"Jonin Santoku, when we intercept intelligence, do we only need to subdue the other side?" a genin asked Santoku.
Santoku looked somewhat impatient. "To intercept intelligence, of course you need to obtain the intelligence code!"
"But what if... they refuse to talk even if they die?"
Quite a few genin grew concerned.
"Idiots! Do you think targets will always obediently confess while you're carrying out a mission?" Santoku rebuked them, then added, "You can refuse to talk even if you die. As long as you tear up your team's mission scroll, it counts as forfeiting, and you will immediately withdraw from the examination." Santoku explained.
However, upon hearing that explanation, the genin could not help frowning.
Interrogation ultimately depended on making the other party afraid. If they could escape at any time and merely have their score voided, it greatly reduced the intimidation factor.
Hearing everyone's discussion, Santoku gave a cold smile. "Destroying the scroll will count as elimination, and no one else may attack them afterward. However... I never said you have to watch them destroy the scroll."
At those words, many ninjas who lacked confidence in their strength stiffened, while the more combat-capable teams sneered.
In other words, as long as the other side did not have time to destroy their scroll, anything went!
Put another way, whether they could obtain the intelligence was not merely a matter of force.
Either they could swindle the intelligence out of them or eavesdrop on their rendezvous—that was skill in itself. Or, after taking the other side down by force, whether through Genjutsu or interrogation, they had to get the intelligence out of them. Only then would it count as a successful "interception."
The moment Akaseki heard the rules, he became interested. "Ahem, that's right. Interrogation is part of a ninja's