Konoha, atop the Guard Unit Headquarters building.
After returning from the Training Ground, Chiyo found Fugaku Uchiha waiting at the entrance.
Fugaku's expression was as dark as iron, his brows tightly furrowed.
His fingers unconsciously rubbed the Scroll at his waist, and his gaze snapped into focus the instant Chiyo appeared.
Clearly, Fugaku had something important to report.
"What happened?"
Chiyo calmly asked Fugaku, who had hurried up to him.
Fugaku did not answer immediately. Instead, he said in a low voice.
"Captain, let's talk in the office."
Chiyo nodded, and the two entered the office one after the other.
After closing the door, Fugaku took out a Scroll from his robes and handed it over.
"This is intelligence that just arrived."
Fugaku said gravely.
The contents of this Scroll concerned an incident Chiyo had instructed Fugaku to keep a close watch on.
Chiyo unrolled the Scroll and quickly scanned its contents, his gaze gradually sharpening.
Across seven or eight small towns along the borders of the Land of Frost, the Land of Waterfalls, and the Land of Rice Fields, sixty children had gone missing as of today!
"Children disappearing again..."
Chiyo's fingers tapped lightly on the desk, a trace of chill flashing through his eyes.
He immediately recalled the similar disappearances that had occurred in Konoha before. If he had not ordered the Uchiha to strengthen their patrols back then, things might have become just as bad.
And now, after so many quiet years, with border conflicts beginning once more,
this was happening again, on an even greater scale.
"What has Danzo been doing lately?"
Hearing Chiyo mention Danzo, Fugaku gave it some thought.
"Since being stripped of his position as Root's leader, Danzo has not participated in any village decisions. He has remained at home."
Chiyo's eyes flickered.