Night!!
"Kazekage-sama, there is a report." A Suna-nin knocked on the door of the Kazekage's office. However, after waiting for a while, he still did not hear the Kazekage's voice. He frowned. "Has Kazekage-sama fallen asleep?"
The Kazekage had indeed been very tired these days. Although Sunagakure and Uzushiogakure were currently in a standoff at the border, no battles had broken out. However, the arrangements for the war and the mobilization of troops could not be delayed for even a moment...
After all, everyone knew that this period of peace would not last long.
The Suna-nin frowned, unsure whether he should wake the Kazekage. The Kazekage was no longer young, and staying up late for long periods was very harmful to his health.
"Should I come back later?" The Suna-nin thought for a moment. Then, holding the documents, he decided to ask the patrolling ninja to notify him immediately once the Kazekage woke up...
This report had come from the Land of Fire.
It must be very important.
But...
"Where are the patrolling ninja?" The Suna-nin waited for a while and frowned as he looked around. "Why hasn't anyone come even after so long?"
Moreover, the Kazekage building was unusually quiet today!!
Suddenly, he remembered something. When he had entered the Kazekage building earlier...
There had been no guards at the door either!!
The Suna-nin immediately sensed that something was wrong. He turned around and banged on the door, shouting, "Kazekage-sama!"
"Kazekage-sama!"
But there was still no response...
"Bam!"
The Suna-nin forcefully kicked the door open and rushed inside in a panic.
"Ka-Ka... Kazekage..."
He froze in shock.
"..."
"Enemy attack!!!"
...
Uzumaki Jun stopped and looked back at Sunagakure, which had suddenly lit up with piercing alarms. He murmured, "It seems someone has noticed."
Since this was not yet the era of advanced technology seen in later years, the lights in the distance were not the street lamps of Uzushiogakure but oil lamps and torches.
"You threatened me!!" Uzumaki Jun looked at Sunagakure, a mysterious smile appearing on his lips. "I wonder what expression they'll have when they realize their village leader is missing and see the traces left behind?"
Hehe, they must be wearing expressions of disbelief right now.
But...
"Sigh, I wonder what will happen to that cooperation agreement?" Uzumaki Jun sighed. The cooperation between Uzushiogakure and Sunagakure was only known to a few high-ranking Suna-nin. The rest were just ordinary ninja following orders. Uzumaki Jun didn't know if they would continue the cooperation with Uzushiogakure after discovering that Sandaime was missing. If not...
Uzushiogakure would have to recruit people from Amegakure instead.
The only problem was...
Whether they could get back those two billion ryo...
As Uzumaki Jun pondered how to control the situation and prevent Sunagakure from discovering that this incident was related to Uzushiogakure...
"Whoosh—!!"
Uzumaki Jun noticed a sudden burst of flames in the distance and blinked. "Great Fireball Technique?"
Sunagakure didn't have many who used fire release, and this direction wasn't even toward the village.
"It seems ninja from another village have come to Sunagakure's border and been discovered." Uzumaki Jun narrowed his eyes. "Who would come to Sunagakure at this time?"
He had just dealt with someone, and now ninja from another village showed up...
Were they here to stir up trouble because Sunagakure and Uzushiogakure had been at peace?
That was too hasty!
"Let's see who it is first." Uzumaki Jun sighed. "I hope nothing goes wrong now."
...
"It seems to be Magnet Release." A Suna-nin crouched down and examined the bodies in the Kazekage's office, frowning. "And they were all killed in one strike."
"You mean..." A woman with purple hair, around forty years old but still elegant, stepped forward and frowned. "Could it really be him?"
The surrounding high-ranking officials tensed at her words, staring at the dozen or so ninja lying on the floor in disbelief. If this was true...
Why would the Kazekage do such a thing?
Magnet Release was created by the Kazekage, and very few in Sunagakure could use it. Moreover, these ninja—whether genin or jōnin—had all been killed without any resistance. This could only mean the attacker was someone familiar, even...
Someone they would not dare to resist!!
"Has the Kazekage been found yet?" A man in his thirties grabbed a nearby Suna-nin and shouted. "What about the ANBU? Have they found anything?"
"Elder Chiyo, there's still no sign of the Kazekage," the Suna-nin replied respectfully.
"It seems we need to prepare for the worst," the woman said, frowning again. "Regardless of whether the Kazekage has betrayed the village or not, we..."
"Impossible!!" A young man suddenly stepped forward and glared at the woman. "Elder Chiyo, my teacher would never betray the village. You know how much he loves Sunagakure."
"Sigh." Chiyo sighed. "I don't want to believe it either, but..."
"Magnet Release alone doesn't prove anything, and these ninja don't either," the young man said firmly. "Maybe the enemy just happened to know Magnet Release and was very strong..."
"Perhaps you're right," Chiyo said helplessly. "But we're in the middle of a war. We must elect the Third Kazekage immediately. If other villages take advantage of this, Sunagakure will be in trouble."
"As for Sandaime..."
"Let's classify this as top secret for now. Seal off all information about today and send ANBU to continue investigating. If anything is found, report it immediately."
The war had just begun, and the leader of the village had disappeared. This would greatly affect the morale of the lower-ranking ninja, especially since they were cooperating with Uzushiogakure...
All of this needed to be resolved.
She hoped today's news wouldn't leak. Otherwise...
Sunagakure would be in grave danger.
"Understood!!" The young man clenched his fists but eventually relaxed them and bowed his head. "I'll make the arrangements."
"Don't worry, no one suspects you," Ebizō patted the young man's shoulder. "But until things are clarified, you might need to..."
Ebizō didn't finish his sentence. He knew the young man understood. As the Second Kazekage's student, he had been a strong candidate for the Third Kazekage. But now... Until the village investigated thoroughly, no one would feel at ease letting him move freely in the village, let alone allowing him to become Kazekage.
"I understand," the young man nodded, his gaze calm as he looked at Ebizō. "I'll cooperate with the village's investigation."
But inwardly, he felt bitter. He had been...
So close to the Kazekage's seat!!
"Sigh!!" Ebizō patted his shoulder again but said nothing more before leaving with the others. With the Kazekage gone, the village's authority now rested with the elders. So now...
There were many things to resolve!!