He lit his tobacco, took several deep drags, and blew out a ring of smoke.
The Third sank into thought after hearing the news. Zou Hyuga's concealment left him feeling betrayed. At the time, the two of them had yet to leave ANBU.
On the other hand, they had risked their lives to extract considerable information about the Masked Man.
He had spent years investigating the Masked Man who had attacked the village, yet still understood little about him.
If the Masked Man did not hate the village, he would never have attacked Konoha and unleashed the Nine-Tails to wreak havoc. Yet after the Fourth Hokage's death, when nothing remained to hold him back, he had stopped attacking the village and limited himself to minor harassment.
It was truly baffling.
Regardless, the Masked Man was an enemy the village could not ignore. His mere existence was enough to keep the Third from eating or sleeping in peace, afraid that history would repeat itself.
After pondering for a while, the Third said, "All right, you two may go. I'll handle this matter properly. Until then, make absolutely sure you don't tip him off."
Zou Hyuga and Oto nodded lightly, then watched the Third as they slowly left the office.
After Zou Hyuga and Oto left, the Third calmed himself and tried to return to his paperwork, but he could not sit still. He waved a hand and called into the empty air, "Tell the elder advisors and Jiraiya to come to the conference room."
"Yes!" Responses rang out from the air, and dark figures darted away in every direction.
Before long, the elder advisors had filled the conference room. Everyone except Jiraiya was present.
Looking at his old companions, the Third sighed. Without waiting for Jiraiya, he shared the intelligence he