When Nara Shikaku saw Jiraiya's letter, his heart stirred.
Houka deliberately leaked the intelligence to Lord Jiraiya, then used him to let us learn about this Konoha Crush Plan!
Nara Shikaku narrowed his eyes and pondered aloud, "Though the plan's specific details aren't included, since Orochimaru's target is the Third, it will be enough to focus our efforts on him."
Hatake Sakumo said, "I'll protect the Third at all times!"
But Nara Shikaku shook his head and smiled. "If Orochimaru intends to assassinate the Third, you'll be the first obstacle in his way. He'll definitely stop you from coming to the Third's aid!"
Hatake Sakumo froze, then understood. "Shikaku, you mean Houka will stop me?"
"Only Houka has the strength to do that!" Nara Shikaku said.
Then he understood why Houka had not told him the intelligence directly, but had instead told Jiraiya. He wanted Jiraiya to stop Orochimaru!
After all, the two were both Sannin, and their strength was roughly equal!
But...
If the Konoha Crush Plan were that simple, then even without Jiraiya, the village's core generation of shinobi, such as Ino-Shika-Cho, would still be able to stop Orochimaru!
Unless... Orochimaru had another move in reserve, perhaps even powerful reinforcements!
The first powerful reinforcements Nara Shikaku thought of were... Danzo and Root!
But that seemed impossible. If Danzo openly led Root in an assassination of the Third, then even if he succeeded, Danzo would never be able to take the Hokage's seat.
From that perspective, Danzo and his Root could at most hide away and refuse to act.
Then who else could Orochimaru's powerful reinforcements be?
A great many thoughts flashed through Nara Shikaku's mind in an instant, but he could not think of an answer.
Seeing him fall into deep thought, Hatake Sakumo quietly sat on his