Sand's Central Army
"Report! Lord Kazekage, Elder Chiyo requests an audience!" The guard stood at the entrance.
The Kazekage was studying the current situation over the sand table. At the news, he frowned. Wasn't Elder Chiyo leading a force of ninja at Chōga, where she was supposed to ambush Konoha's medical camp? Why had she left the battlefield and come here?
Had something gone wrong at Chōga? That couldn't be! Chiyo was a veteran of Sunagakure, a female commander who had led troops in battle before. Even if she'd been defeated, it couldn't have happened this soon!
He shook his head. There was no point trying to figure it out before she arrived. He'd know soon enough.
The Third Kazekage smiled warmly. "Where is Elder Chiyo now? I'll go meet her myself!"
The Third Kazekage and the Council of Elders had worked together for years. They were like one big family, and everything they did was for Sunagakure's prosperity!
Their relationship was, therefore, extremely harmonious.
"Elder Chiyo is still at the camp entrance!" the guard hurriedly replied.
The Third Kazekage frowned again. "You didn't invite her inside? Is this how I taught you to treat our elders?" He was a little angry. How could his subordinates be so inconsiderate?
"Lord Kazekage, we did invite her in, but Elder Chiyo said that she was old and of little standing, and didn't dare overstep her bounds. So she's waiting at the entrance." The guard looked deeply uncomfortable. Did he seem that inconsiderate? The problem was, Elder Chiyo wouldn't come inside!
The Third Kazekage drew a sharp breath. It seemed this was serious. Elder Chiyo was angry—she wouldn't even enter the camp, and was waiting outside.
"Show me the way. I'll invite her in myself," the Third Kazekage said without hesitation. He must