Inside a cramped, damp cave, four ninjas dressed in Hidden Leaf Anbu gear huddled together. The leader, wearing a long-beaked bird mask, was the same operative who had previously leaked Nawaki's location to the Hidden Rain, setting the entire hunt into motion.
The group's morale was at an all-time low. Even the Monkey-masked operative, usually the most optimistic of the four, seemed to have lost his spirit, radiating a sense of crushing defeat.
"Orochimaru's reckless gamble was a complete success," the Bird-masked leader reported, his voice flat. "Aside from the Jonin still hunting Tsunade, half of the Suna forces have been slaughtered. The rest have either fled back to the Land of Wind or scattered into the Land of Rivers. Suna has been utterly broken."
Despite wearing the uniform of the Hidden Leaf, the operative spoke of this major victory without a shred of joy. It was as if a Leaf defeat was the only outcome he had truly hoped for.
"The cowards in the Hidden Rain have been terrified by Orochimaru. They've completely called off the search for the target," the Monkey-masked ninja added, his tone a mix of disdain and helplessness as he detailed Ame's latest movements. "According to our spies, the Ame leadership isn't just looking for a ceasefire; they want a formal alliance with the Leaf."
"An alliance?" The Dog and Cat-masked ninjas couldn't hide their shock. "Hanzo? That arrogant, self-important bastard is actually bowing his head?"
"Hmph. Suna is out of the game and Iwa's movements are a mystery," the Monkey-masked ninja sneered, annoyed by his companions' lack of foresight. "He doesn't want the Rain to lose its last bit of strength. Aside from allying with us to end the war quickly—and riding our coattails to keep Iwa at bay—what other choice does he have?"
His tone shifted, turning bitter. "But because of this, Plan Woodpecker is well and truly dead."
The Dog and Cat-masked operatives, who had been ready to snap back at him, suddenly lost the will to argue. A heavy, stagnant gloom filled the cave.
"Alright. This mission failed due to external factors beyond our control. The Master shouldn't be too hard on us," the Bird-masked leader offered, attempting to console them.
"Besides," he continued, seeing them still looking like dead fish, "there is still no definitive news regarding the target. No one can say for sure if he's still alive. So, Plan Woodpecker hasn't completely failed yet."
He knew it was empty self-consolation. Without the threat of Suna and Ame, and with even them having no idea where Nawaki was, who else in the Land of Rain could possibly threaten the boy's life?
"Do we return to the village and report to the Master now?" the Cat-masked ninja finally asked, her voice laced with fear.
The Bird-masked leader hesitated, then shook his head. "The target's fate is unknown. His whereabouts are a mystery. Let's wait until the dust settles before we report back."
Clearly, despite his words, he was terrified of returning to the Leaf empty-handed. To return after such a pathetic showing would mean being suppressed by Danzo until they could never rise again.
The other three, sharing his lack of courage, offered their silent consent.
"Then what's our next move?"
"The Leaf base! No matter if the target is alive or dead, that's where the news will break first."
"Strange."
Hatani finished reading the small scroll on Wind Nature Transformation and gave a long, satisfied stretch. He looked out at the perpetual rain—there was no one around, so there was no "atmosphere" to speak of—and his brow furrowed. He closed his eyes, extending his right hand to sense the ever-present wind.
"Strange? What's strange?" Nawaki asked, looking up from his own chakra refining. He was using every spare second of peace to prepare for the next fight.
"Even if we killed those four Ame ninjas before they could send a signal, a squad going missing for half a day should have triggered some kind of response from the village," Hatani said, his eyes snapping open. They were filled with a mounting gravity.
"Is it possible they already know exactly where we are? Are they circling around to trap us in a pincer movement?"
Unaware that the entirety of the Hidden Rain had been spooked by Orochimaru, Hatani's mind was spiraling toward the worst-case scenario.
"Or maybe..."
The image of Akiren's face flashed in his mind, and his brow knit even tighter.
"We can't stay here," Hatani said firmly. He kept his deeper fears to himself but tucked the scroll away securely and looked at Nawaki. "We need to move further North."
"Further North?" Nawaki's turn to frown. "Any further and we'll be at the border of the Land of Earth."
"North is the only safe direction right now. Suna and Ame will both expect us to head toward the Leaf camp or the Land of Fire. They won't expect us to head toward Iwa territory."
"...Alright."
Nawaki was reluctant, but he nodded. Throughout this journey, if not for Hatani, he would have been blown to bits by the very first paper bomb trap. He chose to trust Hatani's instincts.
"Wait—someone's coming!"
Just as Nawaki was about to leap down from the branch, Hatani caught a scent of blood and a surge of desperation on the wind. He stopped Nawaki in his tracks, his face pale as he delivered the bad news.
"Dan, just a little further! We're almost there!"
On a muddy path through the rain, Tsunade was running at full speed with Dan Kato on her back. Her face was a mask of panic and exhaustion. Her hair was a tangled, dry mess, and her usually fair skin was sallow, stained with patches of dried, black blood.
On her back, Dan Kato looked even worse. The stump of his severed left arm was dangerously swollen. His face was a deathly grey, and his long white hair, soaked by the rain, clung to his back like a wet shroud. He looked as though he was breathing his last.
Worse still, a bloodshot Parashia was trailing them relentlessly. Every so often, he let out a screeching, hideous laugh that sounded like a predatory shrike.
He looked like a demon intent on devouring them both alive.