The bonds in the Ninja World are always very strange.
Uchiha Sasuke joined the Akatsuki organization, but still hadn't discovered the truth about his clan's massacre, and continued to have somewhat of a tie to the Konoha Village.
However, he didn't think he had any hope of turning back, so he casually mentioned some unnecessary intelligence to Hatake Kakashi.
After Sasuke shared the intelligence, he parted ways with his former teacher and instead headed off to another battlefield location.
This scene fell into the eyes of Uchiha Itachi.
Uchiha Itachi looked at his brother with mixed feelings, vaguely knowing what Sasuke had said to Kakashi, a hint of anxiety in his heart.
Although this was the battlefield, everything was under Uehara Naraku's distant surveillance, surely Sasuke didn't know how to be a spy, right?
Did he really think a symbolic fight could clear suspicion?
Fortunately, apart from Uchiha Itachi, there were others who understood the situation on the battlefield.
Hatake Kakashi glanced at Sasuke, who was about to walk away, quickly conjured a bolt of lightning in his hand, and fiercely pierced Sasuke's shoulder.
This idiotic student!
Hatake Kakashi watched the incredulous look in Uchiha Sasuke's eyes, gradually closed in on him, and whispered, "Sasuke, don't casually leak information to others. Remember, protect yourself within the Akatsuki. Naruto is still waiting for you!"
"..."
Uchiha Sasuke immediately realized his mistake.
After seeing Sasuke hurt, Uchiha Itachi quickly leaped over, grabbed Sasuke, and shielded him with his own body, then kicked Hatake Kakashi away!
The Akatsuki organization completely took the advantage.
Unable to break the stalemate, Hatake Kakashi couldn't fight back directly, the aerial assault was untreatable, leaving Konoha Ninjas no way to resist.
Nara Shikaku finally helplessly gave the order to retreat: "Tell everyone to collectively retreat south to the border for reassembly, leaving three Anbu teams to hold the rear!"
Seeing Konoha Ninjas retreating one after another, the members of the Akatsuki didn't dawdle, swiftly resolving the Konoha Anbu, and then pursued the main Konoha force closely.
The Konoha Ninjas were utterly routed.
Nagato pressed the brim of his hat, softly saying, "That high-profile figure from Konoha, even after a complete collapse, still hasn't chosen to make a move?"
Information obtained using the Human Path's Heart Layer Stealth Technique indicated that Konoha had arranged for a high-profile figure here, and that figure had yet to appear.
Uehara Naraku raised his brow, chuckling softly: "Naturally, a high-profile figure won't move easily, probably on the border over there!"
At the border of the Land of Fire and the Land of Grass.
Indeed, there was a high-profile figure nearby.
Uehara Naraku's guess was not wrong; that high-profile figure was one of the Konoha Sannin, Jiraiya, although it was just a coincidence.
After hearing about the destruction of the Hidden Grass Village, Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto hurriedly changed their travel direction and rushed to the vicinity of the Land of Grass. They intended to continue traveling east to the Hidden Hot Water Village after the alliance meeting.
Unfortunately, this alliance meeting was destined not to proceed as scheduled.
The originally planned meeting location was the Daimyo Mansion in the Land of Grass, but now that Konoha Ninjas were driven out from the Land of Grass by the Akatsuki organization, how could the meeting take place?
Jiraiya and Uzumaki Naruto soon encountered one retreating Ninja squad after another near the border of the Land of Fire; they also met Hatake Kakashi and Nara Shikaku and others.
"Kakashi, what's going on?"
"The Hidden Rock Village hired the Akatsuki organization."
Hatake Kakashi wrapped the wound on his palm, speaking gravely: "The Akatsuki organization assembled an unprecedented number of more than a dozen S-rank rogue ninja to launch a fierce attack on us. Given the lack of sufficient combat power, it's impossible to form a resistance."
"Hmm?"
Jiraiya's face showed a hint of surprise, somewhat confused: "Weren't members of the Akatsuki supposed to act in pairs? Are you sure it was them?"
"Definitely."
Hatake Kakashi covered his forehead, lowering it, speaking softly: "The biggest issue now is that the Hokage planned to hold the alliance meeting, yet we lost the Land of Grass, so the meeting cannot proceed as planned..."
"Well..."
Uzumaki Naruto furrowed his brow, speaking out: "Teacher Kakashi, since there are so many members of the Akatsuki, have you seen Sasuke?"
"..."
Hatake Kakashi fell into silence.
Is now the time to ask about Sasuke?
Alright, it seems appropriate to inquire about Sasuke as well.
Hatake Kakashi nodded slightly, looking towards Uzumaki Naruto, saying: "Sasuke has become much stronger, Naruto, he should be a lot stronger than you are right now..."
"Hmm, I understand."
Uzumaki Naruto clenched his fists.
Hatake Kakashi watched this scene, unsure whether or not to mention that Sasuke had leaked information to him, as Uzumaki Naruto might impulsively rush back to try persuading Sasuke to return, which would cost Sasuke his life.
This matter could only be kept in his heart for now.
Nara Shikaku suddenly walked over, softly explaining: "Kakashi, Jiraiya-sama, if the Hidden Rock Village hired the Akatsuki just to drive us out of the Land of Grass, it would be fine. But what if they also hired the Akatsuki to attack the members attending the meeting?"
"What?"
"Would the Akatsuki organization dare to attack the high-ranking officials of various countries?"
"If given enough money, they would even dare to invade a country; simply attacking and assassinating high-ranking officials seems like a task they excel at."
"If I remember right."
Hatake Kakashi rubbed his temples, speaking softly: "This afternoon, Lady Chiyo and Lady Terumi Mei will arrive in the Land of Grass! I will immediately send people along the route to support and alert them!"