Shikaku didn't respond immediately. Instead, he took the scroll Samui handed him and began to read it.
Shinji also looked over from the side, and upon seeing the information, he couldn't help but shake his head.
This way, it's not just that they can't get information about the Akatsuki. Even a slightly larger movement could be known by the Akatsuki, allowing them to prepare countermeasures.
But it's normal. After all, Kumogakure only thought it was a so-called mercenary ninja organization.
"Jonin Samui, has Kumogakure suffered any personnel losses because of this?"
Since it was their own operation, Shinji couldn't ask too directly.
Samui calmly shook her head and said, "This intelligence was only found through Iwagakure and some underground trading posts."
"However, we still learned some things: Akatsuki members usually operate in groups of two, and their abilities are almost complementary."
"So, I'd like to ask if the undercover agents dispatched by Konoha have grasped their specific intelligence."
Samui couldn't help it. Currently, Konoha was the most knowledgeable about the Akatsuki in the entire Ninja World.
Shinji glanced at Shikaku. Such matters depended on Shikaku's arrangements.
Shikaku put down the scroll in his hand, and closed his eyes in thought for a moment. Then, he took out two scrolls from beside him and pushed them to the Kumogakure and Kirigakure sides respectively.
"These are the Akatsuki members' ability characteristics that Konoha currently possesses."
Samui and Ao were stunned, then picked up the scrolls and began to read them.
After a series of readings, Ao's lone eye flickered, and he pointed to the first three unknown individuals in the intelligence, saying, "Konoha doesn't have information on these three?"
After all, the higher up on the list, the higher their status in the Akatsuki.
Shikaku, with a cigarette in his mouth, asked Ao with a hint of displeasure, "Our dispatched undercover agents also need to pay attention to their own safety. What? Does the Kirigakure side have anything to add?"
The first three were the most inscrutable existences Itachi found in the Akatsuki, how could he casually write down their intel?
Ao's expression stiffened, and after taking a deep breath, he slowly calmed himself.
Regarding the Akatsuki, the Kirigakure side harbored the most hatred, as these were the people who had plunged their entire Kirigakure into such a predicament for so many years.
Samui handed the scroll in her hand to Darui, then spoke to Shikaku, "Thank you for Konoha's intelligence."
"Overall, these Akatsuki members are almost all S-rank rogue ninjas issued by various countries and ninja villages."
"However, there's one thing I'm not quite clear about."
"What exactly is the ultimate goal of this Akatsuki?"
Samui couldn't help but feel astonished by the intelligence. Apart from the three unknown individuals, almost everyone, even the two who had already been dealt with were S-rank rogue ninjas from various ninja villages.
Although an S-rank bounty didn't necessarily represent the strength of the rogue ninja, they were all individuals who had caused their respective villages to pay a price or possessed secrets of their villages. Moreover, after their escape, they all made a formidable name for themselves.
For Kumogakure, who had formed an alliance with Konoha, Shikaku naturally had a different attitude.
"As for the ultimate goal of the Akatsuki, we are not entirely clear on the specifics."
"However, they capture Tailed Beasts, so why don't we hear if the Kirigakure side has any specific intelligence?"
This was originally an intelligence sharing session, and Kirigakure's initial tone was too direct.
Shikaku insisted that the Kirigakure side reveal some things, as Konoha was also very curious about Kirigakure's affairs.
The death of the controlled Fourth Mizukage and the detailed intelligence on the decade-long Bloody Mist Policy. All of this could allow Shikaku to analyze from the side and see what this masked man was trying to do.
Ao looked around. Not only Konoha, but even Kumogakure showed an eagerness to understand.
He recalled what Mei had told him before they set off.
'Ao! If Konoha wants to know about Kirigakure's past, I permit you to reveal some information.'
'However, I want to know who this person who controlled the Fourth Mizukage is.'
Ao's lone eye narrowed slightly as he said, "We in Kirigakure are also one of Akatsuki's victims, so the Fifth Mizukage wants to know."
"Who is the person who controlled the Fourth Mizukage?"
"I once glimpsed the Chakra of the person controlling the Fourth Mizukage. In my eyes, his Chakra was extremely cold and full of malice."
"The Fourth Mizukage only broke free from control in his last moments of life, saying that the person who controlled him was absolutely no ordinary individual."
"And after that, Kirigakure's pursuit squad had been tracking their whereabouts, but their anti-reconnaissance abilities were very strong."
At this moment, Ao could only state these facts. As for biting back at Konoha again and suspecting the Uchiha, Kirigakure had already unified their stance before leaving the village.
Konoha at this moment was not the Konoha of the past. Two of the Sannin had returned to Konoha. Hiruzen also had a disciple whose genius was renowned throughout the Ninja World.
In addition, Konoha had achieved a great victory against Iwagakure and Sunagakure.
Kirigakure no longer had the right to question Konoha from a so-called equal footing.
Moreover, Kirigakure now needed to rebuild and needed to win over Kumogakure and Konoha. It would be better to join forces with Konoha to find the person who controlled Yagura.
As long as that person was found, then it would be up to their respective abilities. If Kirigakure could capture this person first, they wouldn't be as passive as they were now.
Samui and Darui exchanged glances, both with grave expressions.
Even if Kirigakure had fallen to the point where a Jinchuriki had to become the Mizukage, it didn't mean that the Fourth Mizukage was weak.
On the contrary, Kirigakure had so many Kekkei Genkai clans that Kumogakure envied them, and to seize the position of Mizukage from so many clans, the Fourth Mizukage's strength was not to be underestimated.
Yet, such a person was controlled for over a decade? Only breaking free from control just before his death.
Such a thing made them all think of a Kekkei Genkai.
Sharingan.
Shikaku's face was utterly calm. This situation had already been envisioned.
It's just that the Fourth Mizukage only broke free from control when he was about to die, was this masked man's ocular power that strong?
"Regarding the plight suffered by the Fourth Mizukage of Kirigakure, Konoha expresses its regret."
"We are also looking for this person, after all, ten years ago, Konoha was attacked by the Nine-Tails, and I believe everyone here knows about it to some extent."
"At that time, Nine-Tails was also controlled."
After Shikaku finished speaking, he paused.
There was no other way. If Kumogakure and Kirigakure continued to harbor this idea, many subsequent actions couldn't be carried out, so it was better to put Konoha in the same position as them.
Even Nine-Tails could be controlled. There's no reason for Konoha to do such a thing. It should be known that in that battle, the Fourth Hokage died because of it.
What good person would do something that shoots themselves in the foot?
A Hokage who overshadowed all others, causing Iwagakure to issue a directive to abandon missions if he was encountered.
A Hokage whom Kumogakure's AB combo couldn't handle, was not just a Hokage. He was Konoha's pillar of strength, and even he died in that disaster.