Lost

"Don't talk nonsense. We have no evidence that Konoha attacked Lord Kazekage," Chiyo said with a frown.

"Hmph! We still don't have direct evidence that Konoha was behind it, but given the coincidences leading up to this, I'm sure you and Ebizo already know the truth, Senior Chiyo," Sabaku Chiharu said. "Even if word of these four ninjas' deaths reaches Konoha, we can just say they took part in the traitor Chizuru's uprising. Konoha won't be able to say a thing."

When neither Chiyo nor Ebizo spoke, Sabaku Chiharu couldn't help thinking that the two Sunagakure advisors were far too indecisive. They had none of the decisiveness the Third Kazekage had shown in his day.

Despite his dissatisfaction, Sabaku Chiharu restrained his temper and said stiffly, "Since neither of you has any objections, I'll take fifty ninjas from the Sabaku Clan and deal with those little rats."

Without the slightest hesitation, Sabaku Chiharu turned and strode out of the Kazekage's Office.

Watching Sabaku Chiharu leave, Chiyo suddenly turned to Ebizo. "Little brother, do you think this is really the right thing to do?"

Ebizo laughed. "Haha. Big sister, you used to be so ruthless. When did you become so indecisive that you started worrying about ninjas from another village?"

"You don't understand." Chiyo glanced at Ebizo and chuckled. "All the ruthlessness I showed in the past was for the village's safety and growth. But if I could choose again, I'd rather sit by a quiet river with you, doing nothing and fishing without a care in the world."

"Unfortunately, the Third Kazekage, hailed as the 'Strongest Kazekage,' suddenly disappeared." A trace of sorrow crossed Chiyo's eyes. "And now Sunagakure has no one capable of taking the position of Kazekage. We're nearly fifty and close to retirement, yet we have no choice but to shoulder the burden of the village for now."

Since Scarlet Valley lay on the border between the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire, it took three days to reach from either Konoha or Sunagakure.

One day later.

Hokage Office.

Using "urgent business" as his pretext, the Third Hokage suddenly summoned Shimura Danzō, the head of Root, the advisors Mitokado Homura and Utatane Koharu, and several elite jōnin.

Once everyone he had summoned had arrived, Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi got straight to the point. "A member of Anbu infiltrating Sunagakure reported that a rebellion broke out there last night. Sabaku Chiharu, head of the Sabaku Clan, fought the rebellion's instigator, Sabaku Chizuru. Chizuru was ultimately defeated and captured."

"A rebellion in Sunagakure?" Before the Third Hokage could finish, Shimura Danzō said with a grim expression, "This is a great opportunity. I'll secretly send Root ninjas to stir up trouble while Sunagakure is still in turmoil."

"Danzō, the Second Shinobi World War just ended. Do you want to abandon peace and start a war with the Land of Wind?" Utatane Koharu glared at Shimura Danzō. He snorted and said nothing more.

"Third, you summoned us in the middle of the night. Surely you didn't call us here just to tell us about Sunagakure's rebellion?" Mitokado Homura asked, arms folded.

At his words, everyone present turned to look at the Third Hokage.

"Of course not." The Third Hokage interlaced his fingers and rested his forehead against them. "The problem is, our Konoha ninjas have already been caught up in Sunagakure's internal conflict."

"What?" Everyone immediately grew agitated.

This was ridiculous! Sunagakure had just put down a rebellion, and now Konoha had been caught interfering in its internal affairs. If Sunagakure found out, it would be the perfect prelude to a war between Sunagakure and Konoha!

"Here's what happened."

The Third Hokage explained the whole matter from beginning to end, but didn't mention the Third Kazekage's disappearance. It seemed Sunagakure had done an excellent job of concealing that information; even the Third Hokage still hadn't heard anything about it.

When he finished, everyone fell silent.

A few seconds later, Hatake Sakumo, who had attended the meeting, spoke up. "So the four, including Dan Katō, who are currently deep inside Sunagakure on a mission, are in serious danger."

"That's right," the Third Hokage replied. "I need someone to rescue them."

"I'll go." Hatake Sakumo raised his hand.

"You can't," the Third Hokage said at once.

Among Konoha's ninjas, the only one whose strength rivaled the Third Hokage's was Hatake Sakumo, known as the White Fang of the Leaf. Even Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya—the three ninja whom Hanzo of the Salamander had hailed as the "Sannin"—were no match for Hatake Sakumo.

So although the Third Hokage couldn't go himself, and Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade were all away on missions, Hatake Sakumo was clearly the best choice among Konoha's many ninjas.

But even at his fastest, the journey from Konoha to Sunagakure would take six days. By the time Hatake Sakumo arrived, Dan Katō and the others' bodies would probably have rotted beyond recognition.

The Third Hokage declined Hatake Sakumo's offer and turned to the person in charge of mission assignments. "Which teams are currently on missions near the Land of Wind?"

"Team 5, led by Lord Jiraiya, is on a mission near the Land of Wind," a ninja from the mission assignment office replied respectfully.

"Send someone to inform Jiraiya at once. Tell him to hurry and support Dan Katō and the others."

"Yes, sir."

Two days later.

Three days had passed since the rebellion led by Sabaku Chizuru was put down.

Since they were unfamiliar with Scarlet Valley's terrain, Dan Katō and his team had unfortunately gotten lost inside it. It wasn't until the afternoon of the third day that all four members of Team 6 finally found the right path.

With nightfall approaching, the four had no choice but to pitch their tents and light a campfire. Its flickering glow revealed the bleak desolation of the empty canyon around them.

"Ugh, we finally found the way. After all these delays, I bet our client is furious by now." Nohara Shin looked exhausted as he let his arms hang limp.

"Good thing we found the path this afternoon. Otherwise, we'd really have had to spend the night in this canyon," Kushina Uzumaki complained.

"Hahaha, it's not so bad. Now that we've found the right path, the rest should be easy." Hearing his subordinates complain, Dan Katō took the opportunity to encourage them.

"Ugh, I wonder how things are going in Sunagakure," Uchiha Matsuri muttered under his breath.

Following the order they had agreed on, Nohara Shin, Uchiha Matsuri, and Dan Katō took turns keeping watch beside the tent.