On the border of the lands of Rain and Stone, two shinobi stand in a grassy clearing. The older of the two is a kunoichi, a Jounin in fact and the younger a chunin no older than fourteen. The two somewhat resemble each other with their black hair tied into a low ponytail and matching brown vest, red pants, Stone Village headbands. The sun slowly descends and the moon peeks over the forested skyline.

The genin rushes forward, delivering a series of easily blocked attacks and is kicked away. He quickly recuperates and rushes again, launching a number of kunai as a distraction. The jonin whips out a collapsed bō staff, flicking them away like mosquitoes. The sounds of metal clashing ring through the air as the genin, kunai in hand, desperately tries to close the distance but his effort is easily refuted. A whistling blow knocks the weapon from his hand and another leaves a red mark on his left cheek. That split second of distraction cost him dearly and a spin kick nearly sends him tumbling. He doesn't waste anymore time and weaves a ninjustu that creates an earthen hand intent on crushing the jonin, but she punches it away with a single chakra powered strike, sending chunks of it tumbling to the ground. The genin jumps to his feet but is caught mid-leap by a pair of stoney snakes wrapped around his torso. He quickly loses his complexion, turning to stone himself. The jonin resists a smile as the flesh and blood genin bursts from the ground behind her, sword in hand and prepared to strike. He however is not afforded the opportunity as his face is grabbed and smashed into an earthen wall, rattling his brain. Trying to ignore the pain, he spits out a broken tooth as the wall recedes and stands with his sword at the ready.

The jonin speaks. "What is a shinobi's purpose?"

"To defend one's nation and carry out the Will Of Stone."

"Whatever inhibitions you have, get rid of them. The enemy will have no mercy for you and you will have none for the enemy. Do you understand?"

His gaze falls to the ground. "Yes, sensei."

The bō staff smacks him on the side of the head and he resists the urge to rub the pain away. "Never take your eyes off of the enemy." She reminds him. "Remember what I taught you."

He nods and they continue to fight as the moon rises, eventually making their way back to camp; ten large brown tents surrounded by an earth wall patrolled by eagle-eyed guards. The boy goes into one of them, where he's greeted by several of his peers sitting on the floor playing a card game or lying in a bed. He plops down on a bed and is joined by a girl with brown eyes and brown hair wearing a similar uniform. "Ryuko." She says, putting her head on his shoulder. "How are you?"

"I'm not doing your patrol."

"C'mon." The tent flap opens and a boy with blonde hair over his eyes steps through. She jumps up. "Tanpopo! You feel like covering my shift? Maybe you'll get to use those firecrackers that I bought you."

"Nope, do it yourself." He joins the game. "And I gave you some gum for those so we're even."

"How the hell does that make it even!"

Mejiro, a green haired boy, speaks up from the circle. "Do not yell, Tsubaki. The enemy could hear you."

Tsubaki sits down again, leaning against Ryuko who blushes slightly. "Why do you always complain about guard duty?"

"Because guard duty means I stay up all night and that makes me a lousy fighter. I don't know about you, but I prefer not to be tired when I'm facing an enemy soldier."

Mejiro responds. "Fair enough, but everyone eventually has guard duty."

"Yeah." Tanpopo smiles. "You better hurry before Captain Hardass-"

"Commander Akatatsu." Ryuko and Mejiro correct.

"Yeah, yeah. You better hurry before you get dragged out. You know she's not above it."

The tent flap flies open and lo and behold, there stands the Commander. It's silent with the exception of five words. "Tsubaki Tomiko. Guard duty, now."

The irritated jonin watches as Tsubaki sheepishly leaves the tent, not daring to look up from the ground. The tent flap closes and everyone breathes a sigh of relief.

Tanpopo is the first to speak. "Scary."

Mejiro adds on. "It is better to be feared than loved."

Tsubaki stands on the wall, staring out into the dark forest with only the pale moonlight to keep her company. She glances to her right, does a double and nearly yells in surprise before Akatatsu shushes her. She clutches her heart, exhaling heavily. "You scared me, Commander."

"I tend to. Go and rest, you'll need it."

"But-"

"Go. Before I change my mind."

The sun had just started to rise when everyone was woken up. 50 groggy chunin moan and groan their way through breakfast, packing up camp and lining up to march. Two groups of twenty-five, led by Akatatsu herself make their way south, amused by the sudden change from the mountains and cliffs of their homeland to an almost rainforest-like environment of the Rain village. True to its name, it began raining as they made their way through a mess of trees, managing to stay a coherent group even if some of their company often slipped on wet roots and mud. The forest ends with a clearing and a titanic concrete wall with a steel gate marked with four parallel lines. The gate opens with a deep thundering, they march in and are met by a gray haired man wearing an equally gray trench coat, who leads them into a domed building. They split off into ten squads, gathering on the various couches and chairs, talking among themselves. Ryuko watches with a bored interest as his sensei talks with the gray clad man.

Tanpopo's voice breaks his concentration. "What do you think?"

He looks over at the blonde leaning over the back of the couch. "About what?"

Mejiro answers for him. "Which nations are going to win this war. My bet is on the Stone."

Tsubaki adds on. "Course. We outnumber everybody five to one."

"Six to one." He corrects. "And numbers alone do not win wars."

Tanpopo grins. "They sure as hell do when you're blowing shit up."

Tsubaki rolls her eyes, chuckling. "Not this again."

"I'm gonna blow em all to hell! Just you wait. If I end up flying on one of those big bird things maybe I'll do a couple flips and drop bomb after bomb on whoever wants some."

"If." Mejiro retorts. "Aerial bombardment is a relatively new creation, it is not to be used with reckless abandon. Civilians, for example, could be caught in the crossfire."

He scoffs. "Not gonna be my problem."

"That's no way to think." They turn to see Akatatsu, Stone village headband tied to her arm and visibly irritated. "You're here to protect these people, not throw away their lives just because you want to blow shit up as you so kindly put it."

The blonde looks away and Tsubaki speaks up, rather embarrassed. "Apologies Commander. He doesn't know when to shut his mouth."

"I am aware. Fought in the first war with plenty of glory or nothing types. Dime a dozen. Died young and quick. You will not follow in their footsteps."

Tanpopo snaps back. "I'm not gonna die young. None of us are."

Mejiro retorts. "Speak for yourself." Tsubaki jabs him in the arm.

"We'll be heading out soon." She walks away and the four of them go quiet, taking solace in the echoes of conversation.

"I am immortal." The blonde declares, exhaling deeply. "I'll get famous and I'll never die. Fireworks on parade!"

Tsubaki gives him a reaffirming smile. "Drop Shells and Raise Hell."

He smirks back. "Damn right."

The rain stops sometime later and they head out en masse, marching through the puddled streets lined with tall, dark buildings made of stone and steel, trees and flowers filling the spaces between. Akatatsu leads them and the silver haired veteran marches to their right, waving at citizens peeking through windows and giving them a friendly smile. They stop in the town square, a clearing in the middle of the city where hundreds of others were gathered into a large group, mostly made up of Stone shinobi, side by side with those from the Rain. Akatatsu, the gray haired man and another shinobi, wearing a gray mask meet in the middle.

Akatatsu and the veteran greet the masked man. "Lord Hanzo."

"The reinforcements have arrived. Ginkiba, you'll be leading the Wolf Division. You and Akahane can go ahead and collect your troops."

Ginkiba nods, heads off and Hanzo turns to Akatatsu. "Commander Akatatsu, your troops call you the 'Blood Dragon'."

"My father's title. I've never used it and I find it distasteful to use the names of the dead. But clearly they think differently."

"I do hope your modesty does not reflect your ability."

"I assure you, it doesn't."

"Good. Strength is a virtue." He looks at the army surrounding him. "And power is the only thing that matters anymore. But I'm sure you Stone shinobi already know that."

The ground beneath rumbles and cracks open and a giant salamander bursts through. "If we play our cards right, this war will be over in just a few years. Until then, stay on your guard." He climbs on top of the massive lizard and takes his leave. Akatatsu weaves a ninjutsu to reform the ground after him and gathers her troops.