The Hokage's Office.
The button whose coordinates had just been decoded still lay quietly on the desk. The lingering spatial traces of the Flying Thunder God Formula had yet to dissipate completely.
But the piercing buzzer had already stopped.
The ANBU operative in charge of communications put down the red hotline phone, leaving only his slightly hurried breathing in the office.
"Lady Jiye forged an order and mobilized the Internal Guard..." Shikaku Nara repeated, his brow tightly furrowed. He looked at the map that had just been spread across the desk, his finger unconsciously tracing the security perimeter fifty li outside Konoha. "At this moment, from this direction... they're coming for the Special Care Unit."
Baishi said nothing.
He simply rose and walked over to the enormous floor-to-ceiling window.
Under martial law, Konoha's streets had lost their usual bustle. In its place were squads of masked ANBU and solemn-faced ninja from the Konoha Military Police Force. Everything was orderly, almost unnaturally quiet.
The Capital Guard's sudden arrival was like a stone forcibly hurled into a precision machine.
"Who commands the guard?" Baishi's voice was calm, betraying neither anger nor pleasure.
"Okamura, a distant cousin of Lady Jiye, known for his harsh military discipline and absolute loyalty," Shikaku answered immediately, clearly well acquainted with the Capital's web of personnel connections.
"Which squad is guarding the Konoha Gate?"
"The Hyuga Clan's Third Patrol Squad. Their captain is Hyuga Tokugawa, an old-school ninja who strictly follows the rules."
Baishi nodded, seemingly quite satisfied with that arrangement.
He did not order the Border Defense Force to prepare for combat, nor did he mobilize ANBU to lay an ambush. Either would have made his intentions far too obvious.
He returned to his desk and picked up another internal phone.
"Connect me to the Health Bureau."