The forest became silent again after the three strangers disappeared, leaving behind only the bodies of the fallen patrol Ninjas and their wounded summons.
The wind moved through the branches above them, carrying the smell of smoke and scorched fur deeper into the wilderness, while the damaged trees stood as evidence that a brief but violent battle had taken place there.
Nothing moved for several minutes except the leaves trembling in the evening breeze, and the blood slowly darkening the soil beneath the fallen Ninjas.
Several minutes later, another patrol arrived.
The three Koyagakure Ninjas emerged from the trees, speaking quietly among themselves until the one in front suddenly stopped and raised his hand. "Wait." The other two immediately halted behind him, and he slowly looked across the clearing before his expression changed. "These are ours." One of his companions stepped forward and stared at the bodies scattered across the ground. "How many?" The first Ninja crouched beside one of the fallen men and checked for a pulse even though the answer was already obvious. "Three Ninjas. Their summons are dead too." The second Ninja’s expression hardened as he looked around the surrounding trees. "Someone attacked them." The third Ninja walked toward the burned patch of ground and slowly touched the soil with his fingertips. "Fire technique." He looked at the blackened earth before standing again. "Someone entered our territory, attacked our patrol, killed them, and left."
The first Ninja immediately began examining the surroundings. "Any survivors?" His companion shook his head. "None." He continued searching around the corpses while the third Ninja examined the damaged trees. "What about tracks?" The second Ninja carefully inspected the ground, his eyes moving from one footprint to another. "There are traces, but they’re already damaged. Whoever fought them moved quickly." The third Ninja looked toward the dead wolf lying several meters away from the others. "This one was fighting until the end." His gaze moved toward the dead snow leopard and the burned remains of the vulture. "All three summons were killed."
The first Ninja slowly stood and looked toward the direction from which the attackers had apparently come. "Then this wasn’t an accident." The other two nodded. "No. Someone deliberately attacked them." The first Ninja’s expression became grim. "Report this immediately." The three Ninjas exchanged one final look before disappearing with a Body Flicker.
Inside Koyagakure, the news reached the Kuma Clan before sunset. Kuma Rai was sitting inside the Clan compound when one of his subordinates rushed through the entrance and immediately dropped to one knee.
"Clan Head!"
Rai looked up from the document in his hands. "What happened?" The subordinate swallowed before answering. "The patrol." Rai’s expression changed slightly. "What about them?" The subordinate lowered his head. "They’re dead." The room became completely silent, and Rai slowly placed the document on the table before standing. "Explain." The subordinate took a breath. "Three members of the patrol were found dead near the western boundary. Their Ninkens were killed too."
Rai walked toward him. "Who?"
"We don’t know."
"Any survivors?" "None." Rai’s eyes narrowed. "What killed them?" "We found evidence of a fire technique, but there were also signs of close combat." Rai remained silent for several seconds before asking, "Fire technique?" "Yes." "How strong?" "We cannot determine the exact rank, but it was powerful enough to burn one of the wolves badly."
Rai’s expression darkened as he listened. "Bring me the investigators." The subordinate immediately bowed. "Yes, Clan Head."
Several moments later, three investigators entered the room and bowed respectfully. Rai looked at them with a stern expression.
"Tell me everything." The first investigator stepped forward. "The patrol was attacked somewhere near the western forest. The attackers appeared to be Ninjas because they used Body Flicker and Ninjutsu." Rai immediately asked, "How many?"
"At least three."
"At least?"
"There could have been more, but we only found evidence suggesting three attackers." Rai crossed his arms. "Then give me your best guess. What Clan?" The investigator hesitated. "We cannot say with certainty." Rai’s expression became colder. "Then give me your best guess anyway."
The investigator took a breath. "Fire techniques." Rai waited. "Their techniques have similarities to techniques associated with the Gufang Clan." Rai’s eyes narrowed. "Gufang." His voice became colder. "Gufang Clan of Kusagakure?" "Yes." One of the Kuma Ninjas immediately clenched his fist. "Those bastards." Another Ninja looked toward Rai. "Could they have crossed into our territory?" Rai raised his hand before the conversation could become more heated. "Don’t jump to conclusions." The Ninja stopped, although his expression remained angry. Rai looked at the investigators again. "Why do you believe it’s Gufang?" The investigator answered carefully. "Their fire techniques have similarities to what we found." Rai stared at him. "Similarities are not proof." The investigator lowered his head. "Correct."
Rai slowly paced across the room, his massive figure casting a shadow across the floor. "If Gufang really wanted to attack us, why leave behind evidence pointing toward themselves?" Nobody answered. Rai stopped walking and turned toward them. "Exactly." One of the Clan Ninjas frowned. "You think someone is framing them?" Rai nodded. "I think someone wants us to believe Gufang did it." Another Ninja asked, "Why?" Rai’s eyes hardened. "Because starting a war between Koyagakure and Kusagakure would benefit whoever is standing behind the curtain." The room became quiet as everyone considered the possibility.
One investigator slowly nodded. "It could be a third party." Rai looked toward him. "Exactly." Another Ninja spoke. "Clan Head, should we retaliate?" Rai’s expression hardened. "My first instinct says yes." The Ninja’s eyes brightened. "They killed our people." Rai nodded. "I know." "We cannot allow another village to murder our patrols without consequence." "I know." "Then why are we waiting?" Rai turned toward him. "Because rage is exactly what an enemy wants." The Ninja fell silent. Rai continued speaking calmly. "If we immediately send Ninjas into Kusagakure territory, what happens?" The Ninja answered, "They could retaliate." Rai nodded. "And then?" "The conflict escalates." "And then?" The Ninja slowly understood. "War."
Rai crossed his arms. "Exactly. We aren’t doing nothing. We are investigating." He looked at every person in the room. "Increase patrols around the western boundary. Nobody travels alone. Any unfamiliar Ninja is to be observed before being confronted unless they attack first. Inform the other Clan leaders and the village head as well." The investigators bowed. "Understood." Rai stopped them before they left. "And send a message to the village head." "About Gufang?" "About everything." He looked toward the window. "Tell him that I believe this incident may be an attempt to provoke Koyagakure." The investigators immediately left the room, while Rai remained standing beside the window with his expression growing darker. After several seconds, he quietly muttered, "Who are you?"
The news slowly spread through Koyagakure. At first, only the Ninja Clans knew what had happened, but the villagers soon noticed that the patrols had doubled. Ninjas moved through the streets more frequently, training grounds became busier, weapons were checked repeatedly, and messages were exchanged between the Clan compounds. Before long, ordinary villagers were whispering about the incident wherever they gathered. "Did you hear?" one villager asked. "They say another village killed our patrol." Another immediately asked, "Which village?" "Kusagakure." "Are you sure?" "No." "Then why are people saying it?" "Because someone found evidence." Another villager shook his head. "Evidence isn’t proof." The first villager sighed. "I know, but everyone is nervous."
The Ninja Chat became even more heated. Kuma Goro, Jonin: The western patrol was attacked by at least three Ninjas. Karasu Shin, Chunin: Any identification? Kuma Goro: Nothing confirmed. Yukiju Ren, Chunin: Then why is everyone mentioning Kusagakure? Kuma Goro: Gufang techniques resemble the ones found at the scene. Karasu Shin: Resemble? Kuma Goro: Yes. Yukiju Ren: That’s not enough. Inuzuza Kyoji, Genin: If somebody wanted to frame Kusagakure, that would be exactly what they would leave behind. Kuma Goro: That’s what our Clan Head believes. The conversation continued for hours, with Ninjas arguing over whether the evidence was genuine or intentionally planted.
Meanwhile, the Overlord Chat remained unusually quiet. Kuma Rai eventually sent a message. Kuma Rai, Overlord: We do not have enough evidence to declare Kusagakure responsible. Yukiju Ken immediately answered. Yukiju Ken, Overlord: Agreed. Karasu Moira followed shortly afterward. Karasu Moira, Overlord: Then we investigate before acting. Inuzuza Kiza said nothing. Her silence was noticeable, especially considering how quickly the other Clan leaders had joined the discussion, but nobody dared question her directly. The appearance of the Sky Screen had already changed the balance between the Clans, and now an unknown enemy seemed to be deliberately pushing them toward conflict.
Koga noticed the changes too. He stood near the edge of the training grounds with Fenfyr and Ignilion beside him in their disguised wolf forms, watching several patrols pass through the village. "Something happened." Fenfyr’s ears moved as he looked toward the distant gates. Koga glanced at him. "You noticed it too?" The wolf gave a quiet bark. Koga looked toward the village center. "I don’t know what it is, but there are more patrols." Ignilion gave a low growl, and Koga immediately crouched and rubbed its head. "Don’t worry. We’re not getting involved." His eyes moved toward the distant Sky Screen. "Whatever happened, let the Ninjas handle it."
Still, Koga could not shake the strange feeling in his chest. He had seen enough stories in his previous life to understand how easily a small incident could become something enormous. A dead patrol could become an accusation. An accusation could become retaliation. Retaliation could become war. And war could turn an entire village upside down. Yet there was nothing he could do without exposing himself, and the last thing Koga wanted was to attract attention. He therefore returned to his normal routine and hoped the situation would eventually settle down.
Weeks passed.
The patrol incident remained unresolved. No attacker had been identified, no village had officially admitted responsibility, and no declaration of war had been made. For a brief moment, it seemed as though the tension might eventually disappear. The patrols remained vigilant, but the villagers gradually became accustomed to seeing more Ninjas around the borders. Koga even began believing that perhaps the entire matter would simply fade into history.
Then, one evening, Koga was sitting inside his room.
Fenyfr was resting beside the window, while Ignilion was curled up on the floor. Koga was eating dinner when the entire room suddenly became bright.
He froze.
"What?"
Fenyfr immediately stood, its ears pointing toward the sky.
Ignilion raised its head.
Koga slowly put down his food and walked toward the window. "What now?"
A familiar sound echoed across the entire village.
Ding!
The Sky Screen appeared.
Every conversation in Koyagakure stopped at once.
Ninjas abandoned their training.
Villagers rushed outside.
Clan leaders immediately looked upward.
Koga stepped closer to his window, his expression becoming serious.
"What happened this time?"
The Sky Screen flickered several times.
Then enormous letters appeared across the heavens.
PREPARE YOURSELVES.
The village became completely silent.
Koga stared upward.
"Prepare?"
Another message appeared.
KOYAGAKURE HAS ENTERED A VILLAGE WAR EVENT.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then the entire village erupted.
"What?"
"Village war?"
"Against whom?"
"Who attacked us?"
"What’s happening?"
"Is Kusagakure attacking?"
"Don’t say that! We don’t even know!"
"Then why did the Sky Screen announce a war?"
Koga stared at the message with his heart pounding.
"A village war?"
Fenyfr growled.
Koga slowly clenched his fist.
"No, no, no."
Another message appeared.
ALL KOYAGAKURE NINJAS AND VILLAGERS ARE ADVISED TO PREPARE FOR THE COMING CONFLICT.
The streets erupted into chaos.
People ran toward their homes.
Ninjas rushed toward the Clan compounds.
Orders began spreading throughout the village.
Kuma Clan members gathered their weapons.
Karasu Ninjas summoned their flying companions.
Yukiju Ninjas began organizing their patrol units.
Inuzuza wolves began howling throughout the village.
Koga remained frozen beside his window.
"This is bad."
The Sky Screen flickered once more.
Then a final message appeared.
THE VILLAGE WAR WILL BEGIN SOON.