By the time the coastal towns' garrisons reacted, the Kirigakure ninja force had already cleared a route for the Land of Water's regular army. Once the ships carrying large numbers of troops docked along the shore, samurai poured off them and swiftly advanced into the surrounding areas.
The garrisons hastily organized resistance while sending requests for reinforcements to nearby ninja forces by Communication Hawk. Yet even as those forces received the letters and dispatched troops, the defenders had little confidence in how long they could hold out on their own, or how many towns they could save.
Compared with the small but elite Kirigakure ninja force, the regular Land of Water troops following behind were far more conspicuous. The forces on the Eastern Front detected them without needing a warning from the Fūma Clan's ninja, though they could not immediately determine their destination. By then, the Land of Water's troops were already operating along the southern border.
A Communication Hawk cut through the sky like an arrow, appearing as no more than a black streak from a distance. These hawks were raised in much the same way as Summoning Beasts. Although they could not compare with ancient Summoning Beasts possessing human intelligence, or even the Inuzuka Clan's Ninja Dogs, their stamina and speed still surpassed those of ordinary animals.
The first to notice it were the transport teams delivering supplies to the southern front. Ninja had exceptional eyesight, and to keep their supplies safe, they constantly watched their surroundings. They soon spotted the Communication Hawk streaking across the sky. Knowing what its presence meant, they could hardly dismiss it as something trivial—these hawks were used only in wartime.
The transport team leaders immediately gathered to discuss what had happened. Without seeing the message carried by the Communication Hawk, they could