Cracks

Takuma suppressed his anger and strode out of the tent. "Senior Saito is dead. Get a few ninja to carry his body out.

And tell Saji and the other two that Saito is dead."

Takuma looked calm, but his mind was in turmoil as he considered who the killer might be.

His first thought had been Konoha. Then it occurred to him that the Sand Shinobi might be framing them.

Sunagakure and Iwagakure might be allies now, but relations between the two countries had never been good. Skirmishes broke out along the border several times a year.

They had joined forces for a common interest. It was almost impossible that the Sand Shinobi wanted Iwagakure to emerge from this unscathed.

A patrol ninja came stumbling toward him in a panic.

"Lord Takuma, Lord Saji and the other two are dead. All three were killed in their tent."

The news struck Takuma like a thunderclap. His mind went blank, and he stood frozen in place.

"Lord Takuma! Lord Takuma!"

Only when the patrol ninja beside him called out repeatedly did Takuma recover from the shock. Fear and anger surged through him.

He could no longer keep his composure. Pushing past the patrol ninja, he raced to Tent Number Five and threw back the flap. Three bodies had been laid side by side on the ground.

The sight made him tremble. Of the Stone shinobi commanders in the Wind-Earth Allied Forces, he was the only one left.

He knew he could not lose his head. If he did, the Stone shinobi force would fall apart before its newly appointed commander arrived.

"Damn it!" Takuma clenched his fists and slammed one into the table. "Bring the bodies of Lord Saji and the other two, Lord Saito, and the Stone shinobi killed by the