Hidden Mist Village Shaken

Azure Reef Island, once prosperous and strategically vital, had now become a ruin littered with wailing survivors. Charred wreckage, flames not yet extinguished, and scorched, twisted corpses scattered everywhere formed a scene straight out of hell. The surviving Kirigakure ninja and handful of civilians moved like startled birds through the broken walls and rubble, numbly searching for comrades who might still be alive or futilely trying to put out the remaining fires. The air was thick with the acrid stench of burning, blood, and salty seawater, blending into a nauseating aura of despair.

The Kaguya Clan chief was wrapped in thick bandages, blood still seeping through them. His face was deathly pale, not merely because of his wounds, but because of the bone-deep humiliation and terror. Leaning against a broken stone pillar, he watched as his clansmen and Kirigakure colleagues cleared away more and more corpses. Many were the charred remains of Kaguya Clan elites. He clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles cracked, his eyes bloodshot and filled with near-mad rage.

"Sunagakure... Pakura... and that damned iron giant..." he forced out through clenched teeth, every word laden with overwhelming hatred. When had the Kaguya Clan ever suffered such humiliation? Their home had been invaded, their children slaughtered, their homeland destroyed, and they had not even been able to mount an effective counterattack!

"Chief... the communications unit... the communications unit can release ninja hawks..." A wounded Kaguya Jonin staggered over, his voice hoarse and urgent. "We must immediately... immediately send word back to the village!"

The Kaguya chief suddenly came to his senses. Yes, the news! The village had to learn at once what had happened here! Forcing himself through his injuries, he nearly roared his order. "Immediately! Use the highest-priority ninja hawk! Report everything here to the village