Chapter 341: Intelligence Paralysis

「Actually, I asked Dong Shilang to come over this time, and there is also another matter! 」

「On the Mist Ninja side, some unexpected things have happened; some missions can only be possibly completed by a powerful ninja like Dong Shilang! 」

While saying that, the Third Hokage also handed a mission scroll to Dong Shilang.

I don't know what's going on, but since half a year ago, the Mist Ninja's intelligence work has been getting better and better.

Some elites sent by the Dark Department, after entering the Mist Ninja's sphere of influence, would soon lose contact.

Not to mention those pieces previously planted in the Mist Ninja.

They completely have no idea whether those people are alive or dead, have defected to the enemy, or have already sacrificed.

He plans to use this Orochimaru incident to get the other side to exert some effort, thereby easing the intelligence pressure on the Dark Department.

「Intelligence mission of the Dark Department? 」

This old man wouldn't be planning to team up with Tuan Zang to screw me over, would he?

As for the situation on the Mist Ninja side, he surely knows without saying; it must be that Obito guy causing trouble.

Even if this old acquaintance of mine were to go over, given that guy's current mental state, he'd likely still be seen as a stumbling block, and they'd try to use the Mist Ninja's power to get rid of me.

「…Ugh! The Third Hokage really thinks highly of me, just this mission on the scroll…」

He didn't say more, but the meaning was already made very clear.

The mission on this scroll is quite complicated; not only does it require infiltrating the Mist Ninja and confirming the status of those former covert lines, but also finding a way to make contact with them, then gathering intelligence on the newly appointed Fourth Mizukage, while also investigating the secret dealings between the Mist Ninja and the Sand Ninja.

With all these steps, let alone Dong Shilang not wanting to go in the first place; even if he wanted to, how could one person accomplish so many tasks?

Is the Third Hokage really handing over all the long‑accumulated intelligence tasks from the Mist Ninja side to me at once?

「Dong Shilang! These missions… each one is of great importance… they relate to how we will respond to the Mist Ninja and their newly appointed Fourth Mizukage! 」

「I really have no choice… that's why I sought out Dong Shilang… please! 」

Indeed, just as the Third Hokage said, the Mist Ninja has replaced its Fourth Mizukage, and then intelligence work has become this difficult; does this indicate that the Mist Ninja on the other side is about to become restless again?

Moreover, he really has no good candidates left; everyone who could be sent out has been sent, but the results have been extremely scarce; originally he even planned to try sending people from the Root Department.

But after trying several times, he began to wonder whether there was some leak in the Root Department, causing problems in the Leaf Village's intelligence network.

「Secret dealings between the Sand Ninja and the Mist Ninja? What's going on? 」

If he remembers correctly, the Sand Ninja and the Mist Ninja are currently fighting fiercely. Of course, Leaf Village's covert support is indispensable.

Otherwise, with Feng Zhi Guo's fragile logistics and its already exhausted domestic finances, the war would probably have ended long ago.

「This is the information we received from the Sand Ninja side; under pressure from the Rock Ninja Village, the Sand Ninja Village seems to intend to end its war with the Mist Ninja. 」

Although I don't know why Dong Shilang is interested in this, the Third Hokage still explained the origins and details carefully.

He now needs to sweet‑talk Dong Shilang into accepting this mission, so as to grasp the latest developments of the Mist Ninja and the Sand Ninja.

He also blames that guy Tuan Zang, who is becoming increasingly useless, arranging intelligence work poorly; if it weren't for still needing him to deal with the Uchiha clan, he would almost want to send him home to retire.

He has no idea that the Mist Ninja is probably already infiltrated into a sieve by White Absolute and Obito; whether they control the Fourth Mizukage is uncertain, but for intelligence personnel from other countries, it's truly easy pickings.

Especially the Leaf Village's Root Department—it's come one, die one; come a pair, die a pair.

「Hmm! Secret dealings between wind and water? In that case…」

If I remember correctly, that woman Ye Cang… seems to have been betrayed by Luo Sha because of a peace negotiation with the Mist Ninja Village.

I don't know whether my own existence will affect that woman's fate.

「Since the Third Hokage has spoken, accepting this mission is not impossible. 」

「But… this mission… wouldn't it be specially arranged by some Tuan Zang, would it? 」

「Dong Shilang is overthinking; this mission is personally arranged by me, and they are all perfectly normal intelligence tasks! 」

Especially the two characters 'normal', the Third Hokage emphasized them heavily, as if afraid Dong Shilang wouldn't agree, and the Third Hokage continued:

「This mission is different from before; especially the intelligence concerning the Fourth Mizukage and their dealings with the Sand Ninja are of utmost importance, extremely vital to the village, relating to our future response, and I hope Dong Shilang will consider it carefully! 」

Fortunately, from the gathered information and his observation, this Uchiha is not of the 'abnormal' mind, nor does he have any ambition; otherwise he wouldn't have the confidence to persuade the other side.

Dong Shilang has already decided to go see that old acquaintance he hasn't seen in a long time; that person's silhouette under the night sky back then really left an unforgettable impression on him.

However, he didn't readily agree either; instead he kept sizing up the Third Hokage's face, making the Third Hokage feel a bit embarrassed, before he said: 「Accepting this mission poses no problem, but…」

Just as the Third Hokage's face showed a relieved smile, Dong Shilang's single 'but' changed his expression.

Only hearing Dong Shilang continue: 「This mission is too many and too complicated… I will only complete part of it; if the Third Hokage is dissatisfied, he can replace me! 」

「This…」

This mission indeed has quite a lot, but i this also is unavoidable. The Leaf Village's intelligence network on the Mist Ninja side is now in a paralyzed state.

Specifically what situation it is, he really needs a person to sort it out.

Moreover, the Fourth Mizukage and their dealings also cannot be ignored.

「If possible, it should mainly be to gather intelligence on the Fourth Mizukage, as well as… the movements between the Sand Ninja and the Mist Ninja. 」

Those intelligence personnel have not sent any news for such a long time; they are probably all martyred, and even if any remain, they are likely only a few scattered individuals.

After thinking for a long time, the Third Hokage made a decision, and this decision was not at all unexpected to Dong Shilang.

「Since that's the case, I understand…」

With a hint of faint mockery at the corner of his mouth, Dong Shilang didn't care about the Third Hokage's face, directly took some mission‑related information, and then left the Hokage's office directly.

As he walked, he especially turned back to glance at the one named He who was on duty beside the Third Hokage.