Hiruzen Sarutobi's Furious Rage

Land of Fire, Konoha.

Inside the Hokage's office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi's cheek twitched faintly, and the veins on his forehead bulged.

"What the hell is Uchiha Houka trying to do?!"

With a bang, he viciously slammed the pipe in his hand onto the desk, so furious that smoke practically came out of his nostrils.

"He actually took Haku away, that bastard!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was so enraged his hormones were out of balance. "Nonō, why didn't you stop him?!"

Yakushi Nonō stood respectfully to one side with her head lowered, a gentle smile on her face. "My apologies, Lord Hokage. I did not know you valued Haku so highly."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's breath caught in his throat. He had words to say but could not get them out. It was unbearable!

"Get Kakashi here!" he shouted, slamming the desk.

"Lord Hokage, if there is nothing else, I'll take my leave first," Yakushi Nonō said.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

After she left, Hiruzen Sarutobi hesitated for a moment before finally sighing and saying to Hatake Sakumo beside him, "Have someone keep an eye on her. Don't let anyone from Root get near her."

"Yes." Hatake Sakumo immediately left.

Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up his pipe and took a puff. Yakushi Nonō had once been a member of Root, and it had been Tsunade who stepped in to help her leave safely. If Tsunade returned one day only to find that Yakushi Nonō had been killed by Root, how could he ever face that disciple of his again?

Before long, Kakashi arrived at his office.

"Third Hokage, you summoned me." Kakashi knelt on one knee, his expression hidden behind his mask.

"Kakashi, do you remember the mission I gave you?" Hiruzen Sarutobi snorted.

"The mission?" Kakashi was briefly stunned, then asked tentatively, "Third Hokage, is it about