A small settlement deep within Grass Country was in ruins. Inside the shattered homes, a squad of Takigakure shinobi raced from building to building, stuffing bags with whatever valuables they could find.
"Hurry up!" their captain barked. "That damned Grass shinobi got a signal flare off— their forces could arrive any minute!"
The man giving orders was a burly Takinin with two long scars carved across his face. At his feet lay a Grass ninja corpse, pinned to the earth by the man's blade. Around him, bodies were scattered across the ground, blood already drying in dark pools. The fighting had ended recently— and brutally.
Not far away, terrified villagers huddled in an open square. Several Takinin stood guard over them, weapons drawn.
A younger Takinin landed beside the scarred captain. "Captain, I've heard reports that Konoha ninja have appeared among the Grass squads."
The captain grunted. "Yeah. Five days ago, Team Kui was ambushed while heading to Ashgrass Town. They spotted five Konoha shinobi fighting alongside the Grass forces. They didn't interfere directly, but their presence alone shows Konoha has started meddling in our war."
The young Takinin paled. "Captain… they say all five were jōnin-level. W-We can't fight Konoha's elites."
The scarred man snorted. "Relax. Konoha's main enemy is Iwagakure— they won't spare many shinobi for Grass. I've already contacted an Iwa squad. If Konoha shows up, I'll signal them immediately."
Then his expression soured. "Though we'll have to give Iwa a good share of our spoils… tch."
Just then, another Takinin sprinted across the rooftops, shouting urgently: "Captain! About two kilometers southeast— Grass shinobi sighted. Around thirty of them!"
The captain's face tightened. "Retreat! Now!"
Moments later— swoosh, swoosh!
Grass ninja flickered into view on the rooftops, weapons drawn, scanning the village.
Five additional figures appeared among the corpses.
Konoha shinobi.
After examining the bodies, one of them muttered, "Clean swordwork. That Takinin squad definitely had jōnin."
The Grass squad leader landed beside them. "It was a twenty-man Takinin unit. They left about five minutes ago."
Konoha jōnin's eyes flashed cold. "We pursue."
In an instant, the five vanished with Shunshin.
The Grass forces followed after them.
Back in the Grass Village— inside the leader's office—
Uchiha Yuan sat behind the desk, scanning recent intelligence reports. Takigakure's raids were worsening. Seventeen villages and three small towns had already been looted.
Before, Grass shinobi had been stretched thin— fighting Taki, Iwa, and Ame at once, with their elite fighters scattered everywhere. Takinin teams escaped more often than they were caught.
But now Konoha operatives had been added to the hunt. Within days, four Takinin units had been eliminated or driven out.
"Report, my lord! New intelligence!"
The door opened and a young Grass shinobi hurried in, bowing deeply. He passed Yuan a scroll.
Yuan skimmed it— his brows lowering.
"Iwa and Taki are working together?"
The report detailed how a Takinin squad, pushed to the brink, had called an Iwa team for assistance. The battle was fierce; only when the five Konoha jōnin intervened were the Iwa shinobi forced to retreat.
We'll need to relay this to the Konoha forward command.
More interception teams will be needed.
After filing the report, Yuan stood at the window, surveying the quiet village below. The constant deployment of Grass forces had left the settlement strangely silent.
A soft knock— the door opened gently.
Vortex Kana stepped inside, carrying a small lunch box.
"My lord… it's time for your meal."
Yuan turned. Kana unpacked several neatly prepared dishes— rice balls, fried fish, steamed vegetables.
Yuan bit into one of the rice balls. "Not bad."
Kana smiled faintly, pushing a golden-fried fillet toward him.
After days of rest and proper care, she no longer looked as gaunt as before. Her skin had regained warmth, her red hair— once dull and brittle— now shone faintly under the light. Her soft smile held a fragile beauty.
As Yuan ate, he asked, "Anyone still giving you trouble?"
Kana shook her head. "No, my lord. Everyone is treating me well."
The office fell quiet… until a sharp flutter of wings broke the silence.
A gray hawk swooped through the window and landed on Wind-Leader Ōno's shoulder.
Ōno retrieved the small scroll tied to its leg, opened it— and his face darkened.
Yuan set down his chopsticks. "Report."
"A message from the western border outpost, my lord. A medium-sized Rain Country unit has crossed into our territory."
A medium unit… roughly three hundred Ame-nin.
Yuan's eyes narrowed.
Rain is testing our borders. If we don't respond decisively, Hanzo's forces will think Grass is ripe for invasion.
Konoha won't send troops.
The forward command fears provoking Hanzo the Salamander.
So Grass has to fight this battle alone.
Which means I have to deal with it.
Yuan's gaze sharpened. His hands formed a seal; a golden light pulsed at his brow.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu."
With a thick poof, the floor of the office shook as a towering figure— nearly two meters tall— materialized in a burst of smoke.
The clone grinned lazily.
"Yo, main body."
He glanced around the office— then fixed his eyes on Yuan.
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