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The air in the Hokage's office was thick with tension

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The air in the Hokage's office was thick with tension. Hatake Sakumo stood in front of Sarutobi Hiruzen, his clothes still damp from the rain, and his breath unsteady after the chaos of the past few hours.

The Third Hokage's sharp eyes narrowed as he leaned forward in his chair, still holding his pipe, listening closely to Sakumo's report.

"You're certain it was an attack on the Senju?" Hiruzen asked.

Sakumo nodded, his jaw clenched. "Yes, Hokage-sama," he replied quietly.

"There were clear signs of a struggle—Daichi and Shizuka fought to protect Hiromi. I found Daichi dead inside the house, and Shizuka... she didn't make it either. Hiromi was unconscious when I found her, but she's alive. I've already taken her to the hospital."

Hiruzen exhaled deeply, the weight of the news sinking in. "What about the attackers?" he asked quietly.

Sakumo shook his head, frustration written all over his face. "I found one, already dead. But I don't know how many there were or who they were working for. Whoever they were, they didn't leave any clues. It was... planned out."

"To go after them like this..." The Hokage frowned.

Staring at the ground, Sakumo felt overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. It wasn't just about Daichi or Shizuka—this was bigger. Something that could put the whole village at risk.

Hiruzen's voice softened with sympathy as he spoke. "I'm really sorry, Sakumo. I know how much they meant to you," he said gently.

His throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn't speak. Losing Daichi and Shizuka hit him harder than he ever expected. He had promised to protect them, to be there for Hiromi—and now, she was all he had left. The weight of that responsibility felt overwhelming and impossible to ignore.

"They were good people," Sakumo finally said, his voice hoarse. "Good shinobi. They didn't deserve this."

"What about Hiromi?" Hiruzen asked after a pause, his voice gentler. "She's just a child. Losing both her parents... this will be so hard for her."

The thought of Hiromi waking up alone in the hospital tightened Hatake's throat. "I'll be there for her. I promised Daichi and Shizuka I'd look after her. She won't have to face this alone."

"We have to be careful with how we handle this. The village can't afford any trouble, especially if this was a targeted attack. We also need to protect Hiromi, not just from any enemies, but from the weight of everything she's lost."

"I'll protect her with everything I have," he vowed.

The Hokage looked at him for a long moment before letting out a slow breath. "I know you will. For now, rest. I'll have someone guard the hospital, and we'll start investigating right away. We can't let this go unanswered."

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