The Highest-Level Intelligence

In the end, En Chinoike agreed to let his daughter go to Konoha. Not only could his arm not twist his thigh, but he also had no idea how to raise a daughter himself.

Just as Danzo was preparing to lead the army in retreat, a female ninja from Iwagakure died while being pursued by Kumogakure shinobi, her body and bones nowhere to be found, all to deliver a piece of vital intelligence.

"Nicely done. This lets us get away cleanly while driving a wedge between Earth and Lightning."

Amid the army, a blonde female Anbu wearing a fox mask had somehow returned to Danzo's side. Shikaku Nara, who had some guesses about her identity, remained silent.

"Even without this incident, Iwagakure and Kumogakure would have fought to the death sooner or later. The Raikage has never been one to swallow a loss."

As Yakushi Nonō spoke, she cradled the hungrily wailing Chino in her arms, her tone gentle. If he had not seen it with his own eyes, Shikaku Nara would never have believed that this was the Wandering Miko with a fifty-million bounty placed on her head by Sunagakure in the black market.

"I imagine Iwagakure will put up a bounty soon enough as well."

At that moment, another Anbu shinobi caught up with them and presented a sealed scroll. Seeing the "Kinoe" intelligence classification at the center of the cover, Shikaku Nara raised a brow. Still, he did not dare delay and handed it to Danzo, who was leaping through the forest.

"It came from the village's intelligence headquarters."

During the Shinobi World War, Danzo controlled the Anbu and the Intelligence Department. Even Orochimaru, the captain of the Jonin Squad, was nominally his subordinate. He practically held more than half of Konoha's shinobi in his grasp, and in some respects, his authority even surpassed that of the Hokage.

Only the Hokage and the three Elders were qualified to view intelligence of the highest "Kinoe" classification.

"Oh, that kid did a good job."

Using a special method to undo the seal, Guo Wang read the scroll Root had sent through the Intelligence Department's channels and raised his brows in surprise.

"All our hidden agents in the Land of Rain have lost contact. Our communication channel with Hanzo has been cut off. The last report stated that several of the Shinobi World's most highly wanted criminals entered that closed-off country."

The most infamous among them was Kakuzu, a rogue ninja from Takigakure.

"They're recruiting criminals. It seems Hanzo is in grave danger. Has the Land of Rain changed hands?"

No matter what, intelligence was the most important thing. The reason Konoha had been able to win the three Shinobi World Wars ultimately came down to Yakushi Nonō's outstanding performance. She had won the Battle of Mount Kikyo and broken their deadlock. Even in this war between the three nations, they had benefited from her acting as their eyes in Iwagakure.

Should he send her to the Land of Rain again?

The thought flashed through Guo Wang's mind, only for him to dismiss it.

Not only had she been an Anbu personally approved by Sarutobi Hiruzen to leave Root, but the Land of Rain was likely even more dangerous now than the Five Great Nations. The Rinnegan's abilities were still unknown. Yet the fact that every one of his hidden agents had been uprooted showed that the Red-Haired kid likely possessed some special Ninjutsu capable of identifying spies.

Yakushi Nonō was an excellent chess piece. He could not waste her on such a dangerous mission, one that would likely cost her life.

After all, she was already considered his woman. Guo Wang could not quite bear to send her.

"From Orochimaru's face alone, I can tell he'll leave Konoha someday. I might as well make full use of him and have him investigate this organization called Akatsuki for me."

Konoha Year 47.

The Third Shinobi World War, which had dragged on for five years, finally showed signs of ending.

The Shinobi World's greatest nation reestablished its leadership. Konoha crushed Sunagakure, defeated Kumogakure, subdued Iwagakure, and held off Kirigakure. One against four, it won a resounding victory.

In the chaotic battle between the five great ninja villages, Hokage Sarutobi Hiruzen personally took the field and defeated Sunagakure's puppet-wielding brother and sister, earning the title of "the strongest."

The Hokage's disciples, the Sannin, had been tempered by Hanzo during the Second Shinobi World War. In this war, they shone brilliantly and were now recognized by the Five Great Nations as possessing Kage-level strength. Yet what terrified their enemies most was Namikaze Minato of the new generation. Having mastered Space-Time Ninjutsu, he was practically a reaper of lives. Numbers meant nothing to him.

But the greatest surprise of all was Shimura Danzō, Sarutobi Hiruzen's shadow.

In the past, the title "Darkness of the Shinobi" had mostly been one of contempt for his character. But after he defeated the Third Raikage head-on and forced the Third Tsuchikage to sign a humiliating treaty, he had risen in one leap to become one of the Shinobi World's foremost experts. His reputation was immense, even eclipsing that of the Third Hokage.

The intelligence classification concerning him had been raised to the highest level in every ninja village.

It was worth mentioning that the Third Raikage had sold the intelligence on Danzo's Mangekyō, along with its abilities, for a handsome price.

The three great ninja villages of Sand, Mu Jin, and Mist could not remain indifferent to the secret behind Danzo's increase in strength. Faced with Third A's outrageous demands, they each paid enormous amounts of supplies in exchange for intelligence on Goji Chongshi and part of Mirror Flower, Water Moon.

After that intelligence fell into the hands of the three great ninja villages, the Uchiha name suddenly became the most sought-after Kekkei Genkai Clan in the Shinobi World.

"Oh, the Mangekyō Sharingan. Interesting."

In the Land of Water, within Kirigakure, a tall and handsome man with his eyes closed set down the intelligence report in his hand. His long black hair cascaded loose over his shoulders, and he exuded a calm aura.

"If I had known this, I should not have focused on the Hyuga Clan on the battlefield back then. The Byakugan's lack of blind spots holds great strategic value, but compared to a Kage-level expert, it is still insignificant."

Twenty-eight-year-old Ao was at the peak of his vigor. After receiving the Byakugan, his strength had become second only to the Clan Leaders of Kirigakure's Kekkei Genkai Clans and the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. The person who commanded such respect from him was the Shinobi World's most mysterious Third Mizukage.

"Then let us start another war. Konoha will surely send the Uchiha here."

The black-haired man's expression remained placid, but with those words, another storm of bloodshed was set in motion.

"Ever since Danzo's Mangekyō was exposed, the Uchiha Clan probably will not readily take the field. Besides, Konoha has already made peace with the other three nations. If we provoke another war, we'll draw the Sannin and Namikaze Minato."

Ao looked utterly confused, but the Third Mizukage remained certain.

"They will. The Uchiha Clan's pride is carved into their bones. Besides, Danzo will make them go to war."

"But aren't we currently negotiating with Sunagakure to join forces and counterattack Iwagakure, washing away the humiliation of their betrayal? Opening two fronts at once is not because I am timid—"

Halfway through his words, the Mizukage suddenly opened his eyes. Ao immediately lowered his head and accepted the order.

Among the five great ninja villages, Kirigakure was the cruelest. The Mizukage might look like a calm and beautiful man, but he had undoubtedly taken more lives than any of the Five Kage.

Many of those lives had been his own people.