It was late at night outside Takigakure, in the Land of Waterfalls.
The dense forest cast dappled shadows beneath the moonlight. In the distance, the roar of an enormous waterfall echoed through the valley, its drifting mist shimmering silver-white in the moonlight.
Takigakure lay hidden behind that waterfall. Its natural geographical barrier, coupled with wards reinforced by successive generations, had allowed the small village to survive between the Five Great Nations for centuries, almost untouched by foreign invasion.
Tianyi slowly descended from the sky. He hovered above the waterfall, his white eyes surveying the curtain of water below.
Takigakure's treacherous terrain posed no obstacle to someone who could fly. The waterfall's roar masked his presence, while the night wind sent his robes flapping.
He descended slowly, passed through the curtain of water, and landed on a damp rock.
Takigakure's entrance was a long, narrow gorge flanked by sheer rock walls, with only a slender path leading into the heart of the village.
It was already deep into the night. The gorge was silent, save for the sound of the waterfall echoing in the distance.
Only a handful of ninja patrolled the entrance. All wore Takigakure's distinctive dark green armor, pacing lazily and yawning nonstop.
After all, Takigakure had never seen an intruder in all these years. Peace had long since worn their vigilance away.
Tianyi crouched in the rock's shadow and activated his Byakugan. His vision pierced the darkness, the buildings, and layer upon layer of rock walls.
All of Takigakure lay exposed before his eyes-homes, storehouses, training grounds, an armory, and the tallest building at the center of the village.
The Takikage's residence.
He shifted his gaze away from the buildings and toward the ground, activating his Magnet Release Sensory at the same time. Invisible waves spread outward from