After learning that the Sand Shinobi were transporting puppets, Yamanaka Tohru suddenly understood. It wasn't that the Sand Shinobi didn't want to start a war; their greatest weapon against Konoha—the puppets—had run into trouble.
The Sand Shinobi's puppet masters had always been a source of unease for the other villages. Their puppets were equipped with countless mechanisms and extremely potent poisons.
Even Konoha's excellent medical ninja system couldn't always help when it came to poison used by puppet masters.
"How many puppets are in this shipment?" Jiraiya asked.
"I don't know how many they've already transported, but there are about a thousand more," the Hyuga Clan ninja replied after thinking it over.
"A thousand? Senior Sakumo, let me go! These puppets have to be dealt with. I'll go—" Jiraiya volunteered.
"Uncle Jiraiya, Uncle Sakumo, neither of you can go. If the Sand Shinobi realize one of you has left Konoha Camp, they'll launch a sneak attack. Transporting puppets at a time like this is their way of forcing you to make a move," Yamanaka Tohru interrupted.
"Tohru's right. Jiraiya, we really can't leave," Hatake Sakumo agreed.
"Who are the strongest people in the Sand Shinobi's transport team?" Yamanaka Tohru asked.
"My insects tell me there's only one person they fear. In other words, there's only one ninja of Elite Jonin rank or higher."
"He's right. My Byakugan only detected Pakura of the Scorch Release," the Hyuga Clan ninja said.
"Uncle Sakumo, if it's only Pakura, let me go!" Yamanaka Tohru said.
"Kid, are you sure you can handle her Scorch Release? Your Ice Release is at a disadvantage against it."
"Don't worry, Uncle Jiraiya. I'm prepared. I'm a lot stronger now than I was two months ago." Seeing how confident Yamanaka Tohru looked, Jiraiya didn't argue.
"Tohru, I'm leaving this