Chapter 1
A merchant caravan made its way along a tranquil forest trail toward the Land of Waves, escorted by a group of Leaf shinobis. Their squad leader vigilantly scanned the dense foliage for any sign of hidden danger. At the same time, the team maintained a careful protective formation around the caravan, aware of unsettling rumours regarding Mujina bandits in the area.
One shinobi in particular, Miyako, kept her focus on the shifting shadows, searching both for potential threats and suitable places to set up camp. As dusk fell, a signal from their seasoned leader, Hanzo, immediately alerted the team. They tensed, prepared to spring into action at the first hint of trouble, mirroring Hanzo’s instinctive sense of impending danger.
The serene silence of the forest was shattered when the notorious Mujina bandits—renowned for their stealth and cunning—launched their sudden assault, and the anguished cries of the caravan members filled the air, shifting the atmosphere dramatically.
Sharing silent glances that acknowledged the looming threat, Miyako and her comrades sprang into action. They quickly formed a defensive barrier around the caravan to allow its members a safe escape, all while the clashing of steel echoed through the woods.
"Miyako, stay alert!" Hanzo’s commanding voice pierced the chaos. For a split second, she was distracted by the sight of caravan members collapsing as yet another group of bandits emerged, but his urgent command pulled her focus back. At that moment, a kunai zipped past, grazing her cheek.
With a firm grip on her kunai, Miyako steadied herself with a deep, calming breath; she knew now was no time for panic. The charged atmosphere amplified every sound as her determination grew. When another kunai came her way, she skillfully deflected it, her heart pounding with every passing second.
In the thick of battle, Miyako engaged one of the attackers, exchanging swift blows while watching for any opening. When the moment came, she landed a powerful kick to his chest, sending him crashing into a nearby tree and knocking him unconscious. At the same time, her teammate Sora took precise aim, launching several kunai that brought down another bandit.
Side by side, Miyako and Sora aligned their backs to fend off the encroaching bandits, defending each other as chaos swirled around them.
Lost in the frenzied conflict, time had become a blur for Miyako, though it was clear they were vastly outnumbered. The toll was severe: many caravan members, including her comrade Rino, lay slain, while Hanzo struggled to hold off several attackers, barely averting further disaster despite sustaining serious injuries. Miyako and Sora fared a little better; at one point, they separated. Miyako had suffered a deep gash to her side from a bandit’s sword during a desperate fight, and Sora was finding it increasingly difficult to remain upright after a barrage of kunai overwhelmed his defences.
Locked in combat with two bandits, Miyako struggled to repel their persistent attacks.. Hanzo was no longer present, having been defeated earlier in the skirmish. Amidst the chaos, she lost sight of Sora as the bandits forced her away from the primary fight and towards a small cliff that overlooked a river. Distracted by one of the bandits, she didn't notice the other preparing a wind-style Jutsu. Unable to dodge in time, Miyako was hit and fell off the cliff into the waters below. The impact of the water rendered her unconscious, and Miyako began to sink into the depths.
Miyako couldn't tell how long she'd been unconscious. When she regained her senses, she found herself on a riverbank in a strange forest. She was injured and drenched, her clothes were torn in multiple places, with some wounds still bleeding. She wondered if anyone else had survived the attack—it felt more like a massacre—as tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly shook her head, realising now wasn't the time for despair. First, she needed to survive, and to do that, Miyako had to find shelter to regain her strength before returning to the village to report the incident to the Hokage.
Miyako mustered her strength to stand up, opened a pocket on her vest to take out a blood pill, and winced at its terrible taste as she swallowed it. Pressing her hand against her injured side to stop some of the bleeding, she decided to follow the river to locate a road or somthing, using the forest's cover for protection. With this plan, she ventured into the woods, leaving a trail of blood behind her as she leaned on the trees for support while following the river.
After walking for some time, Miyako began to falter, her energy waning. She leaned on a tree for support, feeling drained. Her weary eyes searched the surroundings for anything familiar, but found nothing. She closed her eyes, attempting to sense any danger, but fatigue overwhelmed her ability to detect anything. With a sigh, she slid down the tree. It wasn't the safest spot to rest, but she had no other option; her body was completely spent. Her eyes struggled to remain open before finally succumbing to exhaustion, her consciousness slipping away for a moment. Unaware, Miyako didn't see the large creature approaching, its light blue eyes filled with concern as it looked at her.