Shindai summoned a ninja hawk to deliver his message.
However, before the hawk could even flap its wings for long in midair, it blacked out—yet again.
This time, it wasn't Minato Namikaze who knocked out the hawk—but Kakashi.
The moment Shindai summoned the ninja hawk, Kakashi sensed it through the tracking mark Minato had left on the hawk.
Kakashi untied the letter strapped to the hawk and opened it.
[Uncle Kaito, I am now inside Konoha's base camp located in the Hot Water Country. After risking my life countless times under immense danger, narrowly escaping death by a hair's breadth, I have finally obtained an extremely important piece of intelligence—critical information regarding the ongoing conflict between Konoha and Kumogakure in the Hot Water Country.
The Cloud Ninja are planning a full-scale attack soon directly on Konoha's base camp in the Hot Water Country, aiming to wipe out all the Konoha ninjas stationed there at once. I believe this intelligence must be extremely important for you, Uncle Kaito, which is why I'm reporting it immediately.
My current situation, however, is also extremely difficult—I remain untrusted and constantly bound and tied up. If the Cloud Ninja launch their total assault on Konoha's base camp, I will definitely find myself in tremendous and extreme danger, possibly even losing my life.
I've practically earned great credit here. Therefore, I hope Uncle Kaito would approve me completing my mission successfully and allowing me to return safely back to the village!]
Kakashi stared silently at the letter for a while.
Finally, he murmured in disbelief, "Does this guy seriously have something wrong with his head?"
How could the Cloud Ninja possibly launch a full-scale attack against Konoha's base right now? They were still only in the early stages of conflict.
Looking at that map, Kakashi figured the Cloud Ninja probably just wanted to sneak-attack Konoha's base.
After all, Jiraiya had said that after Minato Namikaze and his team left, Kumogakure seized the opportunity to counterattack, but then Orochimaru retaliated by sending a group of ninjas to ambush Kumogakure's rear base.
Thus, Kakashi believed the Cloud Ninja were simply trying to retaliate against Konoha.
Plus, even if the Cloud Ninja really intended to launch a total offensive against Konoha's base, what did that have to do with Sunagakure?
Did they really think Sunagakure would deploy forces across such vast distances to the Hot Water Country just to provoke an attack?
Did they really think the Konoha ninjas stationed in the Land of Rivers would just sit around idly doing nothing?
And perhaps most importantly—how could someone who was supposedly continuously bound up manage to write this letter and even summon a ninja hawk?
Earned a great achievement? Now asking to retire in triumph?
What else could this possibly be but undeniable proof of complete madness?
Picking up pen and paper, Kakashi studied Shindai's handwriting closely before starting to write.
[Uncle Kaito, I have now fully earned Minato Namikaze's trust. Following him, I've arrived at Konoha's base camp in the Hot Water Country and have successfully met one of Konoha's Sannin, Jiraiya. Jiraiya hasn't the slightest suspicion about my true identity. I'm currently working on earning his trust as well. My undercover mission is progressing smoothly—please rest assured, Uncle Kaito.]
After finishing the letter, Kakashi double-checked it before placing it into an envelope. He then tied it to the Ninja Hawk's back once more and left.
Ten minutes later.
The Ninja Hawk regained consciousness but didn't move, as if frozen in place by some sort of body bind jutsu.
Another three minutes passed.
Suddenly, the Ninja Hawk angrily clawed at a nearby tree, shredding its bark completely.
That actually felt kinda good.
The Ninja Hawk envisioned that tree as Shindai.
If its earlier unconsciousness had only been a guess related to Shindai, now there was no doubt in its mind—that guy definitely had something to do with this.
After all, nothing like this had ever happened before. But since becoming Shindai's contracted summoning beast, every time it saw Shindai, it ended up fainting.
Therefore, the Ninja Hawk had already reached a firm conclusion: There's something seriously off about Shindai—he must be cursed or hexed somehow!
In fact, the Ninja Hawk had initially suspected someone else might have drugged it.
But upon checking, the letters strapped to its body were completely fine, so it ruled out that possibility.
As mad as it was, the mission still had to go on. Muttering curses under its breath, the Ninja Hawk took off and flew away.
...
Inside Orochimaru's tent at this moment.
Jiraiya had already explained everything to Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru, I think there must be more than just one Cloud Ninja stationed camp near our Konoha base camp. Shindai said he saw markings indicating about seven or eight locations. It's possible the Cloud has set up stationed camps in as many as seven or eight places. Therefore, I believe we should act immediately and eliminate those nearby Cloud Ninja!"
Orochimaru gazed silently at the map while thinking deeply.
After a short pause, he finally spoke, "No need to eliminate them."
Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru in surprise and asked confusedly, "Why not?"
Orochimaru analyzed, "I also agree with your guess—that there must be more than one Cloud Ninja stationed camp near Konoha's base camp. They probably want revenge for us ambushing their rear base previously.
However, we only know about one of their stationed camps. Searching for the others will definitely alert them. Plus, we would have to dispatch a large number of ninja for such a search, leaving our own camp vulnerable, giving them the perfect opportunity to attack us.
A single stationed camp holds sixteen Cloud Ninja. Sixteen alone wouldn't stand a chance sneaking into our Konoha base. But if there are seven stationed camps, each holding around the same number, that would make about one hundred Cloud Ninja altogether—and that many could actually pull it off.
Therefore, we absolutely cannot make any decision to scatter our forces. Instead, we should gather everyone together to defend against any potential sneak attacks from the Cloud."
Jiraiya slightly frowned and asked, "Are we just supposed to sit here and wait for them to attack? We've already guessed their plan. How about I personally lead a team instead? Aren't there still several Hyuga ninja and Inuzuka ninja within our camp?"
"I can guide them to discreetly scout the locations where the Cloud Ninja are stationed."
Orochimaru rejected Jiraiya's suggestion, curling his lips into a cold and cruel smile. "There's no need. It's far too inefficient. And if they discover their plan has been exposed, they'll certainly retreat. But I want to wipe them all out in one fell swoop!
Don't we already know one of the locations where the Cloud Ninja are stationed? All we need do is assign someone to monitor that location. Once they begin to move, that signals all the concealed Cloud Ninja will mobilize.
And we can prepare in advance, capture all who attempt to ambush us and kill every single one right here!
If a hundred Cloud Ninja perish here," he continued, "Kumogakure will surely feel the sting of that loss for years to come."
Seeing Orochimaru's sinister grin, Jiraiya felt a chill run through him.
Jiraiya muttered, "Orochimaru, couldn't you manage a more normal smile? That look just now was seriously creeping me out."
The smile on Orochimaru's face immediately vanished without a trace. He glanced sideways at Jiraiya emotionlessly and asked, "That Sunagakure spy you mentioned sounds rather intriguing. Then I shall entrust the surveillance of the Cloud Ninja stationed location to them."
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