Orochimaru's Intelligence

Though the situation was urgent, Nara Shikaku did not race across the rooftops. It was morning, the sun had just risen, and the villagers were beginning their day. He did not want to spoil everyone's mood.

A Clan Head hurrying along might not necessarily mean anything serious, but Nara Shikaku was both a strategist and the captain of the Jonin Class. He had to remain calm and composed.

When he reached the Hokage Office, an Anbu was just delivering the third piece of intelligence in a great hurry.

They always seemed to be a step slower than Danzo's Root, but with their confirmation, the Third Hokage finally verified Amegakure's true condition.

It really had been completely razed to the ground. The Anbu had gathered their courage and taken photos from a great distance, yet they had unexpectedly captured almost the entire scene.

The Third Hokage's hand trembled slightly as he held the photos. He was not shocked by the extent of Amegakure's destruction; he had suddenly remembered that he had sent Jiraiya and Kakashi there.

If the Anbu could obtain intelligence, then Jiraiya and Kakashi would surely have encountered them if they were still alive. Yet he had received no word of either of them.

Perhaps they were rushing back to the village, or perhaps they...

"Hokage-sama?" Nara Shikaku sat down on his knees, watching the Third Hokage and the other two Elders with curiosity.

His two teammates and Shikaru Nara had indeed been stopped by the Anbu at the door. There were only five people in the office now.

The seal was not merely a means of protecting intelligence; it also carried additional information. Yet after the seal was removed, the envelope suddenly made a sound.

Other than Danzo, no one wished for war. They were even unwilling to