Konoha Investigation Team

The next day, after a night's rest, Chen left the inn feeling refreshed. Before leaving, he even bought a map from the inn. Several days had passed since Chen had single-handedly raided Star Hidden Village, but the incident had not spread through the Ninja World. That was because Natsuhi, Star Hidden Village's Fourth Hoshikage, had issued a gag order, forbidding the village's ninja from mentioning it to outsiders. Thus, no one outside Star Hidden Village knew about it.

That day, in Konoha's Hokage's Office, Tsunade, the Fifth Hokage, sat frowning at the letter in her hand, deep in thought.

Seeing Tsunade's expression, Shizune, who served as Konoha's Hokage assistant, became extremely curious about the contents of the letter and could not help asking, "Tsunade-sama, who sent that letter? What happened?"

Tsunade did not answer Shizune's question. Instead, she handed her the letter. Shizune quickly accepted it with both hands and held it up to read.

Before long, Shizune had finished reading the entire letter. She looked startled as she asked Tsunade, "Tsunade-sama, is this a secret letter from Star Hidden Village?"

"That's right. The Fourth Hoshikage of Star Hidden Village sent someone to deliver it."

"Star Hidden Village? Wait..." Shizune knew little about Star Hidden Village, so she hurried over to a bookshelf piled with various documents and began searching through them. Before long, she found a file and started flipping through it.

"Oh, I found it! Star Hidden Village is a ninja village located in the Land of Bears. There is a meteorite in the village that fell two hundred years ago, which is why the village is also called the 'Star Ninja Village.' The village's ninja all train around that meteorite because it is radioactive and reacts to Chakra. The Star Ninja specialize in the 'Mysterious Peacock Method,' which can shape Chakra into various forms for attack and even allow them to fly."

"Yes. The First Hoshikage—that was what they called the village's leader. The First Hoshikage discovered that training with the Star could increase the power of Chakra. From then on, Star Hidden Village gained a place in the Ninja World."

"However, the records state that this training was suspended around ten years ago," Shizune said as she examined the file in her hands.

"The Third Hoshikage prohibited the training. About a year ago, after the Third Hoshikage passed away, the training resumed."

"But why was the training prohibited?" Shizune asked in confusion, since the documents did not record the reason.

"Who knows? It was probably Star Hidden Village's highest secret. But there are many rumors..."

"Rumors?"

"Yes. Rumor has it that most people who trained using the 'Star' died. Drawing power from an unknown 'Star' to forcibly strengthen Chakra may have caused side effects in the human body."

"I see! So that's how it is!"

"The letter from Star Hidden Village says that several days ago, a ninja broke into their village and killed many of their ninja, including their Acting Hoshikage. He also stole the sacred object that Star Hidden Village had passed down through generations—the meteorite called the 'Star.' Most importantly, during their battle with that ninja, the Star Ninja discovered that he possessed the Sharingan. The entire Ninja World knows that the Sharingan is the Kekkei Genkai of Konoha's Uchiha Clan. That is why Star Hidden Village's Fourth Hoshikage sent someone with this letter, hoping that Konoha would give them an explanation."

"Are they certain it was the Sharingan?"

"The Fourth Hoshikage witnessed it personally. It shouldn't be wrong."

"The Sharingan... There should only be three people in this world with the Sharingan: Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, and Sasuke Uchiha. Kakashi is impossible, so that only leaves Uchiha Itachi and Sasuke Uchiha. Which one was it?"

"We don't know yet."

"Then what should we do? Stand by and do nothing, or send someone over?"

"This may have been the work of one of Konoha's rogue ninja. If we show no response at all, people will inevitably gossip, and that would be bad for the village's reputation. Besides, that person may very well be Sasuke Uchiha. Whether for public or private reasons, we must send people there to investigate."

"Then who does Tsunade-sama plan to send?"

"Hmm... Go summon Might Guy's Team 3," Tsunade instructed after thinking for a moment.

"Understood." After putting away the documents in her hands, Shizune left the Hokage's Office to gather the members of Team 3.

Before long, Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten of Team 3 arrived at the Hokage's Office. Tsunade then assigned them their mission, appointing Neji as the team captain and sending them to Star Hidden Village to investigate. Naruto learned about Star Hidden Village from Sakura and became very curious about its "Star." When he heard that Team 3 was heading there on a mission, he wanted to join in as well. He ran to the Hokage's Office and bribed Tsunade with a box of Yokan Rolls, ultimately earning the chance to travel with Team 3.

"Naruto, I'm the captain for this mission, so no matter what happens, you have to listen to me. Understood?" Before setting out, Neji made a point of telling Naruto this.

"Yeah, yeah, got it. Hurry up and let's go!" Naruto did not take Neji's words to heart at all. Instead, he urged Neji to get moving, then impatiently took off first in the direction of the Land of Bears.

"Honestly..." Neji had no choice but to let him go, calling for Lee and Tenten to follow.

After traveling for a long time, they finally reached the forest outside Star Hidden Village and were about to arrive at the village. Naruto and the members of Team 3 leaped swiftly through the trees.

"We're almost there. Before entering the village, we'll pass through a dangerous area. From now on, I'll take point," Neji, who possessed the Byakugan, told Naruto and the others.

"Understood!"

Soon, the four of them arrived at Star Hidden Village's natural barrier: a valley shrouded in yellow poisonous mist.

"So, Star Hidden Village is on the other side of this valley, right? All right!" Looking at the valley before him, the oblivious Naruto noticed nothing unusual. Before Neji and the others could react, he ran straight toward the cliff below.

"It's dangerous! Come back!" Seeing Naruto run directly toward the valley full of poisonous mist, Neji shouted anxiously, trying to stop him. But it was already too late. Naruto had run too far away to hear him clearly.

Just as Naruto was about to approach the poisonous mist, several arrows shot out from the other side of the valley and embedded themselves in front of him, blocking his path. Startled, Naruto immediately stepped on the arrows, used them as footholds, and leaped back to the edge of the cliff.

"Naruto, are you all right?" Once Naruto had jumped back onto the cliff, Neji and the others came over and asked worriedly.

"I'm fine. Everyone, be careful. There's an enemy!" Naruto said as he warily watched the other side of the valley.

At that moment, someone wearing a gas mask and carrying a crossbow appeared on the other side of the valley. The person aimed the crossbow at a large tree beside Naruto and the others, firing an arrow tied to a rope into its trunk. He then ran across on the rope and quickly arrived before Naruto and the others.

"Damn it, were you the one who attacked me just now? Take this!" Naruto shouted, pulling out two kunai and preparing to throw them at the man, but Neji stopped him.

"Stop, Naruto! He isn't an enemy."

"But he attacked me just now!"

At that moment, the person wearing the gas mask removed it. It was Ang, the one Chen had previously taken hostage to exchange with Natsuhi for the "Star"!

"Hmph! Ninja from Konoha? I am a ninja of Star Hidden Village. My name is Ang, and I was specifically sent to welcome you," Ang said to the four of them, though his tone was far from friendly. Star Hidden Village had always been highly wary of outsiders. Moreover, their village had suffered an attack only a few days ago, resulting in heavy casualties, and the murderer seemed to be connected to Konoha's Uchiha Clan. Naturally, he had no intention of treating Konoha's people pleasantly.

"Then why did you attack me?" Naruto shouted at Ang.

"He was saving you just now. Look!" Neji said, pointing to a bird flying toward the poisonous mist. The bird flapped its wings twice after touching the mist, then fell from the air.

"What was that?" Naruto was frightened by the sight and stared at Neji in shock.

"Poisonous gas constantly surrounds the borders of Star Hidden Village. It is a natural barrier that prevents invasion from other countries. This is the dangerous area I mentioned earlier."

"That's great, Naruto! Ang is your lifesaver, and this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Konoha and Star Hidden Village! Hahahaha..." Lee laughed heartily at the side.

"Stop joking around!" Naruto grumbled as he looked at Rock Lee, who was laughing loudly.

"Looks like I meddled for nothing. Not even a thank-you? Tch! Forget it. Star Shadow-sama has been waiting for a long time. Follow me into the village first!" After tossing out those words, Ang ignored Naruto and the others' reactions and leaped onto the rope from before, heading toward the valley on the other side.

"That guy..." Naruto said irritably as he watched Ang's back.

"Alright, enough talking. Let's follow him!" Neji called out, and everyone jumped onto the rope and made their way across.

Naruto and the other three followed behind Ang and soon arrived at Star Hidden Village.