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"Pakkun, can you track Asuma's scent?
We need to find him."
Pakkun, who was skilled in tracking, complained a little but obediently helped. Sniffing around the room, Pakkun circled a few times before looking up at Kakashi and saying:
"Kakashi, I have some bad news."
Bad news?
Please don't tell me something happened to Asuma.
"There's a stranger's scent in the room, though it's faint. And Asuma's scent is only within this room."
"Are you saying someone unfamiliar entered Asuma's room, and Asuma never left?"
This seemed to be getting serious.
"Yes."
Pakkun nodded, sniffed a few more times, then shook his head and said:
"I can't pinpoint the source of the scent. It's as if it appeared out of nowhere. I think Asuma might have been attacked by an enemy, one who could possibly use space-time ninjutsu."
After confirming several times, Kakashi's expression grew serious.
Asuma had been attacked by an enemy who suddenly appeared in the room. This suggested the enemy might possess space-time ninjutsu.
That really was bad news.
Rubbing his white hair, Kakashi immediately sought out Shisui.
Also just getting off work and ready to rest, Shisui frowned and asked:
"Are you saying Asuma may have been attacked, and the enemy uses space-time ninjutsu?"
"According to the investigation, it seems very likely. I need to return to Konoha immediately and report this to the Hokage. Shisui, please take care of the palace while I'm gone."
"I will. You can go without worry."
Although it would be a bit more tiring, this matter had to be reported.
A Konoha ninja being attacked by an unknown enemy in the Daimyo's residence, especially one who could use space-time ninjutsu, was no small issue.
Not to mention, Asuma's identity was very sensitive.
He was the son of the Third Hokage.
With that connection, the seriousness of the incident would undoubtedly escalate several levels.
For example, Asuma's ninja rank was Special Jōnin, but his bounty exceeded that of an ordinary Jōnin due to his status, which brought both benefits and drawbacks.
Entrusting the palace to Shisui, Kakashi immediately left the Daimyo's residence and headed straight for Konoha.
Meanwhile, within the Shimura clan's territory, someone had already noticed that the clan head was missing.
At first, no one paid much attention, until they realized that both the First Elder and Second Elder were also missing. This immediately alerted the Shimura clan.
If one person was missing, they might have just gone out for early training or other matters.
But if three were missing, something was definitely wrong.
And none of their family members or the night guards had seen them.
What did this mean?
Something had happened!!!
Another painful day began.
Before the sun had even risen, Tsunade was dragged out of bed and into the Hokage's office, feeling quite frustrated.
To make matters worse, the person who dragged her there was her teacher, the Third Hokage. Tsunade was angry, but she couldn't vent her frustration.
She could only suppress her annoyance and continue dealing with official duties.
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage gradually handed over the reins to Tsunade, helping her get on track as soon as possible.
"Knock knock knock!!!"
Urgent knocking sounded, and Tsunade sat up straight, not wanting anyone to see her looking tired and listless.
Seeing Tsunade straighten up, the Third Hokage nodded slightly.
Although Tsunade had her faults, at least when it was time to be serious, she wouldn't drop the ball.
"Come in."
"Hokage-sama, something terrible has happened."
Before the words were fully spoken, the door to the Hokage's office was pushed open, and a figure stumbled in.
Seeing who it was, the Third Hokage immediately felt a headache coming on. So early in the morning, before the sun had even risen—couldn't he get a little more rest?
The Shimura clan really had a lot of issues.
For just being bothered by the police force, the Shimura clan had already come to see the Third Hokage several times.
But these trivial matters didn't interest the Third Hokage much, so he just gave Fugaku a light reprimand to settle things.
Yet, even after that, the Uchiha clan still didn't leave the Shimura clan alone.
Tsunade also knew about the conflict between the Shimura and Uchiha clans. Seeing the Third Hokage remain silent, she put down the documents she was holding, rubbed her throbbing temples, and asked:
"Who from your clan got arrested today, and on what charge?"
"Hokage-sama, Lady Tsunade, it's not the Uchiha."
The Third Elder of the Shimura clan, who had come to seek help from the Hokage's office, hurriedly said:
"This morning, a clan member discovered that the clan head was missing. He didn't come home to rest last night. None of us paid attention at first, but then the First Elder and Second Elder also disappeared. Their night guards and family members all said they hadn't seen them."
"What?"
Tsunade tilted her head. "Don't tell me they've gone missing."
Going missing in their own clan's territory? What a joke.
Tsunade suspected that the Shimura clan was playing some kind of prank on her this early in the morning.
"It's true..."
"..."
They really went missing?
Tsunade and the Third Hokage exchanged a glance.
The Third Hokage immediately summoned an ANBU ninja and asked:
"Did you notice if the Shimura clan's head or elders left their clan territory last night?"
The ANBU members had been very busy lately, keeping watch over the village both day and night to prevent spies from other villages from causing trouble.
At night, their surveillance was even tighter.
"Hokage-sama, the ANBU did not notice anyone from the Shimura clan leaving their territory last night."
The summoned squad leader thought for a moment, then shook his head and confirmed.
If someone wandered around in the middle of the night, whether they were an outsider or someone from the village, they'd be under surveillance.
But the ANBU hadn't detected anyone from the Shimura clan sneaking out.
It seemed this matter needed to be taken seriously.
The Third Hokage also realized the gravity of the situation:
"Notify Jiraiya and Uchiha Fugaku and have them come to see me. Oh, and did any Uchiha leave their territory?"
With something happening to the Shimura clan, the Uchiha were the first to be suspected.
Even Kazuki was a suspect!
Because lately, Kazuki had been unusually active.
"Aside from the night patrols, no Uchiha left their territory."
The ANBU squad leader shook his head again.
"Alright, you're dismissed."
"Yes."
After the ANBU squad leader left, Tsunade said with exasperation:
"Old man, are you seriously suspecting that the Shimura clan head and elders' disappearance was caused by the Uchiha?"
Directly targeting the Uchiha and indirectly asking if Kazuki had left the clan grounds—wasn't that blatant suspicion?
Tsunade thought the Third Hokage was being too sensitive and biased.
In her view, the Uchiha would never do something like this during such a delicate time.
Even if Kazuki wanted revenge, how could he have made the Shimura clan head and two elders disappear without anyone noticing?
"Maybe I'm overthinking it. It probably wasn't them."
Trying to justify himself, the Third Hokage began to reassure the Third Elder of the Shimura clan, telling him to go back and wait for news.
Soon, Jiraiya, who had received the notice, yawned as he opened the window.