Hiruzen Sarutobi set down his pipe and took another scroll from a drawer.
It was the mission report submitted some time ago by Night Owl, the captain of the ANBU squad responsible for escorting the medical unit.
It detailed how an elite Iwagakure squad had attacked the medical unit within the Land of Fire and abducted more than ten medical ninja.
Among them were Yumi and Ayumi from the Orphanage.
When he had first read the report, he had been angry, but more than that, he had felt the helplessness of accepting such things as "the norm in war."
Iwagakure was devious in its methods, and attacks on medical units in the rear were nothing unusual.
After all, even Tsunade had been attacked before.
He had only paid a little attention to the list of abducted personnel. When he saw Yumi's and Ayumi's names, a thought had flashed through his mind-Lin Ze would probably be very upset when he found out.
After all, those two girls were among his few "bonds" in Konoha.
Yet now, placing this report beside the battle report from the Kumogakure Front, Hiruzen Sarutobi knitted his brows tightly.
Lin Ze's strength had already reached Kage Level...
He had been hiding his strength all along...
Yumi and Ayumi were close to him...
The attack on the medical unit had taken place shortly before the decisive battle against Kumogakure...
Several seemingly unrelated pieces of information collided in his mind, casting a shadow over Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart.
He forced himself to stop making certain overly "dark" connections.
Perhaps it was only a coincidence. Lin Ze had been fighting on the front lines all along and had earned outstanding military merits. He should not be suspected without cause.
But... as Hokage, he had to consider the worst.
*A powerful young