The first kunai was not thrown by Konoha.
Nor was it thrown by Iwagakure.
It shot down from above the valley and embedded itself between the two teams.
An explosive tag was tied to its tail.
As the explosion sent shattered rocks flying, both sides saw the other's forehead protectors.
The Iwagakure ninja formed hand seals first, raising an earthen wall from the valley floor.
The Konoha team used Wind Release to clear the smoke, and three shuriken sailed over the wall.
No one gave the order for an all-out attack.
But amid the chaos, where all they could see were ninja from an enemy village, every defensive move looked to the other side like preparation for an attack.
Within seconds, earthen spikes and fireballs were already colliding on the valley floor.
Flying rocks cut a Konoha chunin's left shoulder.
On the Iwagakure side, someone's calf was also slashed by a shuriken.
Once there were real casualties, stopping was harder than fighting.
When Kakashi arrived from the flank, he did not charge at the Iwagakure captain.
His Lightning Blade shattered the second explosive kunai falling from the mountaintop.
The burst of lightning illuminated the kunai's tail.
There was no shinobi village insignia on it.
"There's a third party up there!"
Kakashi's voice reached both sides at once.
Iwagakure jonin Iwagaki did not believe him immediately.
He waved for his subordinates to maintain the earthen wall, but stopped advancing himself.
A moment later, a figure darted across the ridge, deliberately exposing a corner of old-style Konoha armor.
Iwagaki raised his hand and unleashed a Rock Spear.
The rock spear grazed the figure's shoulder, tearing away fabric to reveal another layer of gray clothing underneath.
The disguised figure fought neither side, turning instead to flee the valley.
Kakashi and Iwagaki realized almost