Caw!
A clear eagle cry rang out over Konoha as a messenger hawk flapped its brown wings and flew straight to the floor-to-ceiling window outside the Hokage's office.
"Hm? This is..."
The Third Hokage shifted his gaze away from the Crystal Ball.
"Those hawk legs are so slender—ptui, so white—no, I mean, bring in that white scroll tied to its leg."
Sarutobi Hiruzen kept a straight face, as though he had not misspoken just now.
The long-haired female Anbu struggled to suppress her laughter so hard that even her voice came out a little distorted. "Yes, Lord Hokage!"
"Sigh, Mei, if you want to laugh, just laugh."
The Third Hokage shook his head and took a puff of smoke.
"No, Lord Hokage. I am Anbu. I have undergone rigorous training and will not make a sound when I should not."
Mei spoke in a cool voice.
Then she added, "Unless I really can't hold it in."
"All right, all right. I know you blame me for sending Shinnosuke to the border without taking you along, right?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone was somewhat helpless. At that moment, he seemed less like the leader of a village standing at the pinnacle of the world and more like an ordinary elder helplessly facing sulking children and grandchildren.
"Your decisions are always correct, Lord Hokage. I have no complaints. I am only worried about Shinnosuke."
"Sigh, as the son of the Hokage, that is both his advantage and his disadvantage. Everything he does will be scrutinized by others, who will try to pick out his mistakes. Even though I transferred him into Anbu early on, he still cannot completely escape it."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke earnestly. "This trip to the east to defend against the Land of Water's invasion is indeed dangerous, but he must go