The commotion at Konoha's entrance did not last long. Soon, the Anbu arrived.
"Elder Hatake, Lord Hokage sent us to escort you over," the Anbu ninja said respectfully. Sōkyū Hatake now represented the Hatake Clan as an elder, so even the Anbu had to treat him properly.
"Mm-hmm, lead the way," Sōkyū Hatake said directly.
"Yes!"
Soon, the Anbu ninja brought Sōkyū Hatake to the door of Hiruzen Sarutobi's office.
Knock, knock, knock.
Knocking rang out.
"Come in." Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice sounded distinctly tired.
"Lord Hokage." Sōkyū Hatake walked straight in, pulled up a chair, and sat opposite Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"You're back?" Hiruzen Sarutobi did not even look up, continuing to deal with the paperwork before him.
"Yes. I also brought intelligence from the front," Sōkyū Hatake answered directly.
"Hmm... is the border unable to hold? Even with Tsunade and the two Hyūga brothers, facing all of Sunagakure's elite forces would be a little difficult." Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed, then raised his head to look at Sōkyū Hatake.
"You'll understand once you read this letter, Lord Hokage." Sōkyū Hatake said nothing else, placing the letter in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi instead.
"You never used to call me Lord Hokage." Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his head and looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi, his eyes seeming to convey something.
"I didn't know any better before. Now I've had some tempering on the battlefield, Grandpa Hokage," Sōkyū Hatake said with a grin.
This old schemer was such a pain.
"Never mind, never mind. Let me look at this intelligence. If things aren't going well, we'll have to send reinforcements." Hiruzen Sarutobi stared darkly at the intelligence in his hands. He knew whom Sunagakure had deployed.
After all, Rasa and Pakura had also been called over. That was hardly good news.
Hmm?
After opening the Intelligence Scroll,