The Crying Country

The Land of Rain, due to its terrible terrain and the unnatural climate of the shinobi world, experiences rain all year round.

This country seems like the forsaken child of the Sage of Six Paths; no one can hear its cries.

The never-ending rain has stripped this land of its vitality. Swamps and wetlands cover the land, preventing any crops or economic plants from thriving.

The buildings are rusty, with only a few specially treated high-rises maintaining their structural integrity. Industrial equipment is out of the question; no metal creation can withstand the relentless humidity and rain.

This is a human hell of slow death, devoid of hope. The Land of Rain survives on massive imports, relying on the Land of Fire for food, industrial products, and daily necessities.

The shinobi here can only consume the leftovers of Konoha and the Sand Village, selling their cheap labor for a meager wage.

Commoners are treated like livestock; attempting to escape to the Land of Fire as a civilian is a crime punishable by death.

"This damn shinobi world is truly unbearable," Fuma thought to himself.

In a supernatural world, talking about equality might seem unnecessary. However, it shouldn't be hard for shinobi, who are naturally equipped with superior productivity, to ensure that everyone gets enough to eat.

Unfortunately, the shinobi world's flawed system and the insatiable greed of the nobility have created one human tragedy after another.

After a moment of reflection, Fuma concealed his presence. Thanks to the enhancements from his [Predator's Malice], he was the perfect hunter.

He could emit a burst of bloodlust to lock onto his prey when attacking, or completely hide his presence like a tiger or leopard retracting its claws when lying in wait.

Fuma silently hid in the forest, watching the lifeless village before him, waiting for his target to appear.

"Lord Fuma, target Iga is expected to arrive at area B-302 in five minutes, accompanied by fifteen shinobi. Awaiting your orders."

The wireless communication device in his ear transmitted the request from the ANBU member. Fuma couldn't help but think that the Hokage's technological tree was indeed quite skewed.

"First squad, spread out and keep an eye on the direction of the Rain Village, report any enemy reinforcements."

"Second squad, continue monitoring Iga's movements, sensory ninjas should expand their range."

"I'm heading to the ambush area now. Prepare to commence the operation."

If they could kill Iga quietly and on the spot, all would be well. They could then head to the Land of Bears for a pleasant public-funded trip. If Iga called for reinforcements, bringing his father Hanzo into the fray, it wouldn't be worth the trouble.

Within a few breaths, Fuma had arrived at the ambush area. About two kilometers away, a group of hurried Rain shinobi were approaching quickly.

With vision far beyond ordinary people, Fuma saw the face that looked almost identical to Hanzo's, calculating the distance and waiting for the right moment to strike.

"Action!"

Fuma led the charge. With his speed, ordinary shinobi wouldn't have time to react at close range. Elbow strikes, collapsing punches, side kicks—each move was a simple basic taijutsu action, but accompanied by absolute power and speed, they became the most solid killing tools.

The immense force carried a fierce gust of wind, and the leading Rain shinobi was shattered by a single punch. Blood and broken limbs flew through the air as Fuma passed by.

"Who is it? Scatter! Protect Lord Iga!"

The Rain shinobi saw only a blur and heard a deafening boom as two more comrades turned into red smears on the ground.

Shocked and enraged, they looked at the giant before them. Despite their well-trained nature, they quickly retreated and formed a defensive formation.

Fuma remained silent; who would tell you who they were?

Maintaining high speed, he continued to close in on Iga. Given the Rain shinobi's physical strength, as long as he stayed close, they wouldn't stand a chance.

The slaughter continued, and the dozen or so Rain shinobi all fell to the ground. The never-ending rain washed away their blood, erasing their last traces from the world.

Iga shouted in fear, "Blood Wolf, you damn Konoha scum! The Rain Village will never forgive you!"

"Oh, stop calling me by that embarrassing nickname."

Fuma lunged forward, aiming to complete the mission.

"Water Style: Double Water Formation Wall!"

Iga quickly formed five hand seals, summoning a thick water wall to protect himself.

"Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"

Iga didn't stop his attack. A massive water dragon soared into the sky and roared towards Fuma, displaying a hint of Kage-level power.

The Water Style techniques of the Rain Village were indeed potent in their environment. Fuma's figure flickered; he never feared such large-scale jutsus. With brute force, he easily broke through the water wall.

His legs bent deeply as he gathered power, creating a sonic boom behind him as he collided with the water dragon at terrifying speed.

Years of relentless training in the [Earthly Furnace] ensured Fuma's defense was unparalleled. Such ordinary jutsus didn't even warrant dodging. The massive water dragon shattered instantly under Fuma's impact.

An elbow strike landed on Iga's abdomen, and Fuma's large hand swung down, aiming for his head. Iga spat out blood, his skull caving in. His consciousness blurred, and he lost all control over his body.

"Smart enough to use chakra to protect your vital spots, but it's useless."

Looking at the defeated Iga, Fuma could only sigh. The shinobi world was like this—winners took all.

Fuma lifted Iga, pondering where to strike to leave an intact corpse. It wasn't out of kindness; Iga's status meant he could fetch a good price at the exchange in the Land of Bears.

This guy should be worth around twenty million ryō, right? After all, being in a relationship came with significant expenses, and earning a bit extra was always good.

Fuma gently lifted Iga from the ground, preparing to snap his neck while keeping the body as intact as possible. But Iga's eyes flashed with hatred, and his twisted face pulled into a sinister grin.

"Boom!"

Some secret technique within Iga's body activated, causing him to swell and explode, releasing dark purple smoke.

"Use Wind Style to disperse the smoke immediately, and evacuate as fast as possible. This might be poisonous!"

Fuma instructed the ANBU present. If this smoke was the infamous salamander toxin, they stood no chance against it.

"Captain Fuma, we detect strong chakra signals moving from the Rain Village towards you, likely Hanzo. Should we intercept?"

The ANBU monitoring the Rain Village direction dutifully reported, calmly asking if they should intercept Hanzo.

"No need. All ANBU, retreat. I'll cover the rear."

Fuma felt the numbness spreading in his left arm, squinting at the distant Hanzo. The salamander's poison was indeed formidable.

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