"Sakumo, did you succeed?" Jiraiya asked.
"Yes. We've taken out all of the Sand Shinobi's sensory ninja."
Jiraiya was thrilled by Hatake Sakumo's answer. When both sides had comparable strength, intelligence was the most important factor in a ninja war.
Sensory ninja were the most effective means of gathering intelligence on the battlefield. They also served as the eyes and ears of a ninja army. Without them, an army lost the initiative and its advantage on the battlefield.
Jiraiya hadn't expected Hatake Sakumo and Yamanaka Tohru to actually pull it off. The two of them had eliminated every sensory ninja the Sand Shinobi had. This might well change the course of the war.
"Sakumo, should we start making preparations for a major battle with the Sand Shinobi?" Konoha had suddenly seized the initiative after being at a disadvantage, and Jiraiya was eager to press that advantage.
"Jiraiya, let's wait. We'd better not do anything for the next few days. Tohru has a new idea," Hatake Sakumo said.
"Do nothing? The Sand Shinobi have lost their sensory ninja. Why would we pass up such a good opportunity?" Jiraiya asked, puzzled.
"Uncle Jiraiya, I deliberately left a Konoha Forehead Protector at the Sand Shinobi camp. Knowing Chiyo, what do you think she'll make of it?"
Yamanaka Tohru's words made Jiraiya's eyes light up. He clearly intended to sow suspicion among the Sand Shinobi.
"Kid, what do you have in mind?"
"Let's do nothing. The Konoha Camp should carry on as usual. Just have the Hyuga Clan and the Aburame Clan keep a closer eye on the Sand Shinobi."
"Kid, you want the Sand Shinobi to think we don't know their sensory ninja have been assassinated, then seize their last chance to launch an attack on us?"
Jiraiya understood Yamanaka Tohru's plan. If