Chapter 268:
A small-scale skirmish had just taken place along the border of the Land of Sound.
This battle was caused by tensions with its neighboring country, the Land of Forests.
The friction between the two countries had been brewing for quite some time. The specific cause of their conflict remained unclear, but Yahiko had previously tried to mediate the situation and negotiate with the Land of Forests' leadership.
However, the results were far from ideal. The other side had refused to even entertain a discussion, ignoring every attempt at diplomacy.
Now, Yahiko had little patience left for the disputes between the two nations.
As the ninja from the Land of Forests retreated, Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan didn't bother to pursue them. Instead, following Yahiko's signal, the trio shifted their focus to the mysterious group of ninja nearby, the clones.
Draped in cloaks and masks, the clones moved with mechanical precision. Without a word, they began to dispose of their fallen companions, tossing the bodies into a pit created by an Earth Release technique. They quickly piled dry wood on top of the corpses and set it ablaze with Fire Release ninjutsu.
The act of burning the bodies wasn't the most striking thing, it was the complete lack of emotion on their part.
When their comrades fell, there were no tears, no regrets, not even a murmur of acknowledgment.