The Third Kazekage arrived at Shindai's home with two Ninja and said, "It's time."
The Third Kazekage ignored Shindai's complaints.
The Third Kazekage took out an extremely small needle and said to Shindai, "Come here. I'm going to perform the Mind Body Sand Manipulation Technique on you to seal your memories."
Shindai dejectedly walked up to the Third Kazekage and said, "Uncle Kaito, you must be careful. My livelihood depends on my brain."
The Third Kazekage waved his hand dismissively and said, "I've used this technique countless times; it won't fail."
Shindai turned around, presenting the back of his head to the Third Kazekage.
The Third Kazekage swiftly inserted the needle into the back of Shindai's head.
Shindai felt a sharp pain in his head.
The Third Kazekage performed hand seals, then placed his hands over Shindai's head.
"Mind Body Sand Manipulation Technique!"
Cursive script appeared on Shindai's head, then immediately vanished.
Shindai's eyes instantly became vacant, but after a moment, his vacant eyes became bright and spirited again.
Shindai looked at the Third Kazekage and the two Ninja in the room with confusion: "Huh? Uncle Kaito, why are you here?"
The Third Kazekage's hand chop was Shindai's answer.
The Third Kazekage knocked Shindai unconscious.
Shindai's Byakugan rolled back, and he immediately fainted.
The Third Kazekage instructed the two Ninja behind him, "Proceed as planned. In the Land of Rivers, comrades will meet you to find the Iwagakure Ninja. After completing the transaction with Iwagakure, immediately return to the Village with the supplies!"
"Yes!"
One Ninja hoisted Shindai onto his shoulder, and he and the other Ninja disappeared from the spot using the Instantaneous Body Technique.
The Third Kazekage stood in Shindai's room for a long time, his brows tightly furrowed.
"What was it Shindai asked me to do last night? Never mind, I can't remember. It probably wasn't anything important."
...
The Land of Rivers, a small country located at the border of the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire.
To guard against Sunagakure's sneak attacks, Konoha had continuously dispatched Ninja to be on alert in the Land of Rivers.
At the same time, Sunagakure also had Ninja in the Land of Rivers, and there were frequent skirmishes with Konoha Ninja.
However, the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, who should have been fighting Kumogakure on the battlefield, was now in the Land of Rivers.
The reason Minato Namikaze appeared in the Land of Rivers was for Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara.
As the Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze always charged into the most dangerous areas when engaging Kumogakure.
Because the battle level of Minato Namikaze was too high for Kakashi and the other two to participate, Minato Namikaze had little time to instruct them.
Therefore, during this period when the fighting with Kumogakure was less intense, Minato Namikaze accepted a mission in the Land of Rivers.
Because Sunagakure in the Land of Rivers was restless and constantly harassing the Konoha Ninja stationed there, Minato Namikaze came to the Land of Rivers, wanting to deter the Sunagakure Ninja and also to instruct Kakashi and the other two.
Just as Minato Namikaze arrived in the Land of Rivers, a Konoha Ninja rushed to find him.
"Minato-sama! We received intelligence a few days ago. We previously sent a Ninja beast to report the information to Hokage-sama, and Hokage-sama replied that Minato-sama has arrived in the Land of Rivers and should carry out the mission!"
Minato Namikaze inquired, "What intelligence did you receive? What mission does the Third Hokage want me to do?"
The Konoha Ninja reported, "We captured a suspicious Sunagakure Ninja a few days ago. That Sand Ninja immediately tried to destroy a scroll, but we intercepted it, and that Sand Ninja committed suicide.
The content of the scroll states that Iwagakure is willing to form an alliance with Sunagakure and is willing to exchange military supplies for a Ninja possessing the Magnet Release Bloodline Limit, to demonstrate Sunagakure and Iwagakure's determination to ally.
Hokage-sama's mission for Minato-sama is to do everything possible to prevent the alliance between Sunagakure and Iwagakure and to acquire that Magnet Release Bloodline Limit Ninja.
We have now arranged Ninja throughout the Land of Rivers. As soon as we discover Iwagakure Ninja in the Land of Rivers, we will immediately notify Minato-sama."
Minato Namikaze's eyes narrowed slightly.
Sunagakure wanting to ally with Iwagakure at this point, Minato Namikaze would never believe that Sunagakure wouldn't cause trouble.
Sunagakure had coveted Konoha's resources for a long time.
Although Iwagakure had not acted yet, during the battle between Konoha and Kumogakure, Iwagakure had already been restless, sending many Ninja to gather intelligence on Konoha.
Once Sunagakure and Iwagakure ally, they are very likely to jointly attack Konoha.
At that time, Konoha would be attacked from both sides, facing the encirclement of the three great Ninja Villages: Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Sunagakure.
Therefore, the alliance between Sunagakure and Iwagakure must be prevented.
As for that Magnet Release Bloodline Limit Ninja, Bloodline Limits are very precious in the Ninja World, so Hiruzen Sarutobi wanting to obtain that Magnet Release Bloodline Limit Ninja as a bargaining chip was very understandable to Minato Namikaze.
After all, the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release Bloodline Limit was incredibly powerful.
The Third Kazekage made a name for himself in the Ninja World with his Sand Iron, earning the title of "Strongest Kazekage."
Minato Namikaze said to the Konoha Ninja, "Good. To avoid alerting them, do not reveal that I have come to the Land of Rivers. If they know I'm here, they might change the transaction location."
The Konoha Ninja replied, "Currently, only a few Ninja know that Minato-sama has arrived in the Land of Rivers. I will inform them not to speak of it later."
Minato Namikaze nodded and said, "Understood. Go now. I will stay at the Garrison during this time, awaiting your news."
The Konoha Ninja left immediately to give the notification.
Three days passed. The two Sand Ninja carrying Shindai had already entered the Land of Rivers and met up with the awaiting Sand Ninja.
The scroll that the Konoha Ninja obtained was intentionally left for them by the Sunagakure Ninja.
If Sunagakure truly wanted to trade with Iwagakure, there would be no need to choose the Land of Rivers, which is closer to the Land of Fire; they could have chosen the Bird Country, which is closer to the Land of Wind and the Earth Country.
Now, they just needed to wait for the Iwagakure Ninja to arrive in the Land of Rivers for the transaction, and then the plan could be executed.
Another two days passed.
A five-person Iwagakure squad entered the Land of Rivers.
As soon as the Iwagakure squad entered the Land of Rivers, they were already tracked by Konoha Ninja.
Because the Iwagakure Ninja were most likely to enter the Land of Rivers from the north.
Therefore, the most Konoha Ninja were stationed there.
After discovering the Iwagakure squad had entered the Land of Rivers, the Konoha Ninja immediately notified Minato Namikaze.
After Minato Namikaze learned that the Iwagakure Ninja had arrived in the Land of Rivers, he immediately summoned Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara.
"We are about to embark on a secret mission. Depart immediately!"
Minato Team left the Konoha Garrison and swiftly headed towards the Iwagakure Ninja's location that the Konoha Ninja had pinpointed.