In the Land of Lightning, the setting sun was as red as blood, coating the desolate western Gobi in a tragic ocher hue.
Within the hastily erected, crude command camp, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the dead silence before a storm.
The Third Raikage, A, stood before the massive sand table like an iron statue riddled with cracks. Upon it, the blue flags representing Cloud Village appeared so frail and isolated, caught between the "Mystic Crystal Bastion" in the east and the dense brown arrows newly appearing in the west, representing Iwagakure's invasion.
An ANBU ninja knelt on one knee, his head nearly buried in the dust. His voice trembled as though he were heading to his death. "...Iwagakure's vanguard has breached the border outposts. Led by Kitsuchi, they are advancing directly toward the Obsidian Mining District! The garrison forces... have been... completely wiped out!"
"Ōnoki!!" A growled like a wounded beast. Deep-blue Lightning Release chakra erupted uncontrollably from his body, crackling as it scorched black marks into the rocks beneath his feet. His clenched knuckles turned white, his nails dug deep into his palms, and blood dripped through his fingers, staining the edge of the sand table.
To the east stood that damned Mystic Crystal Bastion, gleaming with its eerie light like a poisoned thorn lodged deep in the Land of Lightning's throat. Neji's name was the most venomous barb on that thorn. To the west was Iwagakure, their old neighbor, taking advantage of the chaos and tearing greedily at them!
A war on two fronts! Enemies before and behind! A cold despair unlike anything he had ever known crept into the heart of the Raikage renowned for his unyielding strength, flicking at it like a serpent's tongue. He abruptly raised his head, bloodshot eyes fixed on the