The Administrative Department was an organization that assisted the Hokage in managing Konoha's government affairs.
Its two highest-ranking officials were Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, whose standing in the village was equivalent to that of elders.
The advisors' duties were, first, to assist the Hokage by offering sound advice; second, to serve as a bridge between the Land of Fire and Konoha, relaying information from the country and receiving the village's allocated budget. They also reported the village's circumstances and situation to the Daimyo, among other things...
To put it bluntly,
aside from wielding slightly less real power,
Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu held positions in Konoha that were almost as prominent as Danzo's!
They were unquestionably among Konoha's top brass.
At that moment, the sudden death of one such high-ranking advisor
had indeed dealt Konoha a tremendous blow.
After all, even during the Second and Third Shinobi World Wars,
not a single high-ranking advisor in all of Konoha had ever died suddenly...
What's more, Utatane Koharu had been Sarutobi's longtime comrade-in-arms. They shared a deep bond.
Now, having witnessed Koharu's death with his own eyes, Sarutobi Hiruzen was undoubtedly shaken to the core!
His heart pounded, and fury burned within him.
A high-ranking advisor had actually died right outside her own village's Vault.
If word of this got out, it would undoubtedly be another devastating blow to all of Konoha!
Sarutobi suppressed his anger and murmured,
"Two-person operation, Red Cloud Robes..."
"Was it that Akatsuki organization?"
"They actually dared to attack Konoha?!!"
"And how did they cross the village barrier without anyone noticing?"
"Why did the battle break out right here?"
Countless questions rose in his mind.
Yet no one could answer them.
Although Koharu had left behind a few clues before she died,
Sarutobi was too cautious to