Meanwhile...
Chaos was unfolding in Konoha.
At the Hokage Building.
Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe as he reviewed the newly divided profits, feeling thoroughly pleased. Another enormous sum of money. If he had not needed to maintain his dignity, he would have been grinning from ear to ear.
But his delight did not last long.
Knock, knock, knock, knock, knock, knock!
A rapid pounding suddenly rang out at the door!
"Is Lord Hokage here? Is Lord Hokage here? I have something urgent to report!"
"Hmm?"
Crash!
Hiruzen Sarutobi had only just frowned and had yet to respond.
The door collapsed outright, revealing Baki's anxious face!
"..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was stunned!!!
What is wrong with these people? How long has it even been since that door was repaired?
They all have a grudge against doors!
Hiruzen Sarutobi felt ready to kill someone, but for the sake of his image, he forcibly swallowed his anger. Luckily for Baki, he was from another village!
"What warrants such reckless haste?"
"L-Lord Kazekage is missing!"
"Hmm?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi clearly failed to process that, his expression going blank.
Once he recovered and saw that Baki did not appear to be joking, he froze completely, his eyes nearly popping out!
Could someone explain this to him?
What did he mean, a village's Kage, its strongest fighter, had vanished in Konoha at a time when tensions were highest and personnel were deployed most densely?
He obviously did not believe it. If that were truly the case, he would rather interpret it another way. The Kazekage had not gone missing.
Instead, the Kazekage had gone into hiding in preparation to attack Konoha. That was far more likely. Sand Well Village was too close, and their alliance existed only on paper. It could be torn up at any moment,