Chapter 12: The Hollow Veil
Hikaru walked through the dimly lit underground chamber, his footsteps echoing off the cold stone walls. The war above raged on, shinobi clashing under banners of loyalty and vengeance, yet down here, in the depths of secrecy, a different kind of battle was being fought.
Before him, a vast hall stretched into the darkness, illuminated only by the faint glow of blue luminescent panels embedded in the walls. At the center stood a massive table, scattered with maps, blueprints, and reports detailing every significant movement in the war.
His subordinates waited in silence. They were a mixture of rogue shinobi, ex-ANBU, disillusioned strategists, and a few individuals who had never even been part of the ninja system. Each had their own reasons for being here, but they all shared one thing—absolute loyalty to Hikaru's vision.
"The Kumo forces have withdrawn to regroup, but they are fractured," one of them reported. "Their chain of command is unstable, and infighting has already begun over who's to blame for the defeat."
Hikaru placed a hand on the map. His fingers traced the routes of supply chains, hidden caches, and vulnerable strongholds. The war was no longer about brute force—it was about controlling the flow of resources, information, and fear itself.
"What about Konoha?" he asked.
"They believe they have the upper hand," another answered. "Morale is high after their latest victory. Their commanders are pushing for an aggressive offensive."
Hikaru exhaled slowly. Exactly as planned.
"They are predictable," he said. "Let them march forward. But before they do, we will tighten the noose."
He reached for a rolled-up scroll and unfurled it, revealing schematics for a new type of explosive—a pressure-sensitive trap designed to be buried beneath the very roads the shinobi would use to advance. Unlike traditional explosive tags, these would not trigger immediately. Instead, they would activate only after repeated pressure, ensuring entire squads could pass safely before one unfortunate soul set off the chain reaction.
"Deploy these along their main routes," Hikaru instructed. "Let them think the land itself rejects their movement."
A silence followed as his subordinates absorbed the instructions. They knew by now that Hikaru did not just wage war—he crafted it.
"And what of Jiraiya?" one of them asked cautiously.
Hikaru's expression darkened slightly. "He's getting closer. He understands that something unnatural is guiding this war."
For a moment, he considered his next move. Jiraiya was a nuisance, but a valuable one. Killing him outright would alert Konoha to the presence of an enemy far more dangerous than they had imagined. No, Jiraiya had to be misled, steered toward false leads and distractions.
"I will deal with him personally," Hikaru finally said. "For now, ensure that no trace of our operations can be followed. We are not a force. We are not an organization."
His gaze swept across the room, his voice unwavering.
"We are The Hollow Veil. And the world will never know we exist—until it is too late."