The glimmering red dawn illuminated the dust cloud which settled around the Hidden Rock Village, tinting the sky a bloody hue. Overlooking the crumbling buildings and chaos, two figures stood upon an outcrop on a nearby cliff. One of the figures had a limp, lifeless body slung over their shoulder. The assault had been on of the most devastating in Iwagakure's history; if only due to its swiftness and the village's relaxed defenses. Peace had softened them, and the assailants had taken full advantage.
"We're recovering well from that little... setback" the shorter one commented as they turned to leave.
"I still wish you'd at least let me put the finishing touches on this Village, it's such a waste of potential" the other one complained as he trudged alongside his companion.
Nearby, an Iwagakure ninja managed to snap a photograph of the two suspicious looking characters as they left. Once the picture developed she gasped in shock. She had to get this to the Tsuchikage immediately; the other nations had to be warned. Darting through the emptiest streets she could, she made her way towards the largest structure in the centre of the village. She became aware of a light fluttering next to her. She glanced to the side briefly.
"A dove?"The squad moved through the streets effortlessly, moving to investigate reports of an explosion a good while after the initial turbulence. Before long they arrived on a street, completely deserted save for one badly burnt body. Locked tightly in the deceased ninja's hand were the charred remains of a photograph. After several minutes they were finally able to recover a piece that had escaped destruction in the palm of its owner.
"This is more serious than we first thought" cried the Tsuchikage after being shown the scrap of paper. "You three, I'm trusting you with a very important task". He stood up slowly and walked over to the window, his years showing in his wrinkled face and uneven step.
"Lord Tsuchikage?" one of them asked, breaking the wizened shinobi's reverie.
"Take a copy of that photo fragment to Konoha, straight to the Hokage. You will speak to no one else of the matter" he commanded. "This must be treated as an S rank mission: Do you understand?"
The shinobi nodded and disappeared. The Tsuchikage sighed as he shuffled back to his desk.
His eyes focused on the image before him; it might have been mistaken for another blackened piece of the burned evidence, were it not for the symbol emblazoned by the surrounding darkness.
A single red cloud.