After the Fire Daimyo reached out to the daimyos of the Land of Earth and the Land of Wind, their responses were fast and enthusiastic.
These two nations had long harbored deep grudges against Konoha.
The Third Kazekage of Sunagakure had been killed by Konoha's Hanyu Simu.
Iwagakure's two tailed beasts had been taken and were now Simu's Summoning Beasts.
And now, the Fire Daimyo had abandoned border defenses, practically inviting invasion by tearing open the walls himself.
How could they not seize this opportunity?
Especially with the Fire Daimyo himself acting as an inside agent.
If they could weaken Konoha in the process—even better.
And if they managed to killed Konoha's Yellow Flash? That would be the perfect outcome.
With this in mind, the two nations once again marched to war.
...…
A Small Town in the Land of Rain
Amidst the ruins, a settlement had risen—Akatsuki.
Due to the Land of Rain's constant storms, massive drainage pipes stretched across the town, guiding the endless downpour.
The sky remained a perpetual gray, and the ceaseless drizzle seeped into the land like a lingering disease.
The constant rain had a devastating impact on the Land of Rain's food production, making it heavily dependent on imports.
This reliance became a major weakness during times of war.
During Ninja World Wars, control over the Land of Rain's food supply was in the hands of foreign nations.
As the war dragged on, the economic burden on the Land of Rain kept growing, pushing the people to the brink of starvation and unrest.
On the Rooftop of the Tallest Building
A woman with light blue hair stood silently, looking at the rain-soaked town below.
In her hands, sheets of pure white paper folded into a paper umbrella, shielding her from the falling rain.
Suddenly, a paper crane fluttered through the wet air and landed gently on her palm.
As she unfolded it, Konan's expression darkened.
"Sunagakure has deployed 6,000 ninjas to the Land of Rain."
"Iwagakure has sent 5,000 more, and their demolition troops are expected to take part in this battle."
Standing beside her was a tall man with long red hair—
Uzumaki Nagato.
The one Jiraiya had called the Child of Prophecy.
Hearing Konan's report, Nagato expression grew tense.
"Why did Iwagakure and Sunagakure suddenly invade?"
The Land of Rain was small, but among minor nations, it was one of the strongest, second only to the Five Great Nations.
More importantly, Hanzō of the Salamander, known as a demigod, was still alive. His presence alone was a deterrent to the major nation.
Logically, neither the Iwagakure nor the Sunagakure would rashly attack the Land of Rain.
Konan answered calmly:
"It's said that the Fire Country opened its borders to invite their support in suppressing a revolutionary group called Freedom Fighter."
Before she could finish, a figure dashed out of the room.
Yahiko, his bright yellow hair slightly damp, waved enthusiastically, holding a few roasted sweet potatoes in his hands.
"Konan! Nagato! Stop standing in the rain—come inside and eat!"
Konan and Nagato exchanged glances, then stepped into the small, dimly lit housing area.
"Here, try it! It's really good."
With a grin, Yahiko tore open a sweet potato, revealing its soft, steaming orange flesh.
Konan and Nagato took one each, their hands warming from the heat.
At this time, Yahiko was nominally the leader of the Akatsuki organization.
As their influence grew, Akatsuki became widely known throughout the Land of Rain—so much so that it even caught the attention of Hanzō of the Salamander.
Yet, despite his title, Yahiko still looked like a half-grown child—idealistic, full of dreams, and as naive as a prince.
Konan took a bite of her sweet potato and said calmly:
"Yahiko, the armies of Iwagakure and Sunagakure have entered the Land of Rain."
"What?!"
Yahiko's body tensed up instantly.
"Are they planning to go to war with the Land of Rain?"
Konan shook her head and explained the recent events in the Land of Fire.
After hearing everything, Yahiko sat cross-legged on the ground, deep in thought.
"From what you're saying, it sounds like the Freedom Fighter in the Land of Fire aren't bad people. Their cause feels a lot like ours."
"The nobles in our Land of Rain are just leeches, feeding off the people. If we ever get the chance, we should arrest them—just like the Freedom Fighter did—and put them on trial..."
Yahiko scratched his head, struggling to remember the right term.
In the end, it was Nagato who supplied the answer:
"Labor reform."
Yahiko slapped his thigh. "Yes! That's it—reform through labor!"
It had been years since the Akatsuki organization was founded, and even the once naïve Yahiko had come to understand just how corrupt the nobles were throughout the Land of Rain.
The nobles of the Land of Fire were even worse.
After the Second Ninja World War, the Land of Rain aligned itself with the victorious Land of Fire.
In an effort to maintain their relationship with Konoha, the nobles of the Land of Rain constantly sent tributes, further draining the country's resources.
This only worsened the situation for ordinary people.
That's why Yahiko was as excited as if he had found an organization when he heard the news of the Freedom Fighter.
"Konan, is there anything we can do to stop this war?" Yahiko asked.
To be honest, he didn't want to see the Freedom Fighter wiped out.
Konan shook her head. "Sunagakure and Iwagakure have sent over 10,000 ninjas. Even if we unite all the forces in the Land of Rain, we wouldn't stand a chance—let alone a small organization like ours."
Yahiko sighed. "Makes sense."
Still, he wasn't ready to give up. A thought struck him.
"What if we ask Lord Hanzo to intervene?"
Konan and Nagato exchanged a look, both seeing the hesitation in each other's eyes.
Konan spoke carefully. "Yahiko, we still don't know where Lord Hanzo stands when it comes to us. If we approach him recklessly…"
Yahiko caught her meaning.
"But didn't we establish this organization with his support?"
Konan hesitated, struggling to find the right words. "That was then… Things are different now."
That was just the kind of person Yahiko was.
His greatest strength lay in his charisma—his ability to attract others, gain their trust, and inspire them to follow him.
But his flaws were just as obvious. He lacked political awareness, trusted too easily, and was vulnerable to deception.
If not for Nagato and Konan by his side, he would have been betrayed countless times by now.
"No matter what, we have to try to ease tensions. We can't let the war drag on." Yahiko's eyes flashed with determination.
His ninja way was simple—to end war and bring peace to the Land of Rain.
And slowly, Akatsuki was walking that path.
While Yahiko and his companions were grappling with their dilemma, Simu had already arrived at Amegakure…
Though the Land of Rain was technically independent, in reality, it had become a vassal state of the Land of Fire.
On the surface, the Land of Rain remained independent.
Because of this, Konoha didn't station troops directly in Amegakure. Instead, they were camped a few kilometers away in the surrounding forests.
Only Simu and a few of his lieutenants had entered the village.
Shikaku had stayed behind to oversee operations elsewhere, so this time, Simu's adjutant was Aburame Shibi—a member of the Aburame clan and the future father of Aburame Shino.
He had been in the same class as Simu back in their academy days.
"The weather here is miserable," Simu muttered, shaking off the rain from his boots.
Draped in a black raincoat, he couldn't help but compare it to the Land of Fire.
Unlike the constant downpour in the Land of Rain, Fire Country was practically paradise—mild seasons, balanced rainfall, lush forests, and fertile lands where crops grew effortlessly.
The difference was like night and day.
As they traveled, Simu lost count of how many rundown villages they passed.
"Simu, this is the Land of Rain. You should watch what you say," Aburame Shibi cautioned.
Being in a foreign country, careless words could easily be misinterpreted, which might lead to unnecessary trouble.
Shibi, also wearing a raincoat, adjusted his small round sunglasses. His pale face remained indifferent, as usual.
Simu waved dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I get it."
The moment they stepped into Amegakure, several figures appeared to greet them.
At the front stood a man named Ishida Muramaro.
"You must be Simu and Shibi?"
"That's right," Aburame Shibi responded, stepping forward.
If Simu started talking, who knows what kind of trouble he'd stir up.
He simply scratched his head, unconcerned.
After confirming their identities, Ishida Muramaro smiled warmly and said, "Simu-sama, Hanzo-sama has been expecting you."
Simu raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Then let's not keep him waiting. I've long admired the so-called demigod of Amegakure."
Despite his words, Ishida Muramaro noticed that Simu showed no hint of reverence.
This was unusual. Most visitors, even hardened ninjas, displayed at least some unease when meeting Hanzo.
Ishida quickly looked away, keeping his polite smile intact.
"Please, come in."
Led by Ishida Muramaro, Simu and Aburame Shibi soon arrived at Hanzo's office.
There, they met the legendary Hanzō of the Salamander, the so-called demigod of Amegakure.
Despite his age, Hanzo remained as cautious as ever. His body was encased in thick armor, and a gas mask concealed most of his face—only his sharp yet cloudy eyes were visible.
"Hanyu Simu? I've heard much about you. A true rising star." Hanzo's voice was steady, carrying the weight of experience.
Simu smiled. "You're too kind, Hanzo-sama. I've admired your feats since childhood."
Hanzo studied the young man before him and sighed inwardly.
The battlefield had once been filled with formidable warriors. Now, in the blink of an eye, their apprentices had stepped into the spotlight.
But this one... Simu was far more than just another rising ninja.
.
.
TO BE CONTINUED
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