Land of Iron, capital city.
Late at night, heavy snow drifted down from the lead-gray sky, silently covering the streets, rooftops, and eaves.
Those dark-gray stone buildings looked even colder and harder in the snow, like silent giant beasts crouched in the darkness.
The ninjutsu streetlamps on both sides of the road gave off a dim yellow glow, the light blurring through the curtain of snow into hazy rings of radiance.
A night watchman walked through the empty street, striking his clappers, his wooden clogs leaving deep footprints in the snow that were soon covered by fresh fall.
The sound of the clappers carried far through the silent night, with an ancient rhythm to it, beat by beat, like the heartbeat of this capital city.
The courtyard where the Hidden Leaf Village delegation was staying lay in the southeastern corner of the capital, a typical Land of Iron building.
Dark-gray stone walls enclosed a square courtyard, and the main house was a two-story structure with steep eaves to keep snow from piling up.
A string of cast-iron wind chimes hung beneath the eaves, now weighed low by the snow. Whenever the wind passed, they gave off a dull clank.
The snow in the courtyard was already half a foot deep, smooth as a white velvet blanket.
Only from the main gate to the veranda of the main house was there a newly trodden path, the footprints still fresh.
Shimura Danzō leaned on a cane and slowly walked along the corridor.
He was still wearing that black robe, with a dark kimono underneath, a Hokage conical hat on his head, and bandages wrapped around his right eye and right arm.
He walked very slowly, his cane probing the way ahead, every step steady.
Aburame Torune and Yamanaka Fu followed half a