The next morning, Shuo was woken by knocking at the door.
It was no gentle tapping, but a frantic pounding, as though someone were hammering on the door with their fists, making the panels shake.
He opened his eyes but lay still, Lightspeed Thinking kicking in instinctively-two people stood outside, both breathing hard, one with familiar chakra and one unfamiliar.
"Shuo! Open up! Something's happened!"
It was Obito's voice, so frantic it had gone shrill.
Shuo slowly sat up. Sai was already awake and went to open the door, rubbing his eyes.
The door had barely opened a crack before Obito rushed in, his hair a mess and his eyes bloodshot. He clearly hadn't slept all night.
"Kakashi-sensei's missing!" He wrung his hands anxiously, pacing back and forth. "Last night, he said he was going out for some air, and he never came back! Rin searched the whole village and couldn't find him anywhere!"
Shuo looked at him, his tone flat. "Missing?"
"Yes!" Obito nodded. "Minato-sensei's looking everywhere too. He sent me to get you. He said you might have a way!"
Shuo said nothing and looked out the window-the day was just breaking, gray and hazy, with a thin mist still drifting through the air. He hadn't told anyone that Obito had come to see him last night. But Kakashi suddenly disappearing now was a little too much of a coincidence.
"Where's Minato-sensei?" he asked.
"Waiting at the village entrance!" Obito grabbed his arm and pulled him toward the door. "Come on! Any later and it'll be too late!"
Shuo didn't pull away. He got out of bed and headed outside, with no thought at all for washing up. Sai followed silently behind.
The streets were in chaos. ANBU members, patrolling ninja, and members of the Medical Team were