The Situation

Nara Shikaku took some of the ninja and continued toward the Land of the Moon, while the rest headed to Konoha to report what had happened.

Only charred trees and streaks of blood remained on the battlefield. The Cloud shinobi's bodies had already been dealt with.

Battles were commonplace in the Shinobi World. Only the bodies of important ninja needed to be brought back to the village for intelligence.

The victors usually helped the defeated side dispose of its dead, preventing too many bodies from rotting and causing trouble.

Meanwhile, in a forest in Konoha, Cloud shinobi sped through the trees.

The battle had begun suddenly and ended just as quickly, but its ferocity could not be underestimated.

In that short time, the Cloud shinobi raiding party had lost nearly half its members. Only twenty remained.

"I thought we'd barely make it out alive this time. I never expected us to actually kill Konoha Elder Genki."

"Who would've thought a Konoha Elder would be so weak?"

Several of the Cloud shinobi spoke quietly as they traveled.

Their conversation seemed to catch their commander's attention.

"Did any of you get a clear look at the Cloud shinobi who died taking Genki with him? Such an act deserves to be reported to Lord Raikage so his family can be well cared for.

"We should carve his name on Kumogakure's Memorial Stone and let future generations of ninja remember what he did."

"Captain, I saw him. It was Shimazaki. He was usually a quiet ninja. I never expected him to come through at the crucial moment and take a Konoha Elder down with him."

The Cloud shinobi commander pondered this. "Shimazaki did well. Kumogakure needs more ninja willing to give their lives for the village when it matters.

"Sometimes a quiet man simply