Kazuyama stood frozen for a long moment, his mind nearly locking up. He couldn't make sense of it. He couldn't accept it.
Had Sunagakure walked straight into a trap? Why did that village always end up at the center of every problem?
He stared at Gaara in front of him, thinking: That shouldn't be possible. The person most likely to be in danger is standing right here, perfectly fine. What else could have happened?
Then Temari's words sent him plunging straight into an icy pit.
"Kazuyama Sensei, Dad sent us a message."
"Elder Chiyo has gone missing."
"And Elder Ebizo has been killed."
Kazuyama was completely stunned. Who? Who went missing? Chiyo???
How could someone who had already retired just vanish out of nowhere? And Ebizo was dead?
Two of Sunagakure's hidden powerhouses—one dead, one missing?
Wait. No. Chiyo is missing???
Oh hell no—this was very, very wrong.
"Since both elders lived in seclusion at the village outskirts, and their movements were extremely discreet—"
"It's impossible to determine exactly when the incident happened."
"But according to Father's intelligence report, Elder Ebizo has been dead for quite some time."
Kazuyama felt like his head was about to explode.
Why did it have to be Chiyo? If Rasa had been killed by the enemy, he wouldn't even be half this alarmed.
Rasa: !?? Thanks a lot!
This all traced back to a secret research project in Sunagakure—one called Resurrection.
And Chiyo was the one who created the technique capable of bringing back the dead.
The forbidden technique: One's Own Life Reincarnation.
"Sensei (Dad), what's wrong?"
The kids watched Kazuyama's expression grow darker and darker and began asking one after another. But Kazuyama had no time to answer; he simply shook his head and activated Flying Thunder God, disappearing instantly.
"Hey, Michihito, Senko, what happened to Kazuyama Sensei?"
Temari looked completely confused. Ever since meeting Kazuyama, she had never seen him like this.
He was too serious—so serious she began doubting whether this was even the same Kazuyama.
Michihito was just as bewildered. Not only Temari and the others, but even he—Kazuyama's own son—had never seen his father react like this.
Kazuyama reappeared directly in the Hokage's office via Flying Thunder God. Seeing Minato working, he blurted out:
"Oi—what the hell, man?! The fire's already at your eyebrows! Can you stop working for one second?!"
"It's a huge emergency!"
Minato was forced to drop his scroll and brush as Kazuyama launched into a rapid-fire explanation.
"Elder Chiyo has been captured, and Ebizo is dead!"
"Oh, I know. Rasa already reported it."
"...Do you even understand what it means for Chiyo to be captured?! How are you this calm?!"
Minato blinked in confusion and countered, "Well, yes, the ones missing and dead are Sunagakure elders—but that's their village's problem."
"Why are YOU so panicked?"
"When Advisor Sarutobi was gravely injured, I didn't see you reacting like this."
Kazuyama almost punched him right then, but his next words were the real explosion.
"That's because you have absolutely no idea how valuable Chiyo is!"
"That old woman invented a reincarnation technique! A technique that can bring the dead back to life!"
"Why do you think they killed Ebizo but captured Chiyo? Do I need to draw you a picture?!"
Shock. Extreme shock. Absolute dread.
Minato's confusion instantly transformed into horror.
A resurrection technique? A real resurrection technique? If Chiyo truly possessed such a jutsu, then her abduction was a catastrophe.
"A technique that can actually resurrect someone?"
"Kazuyama, how do you know this?"
Minato still wasn't ready to believe it.
Kazuyama fired back without hesitation.
"And you call yourself Hokage?!"
"When you learned Flying Thunder God, did you not read the Scroll of Seals? It contains a forbidden technique called Impure World Reincarnation—created by Second Hokage Tobirama Senju—which can bring back the dead and make them fight."
"If that kind of technique exists, why couldn't Sunagakure invent one too?"
"The urgent matter now is to convene the Five Kage Summit immediately."
"I'm certain the enemy has malicious intentions."
With a reincarnation technique in their possession, the enemy would definitely attempt things far beyond expectations.
They might resurrect Uchiha Madara—or even Nagato.
After all, while One's Own Life Reincarnation was powerful, it could only revive one person. But if Nagato used the Six Paths power to unleash the Outer Path — Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique, the revival wouldn't be limited to just Madara.
"Understood. I'll send word to the major villages at once."
"The meeting will be held ten days from now."
"Kazuyama, you handle informing the Land of Iron. I've already contacted Admiral Mifune, so you can go straight there."
"Make sure everything is ready for the summit."
Minato had already drafted the main agenda for the Five Kage Summit—primarily the campaign against Akatsukigakure.
Kazuyama's news eliminated any need to revise it. The summit needed to happen immediately.
"Alright, I'll head to the Land of Iron now."
"We'll meet in ten days. Oh, and Minato—one more thing. For the civilians and non-combatants in the village—"
"I recommend that our younger genin sit out this war."
"This will also be discussed at the summit. You know how serious this war is."
Minato agreed. He hadn't planned on sending the kids anyway.
Times had changed. The era of throwing every citizen onto the battlefield was long over.
Those young shinobi were the village's future. Better to keep them safe in the rear than send them into a war of this scale.
"Minato! Minato!"
"Hurry! Where are you?!"
Just as the two finished discussing, an urgent shout rang out from outside the window.
The voice was unmistakable. Minato and Kazuyama exchanged a look and muttered at the same time:
"Oh no. He's back. What bad news is it this time..."
Both of them were already on edge, jumping at every sound.
They couldn't help it. Too much had happened lately.