"Too aggressive. According to the information passed on by Orochimaru, Karatachi Yagura is still leading a considerable number of ninja squads back to Hidden Mist, plus they have the Six-tailed Jinchuriki. They aren't without strength to fight, so it's impossible to agree to provide Konoha with massive compensation," analyzed Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had reviewed the casualty reports. Since the start of the East Coast Battlefield, just over 700 Hidden Mist ninjas had died. For the profoundly deep-rooted Five Great Ninja Villages, this doesn't count as a critical blow.
Adding a Six-tailed Jinchuriki into the mix, Hidden Mist actually still possesses quite considerable battle strength.
"So what do we do? We can't be thinking of asking for a truce with no conditions after achieving a major victory, right?" Shimura Danzo retorted.
If Sarutobi Hiruzen truly wanted this, Shimura Danzo would vehemently oppose it; it would be far too disgraceful.
"Of course not," Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head.
How could we possibly request a truce without conditions after being invaded to our own homeland? No Konoha ninja could tolerate that.
Fighting against invaders with their lives, finally achieving victory, only to request a truce without conditions.
"Demanding compensation is impossible, and requesting a truce without conditions is also impossible. So what do you suggest we do?" Shimura Danzo asked bluntly.
We cannot possibly have Konoha compensate Hidden Mist, right? I'd like to see what Sarutobi Hiruzen is thinking.
"Since the Hidden Mist squad has already retreated from the Land of Fire, let's temporarily ignore Hidden Mist," Sarutobi Hiruzen shared his thoughts.
"The Hidden Mist squad still has the capacity to fight, but they've also lost considerable strength. Such a significant failure surely makes them wary of recklessly waging another war with Konoha. We can deal with Hidden Mist after wrapping up other battlefields," he continued.
Sarutobi Hiruzen's idea was actually quite simple: maintain a period of tacit peace.
Konoha won't demand compensation from Hidden Mist, and as long as Hidden Mist honestly recuperates and refrains from provoking Konoha, neither side loses face, both getting what they want.
Konoha temporarily gains one fewer enemy, while Hidden Mist, after losing, doesn't have to pay the price.
"Hiruzen's idea is very good, fully considering Konoha's current situation," Mitokado Homura nodded in approval.
He felt Sarutobi Hiruzen's idea was the most suitable action for Konoha's circumstances now, both preserving face and achieving the goal of reducing enemies.
"Demanding compensation is indeed inappropriate. Asking for too little holds no real significance, and asking for too much is something Hidden Mist can't possibly give," Utatane Koharu also supported Sarutobi Hiruzen's proposal.
Eventually, Sarutobi Hiruzen's overwhelming idea regarding Hidden Mist's follow-up handling issue was approved by a three-to-one margin.
Shimura Danzo gave a cold snort but said nothing.
After thinking carefully, Shimura Danzo found Sarutobi Hiruzen's words quite reasonable. However, today Shimura Danzo was rare in feeling invigorated in Sarutobi Hiruzen's presence, and he didn't want to back down.
After discussing the key attitude towards Hidden Mist, the next steps were to arrange some of the ninjas on the East Coast Battlefield, followed by rewards for meritorious ninjas and decisions on which ninjas to promote.
Due to Obito achieving some feats on the battlefield, along with Orochimaru's recommendation, Sarutobi Hiruzen finally decided to promote Obito to an official Jonin.
Though Obito's theory was somewhat lacking, his abilities were indeed outstanding, and his record was sufficient. Sarutobi Hiruzen had no reason not to promote Obito, especially in times of war.
To promote this major victory and boost Konoha ninja morale, Sarutobi Hiruzen ordered the Konoha Newspaper staff to work overtime on a new issue while mobilizing power to publicize in the Land of Fire and other countries.
"The East Coast Battlefield secured massive battle achievements, with the Hidden Mist Three-tailed Jinchuriki killed, and the ninja squad defeated, fleeing the Land of Fire!" Tsunade nodded as she glanced at the newspaper Shizune bought while doing groceries.
Killing a Jinchuriki is quite significant indeed, and expelling the only ninja village invading the homeland carries great importance as well.
Tsunade paused when she saw the first headline.
"Sannin Orochimaru and Konoha's new generation, Blazing Sun Habu Mokgetsu's brilliant collaboration, massacred the fully-formed Tailed Beast"
Due to Mokgetsu's display during the Sunny Day triggering extraordinary impact, after that battle with the Tailed Beast, the title 'Blazing Sun Mokgetsu' began circulating within Konoha Ninja Squad, and the newspaper contributors thought it was fitting and directly added it.
"Tch, is Mokgetsu really that strong? So the Jinchuriki was slain by him and Orochimaru together," Tsunade mused with some surprise.
Tsunade wasn't too familiar with Mokgetsu's capabilities. After all, Tsunade wasn't too concerned about Mokgetsu's strength; for her, Mokgetsu's culinary skills were the real focus.
However, Tsunade indeed didn't expect Mokgetsu to achieve such feats. Konoha Newspaper's information is generally reliable, and if Mokgetsu didn't play a significant role in dealing with the Jinchuriki, he wouldn't be named alongside Orochimaru.
"With such strength, steady cultivation should be enough, yet he still wants to develop a Chakra storage Fuinjutsu. I really don't know where this guy gets such motivation for cultivation," Tsunade tossed the newspaper aside after reading about Mokgetsu, resuming to enjoy life on the sofa.
As the latest issue of Konoha Newspaper was published in Konoha, the name of Blazing Sun Mokgetsu quickly spread throughout Konoha.
Former colleagues at the Ninja Academy, who once worked with Mokgetsu, couldn't help but feel a bit emotional upon hearing the news. Two years ago, they were colleagues.
Two years later, Mokgetsu became a Jonin, a deputy headmaster, and now made a huge name on the battlefield, truly unimaginable.
However, some soon noticed a problem: the Yellow Flash Namikaze Minato and Blazing Sun Habu Mokgetsu not only shared similarities in age but also had somewhat similar hair colors and appearances, and both could do the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
This subconsciously led some people to compare the two.
Some felt Mokgetsu was stronger because he killed a Jinchuriki, while Namikaze Minato only fought to a draw against the new AB duo.
Others thought Namikaze Minato was stronger because Mokgetsu's kill of a Jinchuriki was in collaboration with Orochimaru, plus ninja squad assistance.
Nevertheless, what everyone agreed on was that they were among the strongest in Konoha and even the Ninja World as part of the new generation of ninjas.