After temporarily resolving the issue with the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki, Sōgen returned to the command tent, only to find another stack of documents on his desk. He instinctively shook his head. This work seemed never-ending. Although he could use shadow clones to handle some of it, the accumulated fatigue was unavoidable.
More importantly, he had to always maintain enough strength for battle. He couldn't afford to waste chakra on tasks like paperwork. If the Cloud Shinobi attacked while he was exhausted from overusing chakra, it could be disastrous, even if the chances were slim. As the supreme commander, it was his responsibility to be ready to fight at any moment.
This was why most people rarely used shadow clones for official duties, even in the village.
"Power comes with responsibility."
Sitting at his desk, Sōgen began working through the documents. There weren't any particularly tricky issues, just routine matters like resource allocation and personnel dispatches. Most of it only required his confirmation and signature, though a few files needed more thought.
The pile of papers steadily diminished.
"Clan leader, urgent news."
Just as Sōgen was about to finish clearing the documents, Uchiha Futaba, temporarily serving as his secretary, rushed in with a sealed letter in hand. Judging by the marks and seals, it was top-secret information.
"Tch!"
So much for a break. Sōgen had hoped to finish his work and continue his research on chakra nature transformation, but it seemed plans were always subject to change. Top-level encryption—something serious must have happened in the village.
Sōgen's expression grew serious as he took the letter and said, "Futaba, call the decoding team."
The seal on the letter was intact, confirming it hadn't been tampered with. However, it used a technique known only to the intelligence department, meaning it could only be opened with specific methods or by a sealing expert. Even Sōgen, though he had some knowledge of sealing techniques, was far from being an expert.
The decoding team arrived quickly. Leading them was a young man in his twenties with short brown hair and glasses. Unlike the usual green vest and blue pants of Konoha shinobi, the team wore the specialized uniforms of the interrogation unit: grey outfits with black belts and ninja boots.
"Lord Hokage's assistant!" they greeted.
"Dokure, unlock it."
Sōgen handed the letter to Dokure, a genius not in combat but in fields like interrogation and decryption. Despite his civilian origins, he had talents in Yin Release rivaling even those of the Yamanaka clan.
"Yes, sir," Dokure responded.
Without hesitation, Dokure and his team inspected the seal carefully, identifying its type and method before proceeding to dismantle it right there in the tent. This ensured the letter's contents wouldn't be altered during the process.
Konoha had a well-established intelligence system, most of it rooted in the foundations laid by the Second Hokage and expanded under the Third Hokage. While not perfect, it was mature and effective. The Third Hokage's efforts in strengthening these systems were notable compared to the Sand and Mist Villages, whose third leaders didn't achieve as much for their respective villages.
As Sōgen mused on these matters, Dokure and his team swiftly removed the seal, handing the decoded message to him.
The letter was written in a prearranged code, but Sōgen knew the decoding method by heart. He didn't need a cipher book; he mentally unraveled the message with ease.
"They actually pulled it off! Leave it to the Nara."
A smile appeared on Sōgen's face, feeling a surge of satisfaction. The letter wasn't from the village, but from Jiraiya. Futaba had assumed it was village intelligence, but fortunately, it was good news, and no harm had been done.
"Dokure, don't leave yet. I need to write a reply, and I'll need you to reseal it afterward. Wait in the adjacent tent for now," Sōgen ordered. He then turned to Futaba. "Go summon the Hyūga and Aburame clan leaders for an emergency meeting. I'll give you a list of others to call."
Futaba, much like Chihaya, had strong focus but wasn't as intense a battle maniac. Under Sōgen's guidance, she could handle the duties of a secretary.
After relaying Sōgen's message to the leaders on the list, Futaba returned.
"Clan leader, what's going on? Is the Cloud Village attacking?" Hyūga Hiashi asked, rushing in.
"No, it's good news, Hyūga clan leader. Please have a seat. The others will be here shortly. Cloud hasn't made any major moves recently," Sōgen replied with a smile.
"Good news?" Hiashi asked, puzzled.
Seeing Sōgen's relaxed smile, Hiashi calmed down and took a seat. Soon after, Aburame Shibi, Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Fugaku, Nara Shio, Yamanaka Mokuren, and others arrived as instructed.
Among the attendees was even Salt Spring, the current leader of the Hidden Hot Water Village.
The once spacious tent now felt cramped, and Salt Spring, lacking an assigned seat, sat near the entrance on a cushion.
"Futaba, is everyone here?"
"Yes, sir. Everyone on the list is present."
"Good. Stand guard outside and make sure no one approaches."
Although many in the room were sensory-type shinobi, it was still important to maintain a sense of order and privacy. Once Futaba had left, Sōgen cleared his throat and said, "I've called you all here to share some good news."
Good news?
The room buzzed with curiosity as the attendees speculated on what this "good news" could be.
Salt Spring, seated at the back, let his mind wander. Could the Cloud Village be retreating, opting for peace talks? If so, that would indeed be good news. The Hidden Hot Water Village had suffered heavily during the war, and business had dried up. Peace would mean a chance to revive the economy.
"Jiraiya's letter just arrived. The war in the Land of Grass with the Rock Village is over. Jiraiya will soon lead his forces to support us."
"That quickly?"
Uchiha Fugaku cried out in shock, his face filled with disbelief.
He wasn't the only one surprised—many others in the room showed expressions of astonishment. Almost everyone present was aware of the intelligence reports about the Iwa-nin moving south, and they all knew that the Third Tsuchikage, Ōnoki of Both Scales, had personally taken to the battlefield. In their minds, it would have been good enough if Lord Jiraiya's forces could just hold back the Iwa-nin's advance.
But now, unexpectedly, the battle against the Iwa-nin had ended so quickly.
Were the Iwa-nin really that weak?
Everyone began to speculate about the reasons for the swift end to the battle. Was Ōnoki simply too old and lacking energy? Or did Lord Jiraiya unleash some incredible power and crush Ōnoki's spirit? Various thoughts flickered through their minds.
Thump, thump!
Sougen tapped his finger on the table, bringing everyone's attention back to the present. "You don't need to know the details of what happened. What you need to understand is that the battle in the Land of Grass is indeed over. Not only will Lord Jiraiya be bringing reinforcements, but if everything goes as planned, the Iwa-nin will also cooperate with us in a joint assault on the Kumo-nin."
"Really? Lord Hokage's advisor, is what you're saying true?"
Nara Shiomizu almost jumped out of his seat upon hearing this news.
As a member of the Nara Clan, he had heard from his family about a bold plan suggested by their clan head. The head had even sent Suzaku to Jiraiya's forces to see if an opportunity could be found. Could it be that Suzaku had truly convinced the Third Tsuchikage?
"Of course it's true," Sougen replied calmly. "Lord Jiraiya sent a secret message stating that the army is already fully prepared. While the main forces can't move as quickly as the message, if there are no unexpected delays, they should arrive in the Land of Hot Water within the next two or three days. So, Shiomizu, prepare for their arrival. Set up the camps and everything that needs to be done in advance. I assume I don't need to explain all of that, do I?"
"Leave it to me!"
Nara Shiomizu stood up and solemnly accepted the task.
"Hyūga Clan Head, Aburame Clan Head, do your best to eliminate the scouts that Kumo has sent out. Before Lord Jiraiya's reinforcements arrive, I don't want the Kumo-nin to receive any intelligence that might lead them to retreat. I'd rather not have to chase them all the way to the Land of Frost."
Even the Land of Hot Water had already seen snowfall, so the Land of Frost must be below freezing now, where water would turn to ice in an instant. Although ninja were highly adaptable, it was still better to avoid extreme weather when possible.
"I will personally oversee this," Hyūga Hiashi responded confidently. "Don't worry, Lord Hokage's advisor. I guarantee that not a single Kumo-nin scout will make it back alive."
Of all the people in the room, the happiest was undoubtedly Hyūga Hiashi. While everyone harbored a general dislike for the Kumo-nin because of their village's conflict, Hiashi had an even deeper, more personal grudge.
Every time he thought of how his brother, Hizashi, had sacrificed himself to protect the clan, it felt as if a knife was twisting in his heart. For the sake of the clan and the village's greater good, Hiashi had endured this pain in silence. Perhaps time could slowly heal the wound.
But it had only been five years since Hizashi's death—far too short a time for his hatred to fade.
And now, the opportunity for revenge was right in front of him.
How could he not be excited?
Aburame Shibi glanced at the overly excited Hiashi but said nothing. He merely nodded at Sougen, indicating that he, too, would give it his all.
And so, task after task was delegated. Even Salt Spring was given the job of leading the Hot Spring ninjas to assist Nara Shiomizu with logistical support. Given the limited abilities of the Hot Spring ninjas, sending them to the front lines would just make them cannon fodder, a free gift to the Kumo-nin. They were much better suited to handling rear support tasks, where they could actually be quite competent!