[center][h3]Arc 1: The White Mask | Chapter 1: A Flame Casts a Shadow[/h3][/center]
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Regaining consciousness, Inotsu Yamanaka opened his eyes only to be greeted by a horrific sight: Fuyuha Village engulfed in flames. Everywhere he looked, all Inotsu could see are collapsed buildings and the corpses of dead shinobi; some of them were his comrades from Konohagakure. He only hopes that the women and children were evacuated successfully. To either side of Inotsu are his ANBU teammates - unconscious but not dead fortunately. On the ground immediately next to him is his ANBU mask which has shattered into numerous pieces. Inotsu tried uttering a few words to his teammates but only managed a light cough. Dried blood caked the area surrounding his mouth. Finally, his teammates gradually regained their consciousness too.

[b]"Ahh... So you've all finally awakened,"[/b] a deep, distorted voice emanated from above the ANBU operatives. Inotsu looked up to the sky to see a familiar floating figure. Dressed in a hooded black cloak along with a featureless white ANBU mask is the team's target known simply by the epithet: White Mask. The masked man turned to face the wounded ANBU team and stretched his arms out. [b]"Beautiful isn't it? This is my vision... My vision for Konoha."[/b]

Inotsu struggled but finally got back up onto his feet using the wall behind him for support. [color=2cb673]"Y-You... You've killed everyone..."[/color] Inotsu uttered.

[b]"Not everyone... Not yet..."[/b] White Mask turned around to admire his handiwork: the destroyed Fuyuha Village. [b]"Most of the villagers are safe. Your fellow Leaf shinobi saw to that. Besides, I've no interest in killing them. I did, however, took away their homes - their livelihood,"[/b] White Mask turned back to the ANBU team once more, [b]"I believe that is a much crueler punishment—"[/b] White Mask was interrupted by a kunai flying directly towards him. However, before the kunai even reached him, it circled back around and came flying into Inotsu's right shoulder. Disciplined in resisting pain, Inotsu merely gritted his teeth as a result of the kunai embedding itself in his shoulder.

[b]"Tsk, tsk, tsk... I'm afraid that's wasted effort on your part."[/b]

Inotsu's chakra is spent. He can't afford to use any ninjutsu techniques without the guarantee of it hitting its mark. He can't even sustain his telepathic communication with his teammates any longer. It looks like he won't be of much use in this fight. Grabbing hold of the kunai impaled in his shoulder, Inotsu forcibly removed it and tossed it to the ground. Then, using his headband, he fashioned a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding. He turned to his teammates. [color=2cb673]"Sorry... It seems that I'm a terrible squad leader after all,"[/color] he said with a weak smile.

Forming a one-handed hand sign, White Mask summoned four Shadow Clones of himself and they descended onto the ground below; each of them are equipped with a kunai. [b]"The life of most ANBU are typically short and fruitless. You live and die for your village and yet your names will be forgotten from the moment you die. To history: it's like you were never born to begin with. Such a meaningless existence. Tell me: was it worth it?"[/b] The White Mask's clones approached the group. In their weakened state, it looks like the fate of the ANBU operatives are sealed...

[center]-Six Months Earlier-[/center]

Inotsu awakened to a cool breeze and the scent of spring flowers. It seems he had inadvertently fallen asleep in the meadow that he frequently visits near Konohagakure. Under the shade of a great tree, Inotsu slept into the afternoon. Fortunately for him, there were no missions assigned to him today. Getting up onto his feet, Inotsu looked at the trunk of the tree, specifically focusing on a carving of the word "Ino-Shika-Cho". He has fond memories of visiting this place as a child with his Genin teammates and here, on this tree, they carved a reminder of their friendship. Inotsu couldn't help but smile at those memories. Then, he noticed on the ground were a pair of earrings - his own pair given to him by his sensei; they've must've fallen out of his pocket. Picking them up, Inotsu tossed them into the air and caught them as they descended before placing them back in his pocket. It's time to return to Konoha.