Hopping from building-to-building, Guy kept close to the two ninjas before him as they traveled. It was easy enough, save for the extra exertion it took to prime his legs for the strain it brought, though it wasn't anything he couldn't handle. The two before him didn't spare him a look, silent throughout the entirety of the journey as the nearing mansion came swiftly into view.
He didn't mind it so much, the sparse conversation that he often shared with the majority those he came in contact with. It was simpler, remaining steadfast on the task at hand, than trying to adhere to the pleasantries and niceties of casual conversation that always hid some degree of their contempt for him...not that that bothered him much, either. Guy had earned his place, his position, his status, and he didn't need to answer to anyone regarding that in the least.
And he wasn't going to start doing so now.
However, more pressing in his mind, as it had been the moment they'd left the park, was the matter of the child that he'd, reluctantly, left behind. Sighing, Guy wasn't pleased with the idea of leaving a child, and one as young as him no less, to his own devices when what he was certain he was being called for was at the forefront of his mind. It wasn't a secret amongst those in certain circles that something...strange was going on. Looking briefly behind his back, the man did his best to conceal the well of concern that budded with each passing moment that they parted further and further from where he'd left the boy behind. But sensing himself growing worried enough that his focus ahead began to wane, Guy did his best to reframe his thoughts, shaking his head in a bid to force away his, as far as he could tell, undue fears.
What did he have to worry about?
Lee...Lee was probably just fine.
'He...he's probably already home by now, safe and sound; no use wearing myself out with things that don't warrant being concerned about.' The ninja reminded himself, scoffing at himself, feeling utterly ridiculous.
Besides, what were the odds that Lee, of all people, would just...disappear? Reports of disappearances were one thing, but to think that it would hit so close to home?
It just didn't seem likely.
Finally, the three had arrived, landing on the ground just before the entrance of the Hokage's Residence, and greeting the few advisors and staff that had come to greet them.
"We're here for the meeting." One of the ninjas that had accompanied Guy started calmly, the woman beside him nodding as she affirmed what he'd said. Guy said little, knowing that he would be recognized, and it was so, with the advisors outside of the mansion giving him a slight, unreadable look before nodding in return, parting from the mouth of the mansion's outer gates to grant them passage within.
"Enter please. The council and the Hokage are waiting inside." The two advisors, two men, clad in dark clothing, exclaimed, gesturing to the closed door. Wasting little time, Guy and the two ninjas nodded, and walked on, entering the gates and stepping quickly over to the front doors, which, remaining unlocked, only needed to be opened by the three, and like that, they were inside. A gust of warm air, partitioned by the heaters that laid, placid, about the main entry-way, were pleasant on the skin as the doors behind them closed and each of them began to descend the stairs to the upper levels of the keep. By dark walls, Guy kept in time with the other ninjas, regarding the ascending stairs with a sense of growing anticipation at what this meeting may entail.
He knew the general gist of the topic at hand.
People were going missing.
That was the general story that had been circulating in the upper circles and from the residing hidden villages in each land, though the extent of the disappearances was still lost on most. It was harder at first to tell whether these were simply isolated incidents, freak accidents that didn't warrant any further investigation past increased awareness and caution that one should exercise anyway, especially late at night. However, when the disappearances became more frequent, more aggressive, and just about every hidden village in every land had been touched by it, including their own, both ninjas and civilians alike began to get the impression that something more...sinister was happening.
They just couldn't figure out why.
Rounding the bend of stairs to the first level of the mansion, a collection of doors, likely other offices, dotted each side hallway leading to the second set of stairs that led further up into mansion's interior. Each door was closed, likely a note of the late hour that the meeting had been called, though that didn't stop Guy from attempting to take a look within each suite, noting the sprawling desks and chairs within some, cases upon cases of scrolls within others, and with other rooms bathed in darkness, the contents within remaining unknown to the man's eyes as they passed by.
It was his fancy to soak up as much of the building as he could, with his own personal station requiring little time within the confines of the mansion, the structure a marvel of intricacy that he didn't often get the opportunity to behold. Making short work of the first level, it only just occurred to Guy as he and the other two ninjas began their ascension to the second floor that he didn't quite know the layout terribly well, not that he really blamed himself for it, but it led to him questioning just where the meeting would be taking place, following the lead of the two before him with little question.
'This is the perfect time to try to learn the layout. Never know when I might need to come on my own and navigate this place...I'd hate to come and look like a fool because I don't where anything is.' The man thought solemnly, making sure to note that the first floor were full of offices, things of that sort; the second level was much the same, though here held active rooms, some of the attendees of the mansion walking about, scrolls in some hands, books in others, a multitude of activity surprising even him as he thought that perhaps it would have just been those that had been called to the meeting.
Though he seemed to have been wrong.
Though it was much the same.
Offices, scroll and book rooms, records, things like that. He took notice of a young woman, donning carefully mended clothing and a symbol upon her back, a point of interest for Guy as their journey further continued. Spotting her within a room of books, filing cabinets, and even a computer, nestled comfortably in the back of the room as she sorted and filed what he could only see as carefully kept papers. If the character upon her back indicated anything, and the wooden slate label on the outside of the room meant anything, he could probably guess that she was in-charge of records...and she, nameless as far as Guy could tell as he'd never met her before, was busy.
Really busy, in fact.
But the two ninja didn't spare her a glance, passing the room with Guy as they led up to third set of stairs leading to the third level, leading Guy to wonder how much further up they would have to go.
This time, though, they seemed to have reached their location, spotting more ninja that lined the halls, each small outfit speaking amongst the themselves, quiet conversations only muted by their awareness of Guy's presence.
A common occurrence.
The two ninjas before him split away, leaving him as they found their own group amongst a sea of somewhat familiar faces, though to name them all, Guy wouldn't have been able to. It wasn't as if they were obligated to speak to him (to be spoken to out of pity or obligation would be worse than not being spoken to at all), and generally, they didn't, the other ninjas around him clear in their disinterest as they passed him off, turning back to their own conversations without so much as another glance to the man. However, it wasn't in his nature to allow something so minor to bother him, returning no glance of his own and retreating to an isolated area of the wider, breathing space of the third level, one where he assumed the meeting would be taking place.
It was clear enough from the encircling rooms of other office suits, the collecting voices of summoned ninja just like him, waiting just before a massive set of double doors that, just like the wooden panel that named the records room below, this one had a clear message: Hokage's Office. However, the doors were still closed, sealed shut to the space within, though Guy figured this was to be expected since there were probably important matters being discussed and everything. Eying a neighboring group, they didn't hide the fact that he'd at least been spoken of, the small group blatant as they stared and smirked amongst themselves at his expense.
"Isn't that the one that can't use chakra?" One of them whispered, doing a rather poor job of hiding the fact that they were practically pointing at him. One of their colleagues nodded, callously jumping in as they gave him a dismissive wave.
"Yeah; can't help but wonder how he even managed to get into the academy, but much less graduate, though I guess the standards just aren't what they used to be." The other mused, throwing her hair over her shoulder as they continued to speak amongst themselves, laughing as they continued to whisper to each other. It was strange, being caught between being completely and utterly irrelevant to being the talk of the town; the tonal whiplash was enough on its own, but even with his resolve, Guy wasn't new to the sick feeling it brought to his gut at their words.
If anyone was aware that he was unlike the rest of them in the worst way possible, it would be him.
He had to live with himself.
Live with his...limitations.
Live with their gossiping.
Live with being looked down on each and every moment of his life, and to be constantly, relentlessly, reminded of that...it was enough to make him lose his cool.
But he wouldn't give them the satisfaction.
Closing his eyes as he leaned against the wall, he tried, instead to focus his attention on his own thoughts, thinking on the impending playdate that he and Lee had tomorrow, and he had to admit; it did help to lift his spirits. The lad was, likely, the high light of the abysmal mission that he'd been given, and surely to be the highlight of tomorrow, too, seeing as he had little else to do.
As per usual.
He knew full well that he wasn't really supposed to stop like, right in the middle of work (though who honestly cared), Guy was absolutely smitten with the boy; even in the little time they'd had together, he could remember having such a wonderful time, and it was just that, an occasion that he looked forward to all the same. It was better than being with this lot in every sense of the word, the man admitted, shooting a callous glance around the room to the many faces that spared him none in return.
But he didn't care.
Or...he wanted very much not to.
But he'd be lying if he said it didn't get a bit lonely, sticking on his own all of the time, yet in the same breath, he refused to beg to be seen, to be heard.
Might Guy didn't beg, didn't wish, didn't scrape the dirt for even an iota of acknowledgement.
He would earn it, one way or another...no matter how long it took.
His attention was called, however, by the sudden chatter of the other ninja, and looking up from his spot, it didn't take long for Guy to figure out why. Parting the crowd, he perked up as a group of masked ninjas appeared, each donning simple, grey uniforms, and with a distinct swirl upon their arms, and immediately, the word fell upon his tongue as he whispered the name of their corps under his breath.
The Anbu.
Beside him the group that had been speaking about him before whispered in quiet conspiracy as they muttered amongst themselves, a sense of revelry owed to the presence of the ninjas in their midst.
"What?! They're coming here, too?! I had no idea that they'd be showing up the meeting; guess this is really serious..." One of them noted, though Guy didn't pull his eyes away from the Anbu to see which one of them it had been. He was far more interested in one of the members, taking special notice in the stark, silver hair that had been bound behind a white, fox mask, its distinct, red markings and blackened eyes concealing the identity of the wearer...but Guy couldn't be fooled. Capturing a matching glance of the man he'd focused on, they shared a brief look before the figure turned away, standing at attention and guarding the door of the Hokage's office just before the fated doors were opened, and the Hokage and their council came forth to bring with them silence and order over the room.
Hiruzen stood tall, his backing members of the council of Konohagakure eying the crowd of ninjas sternly before he raised his hands in greeting, gesturing to the group at large.
"I wish to thank each and every one of you for coming on such short notice. I am sure that you have all been made somewhat aware of the nature of these summons as a most unusual matter has come to our attention." The Hokage began, though Guy couldn't help but notice that a few more ninjas made their appearance, a few that Guy recognized, though they hadn't really had the chance to converse much besides the passing word between them, with those individuals being none other than Jiraiya, Tsunade, and a slew of other faces that he tried to name but struggled to. Noting their presence, the Hokage saw it fit to nod to them in acknowledgement before turning his attention back to the crowd, the ninjas that had just arrived taking their places at the edges of the crowd with high esteem and admiration, though most made note of the Hokage's next words.
"You see, there have been scant, but accumulating reports of sudden..." Seeming to attempt to choose his next words carefully, the Hokage sighed, appearing resigned to the situation, continuing with, "...disappearances, and of the conspicuous sort no less, though this will not come to a surprise to a number of you who have been tasked with investigating them matter within the borders of Konohagakure where...these disappearances have been becoming more...prevalent." At this revelation, it was then that the ninjas began to converse quietly amongst themselves, a wave of concern washing over the many who'd, if their reaction was any indication, been kept somewhat unaware that this had been an issue in the first place. However, Guy couldn't deny his own shock as, despite knowing that the other Hidden Villages had been grappling with their own missing persons' dilemma, he hadn't been aware that it was striking so close to home.
Which only awakened a renewed anxiety that settled in his chest when he thought about Lee.
At the time, he'd just told him that because of what he'd heard about what was happening in the other villages, but...he'd never even considered that that would actually come to be a legitimate risk here within the confines of their home.
Not even for a moment had he thought of that.
As if answering his fears, another group across the room, nameless ninjas that Guy had, personally, never spoken to, stole the question right from his mind to ask as the tension began to grow.
"Do...do we know how many so far? You said that the other villages have been hit, but...how many are we talking? And who?" A man, brawny and muscular at the shoulders, but surprisingly soft-spoken, called out hesitantly, and at the inquiry, the Hokage sighed, turning back to face his council as if silently conferring with them a request to explain the rest of the situation, and taking their silence as an answer, he turned back to group, expression grim.
"As of now, we have gotten little word of the details of the exact number of those missing within the other Hidden Villages, it can safely be assumed that, ranging from Amegakure to Yumegakure, upward of 76 people have gone missing...if the provided information from the other villages and our own intelligence is correct...but our scouts are rarely incorrect. Though, as of right now, we are speculating that with the considerable amount of information that is likely being concealed and those that have been going missing within Konohagakure...there are more than likely more that are unaccounted for. Now...as for who within the village..." Again, the Hokage paused, and Guy only then noticed that despite his resigned expression, he looked decidedly far more relaxed about this situation than he thought he'd be, given the subject matter.
Though he would try not to be judgmental; after all, Guy could only imagine the pressure of a position such as Hokage, much less when it was at such a time, but something in how candidly the sheer volume of people were reported missing and the way that it was said...it just felt a bit...detached.
As if this were just some passing trend.
'76 people, maybe even more...that many in just a three months? What the hell is going on?' Guy couldn't help but think, pulled out of his thoughts as the Hokage began to speak again.
"...there have been some confirmation as to who these unfortunate individuals may be, and as in the case with the other villages, they...are children. Each of varying ages, it seems." At the revelation, the room was electric, buzzing with questions that Hiruzen couldn't have possibly answered at once. However, the Anbu at he and the councils side weren't having any of it, and they were quick to regain order before the questions really began to mount. Effectively silenced, Guy didn't miss the shocked, even untethered expressions of both Jiraiya and Tsunade from afar, though he didn't linger long on the two of them as the began to speak once more.
"These individuals are still being accounted for, and some of their names are still unknown, but...we do have the names a few that have been confirmed missing as of just a few days ago...though it is unknown just for how long they may have been gone for as...they weren't really noted to have been absent." Hiruzen paused, coughing awkwardly into his fist as, from the stairs to the left of Guy, where Tsunade and Jiraiya had come, the same, young woman that had been downstairs in the record room scrambled to meet the Hokage's waiting pal, carefully setting in his hand what Guy could only assume were the names of the reported, missing children, though, even then, just as the man opened the scroll to read them off, something came to mind in Guy's head.
What exactly did he mean by "weren't noted to be absent"? Surely he couldn't be implying…no one noticed that these children had been gone for several days before bothering to even report them, that is, if they even noticed they'd just disappeared into thin air. To think that human beings, ones that needed protecting more than anyone, could vanish without a trace and only be noticed after some undetermined amount of time…the thought filled his head at the absurdity of the notion.
There was no way.
Certainly that…couldn't be true.
He had to believe that they were just busy, that they just…didn't know.
He refused to believe that they could just…miss human beings ceasing to exist.
He just…couldn't fathom the idea.
He wouldn't fathom the idea.
He refused to if that meant preserving the image of a village with integrity in his mind, something he desperately wanted to do.
"The names are as follows…" Hiruzen started, taking a breath and beginning unceremoniously as the scrolled as unrolled in his hands.
"Akimitsu Kojima; last seen eight days ago, age 4. Jun'ichi Ishida; last seen thirteen days ago, age 6. Umeko Shimizu; last seen four days ago, age 5. Shiori Kawai; last seen thirty days ago, age 10. And lastly, Shion Ichikawa; last seen two days ago, age 9." With that, he handed the scroll back to the woman, the lady bowing her head before she shuffled back downstairs, and at once, Guy couldn't speak.
Five children?
Five children disappear and no one…knows where, or why, or how?
How is that possible?!
At once, the room buzzed, some jumping at the opportunity to ask questions, each seeming just as shocked at him at the news.
"But why?! What is the pattern here?! Stealing random people for…what exactly, Lord Hokage?!" A woman, looking almost as anxious as Guy felt inside, Hiruzen sighed again, shaking his head solemnly.
"As of right now…we do not know. Again, given both the nature of the situation, the lack of awareness about their disappearances, and the number between the villages, there isn't much to suggest about what the intentions of these…individuals might be seeing as no one seemed to have seen any suspicious actors before the disappearances themselves." The Hokage answered, leaving little in the way of satisfaction for the room. In fact, with that seemingly obvious dead-end, the questioned appeared to stop for a minute as the ninjas around him tried to grapple with the news.
But it didn't stop there.
Even in sensing their unease, the Hokage didn't give them pause, continuing as he had before.
"However, it should be stated that…some conclusions can be drawn from the limited information provided by the other villages and scouts. First off…it seems as though the targets aren't just any people but…apparently children exclusively. It can't be confirmed, but…the ages appeared to range from those of one year of age to about twelve years of age. We know this as no adults were reported missing as far as we could tell." This information struck Guy even more.
Children?
Only…only children were being targeted?
Suddenly, his heart dropped.
Lee…Lee was just five years old. There was no telling if he'd gotten home safely, and even if he wanted go check, he didn't even know where he lived. Swallowing thickly, the very thought of the child being, essentially, spirited away for no other reason than just being in the wrong place at the wrong time, all because he didn't decide to make sure that he'd gotten home safely….Guy knew he'd never be able to forgive himself.
'No! I can't think like that! Lee is just fine…Lee is okay…' He tried to convince himself, but his heart, his gut, didn't budge.
He wanted to believe that he was okay, he really, really did, but unless he could see with his own eyes that he was…he knew he wouldn't be able to rest.
'I have to find out what his address is…just to be sure…' Guy thought, steeling himself as the Hokage still wasn't finished, and the man couldn't help but think that he desperately wished he would be.
Things were bad enough with him piling on more terrible news on top of the heap of shit that was quickly piling up in regards to the issue.
But he couldn't exactly say that, so he clammed up, waiting for the next bit to come forth. However, the tone seemed to shift as, instead as simply wearing his solemn, resigned expression, Hiruzen's face changed, likened more to quiet relief as he began to speak again.
"Now, there is something you should all know in regards go these missing children, something that should work to lighten the burden on your minds regarding the situation." The Hokage started, drawing Guy and the other ninjas' attention at his change in tone. This almost made Guy feel a sense of relief himself; perhaps there was a silver lining to all of this.
So they were looking for the children? Had they found a trace of the kidnappers? Anything like that could work to quell Guy's nerves, and honestly, that's what he was hoping it would be.
But Hiruzen's next words couldn't have been further from what he'd been hoping for if the old man tried to have them be.
Guy felt his eyes widen as the cold words fell from the man's lips, a callous, listless tone despite the lives that had been put at stake in the midst of all of this.
"Understand that the children that were abducted with are reported to be without significant levels of chakra, making the effectively incapable of wielding it. As tragic as it is to have them taken in such a fashion, I can say with a degree of confidence that the loss would have been substantially higher if they'd had any real potential. I'm sure we can all agree that if there were any children that would be far better suited to be the missing few, it would be those that have, how do you say…less to contribute." He stated in a simple, matter-of-fact tone so flat and objective that if Guy hadn't know what he was talking about, he would have figured he were talking about the weather, or the passing of prized cattle.
Worthless things hardly worth considering.
And…all because they didn't have chakra they could…use?
Had…had he heard him correctly?
Looking around the room, the man's face fell as collectively, the room seemed to relax, indeed as Hiruzen had said they would. Each ninja, save for just a few, dropped their shocked, disquieted expressions in exchange for relieved, calm ones, disregarding the children with a wave of the hand they often did for him.
He felt his anger growing.
"Oh, for a second there, I thought you were talking about people that actually matter. You almost had us there for a second there, Lord Hokage." One of them, a sleek, lean youth voiced in a joking tone that made Guy's skin crawl at how...flippant they were. At his words, the crowd seemed to laugh, some even wiping their brow of nervous sweat that made the air lighten at the gesture. Despite laughing along with them, the Hokage still persisted with his more serious gesture, waving away the joke with a light chuckle that was framed by a calm expression.
"Now, don't let this deter you from continuing your search when you can. Of course, we'll want to enact a curfew and protect the chakra-blessed children as much as we can, but any attention you can spare on the little problem of the missing children would be greatly appreciated as, despite their...lacking abilities, they are still a part of the Hidden Leaf. But remembered, other matters take precedence, so keep that in mind." He affirmed, and through the noise of chatter, Guy could, again, pick up the voice of a ninjas beside him, this time to his right as they laughed at the idea.
"Yeah...sure they are. What good is a useless, chakra-less mouth to feed? Maybe it's better that they disappeared." A woman vocalized, careless to the listening ears of the man beside her, though...Guy wouldn't be surprised if she'd said it that loud on purpose.
In fact, most of them had something similar to say about the matter.
"I'm just glad it was one of the little runts. Would hate to hear if someone with an actual future were taken or something like that..." He heard someone else say.
"Oh, so this whole meeting was for a bunch of nobodies? I left the pleasure house for this?" Another chimed in, clearly annoyed.
"Worthless children."
"Who will miss them?"
"Irrelevant."
Guy had become so engrossed in their words, their dismissals, that he'd nearly completely missed when the Hokage had begun speaking again.
"...and I want all children accompanied at all times. No one younger than thirteen years of age may be left unattended, and a curfew for all under the age of 18 will be recognized starting tomorrow morning at 08:00. Now, if there are no further questions - " Before Hiruzen could dismiss them, though, Guy stepped forward, his chest and shoulders burning with anger that he tried his best to restrain bubbling to the surface as he tried to organize his thoughts.
So they meant less because they weren't as "special" as the rest of the children who could wield chakra?
They didn't deserve to be missed or cherished because they apparently had nothing to offer this beloved village?
Was that what he was gathering from all of this? Was that what the Great Lord Hokage wanted them to know about what he thought of these children?
What sort of fucked up way of thinking is that?
Of course, at making his presence known, others around pointed, rolling their eyes and scoffing as the man prepared to speak, already dismissing him before he even had the chance to express what he'd been thinking. The same could almost be said about the Hokage's look when he gazed upon him, though the older man was much more poised in how he presented it, but it was still there.
His contempt.
How he looked down on him...on people like him.
But he didn't care about any of that.
Not when there was far more at stake here than just his reputation.
"Why didn't you call this meeting sooner when you got word that children, our children, started to go missing? Why wait this long to actually do something? Or...was it because you just couldn't be bothered to dirty your hands with a bunch of nameless children? Is that it?" Guy spat, eliciting a collective silence that ended even the cackling of the ninjas that had been laughing at him before. Of course, Guy knew this would be seen as an act of insolence, and in all honesty, he wasn't expecting an answer, or even to have his accusation acknowledged.
It mattered more, however, that he'd said it at all since it seemed as though no one else was going to.
At his comment, the council looked absolutely alight with anger, regarding with no just disgust (something they'd already been looking at him with), but now rage.
"Excuse me? Just who do you think you are, speaking to Lord Hokage Hiruzen in such a manner?! Mind you tongue, chakra-less; you are in a space that - " The older woman that had been set just beside Lord Danzo, and Lord Homura, squawked incessantly, and Guy was quick to retort, making no effort to bite his tongue on the matter.
"You didn't answer my question. Were they not worth the trouble? One of the children...young Shiori, wasn't it? Gone for thirty days before anyone thought to say anything. What makes any of you think that this is okay? What makes you think that - " Before he could finish, the Hokage himself held up his hand, giving him cause to go silent.
Sighing again, something that the older man seemed to do a lot, he directed his attention to Guy once more.
"I know that our response seemed to be...lethargic, to say the least, but I assure you; there is nothing more important to me than the wellbeing of our people, and most importantly...the wellbeing of our most vulnerable, our youth. Even those that are...like you, Might Guy." He added at the end, giving what Guy imagined was supposed to be an earnest smile, but with the nature of his words, the relaxed, and even patronizing tone he'd taken...it felt anything but.
He was speaking down to him.
He...they...all looked down on him.
Even at a time like this, they couldn't help being fucking ignorant...and the thought, the very notion, made him seethe. Opening his mouth to speak again, he was effectively overshadowed by Hiruzen's voice as he called the attention of the rest of the group, most having issue peeling their eyes from the former before looking to the Hokage, some even shooting Guy dirty looks that the man didn't care to acknowledge.
He was far too trapped in his own thoughts to give anything they thought any credence...at least for the time being.
Raising his hands, Hiruzen looked away from Guy, gesturing to group as Guy could feel the meeting coming, in his eyes, to a premature end.
"Now! I want to again thank you for coming on such short notice. Remember; the rules and statutes that I outlined are to be enacted come 08:00 tomorrow. I wish you all a good night, and please, report to me any findings on the matter that you have by 19:00 tomorrow evening." And with that, the Hokage bowed in-kind, and the ninjas in his midst followed suit, and following this, Hiruzen and the council retreated back into his office, effectively ending the meeting as the ninjas began to disperse. Just as before, many of them shot Guy slight looks, some of surprise, others of disdain, others in the middle, it seemed, during their departure, though the man himself didn't leave immediately.
He hadn't gotten out everything that he wanted to say, and if Guy could be entirely honest (and what was pretty clear), the Hokage didn't seem to want to hear what he had to say, the man wondering if he'd been someone like, say...Jiraiya or Tsunade...would he have been listened to?
Would it matter if he had been?
No one else seemed entirely invested in the issue, much to his abject disgust.
It was clear that children without chakra were being targeted, plain and simple, though as to why, Guy didn't have the slightest clue.
'But why? Why them?' His mind asked, over and over again as he took notice of the Anbu leaving as well, though again, just as before, the man clad in silver hair, watched him silently from afar, but Guy didn't have time to speculate as to why.
There was something that he had to check.
Now.
It had been clear to him from the very moment that he'd met Lee that the boy was one of those children.
The so-called "Accursed ones". Children that weren't lucky enough to be blessed with chakra that they could utilize...at all.
He knew it was a stretch of the imagination...but there was no telling whether, if all of this was true, that only children without prominent chakra were being taken. And with his young age, his fragility, his youth...he'd never be able to fight them, whoever these assailants were.
And that only made it worse.
He had no clue where Lee lived, and he was certain that if he could just find out what his address was...then...
Guy blanched.
He knew just what to do.
Rushing past the silver-haired man, he didn't spare him a glance as he rushed down the stairs to the second level, and idea sprouting to mind. If he didn't know where to look for him, then surely there was someone that could, the visage of the little lady from before coming to mind as he dodged around the bodies of other ninjas that looked to him briefly with irritation at his intrusion, but the man had no time to waste. Making a break for the records room once more, he was pleased to find that the light within was still on, and even more, that the young woman from before was still there, active and scrambling about the room as always even as he entered the tidy space.
Though, he imagined it would have to be, seeing as, if his assumption was correct, just about every file and resident's information was kept between these four walls.
He sure hoped that was the case, at least.
She didn't seem to notice him however, rushing from one end of the large room to the next as she cleaned up for the night, marking things and writing notes here and there in a sort of trance that was only broken when Guy called out to her.
"Why, excuse me, miss. I know you're awful busy, but I would like to make a little...request, if you would humor me." He started, flashing her a mild grin that she didn't return, her face tired and confused. She wasn't unfriendly, the woman, but the ninja could definitely tell that his presence was setting her off...for one reason or another.
Perhaps it was because she just wasn't used to anyone coming in, or...hello, he couldn't think of a reason, and right now, he didn't honestly care.
But she looked at him suspiciously, setting down her papers in a strewn, sloppy pile before opening her mouth to speak.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" She asked, disregarding his attempts at charisma with a careful eye and knowing glance that said that many had tried the same thing before.
So trying to sway her with pretty words would probably be pointless.
Sighing, Guy lost the front, looking to her earnestly.
"Well, my name's Might Guy, and I...had something I wanted to know..." He started, but at his name, the lady grinned, though not unkindly, but out of recognition.
"Ah, I've heard you! The ninja without chakra, right? The, uh, taijutsu guy!" She giggled, though it wasn't disrespectful, but the notion that he was known first by his limitations than by his achievements...he wasn't sure how to feel about that. However, he passed off the comment, nodding somewhat impatiently at her as he wanted this to be quick.
He didn't have a lot of time to mess around.
"Yep, that's me! The one and only, though, I had something I need. An...address, of sorts." Cutting to the chase, he watched her face turn from kindly to interested.
"Oh? What for?" She inquired curiously, and though he knew that it wouldn't be as simple as just procuring information for his personal needs, the questioning and waiting was making him uncomfortable with anxiety. He really didn't want to seem rude, though, so he humored her question with a forced, if uncomfortable, smile.
"Well, you know, just...ninja business is all! Nothing too serious, you know, but it's sort of...private." The man pressed, chuckling nervously as she gave him a skeptical look.
"Oh, yeah? Then how come I didn't get word from Lord Hokage that you'd be coming for this supposed "ninja business"? So private that even the Hokage doesn't know?" The woman poked nosily. Sweating at the pressing questions, Guy tried to maintain his composure.
Why couldn't things just be simple, easy?
What was he supposed to say to this? Of course, he could leave now, cut his losses, and just search the streets of Konoha up and down, knock on every door and check every alley for a trace of Lee's residence, but by the time that he got through them, the sun would have risen and his answer would come far too late. He couldn't afford to just...let this go.
And if he didn't intend to...he'd have to think fast. Most importantly, he had to keep control of the questions and the conversation, and more than that...he had to lie, as much as he hated doing so.
But what other choice did he have?
"See, that's just it! There are, how should I say, matters that aren't for the ears of everyone. As a matter of fact..." Leaning in, her gestured for her to follow suit, and tossing away any perceived guilt at the fact that he'd be essentially something untruthful, something the great Might Guy never resorted to, but he saw no other recourse but this.
And it was too late to go back from here.
"...me just telling you is enough to get the two of us in trouble. It was really supposed to be for me to know, something entrusted to just me by the Hokage, but I get the impression that you'd take well to knowing." He whispered in her ear, and the lady seemed to squirm with delight at the idea of being in the know.
People often said that some were suited to the professions that they chose, and given how excited she was at the prospect of knowing something that, through Guy's lie, was exclusive.
And that was just what he needed her to think.
And if he wasn't mistaken...she was really easy to sway...not that he was complaining about that, either.
"Ooo, a special request...from the Hokage?!" She whispered back, smiling from ear-to-ear with so much contagious energy that Guy couldn't help but smile back. He could see that she was eager to please, and sure, it felt bad to take advantage of that, the woman backing away from him to give the man a star-struck look that he only confirmed with a nod, but he could sleep on the guilt later.
"Yep, it...sure is! All for you, Miss..." Lingering on it, he wasn't even sure what her name is, scarcely thinking to ask when she offered it up readily, hardly missing a beat.
"Yume! You can just call me, Yume!" She practically shouted, and Guy was quick to try to get her to quiet her voice, casting a quick glance behind him to make sure that no one else had been drawn in by her voice, but look back, it seemed as though most of the second floor had been cleared out already, with minimal residual noise heard from up above as well, making this all the easier to pull off.
The less people that saw him leaving the mansion, the better.
Turning back to her, he smiled as she led him over to the single computer resting on the desk at the back of the records room, a dim, glowing screen a quiet invitation for the two of them to gaze upon its face as she took a seat in the chair that laid waiting at the mouth of the desk. Scooting up gingerly, Yume shook the mouse a bit to wake it from its sleeping state, and with a click here, a scroll there, and a concealed password later, they were into the main database.
And the entry point to finding just about any person's abode in all of Konoha. Looking up to face him, her face still beaming with pride at the idea of being involved in something so significant, Guy figured it was best that he ride the high as long as he could, perking up at the sound of her voice.
"So, what are you looking for?" She asked, and Guy realized with a start that he hadn't even considered how he would ask her, but he figured it should be simple enough. He wasn't entirely sure how this database worked, but any registered person should just...have their information listed...right?
The man thought that there was only one way to find out.
"I'm looking for a 'Rock Lee'? The address to his home, if you could?" He requested, giving her a careful, but calm look as she ran the idea over in her head.
"Hmm...a little specific, isn't it? What would Lord Hokage need with this random address?" Yume pondered, returning Guy's look with a questioning one. His ability to keep forming excuses, bordering on lies, was waning woefully thin.
'Oh, come on! I hate doing this! What to say...what to say...' Over and over, he tried to think of something when suddenly, it dawned on him.
Sure, he couldn't get into the semantics of why he personally needed it, but he could at least make her aware that it had something to do with the meeting that they'd had before. Surely she would take the bait on that?
"Ah, well, you see...Lord Third wants me and a lot of the other ninja to...patrol! So I'll be taking the district this Lee's, I mean, this family's and many other families are in. That's all! Just wanted a place to start, you know?" He admitted, and if he could be clear, it wasn't exactly untrue.
Hiruzen did tell them to keep an eye out, so this was...tangentially true in a loose sense...sort of.
Considering his words, Guy was just glad that she didn't think too hard about any of this as, after only a moment, she nodded, accepting what he'd said without question.
"Well...I guess that makes sense. Let me see here...Lee...Lee...Lee...oh! There is a 'Rock Lee in'...North Prefecture, Third District! Here, I'll write the address down for you..." Grabbing a small sheet of paper and a pen, in neat, fine hand-writing she scrawled the place where he could find the boy's home, and at once, Guy could feel his fear and anxiety grow at the prospect of truly, once and for all, knowing...if Lee was okay.
'I just need to check, but...I'm sure that he's fine! I'm probably just being paranoid!' He yelled at himself in his mind, and just as soon as she finished, he could hardly contain his desire to take it from her hands and bolt from the room, but knowing that he was in the clear, he kept his composure, slowly receiving from her grasp (or what felt like slowly) and with a smile to the woman, Guy wasn't disingenuous when it came to his gratitude.
That he couldn't fake.
"Thank you, thank you, Miss Yume. You've been incredibly helpful!" Guy expressed with a smile, and in return, she grinned, though there was a wanting there, too. Before he left, she ran her finger along the desk, a sheepish look on her face.
"Oh, it's no problem, just...could you tell Lord Third that I was, you know...helpful? Just so he knows?" She requested quietly, looking away as if feeling silly that she'd asked, but more than that, Guy likely knew immediately that this...wasn't a request that he could fulfill.
Not in terms of this, at least.
It wasn't in a ninja's right to pursue information, even minor ones like this, without some sort of clearance, and even worse, use the Hokage's false permission as justification for doing so, and to top it off, drag someone along in being complicit with all of this.
A three-for-one deal for getting into a shitload of trouble.
So if he knew what was good for the both of him...her helping hand would have to go unnoticed, as much as it pained him to admit...but he had to keep up the ruse.
He was too deep now.
"Oh, yes! Of course! Lord Third will know, but remember; this is our little secret, alright?" He assured her, feeling twinge of guilt and sickness at her compliant, hopeful expression as she smiled to him again, thanking him with her eyes as she turned back to her work of sorting, and Guy rushed out of the Records room, missing the shaded face of the silver hair man that had been watching from across the hall.