The conference room was filled with silence.
When Shikaku revealed this truth, Samui and Darui had already abandoned their previous notions.
Even if Konoha was completely insane, it wouldn't do such a thing.
That was the Fourth Hokage! An existence that dominated the Ninja World in that era.
Ao looked solemn, as Kirigakure was already showing signs of isolation at that time. He only learned this information today.
"I... apologize for this matter." Ao solemnly apologized to Shikaku and Shinji.
Shikaku waved his hand, his fingers interlaced, supporting his chin.
"This matter ends here. Konoha is willing to share this intelligence with Kumogakure and Kirigakure, which means we all face the threat of this organization. Now, there are a few core issues."
"First, the Akatsuki's ultimate goal."
"Second, the true identities and abilities of its leader and the other two."
"Third, the Akatsuki's strongholds."
"Fourth, how to effectively prevent them from capturing other Jinchuriki."
Darui sat up straight and looked at everyone present, saying, "Kumogakure supports establishing a joint intelligence network with Konoha, as well as a rapid response mechanism."
"This was also what Raikage-sama instructed us when we departed."
Shinji glanced sideways.
Was it A's suggestion?
But thinking about it, it made sense. Both of Kumogakure's Jinchuriki were perfect Jinchuriki. Such combat power was invaluable to all ninja villages.
Shikaku nodded without speaking, while Ao nodded and said, "Kirigakure agrees with this idea."
Even though the current Kirigakure no longer had any Jinchuriki.
Shikaku waited until Ao finished speaking before nodding and saying, "Good, Konoha also hopes to cooperate with everyone for mutual benefit."
"Konoha has already established an encrypted and cross-national intelligence transmission channel for this."
"We invite Kumogakure and Kirigakure to join, sharing real-time eyewitness reports of Akatsuki members, ability analyses, and suspicious locations."
"As for the Jinchuriki, each village will temporarily defend itself, and if necessary, they can contact each other for coordinated defense."
Samui naturally had no objection to this, as they only wanted to eliminate this organization.
As for contacting Konoha and Kirigakure for help, for now, neither side had that level of trust.
"Finally, there are the response teams. Form several teams composed of elites from each respective village."
"Once a highly credible location for the Akatsuki is confirmed, the nearest team will go to intercept and apprehend them."
As Shikaku said this, he slowly exhaled a puff of smoke.
"To avoid being defeated one by one due to insufficient strength from a single side, the team members need complementary abilities."
"Forming mixed teams?"
Darui looked nonchalant. This was also Kumogakure's stance.
"Although coordination will be troublesome, Raikage-sama has already given instructions."
"For the team members, Samui and I will participate first. As for the protection of the Jinchuriki, Kumogakure can handle it ourselves."
This was the final bottom line. After all, no one trusted another village enough to entrust their Jinchuriki to them.
"Kirigakure agrees to this plan." Ao immediately agreed.
Kirigakure currently didn't have many personnel to assign. Mixed teams could minimize unnecessary waste of personnel.
"Regarding personnel, we will give a reply after returning to Kirigakure."
"Kumogakure can provide the necessary communication technology and encryption support to ensure secure contact."
"Understood, this matter itself also requires discussion."
"Furthermore, Konoha also needs everyone to review ancient texts and secret archives as much as possible after returning, searching for any records of what might happen after the Tailed Beasts are gathered."
"Understood." Samui nodded and agreed.
"No problem." Ao nodded slightly.
Kirigakure was already at a disadvantage in this three-way cooperation and needed to make up for it in other areas.
"Then, today's preliminary consensus is reached."
"Subsequent details will be further finalized after discussions among the various Kage. I hope this is the first step for our three great ninja villages to jointly confront the threat."
Shinji remained silent.
Today's cooperation was based solely on their respective hatreds and threats. What the future held was not something that could be seen now.
—
"Phew..."
Hiruzen slowly exhaled a smoke ring, looking at the people before him.
Jiraiya, Shikaku, Shinji, Kakashi, Guy, and Shizune.
"For this joint team, you all are the key personnel."
"Although it won't happen immediately, everyone should still prepare and improve their abilities."
"Yes." Everyone responded in unison.
The candidates Konoha put forward were already the optimal combination.
For intelligence, there were Shikaku and Kakashi.
For medical support, Shizune. Tsunade had no interest in this mission. More accurately, Tsunade would remain in Konoha to prevent any surprise attacks.
Shinji's role was to be on standby for support, while the true main force participating in the team would be Guy and Jiraiya.
Hiruzen waved his hand, speaking with a serious expression, "These next few days will involve thorough discussions with Kumogakure and Kirigakure. Once the time is right, action will commence. For now, everyone can disperse."
The others left one after another, leaving only Jiraiya and Shinji.
Jiraiya casually sat down on the sofa and asked, "Old man, can you tell me now why you've always been unwilling to let me leave the village?"
He had also seen the intelligence.
Amegakure...
This was the place he had always wanted to go to alone. Now, it turned out to be where Akatsuki members were located, which made Jiraiya realize something.
"Senpai, you can take a closer look at the intelligence." Shinji, receiving Hiruzen's gaze, pushed a scroll towards Jiraiya.
Konoha would not reveal all information for now. For the time being, the cooperation between the three ninja villages was only due to certain shared interests. It was far from reaching a level of complete trust from Konoha.
Jiraiya frowned, picked up the scroll, and began to read.
"Suspected Sage of Six Paths's eyes..."
Jiraiya, having just opened the scroll, murmured in disbelief.
Shinji slowly nodded. "That's right. It was the three disciples you took in the Land of Rain during the Second Great Ninja War. Akatsuki was founded by them."
This intelligence was narrated by Itachi, and some of it he had found from Konoha's mission report archives.
After all, Jiraiya had stayed in the Land of Rain for three years at that time. Such a long period of not returning would naturally be recorded.
If it weren't for Hiruzen's protection at the time, Danzo and the other two Hokage advisors would have used this matter to make trouble for Jiraiya.
After all, a ninja leaving the village for three years without any mission was enough to be declared a rogue ninja.
"How could this be..." Jiraiya looked utterly disbelieving, that the disciples he taught would turn out this way.
(End of Chapter)
Read 50 Chapters ahead on
patreon.com/astralicity