Four years ago, the Uchiha clan held responsibility for patrols in Konoha as part of the Police Force.
But with their downfall, the Konoha Police Department was dissolved.
Currently, the village's security is maintained by a newly established special patrol unit.
In addition to the ninja patrols and surveillance across the village, hidden observation posts were placed in areas invisible to ordinary civilians.
Early that morning, Moonlight Hayate, a member of the patrol unit, was covering his assigned sector in the southeast of Konoha.
That area had been designated by Hiruzen Sarutobi as the residence of Sunagakure's delegation, especially since the Fourth Kazekage had arrived the day before.
For this reason, Hiruzen had specifically ordered his patrols not to approach too closely, to avoid sparking unnecessary conflict.
Thus, Hayate only glanced briefly toward the Sand shinobi quarters before turning away to continue his patrol.
"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!"
Just as Hayate was about to leave, a woman's piercing scream split through the air, echoing across Southeast Street.
From the sound of it, it was unmistakably the voice of Temari, the Kazekage's eldest daughter.
Shocked, Hayate immediately dashed toward the source of the scream.
The noise came from the lavish inn Sarutobi had arranged for the Kazekage's stay, a converted palace-like building near Konoha's center.
By the time Hayate arrived, dozens of Sand shinobi—guards assigned to the Kazekage—had already gathered outside. Every one of them stood frozen, faces pale with disbelief.
Temari, the one who had screamed, had collapsed into Aizen's arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
Nearby, her brothers Gaara and Kankurō stood stiff and stricken, sweat dripping down their faces.
When Hayate finally reached the scene, his entire body froze. His legs nearly gave out.
Atop the highest point of the inn's roof, the Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, hung impaled by a blade driven through his throat, his body nailed upright like a gruesome display.
Blood poured freely from the wound, running down the walls and staining the inn's grand entrance crimson.
The sight was like a slaughterhouse—an animal butchered and hung for sale.
Temari's cries tore through the silence. Even though Rasa had never been a warm father and had treated his children coldly, the shock of seeing him slain so brutally shattered her composure. She clung to Aizen, weeping.
Gaara, who had endured assassination attempts from his own father, still could not keep calm as he stared at the corpse.
"M-Master Kazekage…! How could this—?"
"What's going on? What happened here!?"
"Where were the guards? How could this happen under their watch!?"
The Sand shinobi erupted into chaos, voices breaking with panic and disbelief.
"Calm yourselves!"
Aizen's commanding voice cut through the hysteria. Holding Temari firmly, he fixed the Sand shinobi with a sharp glare.
"Master Aizen…"
Every eye turned to him, desperate for leadership. With Rasa dead, Aizen was now the anchor they clung to.
"The first priority is to recover Master Kazekage's body," Aizen declared coldly. He turned his gaze aside. "Kinara. Lengwan."
"Yes, Lord Aizen!"
"Bring him down. Examine his wounds."
"Yes!"
He then turned toward Hayate, who stood frozen in shock.
"You there, Konoha shinobi."
"Y-Yes!" Hayate stammered, his face pale, fear etched deep into his eyes.
"Report this to the Hokage immediately. Quietly. Do not spread word of this incident."
"Understood…"
Aizen swept his gaze over the rest of the Sand shinobi. "The same goes for all of you. Not a word of this leaves this place. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Lord Aizen!" the Sand shinobi chorused.
"Hokage-sama, that is… the situation."
Barely ten minutes later, Shiranui Genma arrived at the Hokage's office, breathless after using the Body Flicker Technique the entire way. Even for a Jōnin, the report was so shocking that his voice trembled as he relayed it.
Hiruzen Sarutobi froze. For a man who had ruled Konoha for nearly four decades, weathering both politics and war, even he was left stunned.
The pipe in his hand slipped from his fingers and shattered on the floor.
Cold sweat streamed down his forehead like a waterfall.
For a long moment, silence reigned. Then, gritting his teeth, Hiruzen finally asked:
"How many know of this?"
Genma bowed his head, still shaken. "The Kazekage's body was nailed to the inn wall. All of Sunagakure's ninja in Konoha have seen it. However… Aizen immediately ordered them to keep the matter secret."
Hiruzen exhaled slowly, relief flickering in his eyes. "Good. He understands the greater situation. With so many foreign dignitaries in Konoha right now, if this were to spread, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Still, his expression darkened, eyes heavy with grim resolve. He strode toward the door.
"Summon Nara Shikaku and the First Unit of the Anbu. Seal Southeast Street immediately. No one is to enter or leave. Not a soul."
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"