Dusk fell.
The sky darkened.
Tenkaku, leading Veigar and Shōgetsu swiftly toward the border, suddenly came to a halt.
"We'll rest here for the night. Continue moving at dawn."
"Yes," came the prompt reply.
At the same time—
Five kilometers behind them, within the tracking squad of Root shinobi led by Kazerei, a masked operative whispered just behind his commander:
"Kazerei-sama, the targets have stopped."
Kazerei gave a curt nod and ordered, "Approach with caution. Prepare for combat."
At his command, the Root shinobi tensed, their movements slowing just slightly as they crept forward, alert and ready.
There were no campfires. No hot meals.
Only the thick canopy overhead to conceal them, and bland military ration pills to restore chakra quickly, if not enjoyably.
As the light waned, the Root unit rapidly began encircling the trio.
Suddenly—
Tenkaku, who had been meditating with closed eyes, snapped them open.
"We're being surrounded."
Instantly, both Veigar and Shōgetsu went on high alert. Veigar activated his Chakra Sensory Technique.
Yet—within his sensing field, there was nothing.
The realization hit quickly.
Tenkaku's sensory abilities were more acute than Veigar's.
Soon after, ten chakra signatures burst into Veigar's awareness.
"There are ten of them," he announced calmly. "We're completely surrounded."
Shōgetsu didn't doubt it for a second. He'd worked with Veigar before—he knew just how precise Veigar's sensory skills were.
But Tenkaku, who was partnering with Veigar for the first time, still needed to ask, "Akuto, are you certain?"
Before Veigar could respond, Shōgetsu—his Sharingan now open—spoke up.
"Captain, Akuto's sensory skills are unparalleled. He wouldn't give false intel."
Despite their precautions, the Root shinobi tightening their formation had no idea they'd already been exposed.
"Three to the front, three on the left, three on the right."
"One to the rear."
Veigar delivered the breakdown with precise clarity, silently signaling Tenkaku—await orders or break out?
Tenkaku made the call immediately.
"The left."
Better to strike first than wait to be struck.
Even as the words left his mouth, all three were already in motion, rushing toward the left flank.
Moments later, they collided with three Root operatives head-on.
Though the enemy had braced for a clash, the sudden emergence of their targets left them stunned for a heartbeat.
"Earth Release: Stone Dragon Jutsu!"
"Fire Release: Majestic Dragon Blaze!"
Tenkaku and Shōgetsu unleashed their jutsu simultaneously—their Earth Releaseand Fire Release techniques merging into one.
What began as a massive earthen dragon molded from stone surged forward—then ignited, enveloped in high-temperature flames, transforming into a molten lava dragon.
BOOM!
The burning beast crashed down on the three, but they narrowly escaped, leaping aside just in time.
"Wind Release: Phantom lai Slash!"
Veigar struck next, finally making his move.
Two Shadow Clones flanking him, the three silhouettes attacked in unison.
At the edge of his blade, cold light flashed.
Shhhhk!
Bang. Bang.
Veigar's ninjatō cleaved through the middle enemy—slicing him cleanly in two. Meanwhile, his clones were simultaneously destroyed by the remaining Root shinobi.
But Veigar hadn't expected them to land a blow—those clones were bait.
"Earth Release: Rock Fist Jutsu!"
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"
As the two surviving Root ninja reeled from the disappearance of the clones, they found themselves staring wide-eyed at the real threat—Tenkaku and Shōgetsu surging in from behind.
CRACK!
AAARGH—!
A stone-clad fist crushed one shinobi's skull, while the Great Flame Bullet engulfed the other in searing flames, his screams echoing through the trees.
The nearby Root operatives heard the cries—grim, painful—and realized something had gone terribly wrong.
They rushed toward the scene.
But Veigar and his team had already disappeared into the shadows.
When Kazerei arrived and saw the mangled bodies of his men, his expression twisted.
"Pursue them!"
Thus began a deadly chase through the forest.
...
Twenty minutes later.
Despite their efforts, Veigar, Tenkaku, and Shōgetsu had not shaken their pursuers.
But now, a towering blaze loomed ahead—firelight piercing the forest gloom.
Realizing they couldn't outrun their enemies, Tenkaku eyed the inferno and made a decision.
"We'll make our stand there."
Casting a glance behind at his companions, he spoke with quiet fury.
"Let's end this."
Then he sprinted toward the burning horizon.
Ahead—
A village within the Land of Fire.
Now nothing more than scorched ruins and smoke-filled skies. The bodies of civilians lay everywhere, the blood-soaked earth catching the golden light of the flames.
The sun hung low, crimson like spilled blood—a scene of utter desolation.
At the village gate stood a middle-aged man, clad in a deep brown flak jacket, the Iwagakure forehead protector shining on his brow.
Watching the carnage, he licked his lips and smiled coldly.
"Mission complete. Sweep the area."
"Erase all traces. Leave evidence pointing to Amegakure. Let Konoha think they did this."
"Yes, Teido-sama!" replied seven other Iwa-nin in unison.
This "Teido" had come here under direct orders from the Third Tsuchikage—to slaughter indiscriminately, frame the Village Hidden in the Rain, and throw the region into chaos.
And chaos was exactly what now awaited.
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