Yondaime-sama’s mouth thinned. “Kazuma’s dead?”

Asuma nodded once and closed his eyes against the swimming sensation in his skull. “Yes, sir.”

“Rabbit.” At the Hokage’s quiet words, the ANBU adjusted her grip, jarring Asuma’s injured arm and digging her fingers into his waist. He looked up again with a grunt, finding Yondaime-sama’s blue gaze intent on him. “Sarutobi. I need you to lead me to the Daimyou.”

“The door,” Asuma said, and tipped his head back to where Chiriku still lay. “It’s sealed.”

The Hokage gave him a long, searching look, before nodding and stepping forward. Rabbit and Badger helped turn Asuma around, but didn’t follow. The other two ANBU silently flanked their leader as he crossed the hall. He took a moment to examine the door, hands running over the elegant carvings, before he bent and moved Chiriku’s body aside. Asuma tried not to flinch, failed, and sternly told himself that Hokage-sama would not treat the monk’s body with disrespect. It wasn’t Konoha that had been the enemy here.

“Yoshihara-sama,” Hokage-sama called out, rapping his knuckles against the reinforced wood. His voice seemed overly loud in the narrow hallway. “This is the Yondaime. Please stand back. I’m going to open the door.”

His hands moved through multiple seals before he pressed one palm against the door, his chakra rising to force open the seal. No wonder Asuma had thought he was hearing voices earlier—except for Yondaime-sama’s sudden symphony, Asuma could sense no chakra in the people surrounding him. They must have been suppressing it.

Blue lines spun away from the decorative center panel before an audible crack signaled the seal’s release. The handle turned easily, but Hokage-sama had to put his shoulder into it before the stubborn door came unstuck. He glanced back and signaled the rest of the group to follow down the hall after him.

“Hokage,” the Daimyou said from where he waited in the foyer, eyes wide and fearful despite his otherwise calm face. He waited behind a trio of palace guards who stood nervously against the gathering ninja. “Is it done?”

“You’re secure here, Yoshihara-sama,” the Hokage replied evenly. “I have additional ANBU teams on the palace grounds. Please remain still for a moment.” He glanced back toward the group of jounin in the rear. “Yuuhi?”

A woman stepped forward, unusually clad in a red sleeveless turtleneck and black trousers instead of jounin blues. She blinked her deep red eyes and stared hard at the Daimyo, but otherwise made no movement. Asuma recognized her as one of his fellow classmates from back at the academy. He hadn’t heard that Kurenai had gotten involved with ANBU, even in an ancillary position. Of course, they hadn’t really spoken since the academy, so much as he teased and hit on her, and she replied with biting insults and suggestions on how to use his free time with a goat.

“None of them are under genjutsu, sir,” she reported after a long pause. “Although that doesn’t rule out henge.”

The Hokage turned back. “Yoshihara-sama—”

“Yes, yes,” the Daimyou replied, and brushed his guards aside to take the hand Yondaime-sama offered. The Hokage’s chakra was quieter this time, more subtle, and the application of it made the Daimyou jump as though shocked. Nothing seemed to happen.

Yondaime-sama released the Daimyo’s hand, took a step back, and bowed politely. “Thank you for your understanding, Yoshihara-sama,” he said on straightening. “I believe it would be best for you to remain here while my forces strengthen the palace’s security. I'd like to discuss what happened here with you, but I hope you'll wait until I have a firmer grasp of the situation. I'll try not to take too long."

The Daimyou nodded. “Of course. My guards are yours to command. I will be in the sitting room with my wife.” He made a fluttering motion at the guard on his left as he turned to leave. “You, assist the Hokage with everything he needs. You know the palace better than most.”

The guard bowed deeply to his master’s departing back. “Yes, Daimyo-sama.”