Dan's spirit floated back at least a kilometer, watching the preparations. "No need to waste your energy," he shouted. "I couldn't harm you even if I tried, nor do I have the strength to possess anyone. Carry on with your things I will be on my way."
Reanimation had its drawbacks, but traveling in his soul form bypassed most of them. Usually when he was alive, leaving his body meant straining his chakra reserves, but with Hashirama's cells enhancing his reanimated body back in Konoha, distance or time he could remain in spirit form was no longer an issue.
Dan didn't like dealing with Iwa. That old bastard Onoki was the one responsible for his death, and working in alliance alongside his killer left a bitter taste in his mouth though he could feel nothing in his mouth. But Kumo's growing aggression left Konoha with little choice. Survival required uncomfortable alliances, which meant sharing intelligence with both Kirigakure and Iwagakure to hold the Kumo front
He moved across the Land of Lightning in just minutes, which is an impossible feat even for the Raikage at his fastest speed. As he flew, his mind drifted back to Hokage Danzo's instructions and the strange boy the he had mentioned... but he seems to have bandages wrapped over his eyes. Dan couldn't figure what role the kid played in Hokage Danzo's endless web of schemes, but he didn't have time to dwell on it. Before he could piece together what might have happened to Kaien, he had reached the east coast.
The mist covered over the east coast of Land of the Lightning, thick enough to make the visibility zero beyond ten centimeters. High above it, Dan Kato hovered in his spirit form, looking down at the white smoke like expanse.
"Who is the commander of the mist?" Dan's shout echoed over the shoreline. "Come forward. I come from Konoha and I bring you the new updates regarding the threats in this region. You should have already received confirmation of the alliance from your Mizukage."
He didn't actually need to speak. The moment Dan arrived near the coast, Ao's mirror clones could see with their Byakugan and had already alerted every elite Mist Ninja.
A moment later, the mist parted slightly. Four figures rose into the air, suspended inside translucent bubbles. Dan blinked, caught off guard. He hadn't expected Kirigakure shinobi to possess flight techniques. What he didn't realize was that the trick belonged to Utakata, the Six-Tails jinchuuriki.
Water Release: Bubbles Technique — Drift (Suiton: Hōmatsu no Jutsu — Hyō).
Utakata was carrying himself, Mei, Fuguki and Ao, while actively bending light around his own bubble and Ao's to stay completely invisible.
To Dan, only two people seemed to emerge from the haze: Mei Terumī and Fuguki Suikazan.
"I am Mei Terumī, commander of this battalion," Mei said with a sweet voice. "What information did Konoha send you to deliver?"
"Can you hold out an empty scroll for me?" Dan asked Mei, which complied though she found it odd.
Dan made an ox hand seal as the information was transferred on the scroll Mei held out as he can not carry a physical scroll in his spirit form. "The scroll contains the details on Hatake Kakashi, an estimate on how quickly Kumo can assemble a full fighting force, and detailed maps of the surrounding terrain."
Mei opened the scroll, and looked back up at Dan with unimpressed eyes. "If this is all you have, you've wasted your trip. We are more than capable of handling this Kakashi on our own. But, there is to than this... spill it out?"
Dan appreciated her decisiveness. She was young, but she didn't waste time on pleasantries, nor was she easily swayed by basic intel. "Fair enough," he replied.
Dan made few hand seals as he summoned two small reincarnation pills which landed on Mei's hand. "Crush them when in need, someone will come to your aid. However, if the threat proves too overwhelming, they will automatically be called back to preserve our asset."
Mei caught the pills, her mouth twisted into a slight scowl. "So you're handing us a backup plan that flees like a coward when things get tough?"
She complained, but she didn't throw them back. In a war, it is better to have as many options as possible than none. Dan couldn't figure out Danzo's true motive for giving Kiri these reincarnation pills, but knowing the old man, there should be a hidden ledger somewhere. He would never give away assets for free. Maybe he wants kidnap potential talents or unique kekkei genkai from Kiri.
Standing slightly behind Mei, Fuguki Suikazan watched the exchange silently, giving a slow nod of approval.
"Mei was handling the situation perfectly. Her tactical decisions since arriving at the coast had already saved them countless resources. Covering the entire eastern shoreline in thick mist kept their numbers concealed, and camping right along the sea meant water style users could fight at peak efficiency without draining too much of their chakra."
"By refusing to march inland into unknown territory, she is forcing Kumo to come to them on bad terrain. Kumo could wait for an indefinite time and our resources will burn away however the sea is full of food. But her opening gambit had been effective: using Utakata's Tailed Beast Bombs to obliterate a distant outlying village, provoking Kumo will force them to make the move."
"She has the mindset of a true leader," Fuguki thought, his hand resting near the hilt of blade. "I need to make sure she survives this war. She's the future of the Kirigakure."
"My message is delivered," Dan said. "Use the intel wisely. I will come back with more."
With his task finished, Dan released his Spirit Transmission Jutsu. His ghostly form dissolved into white light, shooting back across the continent toward the hidden room in Konoha where his reanimated body lay dead.
Once Dan was completely out of sight, Utakata and Ao finally let their camouflage drop. Ao was the first one to break the silence, with a worried frown on his face. "Kumo hasn't made a move despite all the provocation, and our rations won't last more than a month. Should Utakata keep firing Bijuu Bombs to pressure Kumo into attacking?"
Mei shook her head. "No. We wait for Konoha and Iwa to join the fray so we can push forward together. In the meantime, send hunting parties to clear out the local wildlife, and have Mangetsu draw salt from the sea to preserve the meat." she read through the scroll Dan left and tossed it toward Ao. "Dispatch scout teams to monitor the authenticity of the map."
Turning her attention to the rest of the group, she started to give orders. "Fuguki, Utakata... take a couple of Ao's clones and begin the search for the Three-Tails immediately. It should have been restored by now it's been six years."
~~
A/N: There is one real Ao and a dozen of Ao clones Yagura created using Aqua mirror technique.
I felt it would be stupid of Konoha not to use Dan Kato for information gathering and delivering.
You ask why Dan did not do that when he was alive? He simply had no chakra reserves for such long tours.
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