The information is not detailed. However, the scope covered is large. It spans from Saigoji Youmu's return to Konoha Village—with the presence of Tsunade and the others—up to the present, focusing on his current lessons in swordsmanship with Uzumaki Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto.
"I would like to ask you to work together to get rid of Saigoji Youmu."
Onoki didn't want to go in circles any longer and stated his purpose straightforwardly.
"It's just about getting rid of one person. You, Cloud Shinobi Village, can't do it by yourselves?"
Third Raikage asked.
"Ah."
Onoki smiled lightly. "Don't tell me you, Cloud Shinobi Village, haven't investigated Saigoji Youmu?"
"..."
Third Raikage fell silent. Of course they had investigated—it's just that he didn't believe one person could match an entire ninja village, even if that person's strength exceeded that of Hanzō of the Salamander, known as the 'Ninja Demigod.'
"Forget it, since the target is Saigoji Youmu."
"We, Cloud Shinobi Village, are willing to make a move."
After a moment of thought, Third Raikage said.
"Oh?"
Onoki was somewhat surprised. He had originally assumed that Third Raikage—a muscular man with a head full of muscles—would be difficult to convince. He had prepared plenty of rhetoric in advance. Unexpectedly, Third Raikage agreed so readily; none of Onoki's arguments had any effect.
"To tell you the truth, we at Cloud Shinobi have an important top-secret mission."
"This mission was destroyed by Saigoji Youmu some time ago."
Judging by Onoki's expression, Third Raikage could immediately tell what he was thinking. Recalling the information that the spies risked their lives to send back just a few days earlier, Third Raikage was furious.
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki had clearly reached the border's edge—but was unexpectedly rescued by Saigoji Youmu.
"So that's how it is."
Onoki understood. "As far as I know, Saigoji Youmu lives in Konoha Village. However, he is not a Konoha ninja. It's not easy to kill him."
Third Raikage frowned in distress.
"Hehe, did you forget that Danzō Shimura guy?"
"Saigoji Youmu and Sarutobi Hiruzen are so close, I'm afraid he simply won't stand it much longer."
A sneer flashed in Onoki's eyes. Allowing someone other than yourself to wield such powerful secrets in private is, in Onoki's view, extremely foolish—after all, ambition is often born in this way.
"You have a way?"
"Certainly..."
…
Time passed, day by day. Soon, a secret letter was sent to Danzō Shimura through a special channel at the Root headquarters.
"Oh, this old guy."
Danzō Shimura crumpled the letter into a ball, sneering inwardly. The secret letter had been sent by Onoki, instructing him to find a way to lure Saigoji Youmu to the border between Thunder and Earth. "Myself and Cloud Shinobi have prepared the sky and the earth." The message was very direct, without any disguises, and there was no concern that Danzō would leak the secret.
"Who put you on Hiruzen's side?"
Danzō Shimura stood up from his chair and strode outside the Root headquarters.
"Saigoji Youmu—you cannot be used by me."
"Then, go to hell."
…
Hokage Office
Sarutobi Hiruzen frowned as if deep in serious thought. Boom!
Danzō Shimura pushed open the office door and walked in.
"Is something wrong, Danzō?" Sarutobi Hiruzen asked.
"How's the war going?" Danzō Shimura replied as he crossed from Hiruzen and slowly sat down.
"Still the same."
"It's just that Sand Shinobi Village has changed again, and it seems to portend war with us."
Sarutobi Hiruzen handed a piece of information to Danzō Shimura.
"When there is war, there is war."
With a casual glance, Danzō dismissed the information; he still paid little heed to Sand Shinobi Village.
"Besides the movements of Sand Shinobi Village, there is one more matter that concerns me."
Sarutobi Hiruzen became a little more serious. "Our agents have found traces of Cloud Shinobi and Rock Shinobi in Tanokuni. They seem to be plotting something."
Onoki had always coveted the fertile lands of the Land of Fire. Previously, Cloud Shinobi Village had even reached out to Konoha's Nine-Tails Jinchūriki. Sarutobi Hiruzen worried that it was Konoha that they were plotting against.
"Um?"
Hiruzen's words struck a chord in Danzō Shimura's heart. He sensed something important.
"Just find someone to investigate."