"The village's reinforcements have already set out and will arrive at our location in about three days," Jiraiya announced in the cave, holding a message recently delivered by a toad from Mount Myoboku. He glanced around at the others.
Using Mount Myoboku to transmit information was something only Jiraiya could do in Konoha at the moment. Among all the ninja beast families with which Konoha had signed contracts, only Mount Myoboku was trusted by Konoha's top officials.
"And what are Sandaime's instructions for the current situation?" Uchiha Kai asked.
Jiraiya shook his head. "None yet. They're likely still consulting with the other council members."
"That makes sense," Orochimaru said. "The next steps can't be decided so easily. The battlefield in the Land of Rain has stabilized somewhat after the last battle. The Rock Ninjas have suffered heavy losses, and with Konoha's presence, it's hard for the Sand Ninjas to make any significant moves."
However, the Second Ninja War was unlikely to end just yet.
Konoha's philosophy had always been not to advocate for the invasion of other nations—an ideal passed down from the First Hokage.
But this wasn't the First Hokage's era anymore, and principles might need to evolve.
"What's the exact route for the reinforcements?" Hatake Sakumo asked. For Konoha's forces, the reinforcements were secondary—what they needed most were material supplies.
"For security reasons, the route is known only to Sandaime and a few top officials," Jiraiya explained.
Everyone nodded in understanding.
After a moment, Sakumo spoke up. "I'm still a bit uneasy. Let me lead a team to meet them."
"There's no need for that," Tsunade said, frowning.
"Just to be safe. I have a nagging feeling something is off about the last time we were besieged by three villages," Sakumo replied, voicing his concerns.
They still couldn't fully explain how the Rock Ninjas had discovered Konoha's movements, or who had started the fire in the Konoha camp just before the large-scale attack. These mysteries remained unsolved.
Everyone understood Sakumo's concerns.
"In that case, I suggest assigning half of our sensory ninjas to your team," Uchiha Kai said. "Even if you don't encounter the reinforcements, it could be an opportunity to scout the border of the Land of Rain. We rarely get such chances."
The Land of Rain remained closed to outsiders, and the major ninja nations knew little about it. To avoid unnecessary conflict, a team equipped with sensory ninjas was essential.
"I don't need that many people," Sakumo said. "I'll take a Hyuga ninja and Suzuka." Suzuka was one of their best sensory ninjas.
"Alright," the others agreed.
"In addition, I'd like to include Namikaze Minato in my team," Sakumo added.
"That kid…"
Previously, aside from Jiraiya and Sakumo, few would have paid much attention to Minato. But after the last battle, the ten-year-old had become an elite within their forces. His record of killing three Jonin alone was enough to earn him that title.
"No problem," Jiraiya said with a smile.
Sakumo nodded. "I'd also like Uchiha Yoruki to join this mission."
"Fine by me," Uchiha Kai agreed with a grin.
"Take Nawaki with you, too," Tsunade suddenly said.
The others gave her surprised looks. Tsunade had never allowed Nawaki to participate in such risky missions before.
Seeing their expressions, Tsunade rolled her eyes. "With Minato and Uchiha Yoruki on the team, Nawaki's competitive nature will push him to keep up. Rather than letting him stay with me, it's better for him to follow Sakumo and broaden his horizons."
"It's rare for you to think this way," Jiraiya chuckled. He knew how much Tsunade loved Nawaki, and he understood what a difficult decision this was for her.
Sakumo nodded. Though he hadn't interacted much with Nawaki, he had a good impression of the straightforward young man. His strength was certainly enough to be part of the team.
"Whether you meet the reinforcements or not, return within four days," Jiraiya instructed.
Sakumo nodded, then turned and left the cave.
About an Hour Later
Outside the cave, nearly thirty ninjas stood in neat formation before Sakumo.
Technically, this number of ninjas was more than what would normally be assigned to a survey team, but Sakumo had taken combat factors into account when assembling the group. Every member had extraordinary strength.
In addition to Uchiha Yoruki, there was also an elite Jonin from the Uchiha clan who had activated the three-tomoe Sharingan.
A ninja from the Aburame clan had also been included. While their sensory abilities might not be as sharp as the Byakugan's, they had other advantages, especially for this type of mission.
Unlike when they first arrived in the Land of Rain, Minato, Uchiha Yoruki, and Nawaki were no longer at the back of the team but scattered in various positions.
Despite his young age, Minato stood at the forefront—he had been assigned the task of forward scouting.
But now, forward scouting wasn't much of a challenge for Minato. In fact, aside from Captain Hatake Sakumo, no one in the team could match his speed.
What others didn't know was that Minato also possessed sensory abilities. However, he refrained from using them carelessly, aware of Suzuka's keen senses.
"Everyone, thank you for your hard work," Jiraiya said as he came to see them off. He glanced at Minato, who stood at the front, and gave him a nod of approval.
The thirty or so ninjas looked solemn, understanding the weight of the mission.
"Alright, let's move out," Sakumo ordered, giving Jiraiya a reassuring look before turning to lead the team.
The survey team followed, their figures gradually fading into the rain and darkness until they disappeared from sight.
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