"Lord Hokage."
On the street leading to Anbu headquarters, Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly walked forward.
He looked unhurried, his expression exceptionally gentle, as though he were enjoying retirement.
Just then, however, an Anbu suddenly appeared beside him and dropped to one knee, immediately shattering his leisurely mood.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. He disliked being disturbed at a time like this, but he had no intention of blaming the Anbu.
"Rise." Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head and said gently, "What is it? Such haste is hardly how an Anbu should conduct himself."
"Lord Hokage, it's Nightingale Squad Leader." After standing, the Anbu immediately spoke in a low, rapid voice. "Nightingale Squad Leader has started fighting Owl at headquarters."
"Fighting?" Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help frowning at the news.
Naturally, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew Xia Yan had gone to headquarters. In fact, he had known Xia Yan's movements from the moment he entered this street.
He had not appeared immediately because he knew Xia Yan very likely intended to use this visit to headquarters to hand something over to him.
That was why he had only set off at a leisurely pace after Xia Yan arrived at Anbu headquarters. With Takumi and Owl both there, nothing unexpected should have happened, no matter how he looked at it.
Even if something did happen, it would most likely be some conflict between Xia Yan and Murashima Takumi. After all, given Takumi's personality...
Of course, even a conflict would not be a major issue. Takumi was the Anbu Director, after all.
Xia Yan was clever. He would not choose to make things too unpleasant with his immediate superior. Besides, wasn't Owl there too?
Yet reality had delivered a harsh slap to his face. Xia Yan had indeed caused no trouble with Murashima Takumi, but he had come to