Sasuke and Boruto Who Traversed Time and Space

While Ōnoki was personally instructing Deidara's squad, far away in the Land of Fire, in the Hokage's office of the Hidden Leaf Village, the atmosphere was even heavier and more oppressive.

Smoke curled through the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind the broad Hokage's desk, the pipe in his hand not having left his grip for a long time. He drew in and exhaled mouthful after mouthful of thick smoke, as if trying to use it to dispel the weight pressing on his heart.

Spread open before him was an official scroll stamped with the seal of the Daimyo Mansion of the Land of Fire.

There were not many words on the scroll, but every character was like a tiny hammer striking his heart.

There was a gentle knock at the office door.

"Come in." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice carried a trace of fatigue.

The door was pushed open, and three senior Leaf advisors filed in one after another.

Walking at the front was Shimura Danzō, leaning on a cane, half his face and his right arm wrapped in bandages, his gaze dark and sinister.

Behind him came Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, their faces equally grave.

The last to enter was the jonin commander, and also the Hokage's strategist, Nara Shikaku.

"Hiruzen, calling us here in such a hurry—has there been word from the Daimyo Mansion?" Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses and spoke first, his gaze falling on the open scroll.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a heavy drag from his pipe, then tapped it against the edge of the ashtray, though the tobacco inside had long since burned out.

He picked up the scroll and did not answer directly, instead handing it to Nara Shikaku, who was closest to him. "Shikaku, you look first. Then pass it around to everyone."