Two hours later, Morino Ibiki was in a one-on-one briefing with ANBU Director Arakaki. He had a stack of folders and scrolls in front of him: personnel files for Tousaki Ryouma, Hatake Kakashi, and Sakamoto Ginta; copies of the briefing materials Tousaki had received for the mission he'd not returned from; a trio of reports from the search teams that had gone out looking for Tousaki; maps of Fire Country, Coal Country, and Snow Country; and a contact dossier for a Konoha-friendly fisherman in the Coal Country port town of Kuroihama.

"You understand the reason you were selected for this mission?" Arakaki asked.

"Yes, sir." Ibiki sat at something like attention, meeting the director's gaze.

Arakaki looked steadily at Ibiki with an air of expectancy. When Ibiki didn't elaborate, the director raised an eyebrow. "I see Shida's got you well-trained in the art of keeping your cards to yourself. Restate for me, Agent Morino, your understanding of your mission."

"This case is being handled as a joint operation between Intel and Hunters due to the high-profile of the principles. Agents Sakamoto and Hatake are not suspected of treason, but are nonetheless to be taken into custody and returned to Konoha. Agent Tousaki is..." Ibiki hesitated.

"You may speak freely," Arakaki said.

"Most likely deceased," Ibiki continued, choosing his words carefully. "But if any information to confirm or refute that assumption can be gained, that is a secondary objective. Primary, however, is the safe return of Hatake-san and Sakamoto-san."

Arakaki nodded. "And we know where they're headed. You don't get seasick, do you, Morino?"

"Not to my knowledge, sir," Ibiki said. "I tend to have a strong stomach."

"Good. You'll travel overland to Kuroihama, and from there by boat to Hima on Snow Country's coast, then inland to Himawara Pass and the village of Yukihana. Presuming Hatake and Sakamoto are following Tousaki's trail through the mountains, you should be able to intercept them in Yukihana."

"If we find evidence they've crossed into Lightning Country?" Ibiki asked.

The look on Arakaki's face suggested just how much of a mess that might be. "Send word back here, and pursue. But let's hope it doesn't come to that," the director said.

Ibiki nodded. "When will my mission partner be ready?"

"He should be here now," Arakaki said, glancing at his watch. "He was briefed separately."

"Do I have any information that he should not?" Ibiki asked carefully. He folded the maps and put them into a pocket, but left the dossiers on the desk.

Arakaki gave him another one of those penetrating stares before he answered. "You're definitely Shida's man. And no, there is nothing material. You and he were briefed separately for expedience."