In a secluded residence within Sunagakure, Chiyo and Ebizo sat beside a small spring with fishing rods in their hands.
Chiyo watched the float on the water, her fingers resting lazily on the rod.
"These days have been peaceful..."
Ebizo nodded without looking away from the spring. "Indeed. The last time the village dragged us out to clean up a mess, it was exhausting. The Ninja World has changed more than expected, but at least this time, we can finally rest."
Before he could finish, hurried footsteps approached from outside.
Chiyo's brow tightened, and Ebizo's fingers closed around his fishing rod. At this hour, in this place, footsteps like that rarely brought anything good.
Baki rushed in a moment later and stopped in front of them, still catching his breath.
"Elder Chiyo... Elder Ebizo..."
Chiyo did not turn around. She kept watching the water, though her grip on the rod tightened.
"Baki, we already made an exception last time and came out of retirement. If you came here to ask us for help again... do you really think we two old people are that easy to order around?"
Ebizo gave a small nod but did not speak. He had already decided not to involve himself in the village's troubles again. With Shinichi standing above the Ninja World, there were many things Sunagakure could no longer change no matter how much effort it made.
Baki's face stiffened. "Elders, I wouldn't disturb you unless it was serious. Something big has happened."
"Something big?" Chiyo sounded annoyed. "Don't tell me... the Kazekage died again?"
Baki's silence made her fingers tighten further around the rod.
"Not dead, Lady Chiyo," he said. "Abducted."
The fishing rod slipped from Chiyo's hand and struck the ground.
"The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, was abducted from the village early this morning."
For a while, neither Chiyo nor Ebizo spoke.
The Third Kazekage had disappeared, the Fourth had been killed, and now the Fifth had been abducted. At this point, calling the position cursed did not even sound like a joke anymore.
Ebizo let out a long sigh and looked back at the spring.
"Forget it. If he was abducted, then he was abducted. Send a pursuit squad. Save him if you can. If you can't... choose a new Kazekage."
Chiyo looked at him quietly, but Ebizo continued before she could speak.
"In today's Ninja World, Konoha has the final say. Among the Five Great Nations, which village has not lowered its head to Konoha?"
He stood up and turned toward the wooden hut.
"...So what difference does it make who becomes Kazekage?"
Chiyo seemed ready to follow him, but Baki stepped forward before she could leave.
"Elder Chiyo, please wait... We confirmed one of the attackers."
Both elders stopped as Baki took a breath and said the name.
"Sasori of the Red Sand."
The name struck harder than Gaara's abduction itself. Chiyo froze where she stood, her usually narrowed eyes opening wide, and Ebizo only looked at her before letting out another quiet sigh.
He already knew her decision had been made.
...
The next day, in the Hokage Office, Shinichi sat behind the desk with a mission scroll in his hand.
The pile of documents that had been stacked there earlier was already gone, leaving only a few reviewed scrolls placed neatly to one side. Shizune stood nearby with Tonton in her arms.
"Lord Shinichi, it really is good to have you here." She sighed softly, then coughed. "Lady Tsunade went to inspect the izakaya again today."
Shinichi glanced at her but did not comment.
A knock came from the door.
"Come in."
The door opened, and Asuma's team entered. Asuma walked in first, a cigarette between his lips, followed by Shikamaru with his hands tucked into his sleeves, Ino with her blonde ponytail, and Choji, who was still eating from a bag of chips.
"Lord Shinichi," Asuma said with a slight nod. "We received notice of a mission."
Shinichi handed him the scroll.
"An A-rank mission. Go to the Land of Water and investigate the Three-Tails again. Confirm whether it has reappeared. If you find nothing, return immediately."
Asuma opened the scroll and read it.
"If you encounter members of the Akatsuki," Shinichi added, "do not engage them rashly. Send word back to the village first."
Asuma nodded. "Understood."
Since the Akatsuki had begun moving, the Three-Tails could not be left unchecked. It was expected to reappear sometime this year, but the exact date was impossible to determine.
Shinichi had been sending teams to the Land of Water at regular intervals... sometimes Anbu, sometimes jōnin squads, and this time Asuma's team. If they found nothing, they returned. If they found any trace of the Three-Tails, they reported it immediately.
It was troublesome and used plenty of manpower, but Konoha could afford it. For something this important, Shinichi trusted his own people more than anyone from Kirigakure.
Shikamaru glanced at the clean desk, then at Shinichi.
So this was why Lady Tsunade could afford to be so relaxed. Someone else was handling everything for her.
How troublesome...
"Shinichi!"
Ino stepped forward before the mission discussion could end, her eyes bright as she stood in front of the desk.
Shinichi looked up. "Is there something else?"
A faint blush appeared on Ino's face, but she still met his gaze. "After we come back from this mission... are you free? I wanted to invite you out for a meal or something. Just to thank you for everything you've done for the village."
The office went quiet for a moment.
Asuma glanced at her, and Shikamaru looked away as if he had seen this coming. Choji kept eating his chips.
Shinichi looked at Ino. Her cheeks were red, but she did not back down.
After a short silence, he nodded.
"We'll talk about it when you get back."
Ino's eyes lit up at once.
"Really? Then I'll finish the mission and come back as soon as possible!"
Asuma coughed lightly and turned toward the door. "Alright, that's enough. Time to go."
Shikamaru followed with his hands still tucked into his sleeves, while Choji gave Shinichi a muffled goodbye through a mouthful of chips. Ino waved once more before leaving with the others.
After the door closed, Shizune looked back at Shinichi with a teasing smile. "Lord Shinichi... Ino is getting bolder, isn't she?"
Before Shinichi could answer, the office door was pushed open again. An Anbu knelt at the entrance, breathing hard.
"Lord Shinichi! Emergency intelligence from Sunagakure."
"Speak."
"The Fifth Kazekage, Gaara, was abducted from the village last night by members of the Akatsuki. According to Sunagakure's report, Deidara has been confirmed as one of the attackers."
Shizune tightened her hold on Tonton. "Gaara was captured?"
"Yes. Sunagakure has already sent out a pursuit squad."
Shinichi's expression did not change. Itachi's report had been accurate.
The first target had already fallen.