Movements of the Nations

Less than two months after Shin'nosuke Sarutobi took over the defenses along the Land of Fire Border facing the Land of Lightning, someone else took over the defenses on the Land of Water side as well. The fruits of all those years of hard work had been plucked by others, while one of the Sannin, Orochimaru, was transferred back to the village by order.

When this news spread, countless ninja on the Front Line secretly frowned. This seemed a bit excessive—Cold Lord Orochimaru was still a hero of Konoha.

Land of Lightning, Kumogakure.

Inside the Raikage Office Building, the still relatively young Fourth Raikage Ay studied the intelligence that had arrived. His rugged face immediately creased into a deep frown.

"Orochimaru has been transferred back to the village? Shin'nosuke Sarutobi, the Uchiha, and the Hyuga Family have replaced him on the Front Line? What is Konoha trying to do? They're simply not taking us seriously!"

He had only just eased up slightly on the Front Line, yet Konoha was already pushing its luck. Wasn't replacing their people a roundabout way of saying they weren't afraid of them? Ay's eyes widened with fury.

In the office, Dodai, who looked like a mature middle-aged man, saw the hot-tempered Raikage and shook his head with a bitter smile. "Lord Raikage, although Konoha lost the Fourth Hokage and some elite forces during the Nine-Tails' Rampage, its current strength remains formidable. As for this intelligence from the Front Line, perhaps there is another piece of information that deserves our attention even more."

Dodai was a Jōnin of Kumogakure, a court minister to successive Raikage, and the evaluator of every generation's Double Lariat. In his youth, he had earned the deep trust of the Third Raikage. He possessed the Kekkei Genkai of Lava Release. (The rubber uncle Naruto mentioned.)

Dodai took out a separate intelligence report and handed it over, his expression growing even more solemn.

Fourth Raikage Ay opened the Scroll unhappily. Upon reading the intelligence within, his brow rose. When he saw the date at the end, gravity flashed through his rugged eyes.

"Dodai, are you saying you received the intelligence about Shin'nosuke Sarutobi coming to the Front Line two months ago?"

There was nothing seriously wrong with this report, but the key was the timeline. Two months ago, no one knew that Shin'nosuke Sarutobi would be coming to the border as commander.

That was the crucial issue! The Fourth Raikage immediately became grave, and Dodai nodded solemnly as well. "There is no issue with the timing. The problem is that the person who sent back this intelligence does not appear to be one of our people."

"Although it was sent back through one of our Spy networks, that Spy was already captured by Konoha. That line was supposed to have been abandoned, yet unexpectedly, someone suddenly began sending information through it again."

Hearing this, the Fourth Raikage's expression turned serious. "Dodai, raise this intelligence's classification. Keep a close watch on it, and remain on guard."

They were all old hands in the Shinobi World and had naturally seen plenty of such things. Dodai nodded even more seriously at this.

"Rest assured, Lord Raikage. There are only three possibilities if that line can still send back intelligence. First, our person was never exposed, though that possibility is extremely low. Second, someone in Konoha is dissatisfied with the current administration or simply too greedy, so they are selling out their village's interests. Third, this is very likely a trap set by Konoha."

A Spy was captured, then the other side used that Spy's intelligence line to send false intelligence—such things happened often. Some even used the line to send genuinely important information first, proving that they had betrayed their village, before usually demanding money and the like.

They might even go along with the scheme and lay out a grand trap, using some genuine intelligence and sacrificing a portion of their own interests in exchange for greater benefits, only to reveal the dagger at the very end.

"Lord Raikage, the other party's purpose is clear. They are currently trading intelligence for gold and precious medicinal herbs."

After Dodai presented the materials demanded by this secret person within Konoha, Fourth Raikage Ay merely smiled disdainfully. "Give it to them! Someone capable of sending this information does not hold a low position. As long as the intelligence is accurate, we'll pay."

"Yes!"

Ninja had always prioritized intelligence. Whether this person was genuine or fake, they were at least useful for the moment. A few supplies were nothing unusual. If the other party wanted nothing at all, that would make him suspicious instead.

The other party traded intelligence for gold and medicinal herbs, while they had dedicated departments to verify whether the intelligence was genuine. Naturally, they would not be easily deceived. It would depend on each side's methods.

However, Kumogakure would miscalculate this time. After expending countless efforts, they would find it had all been for nothing, because every bit of information sent over was true, without the slightest falsehood mixed in.

"Dodai, order the Front Line to prepare another round of probing harassment. Let's see what trick Konoha is playing."

"Yes!" Dodai, more composed and experienced, did not hesitate in the slightest upon hearing this. Instead, he greatly approved of his Raikage's Raikage-like conduct. This was the temperament a Kage should possess—bold, yet never reckless; rough, yet attentive to detail.

Land of Water, Kirigakure.

Within a dark space, Suikazan Fuguki slowly bared his sharp teeth. His eyes rested on the intelligence in his hand with amusement, and he let out a bloodthirsty chuckle. "Heh heh, it seems there are quite a few like-minded people in the Shinobi World."

There had never been any shortage of people who sold out their village's interests to gain benefits and strengthen themselves. Just like him—hadn't he also secretly sold out some of his village's interests?

"Heh heh, though this appetite is rather large. They actually want so much gold and such quantities of precious medicinal herbs. Still, I'll satisfy you. I just hope you little rat won't try any tricks."

As for whether the other party had set a trap? To Suikazan Fuguki, that question was a joke. Konoha had suffered such a major incident, and the village had already decided to launch a probing war against Konoha—though it would be limited to small-scale local conflicts.

Kirigakure had never cared about such casualties. All they valued was profit.

Land of Earth, Iwagakure.

Inside the lofty Tsuchikage's office, the diminutive Tsuchikage did not yet have the completely white hair and beard he would possess during the Fourth Shinobi War. He was clearly still full of vigor. As he looked over the intelligence report that required an upgraded classification, Ōnoki occasionally frowned, his expression grave.

"Another selfish person selling out their own village's interests? Or perhaps another self-directed farce?"

As he muttered to himself, Ōnoki, having lived through three great Shinobi World wars, displayed great wisdom. When he read the other party's demands at the end of the report, his brow rose.

"What a huge appetite. But it isn't impossible. So long as the intelligence is accurate, it will naturally be worth this much."

Muttering to himself, Ōnoki placed the report on the desk and stamped it directly with a large S-rank seal. "Order the Intelligence Department to keep a close watch on it. At the same time, make sure to thoroughly analyze any major intelligence. As for the gold and medicinal herbs the other party demands, give them so long as they do not exceed the intelligence's value."

Having finally discovered a Konoha mole of no low status, he naturally intended to press the advantage. Of course, it was also possible that this was a trick orchestrated by Konoha's shadowy Danzo. But such methods had always been standard tactics among the nations—it came down to whose methods were superior and how well each side played the game.

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