Return to Camp

After their talks ended, Iwagakure and Sunagakure each took their dead and wounded back to their villages. This infighting had happened right under the noses of the Wind Shadow and the Tsuchikage. Both would have to investigate exactly what had happened.

Had someone deliberately tried to drive the two nations apart?

Black mist stirred in the forest, and Fugaku emerged. His actions would keep the Wind Shadow and the Tsuchikage busy for days. With the Four-Tails on another rampage, Ōnoki would have to deal with the trouble in Iwagakure before he could even think of going to the Land of Rain.

At the border between the Land of Birds and the Land of Rain, one side was lush with forest. On the other, rain fell without end over sparse vegetation.

A figure leaped across the border into the Land of Rain, bounding swiftly over its plains.

Patrol teams from the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth had already appeared here. Their job was to keep Konoha from circling behind them, cutting off their supplies, and attacking from both sides.

Fugaku saw no reason to spare their patrols. If the two nations could send Ninja out to patrol, Konoha could send Ninja out to hunt them.

A six-person Sand Shinobi patrol came into view. Black mist drifted across Fugaku's body.

Body Flicker Technique.

Fugaku vanished and appeared silently before the Sand Shinobi. His Kunai flashed again and again, killing two of the patrolling Ninja.

"Enemy attack!"

A Ninja shouted, but Fugaku gave him no chance to cry out again. With a light step, Fugaku closed in. His Kunai, shrouded in black mist, cut through the air and pierced the Ninja's heart.

The three survivors retreated quickly, searching their surroundings. They must have realized they were facing a powerful enemy,