The Hokage called me early in the morning. I was tired from training, but when the Hokage calls, you go right away.
I stepped into his office. Hiruzen stood in front of a big map, not wasting any time.
"Izuna, we have a problem on the western border. Several patrols didn't return. We believe someone is attacking from the shadows. This is an S-rank mission. You won't go alone. Your team will be Minato Namikaze and Sakumo Hatake. Sakumo will lead the mission."
Hearing that name told me this mission was serious.
"The task is clear. Find out who's behind the attacks. If you can, stop the threat. If not, return with information."
"I understand."
——
Later, at the village gates
I stood by the gate, wearing my black cloak and jonin gear. In my hands was a scroll with the mission details.
Minato arrived first. Calm as always.
"Ready?" He asked.
"Always,"
Then, Sakumo Hatake showed up. White hair, cold eyes. No time for greetings.
"Let's move out. No wasted words. This mission is dangerous. If someone tries to break the border, it ends now."
I nodded. No fear, just focus.
So the three of us went into the forest. Quiet. Fast. Like shadows.
War was coming… I could feel it in my bones.
The forest grew darker as we moved farther from the village. Trees pressed in close, their branches clawing at the sky like silent sentries. No birds. No animals. Just wind and silence.
Sakumo raised a fist, signaling us to stop.
Minato and I landed beside him soundlessly.
"There," Sakumo whispered, pointing to a patch of disturbed earth. "Tracks. Fresh."
I knelt, examining them. Five, maybe six individuals. Light step. Skilled. Not ordinary bandits.
"These are shinobi, trying to mask their trail… but not good enough."
Minato narrowed his eyes. "They're close. I can feel it."
Sakumo turned to us. "We move quietly. If they attack, engage without hesitation. Understood?"
We nodded.
⸻
Suddenly—
Fwssssh!
A barrage of kunai shot from the trees. Reflexively, I activated my Sharingan the world slowed down.
"Lightning Style: Thunder Edge!"
I swung my arm, releasing a horizontal wave of crackling chakra that deflected the incoming kunai.
Minato vanished in a blur, reappearing behind a masked enemy and knocking him out with a precise strike to the neck. "One down," he said calmly.
From above, another shinobi descended with a sword. I spun, parried, and countered.
"Lightning Style: Shock Palm!"
My hand surged with chakra as I struck his chest. He screamed and collapsed, twitching on the ground.
"Behind you!" Sakumo warned.
I turned just in time to see two more enemies weaving hand signs.
"Earth Style: Rock Lance!"
The ground erupted beneath my feet, a sharp spike shooting up. I leapt aside, barely dodging.
Minato landed beside me, forming a Rasengan in his hand.
"I'll cover the left."
I nodded and raised my hand.
"Lightning Rasengan!"
The sphere crackled wildly, bright and unstable — I slammed it into the last attacker as Minato mirrored me on the other side.
BOOM.
The forest trembled with the twin impacts.
⸻
After the Battle
Smoke and dust hung in the air. Four enemies were unconscious. Two more had escaped into the woods.
Sakumo stood still, scanning the trees.
"They weren't alone; this was a scout team."
"Then who sent them?" I asked,
Minato looked serious. "We need to follow the trail while it's fresh."
I agreed. "They were coordinated. Someone strong is behind this."
Sakumo turned to us. "We press on. Stay sharp. This… was only the beginning."
And with that, we vanished into the shadows again, chasing the echo of a threat that hadn't yet shown its face
We moved quietly through the thick forest, following the tracks left by the fleeing ninjas. Every step felt heavier the tension in the air was almost suffocating. Minato's eyes scanned every shadow, Sakumo's hand rested near his sword, and I kept my Sharingan active, searching for any sign.
The trail led us deeper into unfamiliar lands, far from our village. The footprints were fresh, but careful, these weren't reckless attackers. Someone wanted to stay hidden.
After hours of tracking, we finally caught sight of a small camp by a river. The cloaks on the men were unfamiliar, dark, and marked with strange symbols. They spoke in hushed voices about their orders and targets.
"We are hired by forces from the Land of Lightning; our mission is to weaken the Land of Fire's border defenses."
The weight of their words hit me like a punch. This wasn't just a small attack; it was a sign of something bigger.
Without hesitation, we turned back. Speed was now our ally. The village needed to know.
Back in the Hokage's office, we stood silently as Hiruzen listened to our report. His face grew darker with every word.
"This… this could start a war,"
Hiruzen said Good job, you are free now. He later sent 2 ANBU teams to eliminate them.He knew this could start a war, but he couldn't let them attack the borders.Also, he sent more ninjas to the borders.
Well, I knew there would be war, but it's kinda earlier than in anime. Well, I guess my existence kinda changes it.
———-
The forest was quiet.
Only the sound of kunai slicing through bark broke the silence.
I stood in a small clearing, surrounded by carved up with tree trunks, each one bearing the mark of my relentless training. Sweat clung to my skin as I flipped a kunai in my hand and hurled it again straight through the center of a leaf pinned to a stump.
Thud.
Another perfect hit.
Still not good enough.
I took a deep breath, focused, and struck three targets in succession with blinding speed.
I was halfway through my next movement when a voice broke the silence.
"You're gonna end up cutting down the whole forest at this rate."
I froze.
Turning, I saw Kurenai leaning against a nearby tree, arms crossed, eyes calm, but I could see she was nervous.
"Kurenai, didn't expect company."
"I was walking back from the training fields… then I heard someone throwing kunai like their life depended on it, Figured it could only be you."
I gave her a short smirk. "Guilty."
She stepped closer, her eyes scanning the targets I'd been practicing on.
"…You're training harder than usual."
"Can't afford to slack," I muttered, grabbing another kunai and twirling it between my fingers.
Kurenai hesitated, then spoke quietly.
"Izuna… is it true?"
"What?"
"About the war. I've been hearing things in the village. Even the kids are talking. Some say we're only days away from full-scale conflict."
I paused, kunai still in hand.
The silence between us was heavy.
"It's not official yet, but… the signs are there. Too many border attacks. Too many missing shinobi."
She looked away, arms wrapping around herself.
"I hate this feeling, like something dark is crawling toward us, and we're all just pretending we don't see it."
I walked up to her and gently placed my hand on her shoulder.
"Hey," don't let fear take over. We've been through worse. And if war does come…I'll be on the front lines. You won't have to worry."
"You always say that," she whispered, "but what if something happens to you?"
I tilted my head, half-teasing. "Didn't know you cared that much."
She blushed slightly, but rolled her eyes. "I'm just being realistic. You're reckless."
"And you're terrible at hiding when you're worried."
I let my voice drop. "Look, I'm not going anywhere. Besides… who else would throw kunai like a maniac out here, just so someone like you can come check on them?"
Kurenai smirked. "So you were hoping someone would find you?"
"Only if it was you."
She turned her head to hide a grin. "You're insufferable."
"And yet… here you are."
She stepped away, but only slightly. "Fine. I'll pretend I just happened to walk by."
"I'll pretend I didn't wait for you."
Then we laughed.
But even behind the smiles… the war was there.
We both felt it.