The southern border of the Land of Iron.
Dusk deepened, and darkness swallowed the last streak of dusky red on the horizon.
Stars lit up one by one, like diamond chips set in black velvet.
Kurotsuchi stood on a hill with her arms folded.
Her long, straight legs showed intermittently beneath her slit training outfit.
Her brows were tightly furrowed, her pale eyes filled with anxiety and impatience.
"Still no reply?"
Her voice carried anger she could barely suppress.
An Iwagakure jōnin behind her shook his head and answered cautiously:
"No. The liaison we sent to the Land of Iron left two days ago, but we haven't received any word yet. I'm afraid..."
"Afraid of what?"
Kurotsuchi whirled around and stared at the jōnin, her eyes almost spitting fire.
"Afraid they've been detained? Or killed?"
The jōnin lowered his head, not daring to speak.
Kurotsuchi gritted her teeth, turned around, and looked at the dark skyline ahead.
That was the direction of the Land of Iron.
Her grandfather Ōnoki, her father Kitsuchi, and her senior fellow apprentice Akatsuchi were all imprisoned there.
They were the pillars of Iwagakure, and her closest family.
She couldn't just wait around like this.
"No more waiting."
Kurotsuchi's voice turned cold and decisive.
"We'll infiltrate the Land of Iron directly, find where they're being held, and rescue them."
"Lady Kurotsuchi!"
Another Iwagakure ninja cried out.
"That's too risky! There are only thirty of us. The Land of Iron is crawling with Uchiha ninja now, and monsters like Madara Uchiha and Hashirama Senju are there too."
"If we rush in, I'm afraid..."
"What are you afraid of?"
Kurotsuchi cut him off.
"My grandfather and father are suffering. What does that make me if I just sit here waiting?"
"If you're scared, I'll go myself!"
She turned,