Chapter 5: Veil of Betrayal

The Land of Water, one of the five great powers of the Ninja Realm, held a significant status in the entire ninja world. The other four countries in the Five Powers were the Land of Thunder, the Land of Earth, the Land of Wind, and the most powerful of all, the Fire Country.

These five powers were renowned for their vast lands, abundant resources, and formidable military strength that few could rival. Each country's military might was a reflection of the strength of its ninja. They boasted a rich heritage of diverse ninjutsu, secret arts, and numerous bloodline limits, fostering exceptional ninjas.

Among these nations, the Konoha Ninja Village in the Land of Fire stood out the most. Throughout its history, it had produced a succession of strong individuals, from Uchiha Madara, the Senju Pillars, and Senjutsu users like Jiraiya, to White Fang, the Legendary Sannin, and the Yellow Flash. It was no wonder that the victors of the previous three ninja wars had all been from Konoha.

This was an era filled with geniuses and powerful individuals, a time of remarkable feats and ruthless realities. The rise of a winner meant the fall of a loser, and every strong individual was born from the sacrifices of the weak.

Several years had passed since the Third Ninja War, and the world had gradually returned to a state of peace. Each ninja village was silently recovering and regrouping for the next inevitable war.

The Land of Water was unique among the Five Powers as it was a closed country, situated on an isolated island overseas. It was challenging for other countries to launch large-scale attacks against it. Thus, even during the Third Ninja War, the Land of Water suffered the least losses compared to the other nations.

However, the Land of Water's strength was still relatively weak. The main losses it endured were from internal conflicts and civil wars, which drained the country's power. During the Third Ninja War, Mist Hidden Village, a major village in the Land of Water, didn't send too many ninjas to participate. In recent years, Mist Hidden Village had implemented a policy that erased bloodline limits, persecuted meritorious elders, and adopted a brutal selection and advancement system. As a result, it gained the nickname "Blood Mist Village" due to its brutal practices.

Due to these reasons, many talented ninjas defected from Mist Hidden Village, and internal rebellions were frequent. To prevent infiltration from other villages, the country became even more isolated, shrouding itself in a mysterious veil. Gathering intelligence from the Land of Water was extremely challenging.

Amidst this isolated nation, on a green meadow in the back mountains, stood a young man in black short sleeves. Though short in stature, he emanated a presence like a mountain. His long black hair reached his neck, and his bangs partially covered his right eye. With closed eyes, he seemed to be preparing for something.

A gentle breeze blew, lifting the hair covering his right eye, and he suddenly opened his eyes. Three black tomoe rotated within his scarlet Sharingan, giving it a mysterious and compelling appearance.

With a swift motion, the young man disappeared from his spot, reappearing on a tall tree. His right foot landed on the trunk, and once again, he vanished, this time appearing high in the sky. Six kunai appeared in his hands, three on each side, and he swiftly launched them.

"Ding!" Sparks flew as the kunai collided in mid-air. The young man then landed gracefully, and his three-tomoe Sharingan reactivated. The kunai he had thrown earlier hit their intended targets accurately, even the ones hidden behind obstacles.

This young man was none other than Miao, who was now almost eight years old. His chakra capacity far exceeded that of an average lower-ranked shinobi, nearing that of a middle-ranked one. This was thanks to his bloodlines from both the Uchiha and Uzumaki clans. The Uzumaki clan, renowned for its immense chakra and vitality, had significantly influenced his power.

Although the Uchiha clan was famous for the Sharingan, being adept at genjutsu and fire-style jutsu, their chakra reserves were far superior to ordinary ninjas. Bloodline limit clans typically possessed larger chakra capacities than regular ninjas of the same rank.

As Miao finished his exercise, a sinking feeling filled his heart as he recalled the secret his father had revealed about the chakra eyes. The burden of this knowledge weighed heavily on him.