"...That man named Sosuke Aizen, we still can't capture him?"
"Yes, Lord Ōnoki. Konoha has assigned too many defensive and protective Ninja to that Aizen fellow. Our people cannot even get close."
Kneeling on one knee before a small figure, the Stone Ninja from the Land of Earth obediently lowered his head and quietly described their predicament.
"Our forces suffered heavy losses in the Library Battle. We can only infiltrate within Konoha bit by bit through merchant caravans to observe him, and we cannot stay long. Objectively speaking, we have no opportunity to make contact with Aizen."
"Subjectively, according to the intelligence we have gathered so far, Sosuke Aizen keeps a low profile and has a ninjutsu defense force of his own. Under the Third Hokage's instructions, he even has a great number of strange followers within Konoha."
"There is even confirmed intelligence that the blond Jonin Lord Tsuchikage specifically told us to watch, Minato Namikaze, is among Sosuke Aizen's covert guards. Though there seem to be flaws everywhere, we have no confidence in being able to abduct him."
"Then forget it."
It had only been worth a try. If it did not work, it did not work.
Looking over the reports on Blut Arterie and Blut Vene in his hands, the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, clicked his tongue impatiently.
The Ninja from the Tsuchikage's operations division respectfully bowed to the old man, then quietly left the Tsuchikage's office and returned to his post.
As he looked out the window, anxiety and fear continued to twist within Ōnoki's heart.
The Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki, had always harbored fear and hostility toward Konoha.
Back when the Stone Ninja had sought to form an alliance with Konoha, he had still been young.
Together with his teacher, the future Second Tsuchikage Mu, he had gone