The Return of the Fanatics and the Trembling of Konoha's Clans

Konoha's gates stood like a silent behemoth amid the wind and snow of early morning.

The snow was falling even harder, goose-feather flakes mixed with icy wind that lashed at their faces like knives. Shikaku Nara tightened his Jonin Flak Jacket, the white vapor from his breath quickly freezing into frost.

He had been standing here for nearly an hour.

Beside him stood Yamanaka Inoichi and Choza Akimichi, their expressions equally grim. Since receiving the Hokage's secret order, one capable of overturning the very foundations of the Land of Fire, the heads of the Ino-Shika-Cho clans had been unable to sit still. Without prior arrangement, they had all come to the village entrance to await the return of the team that had just endured a bloody battle.

They wanted to see with their own eyes what the Hyuga Clan, used by the Fifth Hokage as expendable material for "tempering," had become.

"They're here."

Yamanaka Inoichi's voice was somewhat dry.

At the edge of their vision, a row of blurry black dots emerged through the curtain of snow.

The black dots rapidly grew and stretched in their sight, becoming a procession trudging forward with heavy steps. They moved slowly, lacking a ninja's usual swiftness, more like refugees exhausted after a long journey.

Seeing their bedraggled state, a trace of pity flashed across Choza Akimichi's face. "It looks like... the casualties were severe."

Shikaku said nothing, only furrowing his brow more deeply. His mind, far sharper than most, was working at high speed, yet for some reason, an inexplicable unease wrapped around his heart like vines.

Something was wrong. Far too wrong.

As the procession drew closer, that sense of unease only intensified.

At last, the outline of the group clearly entered the three clan heads' eyes.

In that instant, even Shikaku's