Chapter 299: Let's Go
The moment Kaede finished hearing the ANBU's report, his body flickered and vanished.
The atmosphere inside the Hokage Building's conference room was oppressive to the extreme.
Minato sat at the head of the long table, his face unreadable.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had changed into a close-fitting dark-gray combat uniform and sat on Minato's right.
Jiraiya had put away his usual carefree smile and stared at the map on the table.
Rasa occupied the second seat on the left. The Kazekage lowered his head, thoughts impossible to read.
Onoki's expression was more serious than Kaede had ever seen it.
Ay stood by the window rather than taking a seat.
Both hands braced against the sill as he stared into the distant night.
The conference room door opened.
Kaede entered.
His gaze swept across the entire room, taking in everyone's condition.
Mei sat near the window.
When she saw him, her eyes immediately rose.
Their gazes met briefly.
Kaede took the empty seat between her and Jiraiya.
At that moment, Ay turned and slammed a fist into the long table.
"You all... saw it, didn't you?"
His voice carried undisguised fury.
This time, Onoki didn't mock him.
"Losing your mind won't solve anything. Keep your head."
Ay turned toward Onoki.
His lips moved several times, but in the end no words came out.
Minato spoke.
"The Intelligence Division is about to send the confirmed enemy deployment. We learn the full situation first, then act."
As soon as he finished, the door opened again.
The intelligence officer hurried inside, a fine layer of cold sweat covering his forehead.
He reached the center of the table and spread open the massive defensive map.
"The intelligence has been compiled."
He pointed toward the northern sector.
"North: the One-Tail, Shukaku, and the Eight-Tails, Gyuki, appeared simultaneously."
"A masked unknown individual is standing on top of one of the Tailed Beasts."
"He is highly likely to be the enemy's primary combat commander."
At the mention of the Eight-Tails, Ay's hand unconsciously tightened against the table.
The wood beneath his palm dented.
The intelligence officer swallowed and continued.
"East:"
"The Four-Tails, Son Goku; the Five-Tails, Kokuo; and the Seven-Tails, Chomei."
"The chakra signatures of all three are rapidly approaching the eastern primary defensive sector."
The instant he finished, Minato, Hiruzen, and Kaede all froze for the briefest moment.
Then the three exchanged a nearly invisible glance.
To everyone else, it merely seemed that the enemy had committed the greatest amount of force against Konoha's strongest defensive sector.
But those three knew the truth.
The east was not only where the Six-Tails had been stationed.
It was also the camp closest to Kushina's delivery chamber.
Kaede rapidly analyzed Black Zetsu's deployment.
Why concentrate three Tailed Beasts in the east?
Coincidence?
Or had their intelligence somehow been compromised again?
The silence lasted barely half a second.
The intelligence officer continued.
"The Three-Tails, Isobu, appeared in the south."
"The Two-Tails, Matatabi, appeared in the west."
With that, every captured Tailed Beast had been accounted for.
Konoha was surrounded from all four directions.
Ay had no intention of waiting any longer.
He straightened, and blue Lightning Style chakra instantly covered his body.
His figure turned into a blur and shot toward the window.
Wood splinters exploded outward.
The blue light disappeared into the night.
Onoki saw it and slapped the table hard enough for his old face to turn red.
"That brainless brute! No one can stop him!"
Two ANBU standing in the shadows immediately appeared, preparing to chase.
Minato raised a hand.
His voice was calm and decisive.
"Don't. Battle opportunities disappear in an instant. Let him go."
He looked at the two ANBU.
"Forcibly stopping him now would only create conflict within the allied forces."
The ANBU returned to the shadows.
Minato immediately began dividing their available combat power.
"The eastern sector is facing simultaneous bombardment from three Tailed Beasts."
"That is the most dangerous battlefield."
His finger tapped the eastern side of the map.
"The Third, Jiraiya-sensei, and I will go east."
"Konoha's strongest forces will reinforce the main eastern defense. We do not retreat a single step."
Hiruzen stood and retied the forehead protector around his head.
Killing intent filled Jiraiya's eyes.
Onoki floated into the air.
"This old man will go north."
His expression was unusually grave.
"Ay is in an extremely unstable state right now."
"He can easily fall into the enemy's trap. I need to meet up with him and help restrain their main commander."
Rasa stood next.
"Sunagakure will take full responsibility for the Three-Tails in the south."
Kaede, who had remained silent until then, spoke.
"Tsuchikage, I'll go north with you."
Minato looked at him and nodded almost immediately.
He understood perfectly.
The north was facing the enemy's highest-ranking commander.
Onoki and an emotionally unstable Raikage might not be able to gain the upper hand.
Someone sufficiently rational and with bottomless combat power needed to anchor the battlefield.
Mei looked at the deployment map.
Then she turned slightly and focused on Kaede's profile.
Her lips moved.
She wanted to tell him to be careful.
Or ask him to come west with her.
In the end, she swallowed every word.
When she stood, her expression had already returned to the authority expected of a Kage.
"Only the Two-Tails is in the west, and that sector happens to contain the Kirigakure and Amegakure camps."
"I'll coordinate with Pakura and Kirigakure's forces and take down the Two-Tails as quickly as possible."
She paused before adding,
"Once the western threat is resolved, I'll immediately lead the troops north."
"We'll reinforce the main northern battlefield."
Kaede looked at her with approval.
Mei noticed his gaze and met it.
"I'll finish the west first, then come help you."
Kaede nodded.
The tactical assignments were complete.
The Kage stood and quickly headed out.
As Minato passed Kaede, he paused.
He tilted his head slightly and lowered his voice.
"Be careful."
Before Kaede could answer, Hiruzen arrived in front of him.
The old man lifted one hand and gave Kaede's shoulder two heavy pats.
Far too much unspoken concern hid in those eyes weathered by years.
Jiraiya passed next.
"Stay alive. Otherwise, someone will be heartbroken."
Then he strode toward the door.
The Kage disappeared one after another into the night.
Mei stopped at the doorway.
She turned and gave Kaede one long look before finally leaving.
Only Kaede and Onoki remained in the conference room.
Floating in midair, Onoki looked at him.
"Brat, what are you standing there for?"
Kaede withdrew his gaze.
"Nothing. Let's go."