Fugaku received intelligence

"See what it says. Is Kumogakure about to attack?"

"He asked what Uchiha Yan's mission was. He wants to send Yan a ninja cat contract."

"He only thought of sending a ninja cat after he died?"

Utatane Koharu explained, "He started trying to send it as soon as he found out, but he hasn't been able to find him.

According to the news from Jinghai Town, that's true. Uchiha Yan stayed in Jinghai Town for only one night, then left the next day on a mission to find Kirigakure's commander-in-chief.

How should we reply? The way Uchiha Yan awakened his eyes was unprecedented. Fugaku clearly values Uchiha Yan more than Shisui."

The Third Hokage began agonizing again. If he did not tell Fugaku, he feared it would breed resentment in the Uchiha and cause them to disobey orders.

If he told Fugaku, he feared the other Uchiha clan members would want to kill Danzo over it. Whom would he protect then?

If he had died on a mission, the Uchiha Clan would have said nothing. But Kirigakure ninja were here now too. Telling him this news was telling him.

If they failed to follow the peace terms and left them dissatisfied, this news would surely reach the Uchiha Clan.

"One wrong step leads to another!"

After a long silence, the Third Hokage slowly said, "Write back to Fugaku. Tell him we've already arranged for the Hyuga Clan to search."

"Should we write to Danzo and warn him?"

"No! We'll discuss it after the war ends."

"What about Hozuki Yae's conditions? Are we really going to agree?"

The Third Hokage shook his head. "Wait until Kumogakure makes a move. Stall for now. I keep feeling there's something suspicious about this.

Normally, Kirigakure would fight at least one battle before negotiating peace, no matter what. This time, they're negotiating before the fighting has even started. It's a little strange."

Utatane Koharu looked puzzled. "What's strange about it? Konoha has been through so much, and they only just finished their war with the Land of Wind. It's normal for them not to want a major conflict right now."

"I don't know! Something about it just feels strange!"

Having held the Hokage position for decades, and being a Kage-level ninja himself, the Third Hokage believed this feeling was no illusion. Even if it was, he could not agree to peace talks just like that.

Meanwhile, Hozuki Yae wandered around Konoha with her subordinates. Her purpose in coming here was to let Kumogakure's spies see her.

If she sneaked around, how would Kumogakure's spies find out? How would the plan succeed?

Everything went just as she had expected. The moment she appeared on the street, someone noticed her.

She was clearly not from Konoha, her skin was paler than most people's, and her cuffs bore the Hozuki Clan's distinctive crest. It was impossible for her not to attract the attention of ninja.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Fugaku also received a letter from Uchiha Jinyan. Reading its contents, he felt his heart pound with alarm.

He was not Jinyan. Besides his strength, he had relied on his brains to become clan leader.

The brief statement that Uchiha Yan was in the Land of Sea and the request for him to send two Jonin to rescue him were enough to prove many things.

"Why is that bastard being so vague? Does he think I'm an idiot?"

"Clan Leader, what's wrong?"

Fugaku handed the letter to Inabi. "Why is Jinyan so stupid? Is he really an Uchiha? Check the family tree carefully when we get back."

Inabi glanced at the letter and was equally speechless.

"Maybe he's scared! He must have learned something, but he was afraid of ruining Yan's plan, so he didn't dare say it."

"..."

Fugaku's face darkened. "He keeps quiet when he should speak, and says everything when he shouldn't.

Send a message by ninja cat. Have him tell us everything immediately.

I'll go see Senior Homura first. Find me there once you've asked him."

"Yes!"

Uchiha Fugaku rose and headed for headquarters without stopping anywhere along the way.

He knew there had to be a reason Uchiha Yan had gone to the Land of Sea. The fact that he had encountered danger there yet had not died was highly suspicious.

He thought Uchiha Yan was probably being held captive now. For some reason, the other party had not killed Yan.

With all these questions in mind, Fugaku entered headquarters. It was already full of Jonin, including the leaders of the Ino-Shika-Cho Clans.

"Fugaku, why are you so late today?"

"Senior Homura, I received a letter from Jinyan saying Yan is in danger in the Land of Sea. That's why I'm late."

"The Land of Sea?"

Mitokado Homura looked puzzled. "Has Danzo changed? Is this really Danzo?

Ahem! Pretend you didn't hear that!

Fugaku, you don't need to worry too much. There aren't many Jonin in the Land of Sea.

Kumogakure hasn't begun attacking yet. Send two Uchiha clan members to make a quick trip there and back."

Fugaku shook his head. "Even if Danzo didn't kill Yan, Yan wouldn't desert in the face of battle.

Besides, Jinyan is in the Land of Rain. How did he get this intelligence? The ninja cat contract hasn't reached Yan yet.

I keep feeling Yan discovered something and sent Jinyan intelligence through some means, but Jinyan overlooked it."

Shikaku spoke up in agreement. "Clan Leader Fugaku is right. Since Uchiha Yan dared to shoulder all the blame, he isn't someone who would desert in the face of battle.

The most important thing now is to ask Lord Danzo exactly what mission he assigned Uchiha Yan."

Hearing Shikaku say the same, Mitokado Homura felt it would be best to ask Danzo. If they really had overlooked crucial intelligence, they would be in trouble.

"Clan Leader! Clan Leader! Something terrible has happened!"

Inabi's voice came from outside the door. Everyone turned toward it and saw him rushing over with a sheet of paper in hand.

"Yan is telling stories to a Kirigakure Anbu Jonin. Jinyan got his intelligence from Amegakure.

'Blade in hand, bring judgment in every direction.' It was that line that made Jinyan question Amegakure's intelligence personnel, and that was how he learned Yan was in the Land of Sea.

There's something else. Yan was about to die, but after he said something to the Kirigakure Anbu Jonin, the Jonin took him to meet someone.

Security was too tight for the Land of Rain's intelligence personnel to learn that person's identity."

"Kirigakure?"

Shikaku's expression changed drastically. "Quick! Send word back to the village immediately. Have the Third Hokage send people to investigate the Land of Sea.

And contact Lord Danzo. We need to find out Uchiha Yan's mission immediately.

We must rescue Uchiha Yan. If he managed to stay alive while surrounded by Kirigakure Anbu, he must know a great deal and have made a deal with them.

Now that he's passing intelligence through stories, he must have crucial information. It may well concern the outcome of the war."

"We can't rush!"

Fugaku spoke gravely. "Inabi, did he say what the story was?"

"No! Jinyan didn't pay any attention to it. All he cared about was someone changing the line, 'Blade in hand, bring judgment in every direction.'"

"That bastard! That fool!"

"Oh, right! There's another piece of intelligence. Maki asked the Land of Rain's intelligence personnel about this himself."

"What intelligence?"

"Yan went to the Land of Sea as soon as he left Jinghai Town. He also asked about the recent fishing catches along the Land of Hot Water's coast.

He thinks Yan must have discovered something and gone to the Land of Sea because of it, rather than being captured or sent there by Danzo."

"How do the Land of Rain's intelligence personnel know so much?"

"Lord Jiraiya's student personally arranged it. He knew Danzo wanted to kill Yan, so he sent people to secretly provide Yan with intelligence support."

Shikaku looked grave. "Clan Leader Fugaku, this is no longer just the Uchiha Clan's business.

I suspect Kumogakure and Kirigakure are holding talks in the Land of Sea. Kumogakure may have delayed its attack because the talks aren't going smoothly.

You'd better have the Ninja Cat Clan find Uchiha Yan right now. And Uchiha Yan must not die."

"I know! The problem is that once a ninja cat contacts Yan, Kirigakure may very well kill him outright to prevent its secrets from leaking.

Remember, Yan is still only a Genin, and he only just awakened his Sharingan."

"True! Ninja cats have chakra. Kirigakure's sensory ninja aren't fools. They won't let a ninja cat contact Uchiha Yan."