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"Shift change."
A ninja called out to the guard at the gate.
"Why are you so late?" the guard complained.
"Ah, my stomach was hurting. Had to make a trip to the bathroom."
"Huh? Looks more like you fell in, if you ask me," the guard grumbled, shouldering his spear and completing the handover.
Kirigakure had two walls: an inner wall protecting the village proper, and an outer wall about a kilometer away, also meant to safeguard the village.
Initially, the outer wall wasn't taken very seriously by the village. Since the entire island only had one ninja village, there were no external enemies powerful enough to threaten Kirigakure's security.
But after the incident where "Midorima colluded with foreign ninja to attack the Mizukage"—or at least, some people in Kirigakure still believed that—the outer wall gained importance.
However, being a wall of wooden stakes anchored between two mountain slopes, its defensive capabilities weren't as reliable as one might think.
This guard was stationed at the main gate of the inner wall.
Yawning, he dragged his spear, ready to head home. Suddenly, a ninja walked towards him.
"Hey, why are you back? What about the gate?"
"What else am I supposed to do after the shift change..." The guard glanced at the approaching ninja, instantly snapping awake. He pointed incredulously. "You... how are you here?"
"Ugh, don't ask. Fell into the latrine. Had to go home and change clothes. That's why I'm late," the other said, grimacing at the imagined smell.
"No, no... someone else just took over my shift. He looked exactly like you." Cold sweat broke out on the guard's forehead. He didn't even wait for further explanation, turning and running back towards the village gate.
Sure enough, the village gate stood wide open.
"Spy! There's a spy!" the guard shouted.
At some point, a layer of white spores had appeared on his body, rapidly multiplying.
He tried to brush them off, only to find his hand also becoming enveloped.
The spores quickly "proliferated," soon covering his entire body.
He tried to scream, but his mouth was blocked. The fate of the ninja who had approached him was the same; he too was soon engulfed by the spores.
Zetsu stood atop the wall, watching as more and more people were wrapped in spores, a smile spreading across his face. He turned his head to look towards the outer wall.
"I've opened the gate for you. Don't waste my goodwill..."
***
Makoto waited patiently for the scouts to return with news. An hour passed, but the scouts still hadn't come back.
"Boss, it's been over two hours already. Why haven't those guys returned?" someone asked, unable to contain their impatience.
"Bullshit, it's only been an hour," another person corrected.
"Me, bullshit? Unless time's stretching, it's definitely been two hours."
He swore that the usual two hours had never felt this long.
Makoto had no interest in debating the passage of time with them.
Whether they waited one hour or two had no impact on their operation. As long as the inner gate could be opened, they could begin. As for the outer wall...
While their squad waited, the other squad had already begun scaling the mountain slopes on either side.
The outer wall was easy to bypass; one just had to go around it via the mountainsides.
Of course, they'd have to be careful of traps. Their opponents were capable of anything.
"Stop arguing. Do you want to attract attention?" Makoto asked.
"..."
The two men looked at each other and immediately shut their mouths.
They knew loud conversation risked drawing Kirigakure's notice, but this was the only way they could manage their inner tension and panic.
It was an unfortunate necessity.
Just then, a commotion erupted from ahead.
Makoto frowned. "What's going on?"
No one answered.
Just as she was about to ask again, the scout came stumbling back, shouting, "B-boss! Up ahead..."
"What's happening up ahead?"
"They're fighting! The outer gate and the inner gate are both open!"
Makoto's eyebrows shot up.
Strangely enough, the anxiety and panic she felt moments ago vanished completely upon hearing the village gates were open. Instead, her hands began to tremble.
Not from fear, but from excitement.
A steady, surging conviction welled up from her core.
"Hōzuki Mangetsu... I never thought you'd actually manage to open Kirigakure's gates! I underestimated you... Everyone, assemble!"
The previously silent squad immediately began to gather, readying themselves.
Makoto raised her arm high, about to give the order, when two figures emerged from the depths of the forest.
One of them, seeing Makoto and the squad, exclaimed in surprise, "Whoa, quite a crowd..."
"Talk less. We're in a hurry."
"In a hurry for what!? Let's just ask them."
Makoto frowned, staring at the two men before her.
One was hidden in the darkness, his form unclear. The other was more conspicuous—a massive, multi-sectioned scythe rested on his shoulder.
"Who are you?" Makoto demanded.
"Asking me without introducing yourself first? That's rude," the man with the scythe retorted.
Makoto had no patience for this person. She turned back to continue directing her squad.
"Wait, alright, fine. I don't really care who you are. I just need directions."
"Directions to where?" Makoto asked, puzzled.
"We're lost. Our destination is Kirigakure. Do you know where that village is?"
The moment he finished speaking, almost every member of the rebel squad turned their eyes towards him.
"Whoa. Kakuzu, did I say something I shouldn't have?"
"No. It seems their destination is also Kirigakure. Hidan," Kakuzu stepped out from behind Hidan. "We seem to have stumbled upon something quite interesting."
"So, what do we do?" Hidan asked.
"Kill them," Kakuzu said with a grin.
Makoto had heard their conversation but didn't want any complications. "Who are you? Are you with Kirigakure?"
"With Kirigakure? No, no, no," Hidan waved his hand. "We have no connection with Kirigakure. However, we received a mission to go to Kirigakure and eliminate some people. If I'm not mistaken, you're probably on that list."
"You're with the Mizukage?" Makoto's alertness heightened.
"The Mizukage? Let me put it this way: he's also on our list to eliminate. Oops, did I say too much?" Hidan looked at Kakuzu.
"You did that on purpose, didn't you?" Kakuzu asked.
"Ah well, said is said. So, shall we finish them off?" Hidan grinned.
"You little punk, who do you think you're talking to!" A large man brandished his ninjatō and charged at Hidan.
Hidan swung his scythe, cleaving the man in two.
Blood sprayed across Hidan's face. He resisted the urge to lick it, looking instead at Makoto. "Next... it's your turn."