After Uchiha Yoichi returned, he first went home to have a look, and then headed towards the Hokage Building.
The second failure can be considered a blow to Konoha's foundation, having lost many elite ninjas, including Namikaze Minato.
When Uchiha Yoichi arrived at the Hokage Office, Hatake Sakumo had also gathered Konoha's top brass to come together.
The first time when Nagato killed so many ninjas, it was due to a lack of intelligence.
But for the second capture mission, the intelligence was relatively complete, and specific ninjas were brought along, yet it failed in the end, with even Namikaze Minato dying.
"Mr. Yoichi, you're back."
"There was something I planned to report, but the matter of the Rinnegan is more important, so let's talk about that first."
After Uchiha Yoichi finished speaking, everyone in the room looked towards Jiraiya and Nara Shikaku.
Forty people took action, mostly elite, but more than ten were lost; theoretically, even if the Rinnegan is formidable, it shouldn't be this powerful when so much intelligence has been leaked.
"Our intelligence has also been leaked, and the enemy knows our usual tactics thoroughly; both Haiichi's and Ding Zuo's tactics were completely understood by the enemy, alongside other ninjas' secret techniques... all exposed."
As soon as Nara Shikaku spoke, it slightly shocked everyone in the room—did their intelligence get leaked first despite their efforts to gather the enemy's information?
"After knowing our ninjutsu and secret techniques, the enemy also had many summoned beasts, one of which possesses invisibility. It's due to that invisibility lizard that we lost a few companions the first time."
"Moreover, based on analysis, it's a clone of Nagato's corpse, which multiplied into six more, likely swappable consumables; the mask-wearing one's space-time ninjutsu is also formidable. Even Minato struggled... Lastly, there's an enemy adept at Fire Release, cloaked in white wood..."
Under Nara Shikaku's narration, they came to understand the battle's course.
For simplicity, their intelligence was completely leaked, and even Namikaze Minato's Flying Thunder God Mark was known to the enemy; the Konoha Jonin's specialties were also known by the enemy.
For instance, with the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, knowing their secret techniques is not unusual, but knowing their battle habits suggests an alarming extent of intelligence leakage.
The mask-wearing enemy's space-time ninjutsu is also terrifying—none of their ninjutsu could hit him, it was as if they passed right through, and when up close he could transport them away using space-time ninjutsu.
Even Minato almost fell for it.
The Rinnegan's abilities also expanded. After destroying two of Nagato's corpse clones, the enemy could still summon a Yama Mask to repair them.
Not to mention those bizarre large summoned beasts, any one requiring three ninjas to deal with.
At this point, Nara Shikaku sensed the situation turning bad, and intended to retreat; however, the enemy did not want to let them go at that time, and retreating was extremely difficult.
Moreover, the enemy proficient in space-time ninjutsu also uses Wood Release. He suddenly used space-time ninjutsu to ambush and cover his team's retreat, but was batted away by Lord Jiraiya, who was then saved by Namikaze Minato using Flying Thunder God to swap positions.
But Namikaze Minato was too late to evade and got pierced through the chest by that enemy's Wood Release: Planting Jutsu.
Finally, with Jiraiya and his summoned beast's combined Fire Release Ninjutsu, they managed to force the enemy to dodge, winning them a chance to retreat.
After Nara Shikaku finished speaking, the room was silent for a moment.
Then Hatake Sakumo spoke: "Mr. Yoichi, do you have any thoughts?"
"Intelligence leak, adept in Fire Release, Jonin Shikaku, did that person use Uchiha Race's signature Fire Releases like Great Fireball, Mighty Dragon Fire, or Great Fire Extinguishing?"
Uchiha Yoichi spoke, in the Ninja World there are some ninjas adept in Fire Release, but the best family for Fire Release is still the Uchiha, and those Fire Release Ninjutsus he asked about are the Uchiha Race's signature techniques.
Hearing Uchiha Yoichi's words, Nara Shikaku nodded and said: "There were indeed ninjutsus similar to the Great Fireball Jutsu and dragon-shaped Fire Release Jutsu…"
Uchiha Yoichi sighed and said: "Uchiha Race's Fire Release Ninjutsu, knowing the secret techniques of the village's ninjas, Fourth Hokage, it should be the traitor Uchiha Fugaku."
Upon hearing this name, everyone instantly reacted, realizing if it's the former Clan Leader of the Uchiha Race, he would indeed know their intelligence.
The Security Team, former teammates from the Uchiha Race, etc., and previously Uchiha Fugaku was also high-ranking in the village, such a person's defection dealt an immense blow to this operation.
Hatake Sakumo asked: "Mr. Yoichi, are you saying that person is Uchiha Fugaku?"
"Besides him, there's no one else; the Uchiha Race has always been probing for his whereabouts, who'd have thought he's hiding in the Akatsuki Organization."
After finishing, Uchiha Yoichi paused, then continued: "As for the one adept in space-time ninjutsu and Wood Release, I'm not sure. Although I've been involved in the transplantation of Wood Release Kekkeigenkai, the records and counts of Wood Release transplants can be provided for your review, Fourth Hokage."
Orochimaru also spoke: "The list of Wood Release Kekkeigenkai transplants from me can also be provided to the Fourth Hokage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyelid suddenly twitched beside them, seemingly suggesting that the existence of two Wood Release clan members from the Sarutobi Race would be hard to keep secret.
"If not from within the village, it implies the Wood Release Kekkeigenkai still circulates outside…"
Hatake Sakumo propped his chin with his hands, feeling a bit troubled.
The missions to capture them failed twice, and now they have a deep enmity with Konoha Village; a method must be devised to eliminate them.
Uchiha Yoichi asked, "Do we still have their intelligence now?"
Nara Shikaku shook his head, then said, "No, last time the intelligence was deliberately exposed by them. Although we calculated this before departure, we didn't expect them to gather our intelligence so thoroughly...."
"Continue gathering intelligence on them, next time I'll take action."
Uchiha Yoichi said, "I roughly know their intel, and the next time they show up in the Ninja World, I will set off to capture them and bring them back."
"Mr. Yoichi, the Rinnegan and Space-Time Ninjutsu....."
"Don't worry, Fourth Hokage, I never do things without certainty."
Uchiha Yoichi said, "I also fear death, but since I've spoken up, there's a hundred percent certainty."
Although he wanted the Akatsuki Organization to act as a disruptor in the Ninja World, helping him collect Tailed Beasts publicly, they went too far, igniting Konoha's determination to kill.
In this case, Uchiha Yoichi could only naturally eliminate them and merge other great nations, and then collect the Tailed Beasts.
This mission failed, although it closely ties to Uchiha Fugaku's intelligence leak, Uchiha Fugaku had long been a clearly identified traitorous ninja by Konoha, so he had no relation to the Uchiha Race.
"Is there an issue on Kushina's side...?"
Hatake Sakumo asked with some uncertainty. Jinchuriki can be overtaken by their Tailed Beast when emotionally charged, even though Kushina has gotten better recently, there's no guarantee.
After returning, Jiraiya treated his injuries and came to the Hokage Building without informing Kushina about Minato's situation.
Always grieving, Jiraiya finally looked up after hearing Hatake Sakumo's words, saying, "Let me talk to Kushina, Minato was saving me... but I need help from the Sealing Team."
"Don't send the Sealing Team; their sealing skills are just mediocre. Have Minami follow Jiraiya, the Jonin."
Uchiha Yoichi said, "Minami knows the Vajra Seal, even if Kushina loses control in Tailed Beast transformation, she'll be able to stop her."
Hatake Sakumo agreed after hearing this, saying, "Then I entrust this to you, Mr. Yoichi; everyone else, recover well, Intelligence Team keep following up, as for others... dismissed."
What followed were consolations, memorial tablets, and other affairs which he, as the Hokage, could handle well; however, Hatake Sakumo also felt sorrow for Namikaze Minato's death, a strong junior of notable strength within the village, lost in a mission.
Afterwards, everyone left the Hokage Building one after another, Sarutobi Hiruzen also looked deeply saddened.
He regarded Namikaze Minato highly, once intending to support Minato to become Hokage, even after Hatake Sakumo took the position, he still supported Minato.
Feeling Namikaze Minato was like Jiraiya without any shortcomings, even stronger than Jiraiya; but he never expected such events to occur, mirroring the Second's sacrifices for protecting comrades...
Jiraiya followed Uchiha Yoichi to the clan grounds, but did not enter.
Upon returning home, Uchiha Yoichi coincidentally caught Uzumaki Minami's recent return; ever since having Karin, Minami often returned home to care for her child, joyfully carrying Karin around.
Seeing Uchiha Yoichi return, Uzumaki Minami asked in surprise, "Lord Yoichi, when did you get back?"
"Just returned not long ago, Minami, Jiraiya is at the clan ground entrance, go with him to see Uzumaki Kushina."
Uchiha Yoichi took his daughter, weighing her a bit, thinking she seemed to have gained weight...
"Why visit Kushina, what's the matter?"
"Namikaze Minato died in duty during the mission here; Uzumaki Kushina doesn't know yet, Jiraiya plans to tell her... you go with him, if Uzumaki Kushina shows signs of Tailed Beast transformation, seal her!"
Uchiha Yoichi told Minami, both the Vajra Lock Chain and Four Symbols Seal were skills Minami was highly adept in, plus she also transplanted Hashirama Cells, making her Vajra Lock Chain even more suppressive against Tailed Beasts.
"How could Namikaze Minato have died... and Kushina is pregnant..."
"Though the likelihood of Tailed Beast transformation is slight, it's still possible, and once she transforms, the unborn child wouldn't survive, hence you accompanying."
"I understand, then I'll leave immediately... I hope Kushina can endure it."
After speaking, Uzumaki Minami changed her clothes and set out; once she left, Uchiha Yoichi sent a Wood Clone to follow, providing triple assurance, ensuring absolutely no accidents.
Following the Wood Clone alongside Jiraiya and Uzumaki Minami to Kushina's residence, many Anbu were already dispatched here, along with members of the Barrier Team.
Just then, Yugito suddenly peeked out from inside, upon entering the living room and seeing Uchiha Yoichi, a joyful expression appeared on her face and she stepped forward asking, "You're back?"