Konoha, Year 36.
"Teacher Orochimaru, Shinichi and the others sent back some intelligence."
"Oh? Is that so? Let me see what intelligence Shinichi and the others sent back."
The two speakers were Nawaki and Orochimaru. At that moment, they were at a post near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain.
Nawaki brought over the Earth Centipede, then took a letter from the small pack strapped to its back.
Orochimaru took the letter and quickly unfolded it to read. But after only a brief glance, his brows knitted tightly.
The writing on the letter was clear, and its contents were roughly as follows.
The Eye-Nose-Ear Team had spotted a large number of unidentified people outside the Land of Fire's border. They had been loitering near the border for some time.
The experienced Orochimaru saw through their true purpose at a glance: they were spies from other countries.
Now that these spies had been spotted loitering outside the Land of Fire's border, they were clearly waiting for a chance to sneak into the country.
The letter also contained some additional information that needed to be reported. After reading it,
Orochimaru immediately took out a sheet of paper and began writing. He ordered the Eye-Nose-Ear Team to continue observing the situation.
If they spotted anyone attempting to sneak into the Land of Fire, they could capture them alive at once.
Once he had finished writing, Orochimaru tucked the note into the Earth Centipede's pack.
After receiving its orders, the Earth Centipede burrowed into the ground as it always did, disappearing from the post.
Orochimaru then briefed the other ninja at the post before taking Nawaki back to Konoha.
The scene shifted to the outermost edge of the Land of Fire's border.
"Shinichi, the Earth Centipede's back."
Aburame