After reporting the task feedback to the village, news from the Anbu arrived shortly.
The Third Generation Kazekage indeed had a summoned giant snake that was crimson red and could speak human language. It was often summoned for battle, but suddenly stopped being used before he became Kazekage.
As for Shinga's existence, Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Orochimaru to question Manda. Shinga indeed had been betrayed by humans, had a very violent temper, and was the most ferocious snake in Ryuchi Cave, even Manda was unwilling to provoke Shinga.
Manda only liked eating humans, but when Shinga went mad, he attacked anyone he saw.
After receiving the message from the Anbu, Jiraiya began to believe the intelligence obtained by Uchiha Yoichi, but he still went to the outskirts with Nara Shikaku and Uchiha Yoichi.
He asked Uchiha Yoichi to summon Shinga, the great snake, and carefully inquired about the Third Generation Kazekage's intelligence.
But Shinga didn't know much either; the only things known were the real name of the Third Generation Kazekage and the summoning snake scales he left behind.
Combining these evidences, the response of the Hidden Sand Village, and Sasori's defection, Nara Shikaku thought it over and over again but couldn't find a more suitable conclusion than the death of the Third Generation Kazekage.
This Third Generation Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village, who was hailed as the strongest Kazekage, might really be dead.
"Lord Jiraiya, this intelligence is very advantageous to us. If used well, it would be enough to cause internal strife in the Hidden Sand Village... However, this matter needs to be reported to Lord Hokage."
Nara Shikaku said, but there was another possibility. If not used well, it might trigger a war.
Jiraiya nodded. He naturally knew that this wasn't a decision they could make on their own, so he said to Nara Shikaku, "Shikaku, write down your thoughts, and I'll have the Anbu deliver them to the old man, and have all the scouting teams outside return...
I didn't expect that such a difficult task was completed by Uchiha Yoichi, a genius just like Minato."
Nara Shikaku glanced at Jiraiya, hesitating to speak.
But Jiraiya noticed this expression and asked Nara Shikaku, "What's wrong, Shikaku?"
"Lord Jiraiya, it seems that the Third Generation doesn't want Uchiha Yoichi to be promoted to Jonin. If nothing unexpected happens in the future, he'll definitely be a strong contender for Hokage..."
The Ino-Shika-Cho and Sarutobi families had been friends for generations since the Warring States Period, and Jiraiya was Sarutobi Hiruzen's disciple. Naturally, these words could be said just between them.
Lord Hokage is around fifty years old, and has been in position for nearly ten years. In another seven or eight years, he'll be approaching sixty, past his prime.
At that time, a young and vigorous Hokage would need to be selected to bring vitality to the village; and in a few years, it would be the prime of the Sannin.
"Lord Jiraiya, are you interested in the position of Hokage?"
Nara Shikaku tentatively asked. The benefits brought by the position of Hokage were almost visibly apparent. Publicly and privately, they naturally hoped that the next Hokage would be someone they were familiar with.
But Jiraiya did not have this ambition. Upon hearing Nara Shikaku's words, he quickly shook his head and said, "Not me, I'm not suitable for Hokage. Relying on me would be worse than relying on my disciple Minato, whose sense of responsibility is much stronger than mine."
"Mr. Minato, huh..."
Nara Shikaku thought for a moment and then silently shook his head. Minato had the strength and reputation, but he was still too young, and above him were the Sannin and White Fang. Competing with Namikaze Minato for the next Hokage would be too difficult.
One cannot, against one's conscience, say that Minato is more suitable than White Fang, given that their strengths were unknown, and they hadn't sparred; but in terms of battle achievements and fame, they were vastly different.
"Lord Jiraiya, let's first let the scouting ninja squads return, and then discuss the matters of the Hidden Sand Village."
"Hmm, I understand."
The two tacitly canceled this topic, as there were still more important tasks at hand.
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After the mission squads returned, the losses were not considered severe, but there were still a few griefs.
One squad completely lost contact, presumably buried in the Land of Wind.
Another mission squad was reduced by one member, while two others were seriously injured; even if they returned to the village, they might no longer be able to serve as ninjas.
This was the danger of infiltrating the Land of Wind to gather information about the Third Generation Kazekage. Even if they were scouting squads with various abilities to detect enemies or secret techniques, it was still unsafe at the enemy's headquarters.
Now the Hidden Sand Village was also looking for the Third Generation Kazekage, and Konoha even sent people to join the chaos, which was like sending people directly to provide vent relief for the Hidden Sand Village.
Moreover, after six other mission squads returned and heard that the scouting intelligence mission had already been completed by Uchiha Yoichi, they were somewhat dumbfounded.
Six mission squads and twenty-four people worked hard for a month, yet it was outdone by Uchiha Yoichi's solo investigation. This sense of disparity, coupled with the loss of teammates and the recent near-death experiences, was hard for some to accept.
"Since there was a direction for reconnaissance, why couldn't it be shared with us, causing Satomi to..."
"Shut up, Kentaro!"
Though the voice was small, it was still heard by everyone present, especially Uchiha Yoichi, who was just about to walk out of the room.
Turning back and seeing this, Aburame Naoto quickly blocked Uchiha Yoichi, whispering, "I'm sorry, Mr. Yoichi, Kentaro is just because of his teammate..."
"Aburame Naoto, senior, I won't make a move, so why are you so nervous?"
Uchiha Yoichi brushed aside Aburame Naoto and approached Tanigawa Kentaro; Aburame Naoto felt a huge force push him aside, simply beyond expectation.
He dared to grumble behind his back, but when Uchiha Yoichi stood in front of him, Tanigawa Kentaro felt the pressure.
"Do you think I harmed your teammate?"
Uchiha Yoichi asked calmly.
Jiraiya, remembering the rumors and conduct of Uchiha Yoichi in the village, said, "Uchiha Yoichi, he didn't mean that..."
"What is Lord Jiraiya getting anxious for? I was just curious. Every time I complete a task, I become a murderer. Previously, it was my squad members who died; now even those not in the same squad are killed by me, I'm really something!"
Uchiha Yoichi replied without softening, leaving Jiraiya speechless. Though Tanigawa Kentaro's words were spoken out of grief for a fallen teammate, such a baseless complaint was excessive.
Especially when the complaint was about Uchiha Yoichi, a person who completed the task alone and had previously caused rumors in the village because of such matters.
"If you're not prepared for this, don't be a ninja. I'm not preaching to you; I just think you're a piece of junk. Even if you don't blame me today, you'll blame someone else next time, never reflecting on why you're such a failure."
"Uchiha Yoichi..."
Jiraiya sensed something was wrong when he heard this and tried to stop Uchiha Yoichi, but the latter ignored him.
"If I hadn't scouted the intelligence early, you would still be on a mission in the Land of Wind. Heh, someone ungrateful, failing and blaming others at will...
Think carefully, was your teammate really killed by me? Wasn't she killed in the Land of Wind because you, a piece of junk, were completely unskilled?"
"Enough, Uchiha Yoichi!"
Jiraiya walked over seriously, blocking Tanigawa Kentaro and said, "No more."
"Actually, I also have no interest in talking to a piece of trash, it feels like I'm giving him advice; but I find this reason convincing, blaming others for one's own incompetence, huh…"
Uchiha Yoichi laughed and then turned to leave.
As he was about to exit the room, he turned to the emotionally collapsing Tanigawa Kentaro and said, "A piece of trash should just stay in the village for protection, don't be a ninja and then contentedly kill teammates, and then blame others."
After Uchiha Yoichi completely left, Tanigawa Kentaro suddenly collapsed on the ground and cried bitterly.