Chapter 5: Whispers of the Unseen
The aftermath of the battle had sent ripples across the ninja world. Villages whispered of an invisible force, an entity that left no trace yet reduced entire battalions to corpses. Fear spread faster than fire, and uncertainty took root where once there was confidence.
Hikaru stood in front of a large monitor deep within his underground base, watching intercepted reports from Konoha and Iwa. His operations were working as intended. The shinobi nations were beginning to suspect each other, their paranoia growing with every unanswered question.
A soft chime rang, signaling an incoming transmission. A voice crackled through his hidden communication system.
"Phase two is in motion. The supply routes between Iwa and their forward camps have been disrupted. Their forces are stranded."
Hikaru's lips curled slightly. Perfect.
"And Konoha?" he asked.
"Their scouts are searching for answers. Some believe this is the work of rogue ninja. Others suspect a hidden organization."
He exhaled slowly. Let them chase ghosts.
Turning away from the monitor, he walked toward a long table where his next experiment lay—a compact, gas-propelled dart launcher, designed for silent, undetectable assassinations. A single dose of the neurotoxin coating the darts could shut down the nervous system in seconds, mimicking a natural death. No explosions, no obvious wounds—just a whisper of death in the wind.
Hikaru picked up the weapon, weighing it in his hands. War is not about brute strength. It's about control.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. One of his subordinates entered, bowing slightly. "The next target is ready."
He nodded. "Good. This time, we erase them before they even know they were hunted."
As the agent left, Hikaru's gaze lingered on the dart launcher. The world still believed battles were won with chakra, jutsu, and brute force.
He would teach them otherwise.