Kuto sent Shinobi Hawk to deliver a letter for him.
However, Shinobi Hawk hadn't flapped its wings much in the air before it once again blacked out and fainted.
This time, it wasn't Minato Namikaze who knocked out Shinobi Hawk, but Kakashi.
The moment Kuto summoned Shinobi Hawk, Kakashi sensed it through the mark Minato Namikaze had left on Shinobi Hawk.
Kakashi untied the letter from Shinobi Hawk and opened it to read.
[Uncle Kaito, I am currently at the Konoha Garrison in the Land of Hot Springs. After facing immense hardship, surviving countless near-death experiences, and narrowly escaping with my life, I have obtained extremely important intelligence regarding the war between Konoha and Hidden Cloud Village in the Land of Hot Springs.
The Kumogakure plan to launch a full-scale assault on the Konoha Garrison in the Land of Hot Springs soon, intending to wipe out all the Ninja there. I believe this intelligence is very important to Uncle Kaito, so I immediately reported it to him.
My current situation is also extremely difficult. Because I am not trusted, I have been constantly bound and restricted. If the Kumogakure launch a general offensive against the Konoha Garrison, then I will certainly be in extreme and very grave danger, and there's a high chance I might lose my life.
I have now performed a great service. I hope Uncle Kaito can approve my successful withdrawal and allow me to return to the Village!]
Kakashi looked at the letter and remained silent for a long time.
Finally, Kakashi murmured in disbelief, "Is there something wrong with this guy's head?"
How could the Kumogakure launch a full-scale assault on the Konoha Garrison? It's still just a skirmish phase.
From Kakashi's perspective, based on that map, the Kumogakure should only be trying to sneak attack the Konoha Garrison.
After all, Jiraiya had said that after Minato and the others left, the Kumogakure took the opportunity to counterattack, and then Orochimaru dispatched a Ninja unit to ambush the Kumogakure's rear garrison.
So Kakashi believed that the Kumogakure were most likely just trying to retaliate against Konoha.
Moreover, even if the Kumogakure really were going to launch a full-scale assault on the Konoha Garrison, what does that have to do with Hidden Sand Village?
Could Hidden Sand Village really send people all the way to the Land of Hot Springs to stir up trouble?
Are the Konoha Ninja stationed in the Land of Rivers just for show?
And the most important point: if he's been constantly bound and restricted, how did he write the letter, and how did he summon Shinobi Hawk?
And he performed a great service? A successful withdrawal? What else could this be if not a sign of mental illness?
Kakashi picked up a pen and paper. After carefully examining Kuto's handwriting, he thought for a moment and began to write.
[Uncle Kaito, I have now completely gained Minato Namikaze's trust and have followed him to the Konoha Garrison in the Land of Hot Springs. I have also successfully met Jiraiya, one of the Leafs Sannin. Jiraiya has no doubts about my identity. I am currently trying to gain Jiraiya's trust. The undercover mission is going very smoothly, please rest assured, Uncle Kaito.]
After finishing, Kakashi checked it, put the letter into an envelope, and then re-tied it to Shinobi Hawk's body before leaving.
Ten minutes later.
Shinobi Hawk woke up from its coma but didn't move, standing still as if a paralysis jutsu had been cast on it.
Another three minutes passed.
Shinobi Hawk suddenly furiously clawed at the bark of a tree in front of it, shredding it.
Now it felt better.
Shinobi Hawk was treating this tree as Kuto.
If its previous comas were only a guess that they might be related to Kuto, now, it was absolutely, undeniably linked to Kuto.
After all, this situation had never occurred before, but now that it had become Kuto's summoned beast, it would fall into a coma every time it saw Kuto.
So Shinobi Hawk already had a firm guess in its heart: Kuto was toxic!
Actually, Shinobi Hawk had also thought before that perhaps someone had knocked it out.
But the letter on its body had no problems, so Shinobi Hawk ruled out that possibility.
Although it was very angry, the letter still had to be delivered. Shinobi Hawk cursed under its breath as it took off and left.
...
At this moment, inside Orochimaru's tent.
Jiraiya had already told Orochimaru the whole story.
"Orochimaru, I think there's definitely more than one Kumogakure secretly stationed near our Konoha Garrison. Kuto said he saw seven or eight marks, so it's possible the Kumogakure have seven or eight garrisons in the vicinity. Therefore, I think we need to act immediately and clear out the nearby Kumogakure!"
Orochimaru looked at the map, deep in thought.
After a moment of contemplation, Orochimaru spoke, "No need to clear them out."
Jiraiya looked at Orochimaru in surprise, asking in confusion, "Why?"
Orochimaru analyzed, "I also agree with your guess. There's definitely more than one Kumogakure garrison near the Konoha Garrison, and they must be seeking revenge for our previous ambush on their rear garrison.
However, we only know of one of their garrisons. Searching for their other garrisons would surely alert them, and it would require dispatching a large number of Ninja to search, thus leading to a void within our garrison, which would instead give them an opportunity.
There are 16 Kumogakure in one garrison. It's impossible for 16 Kumogakure to sneak attack our Konoha Garrison. If there are 7 garrisons, and each garrison has this many Kumogakure, adding up to about a hundred Kumogakure, then it would be possible.
Therefore, we absolutely cannot make the decision to disperse our forces now. Instead, we must gather together and be ready to resist any Kumogakure who try to sneak attack us."
Jiraiya frowned slightly and said, "Are we just going to wait for them to attack? We've already guessed their plan. Why don't I personally lead a team? Aren't there a few Hyuga Ninja and Inuzuka Ninja in the garrison? I can take them to secretly search for those Kumogakure garrisons."
Orochimaru rejected Jiraiya's suggestion, a cold and cruel smile playing on his lips: "No need, the efficiency is too low. And if they knew their plan was discovered, they would definitely choose to retreat, and I want to capture them all in one fell swoop!
Don't we already know of one of their Kumogakure garrisons? We just need to send people to keep an eye on that garrison. When they act, it means all the hidden Kumogakure will act.
And we can prepare in advance, capturing all these Kumogakure who want to sneak attack us in one fell swoop, killing them all here!
A hundred Kumogakure dying here—I imagine Hidden Cloud Village will feel that loss for a long time, won't they?"
Jiraiya felt a chill in his heart as he saw Orochimaru's sinister smile.
Jiraiya complained, "Orochimaru, can't you smile more normally? You're giving me the creeps."
The smile on Orochimaru's face vanished instantly and without a trace. He looked at Jiraiya with an expressionless side glance and asked, "That Hidden Sand Village undercover agent you mentioned is quite interesting. In that case, the task of monitoring that Kumogakure garrison will be entrusted to them."