CH - 59 Enemy is here!
I am grateful to ABDI ALI and Sukhman Singh for becoming a patron on my Patreon. Thank you for your support as they enable me to continue creating and providing valuable content.
-------------------------------------------------------
Meanwhile, in Amegakure...
As Akihiko and his group suspected, news of the unusual recruitment activities in the Rain Country had reached the Village Hidden in the Rain.
Hanzo, donning a serious expression beneath his mask, examined the intelligence report in his hand, his brow furrowing with concern. "Do we have any information regarding their intentions in the Land of Rain?"
"Leader, it appears that they are genuinely seeking to recruit workers, and their offered benefits are quite enticing," the Rain shinobi responsible for the intelligence mission replied.
"Genuinely recruiting workers, huh?" Hanzo's eyebrow twitched, his skepticism evident. He maintained his composure and asked calmly, "Have we gathered any additional details about them?" As soon as he finished speaking...
"Not yet, Leader," the Rain ninja beside him shook his head and continued respectfully, "However, we have confirmed that they are indeed skilled shinobi. Two of them possess a unique ninjutsu style that revolves around manipulating paper as a medium for their techniques. They refer to it as Paper Style."
"Paper Style..." Hanzo nodded, contemplating the information. The report had also mentioned this peculiar ninjutsu, but what intrigued him was the fact that this particular style remained unaffected by water. He had not come across any shinobi clan or individuals within the Five Great Shinobi Villages who possessed such a distinctive bloodline or technique.
As Hanzo pondered over the received information - one adult and three children, he couldn't help but wonder which ninja team from which village had ventured to the Land of Rain for a mission. The purpose behind their recruitment of such a large number of ordinary people remained a mystery. The notion of human experimentation crossed his mind, but he dismissed it as absurd. Such unethical practices were unthinkable for any nation, including their neighboring Village Hidden in the Grass.
Hanzo chuckled at the idea that the Village Hidden in the Grass could be recruiting due to a population shortage. The Land of Grass was known for its exclusivity, even surpassing the Five Great Shinobi Villages in that regard. Besides, that weaker nation, inferior to the Land of Rain, was likely more preoccupied with strategizing their next alliance than recruiting individuals from abroad.
The Land of Grass had posed a threat during the Second Great Ninja War, and a chilling smirk formed on Hanzo's face as he reminisced about it. However, the smirk soon faded, and a wry smile took its place beneath his gas mask.
Initially, Hanzo had intended to settle the score with Kusagakure after the war, but the current situation in Amegakure left no room for such trivial matters. The conclusion of the Second Great Ninja War had shattered the confidence of the Land of Rain, and discontent permeated throughout the country, causing chaos to reign.
Reflecting on the past, Hanzo remembered the determination he once possessed, believing that the Shinobi God was deceased and that a demi-god should rise in his place. Fueled by this conviction, he had declared war on the three nations directly, aiming to elevate the Village Hidden in the Rain to the status of the sixth great shinobi village through sheer strength.
However, victory eluded them, and the war reached a stalemate, resulting in their ultimate defeat. Since then, the Land of Rain had been plunged into endless turmoil. Yet, despite the circumstances...
"Continue the investigation. We must ascertain the village these shinobi belong to... No, forget it" Hanzo's expression grew serious as he paused for a moment, and after a brief second, he let out a long sigh.
"If there is no immediate threat, bring them all here!" Those words escaped his lips, but with each passing moment, he felt his previous strength drain away. He realized that the Land of Rain could no longer afford to be embroiled in another war.
Regardless of which village these shinobi hailed from, for the sake of internal peace within the Land of Rain, negotiations with the Fire, Wind, and Earth Nations were necessary to ensure that their land would not become a battlefield once again.
Thus, in order to achieve this crucial goal, Hanzo understood that he now had to make compromises with the three great nations...
…
The following day, the sky remained overcast, but no rain fell. Interestingly, there had been a shortage of rain in the Land of Rain lately, with only occasional light drizzles. Nevertheless, the weather was pleasant and conducive to the evacuation process.
The workers who had successfully passed the interviews had all arrived, carrying only minimal belongings. They seemed to have taken Akihiko's warnings seriously, fearing that any disobedience might lead to expulsion at the hands of the ninja himself.
Surveying the gathering of workers before him, Akihiko's eyes reflected kindness as he also looked at the three children standing beside him, trying to portray the image of a mentor.
However, the children felt unsettled by his smile, wondering if there was another task for them to undertake. Although they knew Akihiko-sensei didn't hesitate to seek their help when needed, they couldn't help but feel a sense of unease.
After a moment of hesitation, one of the children finally mustered the courage to ask, "Akihiko-sensei, is there something you need us to do?"
With his smile still present, Akihiko gently patted each of their heads and replied, "Nothing."
The children became speechless, their thoughts racing, 'This doesn't feels like nothing!'
Before they could further inquire, Akihiko, still wearing his gentle expression, asked, "Do you remember the survival knowledge I taught you?"
They nodded in unison and responded, "If you can't win, run. If you can win, attack."
"What else?" Akihiko nodded and prodded for more.
"You must understand the dangers of the ninja world. When you see someone fall, don't rush to help them directly; throw a shuriken first, preferably with an explosive tag attached," one of them answered after a moment of contemplation.
"What else?" Akihiko continued nodding, prompting them to recall more.
"Never raise a flag!" They engaged in a question-and-answer session with Akihiko, easily reciting the knowledge points they had diligently memorized. Satisfied with their responses, Akihiko nodded approvingly and said, "Very good!"
"Um... Akihiko-sensei, are you sure there's nothing else for us to do? If there is, please tell us. We will complete the mission diligently," Nagato sensed that something was amiss and hurriedly asked.
"That's right! Once we return, we'll write the six-thousand-word reflections as promised," Yahiko chimed in, also sensing that there might be more to the situation.
"Akihiko-nii~" Konan called out to Akihiko innocently.
"It's alright! It's alright! There's nothing else for you to do. Well..." Akihiko shook his head with a smile, then shifted his attention back to the assembled workers before him. He raised his hand grandly and exclaimed with enthusiasm, "Now, let's go!"
Upon hearing Akihiko's words, a wave of surprise rippled through the crowd. They looked at the adult who had conducted their interviews, who now led the way, and quickly formed groups of ten people as initially instructed, following closely behind.
As to their destination and purpose, they remained uncertain. However, those who chose to join and leave this place were already at their wit's end. Rather than staying here, passively awaiting their fate, it seemed wiser to place their trust in this ninja.
With heads held high, they gazed at the figure before them, then at the three children who wore genuine smiles. In the past few days, they had heard rumors that these children were once ordinary individuals or orphans from the Land of Rain. But after being taken under the wing of the adult, they were no longer hungry and had transformed into formidable ninjas.
While they couldn't confirm the truth of these rumors, the sincerity behind the smiles couldn't be denied. And so, they made the choice to follow. Perhaps... just perhaps, the rumors held some truth?
All eyes remained fixated on Akihiko's figure, and even the children clung tightly to their parents' clothes, their eyes shimmering with a glimmer of hope.
That glimmer represented their yearning for a brighter future...
…
As the group continued marching under Akihiko's guidance, they pressed on relentlessly, without pausing for rest. Their determination and perseverance fueled their progress. The weather in the Land of Rain remained favorable, with gentle sunshine that wasn't too hot or exhausting. The only unbearable aspect was their persistent hunger, but after years of enduring such hardships, they had grown accustomed to it.
With unwavering resolve, everyone trudged forward. The distance from their current location to the border of the Land of Grass wasn't too great, especially since Akihiko had deliberately chosen a nearby route for a swift return. They estimated that they could reach the border in approximately a day, perhaps even faster if the group size was smaller.
However, they had lost track of time, and signs of fatigue began to manifest among many of them.
Suddenly, Akihiko's expression shifted, sensing something amiss. He swiftly made his way to the rear of the group, lowering his voice as he spoke, "The enemy is approaching!"
The three children promptly reacted, exchanging glances as they realized that the shinobi from the Village Hidden in the Rain had indeed pursued them and even already located them.
They cast a quick glance at the migrating group before following their teacher to the back. Relief washed over them when they saw that only six Rain Ninjas had arrived. They pondered the situation for a moment, realizing that the Rain Ninja didn't seem to be giving them too much attention, which made sense considering an only adult ninja accompanied by three children. Nevertheless, it was surprising that their presence alone had drawn the deployment of six elite Jonin.
Of course, their assumption was based on the possibility that the Rain Ninja hadn't encountered Akihiko-sensei before. According to Uncle Mubuki (Father), Akihiko-sensei possessed immense power, having faced double-digit elite Jonin alone in the past without sustaining any injuries.
During their rigorous training, the three children had come to recognize Akihiko's superior strength, surpassing even that of elite Jonin. Consequently, without any hesitation, despite not having officially graduated, they had already absorbed everything they needed under Akihiko-sensei's guidance over the years. They could have applied for graduation long ago, but Akihiko-sensei had insisted they wait.
He had explained that the schools in the Land of Grass not only honed the skills of ninja but also instilled important values, and graduating too early could undermine that development.
Therefore, although it was their first encounter with an enemy, they felt no fear. As children who had witnessed the horrors of war, they had already seen what needed to be seen. With their teacher's unwavering support and guidance, how could they possibly be afraid?
"Akihiko-sensei, let's hurry-" The three children charged forward, ready to confront the approaching Rain Ninja. They shouted back to Akihiko-sensei, urging him to hurry alongside them. However, before they could finish their sentence, a deep voice resonated through the air.
"Paper Release: Seven Fold Paper Wall Technique."
In the bewildered eyes of the children, a massive wall made of paper suddenly materialized around them, swiftly separating them from the rest of the group. The unexpected barrier left them in a state of shock and confusion. Their voices were drowned out by the sound of the wall's formation.
Amidst their bewilderment, a gentle laughter echoed from the other side of the paper wall, unmistakably Akihiko's voice. His words stirred a mix of emotions within the young ones. "I'm counting on you! The teacher believes in you, so stay alive~"
The three children stood in a bewildered state, their minds grappling to comprehend the strange turn of events.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
.
.
.
You can read +5 chapters ahead of everyone on my Patreon
p@treon.com/Kaiszer
(replace ' @ ' with ' a ' for the link)