Chapter 33: The First Strike
The sun had barely risen over Konoha when the first wave of shinobi mobilized. This was not a standard deployment. There were no banners, no grand proclamations—only the silent resolve of warriors preparing to face an enemy they barely understood.
Minato Namikaze led the operation personally. His golden hair flickered in the wind as he observed his forces, eyes sharp and calculating. This would be their first direct assault against The Hollow Veil, and failure was not an option.
Target: The Phantom Outpost
Shikaku Nara walked beside him, his expression calm but serious. "We've confirmed activity in the northern region—an abandoned trading post that's been repurposed. Our scouts report strange devices inside, likely experimental technology."
Minato nodded. "Then that's where we strike."
The assembled teams consisted of elite ANBU, tracking specialists, and a division of sensor-nin. Their objective was simple: infiltrate, retrieve intel, and, if possible, capture a high-ranking operative.
What they didn't know was that Ryouhei Kurozaki had already anticipated this move.
The Trap is Set
Deep within The Hollow Veil's network, Ryouhei watched the unfolding events with mild amusement. His sources had informed him of Konoha's movements before they had even left the village.
"They're finally making their move," he murmured.
His second-in-command, a cold-eyed former ANBU, knelt beside him. "Shall we activate the countermeasures?"
Ryouhei considered it. A direct confrontation would be meaningless—this was an intelligence war, not a battle of brute strength. He needed Konoha to believe they were gaining ground while leading them deeper into his web.
"Let them come," he said finally. "Give them just enough resistance to make them believe they're winning. Then… leave them a little surprise."
The Infiltration Begins
Minato's team moved swiftly. Upon reaching the outpost, they found the exterior abandoned—too easy.
"Something's wrong," one of the ANBU whispered.
Shikaku frowned. "It's a setup. But we're already here. Proceed with caution."
As they entered the facility, they discovered advanced machinery—weapon prototypes, sealed data scrolls, even remnants of explosive devices unlike anything seen before.
Minato's fingers brushed over one of the blueprints. The designs were intricate, precise, far beyond what any known shinobi engineer could create. This wasn't stolen technology. This was innovation.
"Who are we dealing with?" he muttered.
Then, the walls came alive.
A pulse of chakra-imbued energy surged through the room, triggering a cascade of hidden mechanisms. In an instant, the entire structure was shifting, moving—collapsing.
"Move!" Minato shouted.
The shinobi barely escaped as the outpost detonated behind them, sending fire and debris into the sky. The mission had turned from an infiltration into a desperate escape.
Ryouhei's Message
Hours later, as Konoha's forces regrouped, Minato found a single sealed scroll among the debris. He opened it carefully, eyes scanning the message written in perfect, deliberate strokes:
"You are not hunting an enemy. You are walking into a future you do not understand. Adapt… or be left behind."
No name. No signature. But Minato knew.
This war had only just begun.
---
End of Chapter 33