The tension in the Reception Room had just begun to ease.
Ito, the envoy from the Daimyo Residence, wore a broad smile and was about to offer a few final pleasantries to bring his visit to a close.
Then an ANBU operative dropped to one knee, dousing the room's warmth like a bucket of ice water.
A-Rank emergency military intelligence.
Those words froze the smile on Ito's face.
Shikaku Nara tightened his grip on the pen he had just set down.
Baishi turned to the ANBU operative. His voice betrayed no emotion.
"Repeat the coordinates and movement."
"Reporting to the Hokage. The coordinates are in the third buffer zone of the Southern Border, grid G-7. The target is moving in a straight line toward Konoha at three kilometers per minute. Energy level assessment... exceeds the General Staff Headquarters' standard combat-strength scale."
Grid G-7.
Shikaku's heart skipped a beat. That was where the first pilot installation of the "Grid-Based Chakra Epidemic Prevention and Control System" had gone in after the Hyuga Clan's rotation of border duties.
Baishi was silent for a moment.
"Pass on my orders. All heads of the General Staff Headquarters, Defense Department, and ANBU command center are to enter level-one combat readiness immediately. Activate Plan Three of the Border Unknown Target Invasion Emergency Plan."
"Yes!" The ANBU operative vanished to carry out the order.
A suffocating silence filled the Reception Room.
Fine beads of sweat had formed on Envoy Ito's forehead. He was no ninja, but he could feel the pressure of the storm about to break.
"Lord Hokage, is this..."
"No need for alarm, Envoy," Baishi said evenly. "It's a routine border alert. Konoha's defenses can handle any emergency."
He paused and turned to Shikaku.
"Shikaku, stay here in my place. Make certain the envoy is safe."