? Or should we use the Akatsuki's actions to secretly plot for some benefits?"
"How can we maximize our interests?"
"Everyone, let's discuss!"
Uchiha Jin's tone was indifferent.
After briefly introducing the intelligence on the Akatsuki, he directly signaled the people present to begin the discussion.
At this moment, his eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at this second batch of Konoha's core leadership, a hint of amusement showing in his gaze.
Yes!
As Kakashi, Tsunade, and others entered the five major local war zones, Konoha's headquarters naturally gained a second generation of high-level core members.
Anbu Director: Uchiha Tadashi.
head of the police force: Yamanaka Hayato.
Jōnin Squad Leader and Hokage Advisor (Secretary): Nara Shikaku.
Director of the Intelligence Training Department (Overseeing: Interrogation and Torture Force, Intelligence Division, and Barrier Team): Aburame Shimi.
Head of the Political Affairs Department (Overseeing: Hospital, Education Department, and Administration Department): Senju Tobirama.
Finance Minister: Nara Shiosui.
Advisors: Senju Hashirama, Minato Namikaze, Inuzuka Ichiro, and ten others!
This was the new highest political authority of Konoha, established following the internal reorganization, the setting up of the five war zones, and the abolition of the Mission Hall.
To be honest.
Regarding the Akatsuki's current move, Uchiha Jin actually already had some ideas, but he simply didn't speak up at this time.
He wanted to use this matter as a test to see what kind of thoughts this second generation of Konoha's high-level officials would have regarding the situation.
It was for this reason that he did not directly state his position, choosing instead to let others voice their opinions first.
On the contrary.
His thoughts had already drifted back to the period of the Third Great Ninja War, thinking of the first group of people he had recruited, such as Uchiha Tianyong.
That was his true foundation, the group of people he trusted most!
The Uchiha Radical Faction he joined later, the Uchiha Clan that now swore loyalty to him, and even the various Ninja Clan in Konoha today—to put it bluntly, they were merely tools to be used.
The reasoning was simple!
After all, although that group of people might not be strong in terms of individual power, they were the ones he had truly recruited one by one onto his ship during the Third Great Ninja War. More importantly, they shared the bond of comrades-in-arms, having risen step by step from insignificance to where they were now... Beyond that, what Uchiha Jin valued most was that while those Uchiha might have been lacking in bloodline abilities, their minds were more like those of normal people!
Yes.
One must realize that during the Third Great Ninja War, Uchiha Jin had no charisma to speak of, and Hiruzen Sarutobi's dominance was overwhelming at that stage. If even one person from that group had quietly reported him, he likely would have been dealt with secretly by Hiruzen Sarutobi long ago.
So, before deciding to recruit them, he had made many secret plans and judgments, only beginning to bring them in bit by bit after truly confirming everyone's character.
And even now, although he was powerful enough that he no longer needed that fallback path...
And even though all these powerhouses were now subservient to him, Uchiha Jin still trusted that original group the most.
However, now was not the time for their return, because no one knew if his plan would succeed.
Could he truly unify the entire Ninja World?
In Uchiha Jin's heart, he himself wasn't entirely certain!
After all, who knew if those old schemers lurking in the shadows of the Ninja World would suddenly jump out one day to cause trouble.
Therefore, that fallback path remained extremely important to him!
If he truly failed, that would be the last and only fallback he could think of for himself and his closest family.
Of course.
If his final plan truly succeeded, then when that group of people eventually returned, Uchiha Jin would still grant them the glory they deserved.
He just hadn't expected that the force he had designated as a fallback—the power he didn't want to use in the short term—would bring him such a surprise at this time.
The Akatsuki Organization, which had suddenly withdrawn from the Land of Rain and had been unheard of since, had actually shared the same thought as him, both regarding the Land of Snow as their final retreat.
But thinking about it carefully, it was understandable!
After all, while the Ninja World continent seemed vast, there were actually very few places to choose from.
Although there were many small countries, almost all of them were in the buffer zones between the Five Great Nations. No matter which place the Akatsuki chose, it would be very easy for the forces of the Five Great Ninja Villages to discover them.
As for the back of the Ninja World, there was also a large piece of land.
But that place was a parched land where not even a single blade of grass had grown to this day.
Under such circumstances, there were actually not many places where the Akatsuki, who had become the public enemy of the entire Ninja World, could hide.
And no matter from which angle one looked at it, the Land of Snow was a very suitable place.
However, it was likely that even the Akatsuki hadn't expected that after finally finding such a good place as the Land of Snow, their ideas would coincidentally clash with his own; otherwise, he wouldn't have come across this news at this time.
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Just as Uchiha Jin was slowly reminiscing, Senju Tobirama directly gave his answer.
"Secretly plot to kill the Fourth Raikage!"
"If we want to execute that plan in the future, we must secretly eliminate the leaders and high-level officials of the Five Great Nations while ensuring secrecy."
"Now that the Akatsuki Organization is acting as a shield in front, we should naturally take advantage of this excellent opportunity. If the Akatsuki can directly kill the Fourth Raikage, then so be it. If the Akatsuki ultimately fails to do so..."
"Then our Konoha will step in and deliver the finishing blow!"
"Kill him!"