Inside the Konoha command tent.
The group remained seated as always, with Kakashi frowning deeply as he looked at the intelligence report before him.
Every now and then, someone from the Intelligence Department would bring us news.
Kakashi and the two border officials looked at the intelligence reports that were being sent over, their expressions growing increasingly serious.
Hagoromo Yi sat to the side, picking up the intelligence reports they had read.
The current situation is difficult.
Although he managed to retrieve the bodies of three Sand Shinobi Jonin, he still hadn't found any useful information.
All we know is that the Sand Shinobi is waiting for an opportunity, but what that opportunity is remains to be seen.
It was almost entirely absent from their minds.
The Sand Shinobi Village leadership has done a good job of maintaining secrecy, but other information is not so optimistic.
It's true that some people from the Land of Birds have recently used this route, but the number was too small, and they returned via the same route within almost two days.
Hagoromo shook her head; such tricks could only fool a fool.
Furthermore, when Asuma was scouting the location of the supplies, he clearly discovered some people who were different from the Sand Shinobi.
Splash--
The tent flap was pulled open, and Asuma walked in looking exhausted.
"Kakashi, there's no way to investigate any further."
Hearing this, Kakashi frowned slightly and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Our spies within the Sand Shinobi have completely lost contact; I estimate they've already—"
Asuma lit a cigarette and said calmly.
Upon hearing this, the tent fell silent.
"I understand. That's enough information for now. As for those spies... I'll report back to the village."
After a long pause, Kakashi finally nodded.
It wasn't that he was cold-blooded, but that's just how war is; who knows, next time one of us might be the one to die.
Asuma nodded; he was no longer the person he used to be.
The "Jade" is not simply equivalent to the "King" that needs to be protected in shogi; now, these sacrificed comrades are exchanged for information that allows Konoha to catch its breath.
Aren't they also 'jade'?
It's just that each piece of jade has its own unique selection and processing methods.
Snap--
Asuma's thoughts were interrupted. He looked at the lighter in front of him and turned his head to look at it.
Hagoromo smiled and gestured for him to hurry up and order.
When will peace return to the Shinobi World?
When Hagoromo saw Asuma enter, he noticed that the cigarette he was holding hadn't been lit for a long time, so he naturally knew what Asuma was doing.
It's good for people to think, but they shouldn't get stuck in a dead end.
Once you're trapped, you can never get out.
"You brat, weren't you against me smoking?" Asuma chuckled, then lit a cigarette with the lighter in Hagoromo's hand.
"Old man, I'm not against you smoking, but you can't smoke recklessly."
Hagoromo curled her lip; this guy practically eats cigarettes like they're food.
"Get lost!" Asuma rolled his eyes and snatched the lighter from Hagoromo's hand.
Kakashi, standing to the side, couldn't help but show a hint of envy; he also wished he could have it so easy.
--
On a mountain in the Land of Birds, a middle-aged man dressed in purple clothes and a breastplate, with his hair tied in a ponytail and a large beard, frowned as he looked at the note in his hand.
After a long while, he slowly exhaled.
"Fine, let's call it quits. After this, I won't concern myself with anything else in the village."
After saying this, the man took out a scroll and began to write, then tied it to the communication ninja beast that had been waiting nearby.
As the communication ninja beast flew away, the man looked towards the Land of Wind.
He vanished in a Body Flicker Technique.
--
Night.
Hagoromo was sitting inside the large tent, helping Kakashi with some tasks.
Suddenly, a cry of surprise rang out from outside the tent.
Hagoromo and Kakashi exchanged a glance, both seeing confusion in each other's eyes, and quickly put down the scrolls they were holding and went outside.
As soon as Hagoromo pulled back the curtain, a cool sensation landed on her nose.
"Is it... snowing?"
Outside the tent, snow was falling heavily; though the amount was small, it still made one feel the cold.
Not far away, Asuma's figure hurried over.
"Kakashi, Hagoromo!"
Hagoromo looked over and saw Asuma looking anxious, then glanced at the snow falling from the sky.
Their faces immediately turned serious.
"I'll go and inform someone to come over!" Hagoromo walked straight out of the tent and quickly disappeared.
"Alright!" Kakashi led Asuma into the tent, his expression also hurried.
The Land of Rivers borders the Land of Wind, and there has never been a story of snow falling there.
But now, at this time of year, a snowfall has occurred. If we exclude human-caused factors, then it signifies that this year's weather is unusual.
Before long, the entire tent was packed with Jonin and the captains of their various squads.
Everyone looked serious. Kakashi tapped the table and slowly began to speak:
"I just sent a message to the village, and the village's testing department reports that this year's weather will be extremely severe."
The report states that even the Land of Grass, which borders the Land of Earth, has experienced snowfall.
Inside the large tent, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment.
"The most urgent task is to pay attention to the movements of the Sand Shinobi."
"Their supplies were already insufficient, and now that it's snowing, their troops will be even more unprepared."
"I'm worried that the Sand Shinobi will recklessly launch a direct attack."
Hagoromo said from the side, "This is why he and Kakashi are worried."
The Sand Shinobi's formation wouldn't allow them to stay in this position for long.
Besides, even the heavens aren't cooperating with us now.
"That's right, we need to speed things up." Kakashi nodded in agreement.
"I'll go," Asuma said from the side.
As the son of Hiruzen, he had to set an example in this matter.
Kakashi looked troubled; Asuma was the most suitable candidate for this mission, both in terms of strength and ability.
Both the previous experience of scouting the rear of the Sand Shinobi greatly increased the chances of mission success.
However, Asuma was the only surviving son of the Hiruzen, and if anything happened to him...
The two border officials standing nearby also disagreed, saying it made no sense for the son of Hiruzen leader to undertake such a dangerous mission.
Attacking the enemy's supply depot is like penetrating deep into enemy territory; one wrong move and you could be dead.
The last time we scouted their location, it wasn't too dangerous because the Sand Shinobi had spies.
Hagoromo didn't speak; he was thinking about other things.
"Hagoromo, what do you think?"
Kakashi rubbed his temples and asked Hagoromo, who was deep in thought.
The entire tent fell silent for a moment, and everyone looked at Hagoromo.
After all, the person in front of them was someone who had defeated the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki in a direct confrontation.
Moreover, he was the last disciple of the Hiruzen master.