One day later, Torune arrived in the Land of Rain.

However, as a dedicated intelligence expert from Konoha, even after arriving in the Land of Rain, he still couldn't stop worrying about the situation on the front lines.

After establishing a new base, he gathered his team around a makeshift table covered in maps. "The Land of Rain borders the Land of Wind, so even though we're here, don't relax your surveillance of Suna's movements. Notify me immediately if there's any significant intel."

He traced a line along the border with his finger. "As for the Ame Ninjas, just investigate casually. Besides Hanzō, there's nothing much worth keeping an eye on here."

"What about the growing resistance movement? We've heard reports of a group called Akatsuki..." one of his subordinates asked.

Torune waved his hand dismissively. "Children playing at war. Nothing more."

This was arrogance, but it also came from experience.

He had been in charge of Konoha's external intelligence for many years, and his understanding of the major ninja villages was sometimes deeper than their own ANBU divisions.

In the original timeline, until Nagato's transformation, the entire Land of Rain was wide open, without any significant defenses.

However, now, due to Shin's suggestion and Nagato's management, Akatsuki's intelligence division had already been established a year in advance, setting up an intelligence defense system in the Land of Rain.

On the third day of Torune's arrival in the Land of Rain, Shin received news. The messenger burst into the room, breathing heavily from their rush to deliver the information.

"Captain Shin, a group of Konoha ninjas arrived without notification a few days ago and set up camp in the forest near a border village."

At last. The pieces are moving exactly as predicted. I've been waiting for a long time.

He immediately called for an important meeting to discuss the matter and gave instructions. The gathering room quickly filled with key members.

"Send a message to Hanzō informing him of this, and ask if he has received any notice from Konoha."

He turned to face the assembled group, his eyes scanning their faces. He then quickly selected a few loyal subordinates, each chosen for their specific skills and reliability. "Kazuya, Sanda, Ajisai, prepare yourselves. You'll accompany me for reconnaissance shortly, and we aim to bring back a couple of Konoha ninjas, dead or alive."

Yahiko arrived in time and, hearing this, asked in surprise, "Since you're sending a letter to Hanzō, shouldn't we wait for his reply before taking action?"

Shin laughed. He really is as naive as ever.

"I'm writing to show respect, but of course, we'll make our own decisions."

"Do you really see Akatsuki as a subordinate of Hanzō?"

Respect doesn't mean I plan to listen to you—simple as that.

Yahiko stood there, mouth half-open, clearly unable to follow Shin's train of thought. The contrast between their approaches to leadership couldn't have been more different – Yahiko's straightforward idealism against Shin's calculated pragmatism.

But seeing the approving expressions of everyone around him, he slowly realized, once again, that Shin had outshone him. Each comparison like this silently eroded the authority he had painstakingly built as the leader of Akatsuki.

He could see and feel it, but he was powerless to stop it or regain what he was losing; he watched as his comrades' eyes followed Shin's movements, their expressions showing respect.

Personality shaped destiny.

Yahiko's kindness and persistence had helped Akatsuki rise rapidly in the early stages, but his naive fantasies meant he couldn't compete with the current Shin.

The next moment, a more direct change unfolded before their eyes. The room fell silent as Tanaka stepped forward. "Captain Shin, please allow me to join this mission."

This wasn't an order from Yahiko, nor part of anyone's plan. Tanaka, once a steadfast supporter of Yahiko, had voluntarily asked to follow Shin. The significance of this moment wasn't lost on anyone in the room.

Shin smiled faintly. "Do you remember what I taught you?"

To the others, this seemed like he was referring to some tactical advice, but Tanaka's fingers trembled slightly as he understood what Shin really meant—"Loyalty must be absolute, or it's not loyalty at all."

That was the lesson Shin had imparted to him the night before they returned from Kusa.

He lifted his head firmly, having made his choice. "Yes, Captain Shin, I remember."

"Good. Then you're part of this mission."

Yahiko stood by, feeling despondent. He didn't know the full story, but his instincts told him that he had lost something important once again.

Konan and Nagato both asked with concern, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen over the room, "Shin, do you need our support?"

He shook his head. "Not this time. I'll lead the team for reconnaissance first. Once we understand the situation, we'll decide on the next step." Too many powerful pieces might alert them. This requires... a lighter touch.

Although he had already resolved to eliminate Root completely, his cautious approach remained unchanged.

Once the team was ready, the five-person squad led by Shin departed that same day to conduct on-site reconnaissance near the border village.

Ajisai used her summoning technique to send numerous birds into the forest for scouting, their shadows passing overhead like dark clouds. Shin summoned Ayumi for additional searching.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

The others gathered intelligence in the village, spreading out to avoid drawing attention. Thanks to Akatsuki's good reputation in the area, the villagers were happy to share information.

"Three days ago, there were indeed some strangers dressed as ninjas who came here," an elderly shopkeeper whispered, leaning close. "At first, they paid to stay in the village, but they left the day before yesterday."

A farmer nodded vigorously as he added, "They asked about Hanzō, recent ninja battles, and the movements of the Suna ninjas."

"Oh, and they asked about you too! I'd say these ninjas are up to no good. It was only after they heard you guys were nearby that they hurriedly left!"

The villagers' chatter soon revealed almost everything about the Konoha ninjas who had passed through.

After hearing this, everyone wore serious expressions. Their casual information gathering had yielded more than expected. The team regrouped in a quiet corner of the village, away from curious ears.

"These Konoha ninjas might really be targeting us," Ajisai said worriedly. She glanced at the surrounding trees, as if expecting enemies to emerge at any moment.

Ninjas don't camp in the wild unless it's a secret mission. They usually lodge in villages. But after hearing Akatsuki was nearby, these Konoha ninjas quickly left and camped in the forest instead, which looked very suspicious.

Only those with something to hide would react so drastically, Shin thought.

Root hadn't anticipated that the locals would be so friendly toward Akatsuki. Despite their swift retreat, they had completely exposed themselves. The very secrecy they sought had only made them more noticeable to the watchful villagers.

Only Shin seemed unsurprised by this outcome. He stood quietly, processing the information with a slight smile.

Perhaps this was fate.

"Let's not alert them for now. These Konoha ninjas might not realize they've been exposed. Kazuya, instruct the villagers not to mention us if they encounter Konoha again. Ajisai, have your birds—"

Before he could finish, Ayumi suddenly jumped out of the ground, interrupting him. The elephant's emergence was so sudden that even the experienced ninjas flinched slightly.

"Found them~"

Ajisai and Shin were both stunned. The former's face showed clear surprise, while the latter's expression held a hint of pride.

Ajisai had just been about to report that her birds hadn't found anything yet, but in the next moment, Ayumi had already located them.

Both were summoning animals, but was the gap really this big?

Was it that intelligence truly mattered?

Ajisai couldn't help feeling a bit jealous. She watched as Ayumi strutted around, tail held high with pride.

"Well done, Ayumi," Shin praised softly, scratching behind her ears.

Before Shin made a pact with Ayumi, Ajisai had been the top scout within Akatsuki.

The flock of birds she summoned had a wide aerial range and an expansive field of view. Her efficiency often equaled that of a four- to five-man ninja squad. This scouting expertise was something Ajisai had always taken pride in.

However, this time her bird squad had been outdone by a single elephant.

Not only did Ayumi spot the enemy, but he also provided a comprehensive report.

"The group is hiding five kilometers to the southwest, on a hillside. There's quite a few of them, at least more than ten ninjas. They've got earth-style users who hollowed out the hillside and hid their base underground."

Shin nodded in acknowledgment. That explained why Ajisai's birds had come up empty during their aerial reconnaissance—the enemy had dug underground. Hiding their base beneath the surface was exactly the kind of tactic expected from Root.

"Any other information?" he asked Ayumi.

Ayumi tilted his head, thinking, before adding, "There are an unusual number of insects in the nearby forest. Really annoying, you know?"

"Insects?" Shin repeated, immediately on alert. "The Aburame clan from Konoha?"

Ayumi, clearly well-versed in such matters, quickly followed his master's line of thought. "Now that you mention it, it's very possible! But I didn't detect any insect-manipulating ninjas. Either they were out of my range, or they're a really powerful Aburame."

Shin nodded, his expression becoming more serious. After spending these past days together, he knew the range of his cat's sensory abilities well, and the likelihood that an Aburame ninja was just out of range was slim. Plus, it's never wise to make decisions based on slim chances.

"So, to sum up, the enemy is a team of more than ten people, and at least one of them is a skilled Aburame clan jonin," Shin concluded. His tone made it clear—these people were the enemy.

No one in the group objected.

Sanda bluntly asked, "Captain, what's the plan?"

Shin tapped the table thoughtfully before replying, "The enemy's numbers and strength are not to be underestimated. No need to rush into action. Keep monitoring them, and maintain surveillance on the key routes up and down the mountain. We need to see if they have any reinforcements or backups coming.

"Ajisai, don't waste your talent either. Keep your birds patrolling the entire forest, but make sure they never land in the forest, to avoid being detected by the insects."

Relieved her skills were still needed, Ajisai nodded vigorously. "Understood! I'll complete the mission!"

For the next few days, Shin closely monitored the movements of Torune's team.

During this period, a reply from Hanzō the Salamander also arrived.

Hanzō first provided Akatsuki with some intel, stating that no one from Konoha had informed him about any border crossings. But the rest of the letter was more interesting.

Kazuya, one of the group members, scratched his head in confusion and asked, "What does Hanzō-sama even mean? One minute he's praising us, saying we haven't tarnished his reputation, and the next he's warning us how powerful Konoha is, mentioning the Sannin and Minato. Does he want us to fight or not?"

Shin chuckled, clearly not surprised. "It's normal. Hanzō's getting old. Old people tend to be indecisive, second-guessing everything. He wants to protect his reputation as the Salamander. But he no longer has the courage and boldness that once led him to challenge major ninja villages."

"He's conflicted himself, so of course, his letter wouldn't have a clear answer."

Shin's words were intentionally harsh, chipping away at the awe his team held for the Salamander.

In any case, Hanzō's letter wouldn't sway Shin's resolve for this mission.

He was determined to take down Root!

The only value in the letter was that it eased one of Shin's concerns—Hanzō was still willing to communicate with them. At least for now, it seemed Hanzō had not fully allied with Danzō.

This meant Shin didn't need to worry about being attacked from both sides.

The surveillance operation continued without interruption. Over the following days, they accurately identified the number of Root members in the squad—twelve in total. They also managed to pinpoint one member's movements through the combined efforts of Ayumi and Ajisai's birds.

Thus, that night, they launched their first probing strike.

The targeted Root ninja was completely unaware of the surveillance.

All day, he had been scouting around the Land of Rain, gathering information on Akatsuki and looking into the mysterious Shimura Enji. By nightfall, he thought he had gathered quite a bit. Under the moonlight, his face, hidden behind a white mask, even showed a faint smile, as if dreaming of promotions or early leave.

As he walked, suddenly a flock of birds startled up from the road on his left.

Caught off guard, the Root ninja instinctively gripped a kunai, turning to face the left side, bracing himself for an attack.

"Phew, just a bunch of birds."

Relaxing when he realized there was no threat, he let out a sigh of relief. But at the very moment he let his guard down, a fierce gust of wind blasted from the right side of the road!

"Wind Style: Dancing Gale!"

The wind release technique was used by Kazuya, and it was none other than a jutsu Shin had obtained from a trade with the Uchiha clan.

The Root ninja spun around in shock, only to see a brilliant fireball igniting in the wind.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"

Since it was an Uchiha trade, naturally, it included the clan's signature fire release.

Sanda unleashed the fireball, combining it with Kazuya's wind jutsu, amplifying the flames to a scorching level that instantly engulfed the Root ninja's face! His mask shattered, and his hair was blown back by the fierce wind, leaving him completely exposed.

Through the flames, the young Root ninja vaguely saw a pair of scarlet eyes, filled with malice and bloodlust, locking onto him.

An Uchiha!

Terror, hatred, and a flood of emotions surged within the young Root ninja as he screamed uncontrollably.

"Uchiha? So it was you behind this!"

From her perch on a nearby tree branch, Ajisai, witnessing the scene unfold, couldn't help but glance at the man who had orchestrated it all without moving a muscle. "Shin, your genjutsu has improved again."