2
Anbu Team, outskirts of Yamigakure, 8:15pm
The Anbu team looked on to the small gathering of ninja. Someone with the wood style jutsu, a very rare jutsu, had created homes for them to live within. It was busy and packed. They prepped Yamigakure made weapons for a war that the Chikage had every plans of stopping before it began. The Anbu had situated themselves all around the campsite of the enemy, taking it as much detail as they possibly can. The lead Anbu understood why the Chikage wanted as minimum detail as possible in the reports. It was so the other villages could not place the blame on Yamigakure for this riot. But if these people really are from Yamigakure…
They could take them out. They were powerful, stealthy and very much prepared to do so. However that was not what the Chikage ordered. She just wanted a report on what is going on and would personally deal with the encampment herself. She was going to show her power and status and who rules these lands that they have settled in. Again it came back to thinking if they were ninjas of Yamigakure or not. If they are then they would already know of the Chikage and who rules the land they have settled in.
Fires crackled and blazed all over the encampment. Night creatures scurried about. Crickets were very loud. As annoying as the creatures are, it helped the Anbu to remain hidden. The more noise around the less conspicuous they are amongst the trees and shrubbery. It seems that these pathetic ninja were careless. They didn't bother to look around for dangers or keep a sentry to make sure that they were not disturbed. It seems that they have enough confidence to make them stupid. With such little security the Anbu had no doubt. They were not of Yamigakure. All Yamigakure ninjas were very cautious and tightly guarded.
Just these enemies being in the same land disgraced and insulted all those of Yamigakure. It's almost as if they were trying to tell the world that there is nothing to fear of the Yamigakure ninjas. Once the Chikage has all she needs to know about these people, they would soon have a lesson they would never forget. Yamigakure is not a place to underestimate or fool around with. They did not gain the title Blood Thirst for nothing.
Signalling to the other Anbu, the leader silently took off back towards Yami. With enough Intel to warrant execution, the Anbu had no other reason to stick around. They could not gather what village the ninjas are from. They wore no headband to dictate that. Rouges, that's all that the Anbu could figure out. They left their villages to perform a full blown strike to another. If that other is Yamigakure, they're dead. If it's any of the Five Great Nations, again they're dead. Either way they're doomed for death anyway.
The Chikage was waiting for them in her office in the Kage tower. She sat in her big black chair, patiently waiting the results. Although she had asked for a report, they would first supply her with the information and then write up the report to support their findings. The Anbu leader stepped forward from the group.
'We have determined they are Rogue ninjas from their villages. They are not of Yamigakure. They are using our weapons to fight so I gather that they either know we exist or killed some of our men and stolen our weapons for themselves. They are stupid to not have anyone on the perimeter to check for intruders and they are merely insulting us by being careless.'
'Rogues?' she repeated with thought. The Anbu leader nodded. 'Rogues or not it will cause a problem for us if they are not sorted out. If their targets are the Five Great Nations and they are found in our land, it is most likely that our village will be compromised and we will be blamed for starting a war.'
'Any plans of action?'
'You are disgusted with them,' she observed. He made no indication of confirmation to the accusation. 'We'll strike with a warning first of all. Kill a few of their men, ensure that they get the message to stop creating a war otherwise we'll cause war with them. Make sure that a report on minimum detail is given once the warning has been issued.'
'Hai, Chikage-sama,' the Anbu responded simultaneously.
Sunagakure No Sato, Kazekage office
Gaara again sat behind his desk filling in paperwork. Tired from hours of nonstop work, he put his pen down and looked out of the small round window behind him. The sky loomed overhead and the need to feel fresh air became strong. He stomped it down when his sister came through the door without even knocking. He swivelled around in his chair and looked at her with the blankest of expressions. She handed over a report she deemed important. He took it from her and read through the document. He frowned.
'Where is this?' he asked.
'It was just discovered today when our surveillance team went out searching for the perpetrators. They're hiding in an unknown land. We have no idea who has claim to the land or even if it is occupied. There could be a number of things inside there and we would know nothing about it.'
'Anyone tried to find their base of operations?'
'No one dares go across the border. It's a giant forest and the surveillance team claims it is pitch dark. They said they feel watched, like there's something behind the trees just waiting for them to venture inside.'
'A dark forest…' Gaara said in thought. 'Is there any history on this land?'
'I've got a research team looking it up to see if there has ever been a claim laid to the land.'
'How did anyone miss such a large section?'
'No idea, but I gather that everyone has left it alone because of the dark imposing forest that lines the border.'
'An implication to stay the hell out, maybe?'
'Could be possible,' she agreed. 'But until we know more about this land, we may have to wait until they strike first before we can do anything.'
'Their first strike might be the end for us,' Gaara said darkly. She swallowed nervously. 'Do the other villages have access to the same information?'
'Yes, I have forwarded the exact same information to the other villages. I believe the Hokage will most likely speak to you about this when you go to Konoha.'
'Most likely. We'll go once I have finished the rest of this paperwork.'
Knowing the dismissal, Temari left the office just as Gaara got back to work. Determination kept him going and three hours later he was ready to head straight for Konoha. His brother and sister made up his team, but two guards, Matsuri and Baki accompanied them to provide extra protection. Not knowing about their assailants, they needed to be cautious in case they decided to attack when there is little protection.
Konohagakure, next day, 10:23am
Naruto and Sai sparred to hone their skills to another level. Rock Lee, Neji, Kiba, Shino, Choji and Shikamaru had the same idea and were also honing their skills. Fighting so vigorously and using little chakra, they kept going only stopping for breaks every now and again. The girls, Tenten, Sakura, Hinata and Ino kept checking on them during the day to ensure that they have had something to eat and to make sure that have been taking breaks. Right now the girls waited at the edge with seriousness on their faces, waiting for the boys to finish their bouts.
'Sakura, what's up?' Naruto asks coming over. He was bare-chested and had slung a towel around his shoulders. He was sweating from exertion. His orange and black trousers only went down to the tops of his ninja shoes. The others joined Naruto just as curious as the blonde haired blue eyed Jinchuriki.
'Suna has got some information about the location of our enemies,' Ino supplied.
'Nani?' Shikamaru exclaimed in an outburst.
'It doesn't look good from the looks of it either,' Tenten spoke up.
'What do you mean?' Kiba asked and Akamaru, a huge dog now, barked deeply.
'According to the information from Suna, they're located in an unknown land,' Sakura replied. 'With no details if the land is claimed by anyone, there could be a manner of things there we don't know about. The land is large enough that Tsunade-sama wonders why no one has known or discovered it before now. The Suna surveillance team didn't dare cross the border because of the thick dark forest that lines the border.'
'They're scared of a forest?' Naruto said and laughed, some of the others joined in.
'Take it seriously, Naruto,' Ino scolded.
Sakura just frowned at her teammate. 'They didn't go in because they believed they were being watched and thought that someone was waiting for them to venture in. We don't know how heavily guarded the place is. If the land is claimed and we enter without permission, who knows what could happen. The rules there might be different to ours.'
'So we're running blind?' Shikamaru questioned.
'The plan is to wait until we either have enough information about the land or when they strike first,' Sakura answered. 'I don't think that the later is an option anyone is willing to make. Reports have come in that all villages are looking for any information on the land to see if we can find out anything about it before doing anything. Since Gaara is already coming to Konoha, he's going to be speaking with Tsunade-sama about what they think should happen. They'll most likely tell the other Kages their decision through letters to inform them.'
'What happens if the land is claimed?' Naruto asked, bringing about a question the others were thinking.
'We may have to ask permission to enter the land in order to search for our enemies to stop them from starting a war.'
'And if they are the ones who are starting it in the first place?' Sai asked.
Sakura remained silent. 'I don't know,' she finally spoke. 'The Kages have yet to discover what they want to do. They may talk about that question during the point as well. But until they have discussed it, we're pretty much on standby.'
Outskirts of Yamigakure, Intruders encampment, 2:42pm
'What the hell happened here?' a male demanded the rest.
The sight before them was not pretty. Blood splattered the wooden walls, floor and the trees. Three men were gutted, bled dry and hug on a tree by a long sword, that was part of their arsenal, in the centre of their chests. Their mouths were open in a scream, their eyes gone from their sockets, leaving behind a trace of horror. The sight was not a clear message but the message written in blood on the ground was.
Cease your attempts at war
'Who saw or heard anything?'
'No one heard anything, sir,' a trembling male responded.
'Could this be the work of the Five Great Nations?' another asked in rage.
'No,' the leader replied. 'They do not know our location. Even if they did, they would not brave themselves to enter this place.'
'That means we're not the only ones in this place.' Another shouted, bringing caution immediately to the others.
'Shit, do you think they've been spying on us?' another said scared.
'Shut up!' the leader shouted. 'You're ninjas for fuck sake, not babies!'
'What do we do?' a sensible one asked his leader.
'We continue with our plans as usual. We'll have to double the guard and make sure everyone keeps to their posts. I want daily reports on our perimeter checks. Anything that seems suspicious I want it reporting, do you understand?'
'Sir yes sir.'
'Good. Some of you take watch positions. Someone get these three down and bury them.'
The leader walked away stifling his curses. Someone should have been on duty since the beginning, so why the hell was no one doing that? Too much confidence, he concluded to himself. They let it all go to their heads and thought they were safe. Safe…he chuffed. When was one safe in this world? This dark forest was not even remotely safe. That's why he chose the place. The other villages wouldn't dare come in here because of how foreboding it looks from the border. But if there someone else already here…
How the hell did they do so quietly?
There had been no noise, no sign of struggle and nothing to indicate they had been attacked. Oh come on! That spot is frequently walked by every ninja in this place. How the hell did someone not notice when someone decided to gut and bleed his men dry and hang them by swords to a tree? And in bright daylight! How the fuck is anyone capable of doing that? Who the fuck is capable of doing that? It's too fucking noticeable and yet no one noticed a single fucking thing.
Shit! If there's someone here who knows about their plans…
'Crap!' he muttered.