Days later, a messenger hawk carrying top-secret intelligence landed in Hidden Leaf Village.
After the intelligence team deciphered the message tied to the hawk's leg, it was immediately delivered to the Third Hokage's desk.
"They've found the Akatsuki's base holding the captured jinchuriki?"
The moment the Third saw the report, his brows instinctively furrowed.
Given the gravity of the intelligence, the entire advisory elder council had gathered in the Hokage's office upon hearing the news.
Koharu Utatane said, "The Akatsuki's base is in the Land of Demons? That aligns with the intelligence team's earlier speculations."
Tsunade asked, "Is the information reliable?"
The Third replied, "The reconnaissance team included sensory shinobi who confirmed the presence of tailed beast chakra in the cave, likely from a jinchuriki going berserk. However, the Akatsuki quickly suppressed the rampage, so the team couldn't gather more details."
Jiraiya said, "We searched for so long without finding anything, and now this intelligence suddenly surfaces. Could it be a trap set by the Akatsuki?"
The Third nodded. "That possibility can't be ruled out!"
Mitokado Homura said gravely, "If this is indeed a trap set by the Akatsuki, their goal is clear!"
Koharu Utatane completed his thought. "To lure away our main forces and then, like last time, launch another attack on Hidden Leaf!"
The Third wasn't surprised.
When they agreed to consolidate the remaining jinchuriki in Hidden Leaf, they had anticipated facing such a dire situation.
The only thing he hadn't expected was that the Akatsuki's next move would come so quickly!
Tsunade frowned. "But isn't the Akatsuki's trap a bit too obvious?"
"No!" The Third slowly rose, walked to the window, and looked out with his hands clasped behind his back. "The Akatsuki is testing our alliance!"
Koharu Utatane agreed. "Exactly. Once Onoki gets wind of this, even if he suspects it's a trap, he won't sit idly by. Then we'll face the choice of whether to rescue or not!"
Mitokado Homura added, "If we abandon the rescue of Hidden Rock's captured jinchuriki this time, Hidden Rock, which no longer has jinchuriki and thus isn't a target for the Akatsuki, will surely grow resentful. Our shinobi village alliance will collapse as a result."
Tsunade nodded slightly. It was a straightforward logic.
Since it was impossible to confirm whether this top-secret intelligence was an Akatsuki trap, there was a chance it was a genuine oversight by the organization.
If the shinobi alliance ignored the intelligence, they might miss their last chance to save the three captured jinchuriki.
The Third sighed. "We can't keep this hidden. Notify the other four Kage and convene a Five Kage Summit!"
Soon, the four Kage who received the message gathered in the meeting room of the Hokage Building.
The Third Hokage presented the intelligence from the Land of Demons' reconnaissance team and said, "This is the report we just received!"
As expected, the Kage didn't erupt in righteous fury but instead fell into silent contemplation.
The Fourth Kazekage said, "The Land of Demons is on the western edge of the shinobi world. If this is an Akatsuki trap, we won't have time to return and reinforce!"
The Third Tsuchikage countered, "Have you forgotten? Based on our prior analysis, the Akatsuki is most likely hiding in the Land of Demons or the Land of Iron!"
The Fourth Mizukage shook his head. "But if this is a trap, the consequences are unimaginable. We can't afford that cost!"
The Third Tsuchikage scanned the Kage in the room. "Are we just going to ignore this intelligence? If so, what's the point of searching the entire shinobi world for the Akatsuki?"
As the Fourth Mizukage noted, the shinobi alliance had already lost three jinchuriki. Falling into another Akatsuki trap would be a cost they couldn't bear. But ignoring it was something the Third Tsuchikage couldn't accept.
At that moment, the ever-straightforward Fourth Raikage spoke up. "If it's a trap, the Akatsuki's goal is likely to lure us away and attack Hidden Leaf. So why not use this to our advantage and ambush them?"
The Fourth Kazekage frowned. "What do you mean?"
The Fourth Raikage roared, "We pretend to leave Hidden Leaf, then hide within the Land of Fire. When the Akatsuki takes the bait, we strike back and wipe them out!"
The Third Hokage glanced at the Third Tsuchikage, noticing his interest, and quickly said, "The Raikage's plan is feasible. Passive defense will always have flaws. Why not seize this opportunity to eliminate the Akatsuki once and for all?"
The Third Tsuchikage hesitated.
The chance to rescue his village's jinchuriki was rare, but so was the opportunity to eradicate the Akatsuki. Deep down, he also believed this was likely an Akatsuki trap.
The Fourth Kazekage said, "The method is feasible, but the execution is tricky. How do we convince the Akatsuki we've fallen for their trap? Leaving Hidden Leaf openly won't fool them!"
The Kazekage hit the nail on the head.
Delivering false intelligence without arousing suspicion was always a critical part of any strategy. Even the Fourth Raikage, who proposed the plan, and the seasoned Third Hokage fell into thought.
At that moment, the Fourth Mizukake said, "I have a way!"
The Fourth Mizukage had long suspected someone, and this plan was the perfect chance to test that suspicion.
After reaching a consensus, the Five Kage immediately began secretly mobilizing personnel.
To deceive the Akatsuki, the mobilization was highly confidential. Even elite jonin not involved in the operation were kept in the dark.
All personnel involved were under a gag order and monitored to ensure no leaks.
Thus, on the evening of the third day, after two days of assembling and training, the elite team quietly slipped out of Hidden Leaf through a secret passage. To create a diversion, many participants left shadow clones in the village.
...
At Hidden Mist's Temporary Base.
Fuguki Suikazan summoned a Hidden Mist shinobi and asked, "Where's Kisame Hoshigaki? I haven't seen him all day!"
The Mist shinobi replied, "Kisame-sama seems to be on a secret mission for the Mizukage!"
Fuguki Suikazan asked casually, "Is that so? What mission?"
The Mist shinobi started to answer.
Fuguki interrupted, "Never mind. If it's a secret mission from the Mizukage, I won't pry. Go about your business!"