Before finishing his words, Fukasaku Sage thought of a possibility, that the White Snake Sage hadn't even arrived and merely destroyed Mount Myoboku.
Jiraiya, puzzled, said: "Why Ryuchi Cave? The contractor there is Orochimaru, he wouldn't do something like this...."
Namikaze Minato reminded: "Jiraiya-sensei, there seems to be another contractor of Ryuchi Cave..."
Jiraiya clapped his hands and said: "Right, there's Uchiha Yoichi, but he doesn't seem like someone who would destroy Mount Myoboku...Great Toad Sage, are there any other clues?"
"Hmm...the other thing is Little Jiraiya, you stood on Mount Myoboku and thus followed it to destruction alongside us...."
Upon hearing the Great Toad Sage's words, Jiraiya's mouth hung open in shock, falling silent.
Then suddenly he laughed twice and said: "As expected of the White-haired Toad Sage, it sure feels like my decision."
"Great Toad Sage, what about me? I'm also a contractor of Mount Myoboku..."
Namikaze Minato raised his hand and asked, curious about his appearance in the prophecy, estimating he'd stand by Jiraiya-sensei's side.
"Who are you?"
The Great Toad Sage looked at Namikaze Minato and asked.
After recalling Namikaze Minato, the Great Toad Sage continued his previous words: "There was no sight of you, Little Minato, in the prophecy."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly became quiet, thereafter Namikaze Minato, slightly unwilling, said: "That shouldn't be the case, since Jiraiya-sensei is there, why wouldn't I be present?"
Jiraiya patted Namikaze Minato's shoulder, comforting: "Isn't this a good thing? Perhaps you got delayed by something."
"But Great Toad Sage and Fukasaku Sage, I will thoroughly investigate this matter, currently the two contractors of Ryuchi Cave are Konoha Ninjas."
Fukasaku Sage's tone was slightly heavy: "Do not push yourself, Little Jiraiya...."
Until now, the Great Toad Sage's prophecies have never been erroneous, thus Fukasaku Sage privately believed that Mount Myoboku's fate may have reached its end.
"Fukasaku Sage, don't worry, I will definitely stop this from happening!"
Jiraiya firmly comforted, this being his second home, he would never sit back and let such an event transpire.
Indeed Jiraiya wanted to inquire more detailed information regarding the Ryuchi Cave contractor afterward, but the Great Toad Sage had already fallen asleep as he went to speak.
Jiraiya had no choice but to abandon the inquiry, bid farewell to Fukasaku Sage, then returned to Kikyo Castle with Namikaze Minato.
"My apologies, Shikaku, it was a failure. Even though we infiltrated, the Hidden Sand Ninja hid the One-tailed Jinchuriki, and the one Minato found was fake."
Jiraiya relayed the course of action of this event upon meeting Nara Shikamaru.
It could only be described as a near miss.
Nara Shikaku, after hearing this, also felt regret, yet still comforted: "Lord Jiraiya, it's good that you and Minato returned safely, this mission was risky from the start, fortunately, there were gains over at Cloud River Iron Mine...."
Over at Cloud River Iron Mine, there was actually only Gama Hiroshi and ten Konoha Ninjas. They used Shadow Clones and Transformation Jutsu to create the illusion of a Konoha Ninja Corps raid on Cloud River Iron Mine, then intimidated Hidden Sand Ninja into retreating using Gama Hiroshi.
The plan was carried out well; the only pity is not having found the real One-tailed Jinchuriki.
Nara Shikaku said: "All we can do is wait for the village's communication; Hidden Sand Ninja might initiate an attack later...."
————————————
Land of Lightning, near the border of the Land of Hot Water.
In an area filled with stone forests, a slaughter had just concluded with Uchiha Yoichi sitting aside recovering his Chakra, a corpse laying before him—a result of his recent battle.
This Hidden Cloud Ninja had some strength, managing to persist under him for ten minutes, though his name was unknown, his requirements for Reanimation were fulfilled.
As Inuzuka Daikichi and others pursued the remaining two Hidden Cloud Ninjas, Uchiha Yoichi sliced a piece of flesh from the corpse, subsequently preserving it.
After Uzumaki Minami achieved breakthroughs on refining sacrifices using Hashirama Cells, he began crafting Reanimation fighting forces.
Currently, he had accumulated the flesh of three Hidden Cloud Jonin.
Shortly after, Inuzuka Daikichi and the three returned with a live person.
"Captain, we've gained a lot this time. These three Hidden Cloud Ninjas seemed to be delivering communication to their village, attempting to destroy the scroll upon interception, but were halted by Lord Yoshimura."
Inuzuka Daikichi spoke with a smile; what began as a simple assassination unexpectedly yielded further spoils.
"In Hidden Cloud Village, the captives' mouths are stubborn; it's now up to the captain."
Illusion Technique is indeed an interrogation method, within their squad, there exists the Sharingan representing illusion.
Uchiha Yoichi approached and turned the face of the captured Hidden Cloud Ninja, causing the Three-Tomoe to swiftly spin, instantly subjecting him to Illusion Technique.
Whether an interrogation via Illusion Technique succeeds depends on the captive's natural resistance to illusions. If such a gift existed, prolonged durations under Illusion Technique were expected.
Yet this Hidden Cloud Ninja was up against Uchiha Yoichi; his Illusion Technique could control Nine-tailed for ten minutes. This Hidden Cloud Ninja's willpower in front of Uchiha Yoichi was laughable.
Once subjected to Illusion Technique, his eyes clouded swiftly, with all actions now under Uchiha Yoichi's Chakra control.
"How does this confidential communication scroll get deciphered?"
"Ox, Monkey, Boar, Rabbit, Sheep...."
The Hidden Cloud Ninja swiftly divulged the scroll's decryption method under Illusion Technique, with Hyuga Yoshimura following suit, solving the scroll using the Sealing method.
"Captain."
The scroll was handed to Uchiha Yoichi, who promptly opened it to survey its contents.
Very short, only one line: Protect Yugito to the campsite.
Inuzuka Daikichi, bewildered, asked: "Yugito? Who is she, is she someone among Hidden Cloud Ninja?"
"Might she be a Land of Lightning aristocrat? Given the use of 'protect,' her strength should be low..."
Hyuga Yoshimura speculated, yet Inuzuka Daikichi immediately refuted: "What business would Land of Lightning aristocrats have at the war front? Surely it's not a Land of Lightning aristocrat—they are all life-preserving people."
"No need to guess, she's the Two-tailed Jinchuriki!"
Uchiha Yoichi interrupted their argument, continuing: "Now, I reckon she's around ten years old, likely just became the Two-tailed Jinchuriki....Hidden Cloud probably intends to gather two Jinchuriki to launch a decisive battle against our main camp."
"This...so ruthless!"
Inuzuka Daikichi, shocked by the news, had his mouth twitching spasmodically, then hurriedly said: "Captain, we must return at once to report this news to Jonin Sakumo."
"What's the rush to return for?"
Uchiha Yoichi pointed at the name on the communication scroll and said: "Since we know that the Two-tailed Jinchuriki will arrive, let's wait for her here."
This....
Inuzuka Daikichi and the three felt their captain's nerve had grown when hearing Uchiha Yoichi's words; not only did it exceed Jonin Sakumo's mission scope, but he'd come this far behind enemy lines in the Land of Lightning.
Though they'd previously followed the captain's orders, proposing an assassination of the Two-tailed Jinchuriki now....
Hyuga Yoshimura spoke to remind: "Captain, the men we've slain—and the opposition surely won't receive the message. Although other means might allow the Two-tailed Jinchuriki's arrival, the failure of these three Hidden Cloud Ninjas to return will certainly alert them to intercepted intelligence..."
Either altering routes or ensuring numerous guards for the Two-tailed Jinchuriki, resulting in severe danger.
"Indeed perilous, under such circumstances, I'm uncertain if I can safely protect you all."
As Uchiha Yoichi spoke, Inuzuka Daikichi and the three originally nodded lightly, presuming the captain had accepted advice.
Though upon realization, the words felt slightly off.
Uchiha Yoichi continued: "So you three return to report this intelligence to Jonin Sakumo, I'll stay longer here. Should an opportunity arise, I'll act; otherwise, I'll return to the camp."
"No need to worry about me, I assuredly won't die!"