Not long after Ebizo returned to Sunagakure Ninja Village, reports arrived from across the country about stolen medicinal herbs. His wrinkles deepened as he read them. Had herbs gone missing in only one or two places, he would not have cared, but so many thefts occurring in so many places within such a short time could only arouse suspicion.
After carefully checking which herbs had been stolen, Ebizo confirmed that Konoha Ninja Village was responsible. These were among the ingredients his older sister Chiyo used in her poison research. Presumably, Konoha Ninja Village needed them to develop the Antidote.
In other words, with these herbs in hand, Konoha Ninja Village might well develop an Antidote, which would clearly be disastrous for Sunagakure Ninja Village. Much of its success on the battlefield depended on the power of its Gaseous Poison. Once that was lost, Sunagakure Ninja Village would no longer have the advantage.
Now, however, Ebizo faced another problem. The ability of Konoha Ninja Village's ninja to infiltrate seemingly anywhere during these thefts had left the local nobles of the Land of Wind feeling gravely threatened. They had submitted a joint petition demanding that Sunagakure Ninja Village be held accountable.
The Land of Wind's new daimyo also felt threatened. High-ranking nobles such as the daimyo had formidable guards around them, whom even one or two jonin might not be able to overcome. Even if the attackers could win, the daimyo and other high-ranking nobles would have time to escape somewhere safe. Still, allowing the enemy to enter the country at will was deeply unsettling.
Even the Wind Temple, which held an exalted position in the Land of Wind, had suffered a theft. What would happen if Konoha Ninja Village's ninja came not to steal, but to assassinate?
For their protection during