Kakashi was in the library together with some researchers and the elite Jōnin. He was sitting at a table, carefully reviewing a big hardback book.

"Still no Intel, Lord Hokage?" One of the researchers asked.

"Not yet, I'm afraid." Kakashi sighed and turned the page. "We've researched many history books but so far none of them hold information on the mysterious eastern continent."

"Well, that's understandable..." Tenten shrugged, "During all of our history we practically had no means to travel as far as to reach the eastern continent, except for crossing the Land of Lightning. And even from there, it's one month travel by sea on the Super Ocean Express to reach the eastern shores safely. It's no surprise we lack Intel about eastern ninjas."

"Yeah, you have a point." Choji sighed and swallowed his snack.

"I have foreseen that," Kakashi said, "so I sent Sai to the Land of Lightning to gather some Intel with the help of Lord Raikage."

"Oh, well then, let's hope his mission will be successful!" Tenten smiled.

A bird drawing of Sai flew to the window and knocked on it with its beak. Ino looked at it and brightened:

"It's Sai's!"

She opened the window. The drawing flew in and landed on Kakashi's opened scroll. Letters appeared. Kakashi read out:

"I've gathered some Intel from the owners of the Super Ocean Express - the ship that travels to the eastern continent every four months from the Land of Lightning.

According to the Intel, on the eastern continent, there are three main nations: Land of Dark Forests, Land of Swords, and Land of Gold. The Super Ocean Express docks in the Land of Dark Forests.

Each of these three nations has a Hidden Village settled by skilled ninjas, just like on our continent.

Land of Swords possesses the Village Hidden in the Blood, Land of Gold - the Village Hidden in the Gems, and Land of Dark Forests - the Village Hidden in the Shadows.

However, the ship captain told me that, according to eastern settlers, once in the past there also existed another village in the Land of Dark Forests, in the high snowy mountains, in the forests full of huge fir-trees, and was called the Village Hidden in the Fir accordingly. But that village was mysteriously destroyed over eighteen years ago. Nevertheless, I believe those strange ninjas who took Naruto were from that Hidden Fir Village, or were at least connected with it somehow, as they had a fir-needle symbol on their bandanas.

If my hypothesis is true, then I think we're dealing with a huge problem, because, according to the ship crew, the ninjas of the Hidden Fir were extremely skilled and dangerous, renowned for their mercilessness towards strangers and outsiders.

I hope this info will be helpful. I'll stay here in the Land of Lightning for further investigation.

Later,

Sai"

The friends got worried.

"Oh, that's definitely not a good news!" Ino was preoccupied, "What if Shikamaru, Sakura and the others get in danger?"

"Yeah, we have to help them!" Lee clenched his fist.

"Don't worry, guys. Shikamaru, Sakura, and Hinata are all extremely skilled elite Jōnin." Kakashi tried to calm them down. "And what's more, Naruto and Sasuke must be with them as well. Naruto is really strong and persistent. To all of our villagers, he's a renowned hero. And Sasuke is an exceptional shinobi with extremely high skills exceeding the powers of most of his predecessors. I firmly believe they will do just fine. Our task right now is to gather as much Intel on those strange fir ninjas as we can."

"Yeah, you're right, Lord Hokage." Lee looked down, but then he brightened up and clenched his fist again: "Then, let's help them and provide them with Intel!"

"Now that's the spirit!" Kakashi smiled.

"But, why would they want exactly Naruto?" Tenten was concerned.

"Duh, he's a popular guy, everyone wants him!" Kiba chuckled.

"It's serious, Kiba!" Tenten frowned.

"I think they wanted not Naruto himself, but rather what's inside of him..." Shino said.

"What?" Tenten raised an eyebrow, but then widened her eyes: "You mean..."

"Yes," Shino nodded, "they want the Nine Tails."

The friends gasped.

"Oh, no! Then, they will definitely need our help!" Choji exclaimed.

"Let's not be hasty," Kakashi said, "For now, it's just an assumption. We must send a letter to Shikamaru and his team to verify the details."

The guys nodded:

"Roger that!"

Ino opened a scroll to start writing a letter when a brown eagle with a golden beak flew down to the window and knocked on it. It had a little letter attached to its foot. The guys looked at it in surprise.

"Whose eagle is that?" Lee wondered, "I've never seen any messenger bird as that before."

"Hmm... Looks interesting. Let's find out."

Kakashi opened the window and let the bird in. The eagle sat onto his arm and squealed. Kakashi took its letter and opened it. He widened his eyes.

"It's from Shikamaru," he said.

"Really?" Ino brightened, "What does he say?"

"Well..."

Kakashi began reading:

"Lord Hokage,

This is Naruto Rescue Team. We found Naruto, and are currently with him, providing back-up for him. We decided to delay our return to the Leaf Village, for Naruto introduced us with those strange fir ninjas Sakura was speaking of before. It has turned out that those ninjas didn't show any threat. In fact, it was quite the opposite - they needed Naruto's help in their affairs. Naruto insisted on helping them, so we didn't leave him alone and stayed with him. I must inform you that the Lord Kazekage is here too. He had met these ninjas before us, as it turned out, and had provided them with help, by letting them stay for some time at the Sand Village.

I must also tell you that we, together with these ninjas, are going to face a strong enemy, as they state, whose name is Akuno, and who is from the Hidden Fir Village of the eastern continent - the home of all of these ninjas. As they've told us, they belong to the Shin-Lin clan of the east - the senior clan who were lords of the Hidden Fir Village. But Akuno put an end to that village and all of its residents. Only these sibling ninjas survived.

They also talked about a strange creature - sort of a demon like our Nine Tails - which they call Diyuma. According to their words, this Diyuma spirit has a form of a hell horse, and has eight feet. It lives within the leader of these ninjas, and some parts of it are shared with all the other team members of theirs. These ninja siblings are eight in total, and each of them possesses unique and strange powers we haven't heard of before.

So, in short, for now, we're allied with them. But I assure you, if I notice anything fishy, I will straightly inform you and defend my team with all I've got. We will resist no matter what. But for now, I don't see the need for that, and I hope that I will not, till the end of this journey.

I will provide you with further information as soon as I gain it.

Faithfully,

Shikamaru

P.S. The eagle that delivered you this letter belongs to that monstrous ninja Sakura spoke of - the one with the eagle head. It seems like each of these ninjas has a unique summoning jutsu, and each of them has a contract with different ninja animals. This one, as I've said, possesses eagles. That eagle belongs to him as well. So don't freak out. That was the fastest bird he had in his arsenal."

"Oh, so that's what happened!" Tenten crossed her arms, "Well, that explains everything."

"Hmm, I don't know..." Choji shrugged and bit another crisp, "What do you think of it, Lord Kakashi? Are those strange eastern ninjas trustworthy? What if they're tricking us?"

"We can't say for sure yet," Kakashi replied, "We must wait for the development of actions. I completely trust Shikamaru and his team. Shikamaru isn't the type of a person to be easily fooled. He will find out if anything goes wrong. Now all we have to do is wait for them. And, by the way, along with our elite Jōnin who are really strong, according to Shikamaru, they have Lord Kazekage with them as well. You all know how powerful Gaara is. I think that team is perfect and they will pull everything off. No need to worry."

"Now that you say it, I agree. Shikamaru is beyond smart." Choji chuckled as he bit another crisp. "They'll be fine."

"That's true." Ino smiled.

"Let's write to them that we've received their letter and we will be ready for anything. And, we will also tell them that they have my full approval to continue their mission as they see fit," Kakashi said.

"Understood." Ino nodded and began writing.

They attached the letter to the eagle. It flew out and headed back to the east.