The Perception Squad Jiraiya requested solved the Hidden Rock assassination problem.
But it wasn't that the Perception Squad worked with Namikaze Minato to kill those assassins who came for them; instead, the Hidden Rock assassination squad just vanished without a trace and never attacked again.
Jiraiya figured this might be a small slip in intelligence, which let the assassination squad get wind of things ahead of time, so they abandoned the operation.
Even though the process wasn't what he'd imagined, it barely counted as resolving the issue, so Jiraiya didn't dwell on it.
To truly decide the outcome on the battlefield, there still had to be a major battle; small harassment squads couldn't play a decisive role.
However, what happened next went a bit beyond Jiraiya's expectations.
The Hidden Rock showed terrifying intelligence capabilities; even with Konoha Ninja Squad having the support of the local Ninja Force, Grass Village, Konoha Ninja Squad still fell into a disadvantage in the intelligence war.
They couldn't track the enemy Ninja Squad's movements, while their own Ninja Squad's operations kept getting exposed and then failing.
Losing like this made Jiraiya suspect that there was a Hidden Rock Spy in the intelligence division at a fairly high rank.
But that didn't seem likely either, because anyone with a dirty record couldn't get into that position.
No way there's a spy hiding inside Anbu, right.
With repeated failures, Jiraiya chose to switch from offense to defense, shrinking Konoha Ninja's area of activity to minimize losses as much as possible.
It was the only thing he could do; losing the intelligence war had stripped them of the initiative, and trying to act tough in this situation would only let Hidden Rock keep widening its advantage.
But what Jiraiya didn't expect was that just as he was about to enter full defensive mode, the location of the main camp somehow got exposed to Hidden Rock.
Rumble, rumble!!
A massive explosion suddenly erupted in Konoha Ninja's camp, startling Jiraiya and the others who were looking at maps and studying strategy.
"Lord Jiraiya, bad news, we've been discovered by a Hidden Rock Squad!" A Konoha Jonin rushed into the tent to report.
"Hidden Rock is attacking?" Jiraiya's brows furrowed. "What's going on with the Perception Squad?"
The reason he had chosen defense was to use Konoha's excellent Perception Ninjas to offset the disadvantage in the intelligence war.
Yet Hidden Rock had already hit them, and the Perception Squad hadn't reacted at all.
"No idea, the Perception Squad didn't send any warning." The Konoha Jonin shook his head.
Boom!!
Another deafening explosion rang out. Jiraiya knew this wasn't the time to think about the Perception Squad's dereliction; what he needed to do was lead Konoha Ninja Squad out of the crisis.
Jiraiya stepped past the Konoha Jonin, ready to command Konoha Ninja Squad to counterattack.
Right then, a cold gleam flashed in the Konoha Jonin's eyes as he rapidly whipped out a Kunai and stabbed toward Jiraiya.
Bang!
Namikaze Minato, reacting in a split second, burst with Chakra and kicked the Konoha Jonin flying.
Jiraiya froze. He hadn't expected that Konoha Ninja just now to suddenly attack him.
That was a Jonin of the Sorutobi Clan—how could there possibly be a spy.
"Lion Mane Jutsu!"
Jiraiya was, after all, a battle-hardened powerful Ninja. Although he was baffled by the Sorutobi Jonin's attack, he still quickly used Ninjutsu and launched an assault toward the Sorutobi Jonin.
No matter what identity the Sorutobi Jonin had, the fact was that the Sorutobi Jonin had attacked him, which made the Sorutobi Jonin an enemy.
Attacking the commander on the battlefield—Jiraiya could kill him on the spot and no one would say a thing.
Whoosh, whoosh!
At that moment, several cone-shaped stones came crashing in.
Jiraiya recognized it as Explosion Release from Iwakura, the deputy captain of the Hidden Rock Demolition Squad. He immediately changed his move, his extended long hair snapping back to wrap around his body for defense.
Swish!
Namikaze Minato used Flying Thunder God Jutsu to teleport.
Boom!!
Explosions roared one after another. The stones flying toward Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato suddenly detonated, and the violent blast and white flash engulfed Jiraiya.
Whoosh, whoosh!!
Namikaze Minato knew that this kind of attack wouldn't be enough to kill Jiraiya. After teleporting, he immediately hurled several Flying Thunder God Kunai at Iwakura.
"I'm not your opponent." Iwakura spat out a stone, blasting the incoming Flying Thunder God Kunai away, then rapidly retreated.
He knew his limits—he understood that he wasn't suited to dealing with a Ninja like Namikaze Minato whose speed was maxed out.
Just as Namikaze Minato was about to give chase, an abnormally powerful surge of Chakra erupted.
"Namikaze Minato, have you decided how you want to die?" Roshi stepped out, blocking Namikaze Minato's path.
Namikaze Minato's expression grew solemn. This was clearly a surprise attack meant to wipe out Konoha Ninja in the Land of Grass in one blow.
Within his sensory range, not only were both captains of the Hidden Rock Demolition Squad present, but Hidden Rock's two Jinchuriki were also on the field.
"Summoning Technique!"
After blocking the incoming Explosion Release, Jiraiya immediately used Summoning Beast to summon the two Immortals from Mount Myoboku.
"So many powerful Chakra sources. Little Jiraiya, looks like another tough battle." Fukasaku Sage sensed the Jinchuriki and Hidden Rock powerhouses the moment he appeared.
"Terrible timing, I'd just about decided what to make for dinner, and then this Summoning Technique interrupts my train of thought." Shima Sage complained.
"Dear, this is not the time for that."
"Dear, don't underestimate the troubles of a housewife."
"Quit arguing." Jiraiya, noticing that the Sorutobi Jonin lying on the ground had inexplicably vanished, spoke helplessly.
"Hurry and get on my shoulders and enter Sage Mode; this time it's really dangerous."
Jiraiya was under tremendous pressure now. What he worried about wasn't punishment for losing the battle, but that if his squad was defeated, Hidden Rock Squad would directly invade the Land of Fire.