Iwagakure.
Ōnoki floated above his seat, his face ashen.
Below him stood a group of Hidden Stone shinobi with their heads lowered.
They were the Anbu led by Iwa-Kyū, specifically assigned to protect Rōshi.
"What the hell were you all doing!?"
"Why has Rōshi disappeared!?"
"Didn't yesterday's report say everything was normal?"
The Hidden Stone shinobi below remained silent. There was nothing they could say—Rōshi, a living, breathing man, had vanished without a trace right under their noses.
This already counted as a grave dereliction of duty.
Iwa-Kyū forced himself to speak. "Ever since the last attack, Senior Rōshi has become much easier to talk to."
"He shouldn't have left without saying goodbye."
How could Ōnoki not know that? Though Rōshi differed from him politically,
Rōshi was still an old man who knew what mattered.
For him to suddenly disappear at a time like this, there was a high chance that something had happened to him.
Just then, the door abruptly flew open. "Old man, something's happened!"
Ōnoki saw that it was Deidara.
"You can leave for now. Go investigate again and see if there are any clues."
"How long until Han reaches the village? Check his whereabouts."
Iwa-Kyū and the others felt as though they had been pardoned. They hurriedly bowed and withdrew.
"What is it, Deidara?"
Seeing Deidara eased Ōnoki's mood somewhat.
Deidara was unusually serious. "Old man, Brother Scorpion sent me a message through the black market."
"Obito attacked Hidden Sand Village. Hidden Sand's Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, was killed in battle. The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, had his Tailed Beast extracted and died. Takigakure's Seven-Tails Jinchuriki also had his Tailed Beast extracted and died."
Ōnoki shuddered. "What? Both Kazekage of Hidden Sand Village are dead?"
Deidara nodded firmly. "Yes. Didn't Iwa-Kyū just say that Rōshi has gone missing?"