The Help Request from Yunin

Far away in Konoha, inside the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the reigning Third Hokage of Konoha, slowly laid down the help request in his hands, his brows furrowing slightly.

Seeing the Third's deeply locked brows, an old woman sitting nearby cast a puzzled gaze.

"Hiruzen, has something serious happened?"

Since the person speaking was able to sit in the Hokage's office and directly address the current Hokage by his given name, she was evidently a figure of immense power and high standing.

Besides her, two other old men were also present at the moment.

One wore glasses, and the beard on his chin looked somewhat similar to the Third's.

The other had a gloomy expression, with a large amount of bandages wrapped around both his eyes and one arm.

These people were the current leadership team of Konoha.

The contemporary Hokage, alongside the council of elder advisors.

Hearing her old friend's question, the Third then pushed the letter over to them, picked up his pipe on a whim, and took a fierce puff.

"It's a plea for help sent by Hidden Hot Water Village; they hope Konoha can dispatch shinobi to help them wipe out those monsters."

The Third's tone was flat, but the matter he spoke of was not simple.

Because Hidden Hot Water Village possessed abundant tourism resources and was extremely wealthy, it had gradually grown indulgent in peace, even letting its shinobi infrastructure fall into disrepair.

It could be said to be a nation very strong in economy, yet quite weak in military might.

Even so, dispatching shinobi to execute missions in another nation—and a nation with an existing shinobi village at that—belonged to diplomatic affairs, which must never be treated casually.

After reading the contents on the letter, the gloomy old man in the corner let