The intelligence obtained from the Underground Gold Exchange about Sasori only includes information on his appearances in the Land of Hot Water and the Land of Crafts.
Although the Hidden Sand Village is also searching for Sasori, a missing person, compared to the Third Generation Kazekage, this genius Puppet Master is still not very important.
After obtaining the intelligence, Uchiha Yoichi set off for the Land of Rivers.
Meanwhile, in the Land of Rivers, negotiations were drawing to a close.
Because the new Daimyo of the Land of Rivers is inclined towards the Land of Fire, and Konoha Village is solely targeting the Hidden Sand Village without involving the Hidden Rain Village, in the trilateral negotiations, Konoha and the Hidden Rain Village are almost on the same side.
After the new round of negotiations ended, Jiraiya and Nara Shikaku achieved significant success.
"Shikaku, even the Hidden Rain Village is on our side now. Yesterday, Minister Yoshiyasu hoped we could be firmer and kick out the Hidden Sand Village, forming an alliance between the three of us."
Jiraiya said to Nara Shikaku. He is not very good at negotiations, and sitting here every day purely served as Konoha Village's backbone.
Surviving a confrontation with Hanzo and earning the title of one of the Sannin, then completing many tasks in the Ninja World thereafter, making a name for himself; he is a strong individual and his presence alone could intimidate the Hidden Sand Village without having to speak in negotiations.
"Minister Yoshiyasu said to me that if we could secure the Hidden Sand Village's share, the Daimyo Mansion would be willing to increase Konoha's funding by an additional hundred million ryo."
In prior negotiations, the share of the Land of Wind and the Hidden Sand Village had been significantly reduced, yet they still manage to earn four to five hundred million ryo annually from the Cloud River Iron Mine. If the Land of Fire could seize this share as well, giving Konoha a billion ryo wouldn't be a problem.
"Lord Jiraiya, although a hundred million ryo is a lot, the Hidden Sand Village will probably not give up. They won't fully abandon their share unless we mobilize for war!"
Nara Shikaku pondered for a while, then slowly shook his head and said, "We're already at a great advantage, trying to completely kick out the Hidden Sand Village might first be met with objection from the Hidden Rain Village, as Hanzo isn't a fool. If only the Hidden Rain Village and Konoha remain, Hanzo would surely worry that they might be next...."
This proposal doesn't even warrant consideration, as the village wouldn't agree; their task was to try and get benefits for the Land of Fire, not to risk everything to help the Daimyo Mansion make more money.
"Is that so, then it seems this is our limit for now."
Jiraiya said somewhat regrettably, "The Hidden Sand Village seems more anxious than we are, Shikaku, up till now, the Third Generation Kazekage has not shown up, do you sense any plot the Hidden Sand Village might be scheming?"
The Nara Family has always been the village's strategists. During the Second Great Ninja War, the Nara Race assisted Konoha in devising strategies, securing many victories.
Nara Shikaku, though not yet twenty years old now, was no less insightful than his father, as personally stated by Nara Shikasuke.
"Lord Jiraiya, I don't know about this either, there's too little information, have the reconnaissance teams not responded yet?"
Jiraiya shook his head and said, "There have been responses, but they yielded nothing, one team even lost contact, I've already dispatched the Anbu to support them, now I just worry if the Third Generation Kazekage is scheming something while we have no countermeasures."
Nara Shikaku asked, "Lord Jiraiya, what about that Uchiha Chunin? Has he also not reported back?"
"None of the other mission teams found anything either, how could he? Moreover, Uchiha Yoichi hasn't even contacted the Anbu, I don't even know where he is now...."
Just as Jiraiya finished speaking, there was a knock on the door from outside.
Upon permission, someone entered and immediately reported to Jiraiya, "Lord Jiraiya, Uchiha Yoichi, the Chunin, has returned, he said he completed the mission."
"What?"
Nara Shikaku and Jiraiya were surprised upon hearing this, they exchanged a glance, both finding it incredible.
The mission was to gather information on the Third Generation Kazekage, and they had already lost hope, yet unexpectedly, Uchiha Yoichi managed to complete the task.
"Let's go and see."
They immediately moved, exiting the building.
Upon reaching the hall, Jiraiya saw Uchiha Yoichi drinking water, then anxiously asked, "Uchiha Yoichi, did you gather information on the Third Generation Kazekage?"
"Yes, is it convenient to speak here?"
Jiraiya glanced at Nara Shikaku, who then said, "It's fine here, Chunin Yoichi, please speak freely."
Uchiha Yoichi nodded and said, "The Third Generation Kazekage is already dead, and the killer is very likely the genius Puppet Master Sasori from the Hidden Sand Village."
"Dead, dead!?"
Jiraiya and Nara Shikaku froze at this news, feeling they must have misheard, they quickly asked, "Chunin Yoichi, did you just say the Third Generation Kazekage is dead?"
"Yes, he's already dead now!"
"The killer.... is also the genius Puppet Master Sasori from the Hidden Sand Village?"
Uchiha Yoichi shook his head and said, "It's just a possibility, Sasori most likely defected, that's my guess, but it's confirmed that the Third Generation Kazekage is deceased."
Jiraiya frowned and asked, "How was this intelligence gathered? How can you confirm that the Third Generation Kazekage is indeed dead?"
"The Third Generation Kazekage once had a summoned beast, a red Great Snake named Shinga. The Shinga serpent is a Great Snake from Ryuchi Cave. Later, the Third Generation Kazekage betrayed and used the Shinga serpent, for a false credit for himself, and afterwards, Shinga never appeared alongside the Third Generation Kazekage....."
Uchiha Yoichi paused and then continued, "Although Shinga was betrayed and used by the Third Generation Kazekage, the summoning contract between them was not dissolved. Some time ago, I found Ryuchi Cave, and before subduing Shinga, I had it use the Reverse Summoning Jutsu to call the Third Generation Kazekage, but there was no response."
No response signifies that the part being summoned is deceased; otherwise, the Reverse Summoning Jutsu is generally irrefutable, even if summoning were refused, the part being summoned would know, and Jiraiya knows this best.
"Now that you mention it, I do recall that before becoming the Third Generation Kazekage, he did have a Great Snake summoned beast, but I didn't know if it was from Ryuchi Cave, Uchiha kid, so you've spent the past month in Ryuchi Cave?"
Jiraiya asked while stroking his chin.
Uchiha Yoichi took out a scroll and said, "Not only that, I also investigated Sasori's whereabouts. Now the Hidden Sand Village is also looking for him. However, compared to the Third Generation Kazekage, although Sasori is a genius Puppet Master, the grandson of Chiyo, he is still somewhat inconsequential."
"Is that so, I understand."
Jiraiya accepted the scroll, and solemnly said to Uchiha Yoichi, "I will confirm this with the village, if need be, your summoned beast may have to be called upon, once the intelligence is confirmed, you would have accomplished a great feat."