The Wind at His Heels

The first thing Kyosuke's squad saw when they reached the battlefield was more than a dozen bodies laid out on the ground. Looking farther, he spotted Elder Ito, who appeared somewhat worse for wear.

"Elder Ito, are you all right?"

"I'm perfectly fine. I fought alongside the First Hokage back in the day. Anyone who wants my life won't take it so easily."

Kyosuke looked over the bodies. As a veteran Konoha Jonin, he knew most of the village's Ninja apart from the newest graduates. He recognized several of the dead: they had been transferred to Root.

"Elder Ito, Moriya... These are all Root Ninja, aren't they?" Kyosuke asked.

"Even you can tell. Danzo thinks I'm in his way, so he's openly trying to get rid of me. Bring the bodies and come back to Konoha with me. The Third Hokage owes me an explanation."

Elder Ito seethed. "I'll show the Hokage, the Advisory Council, the Elders Council, and every Ninja in Konoha the filthy things Danzo has been doing behind their backs."

"I've already sent word to the Elders Council. By the time we reach Konoha, they and the Third Hokage will probably be waiting for us."

"Yes, sir."

The group began gathering the Root Ninja's bodies. Fugaku watched from his hiding place among the trees for a while, then turned and vanished.

Gray Hawk flew swiftly. A little over an hour later, he landed in the courtyard of a Konoha elder named Ize. The moment Elder Ize saw him, he knew Elder Ito had sent a message.

Elder Ito should have set out for the Capital today to coordinate matters between Konoha and the Land of Fire. The old guard still had connections there.

Elder Ize took the message from Gray Hawk's leg ring and unfolded it.

His