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-Anil Singh
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Inside the Land of Rain.
"Boom!"
A bolt of lightning suddenly flashed across the sky, accompanied by a deafening roar of thunder and a brief flash of bright light.
The sky was overcast, and a terrifying storm suddenly struck, as if trying to wash away the gloom from the land.
Within the Konoha base.
In a secluded tent, guarded by two Konoha ninjas whose expressions revealed their current discontent, they occasionally glanced towards the tent, seemingly exuding an air of disgust.
Inside the tent, a pale one-armed man sat in a corner with a vacant look in his eyes, his lips dry as if he hadn't had water for a long time.
Listening to the fierce thunder outside, his listless gaze slowly gained a hint of expression. He turned his head slowly, his lips moving slightly, and spoke in a hoarse voice.
"It's... raining again..."
"Is heaven... condemning me, a sinner...."
Images flashed before his eyes, scenes that filled him with fear and guilt.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"No, Captain Sakumo... If I must say something, it's that I wish to have Ichiraku Ramen with you and the others again... I've never appreciated it before...."
"What about you, Tomo and Maji?"
"Us? Just like joa, if there's a chance... we'd like to have Ichiraku Ramen with you again, that would be enough..."
"Let's go... complete this mission... If there's a chance... Captain, please take us for Ichiraku Ramen again...."
"Go back.... cough cough... Captain Sakumo... if you don't leave now... there won't be another chance...."
In Sakumo's mind, the horrifying scenes seemed to replay.
Faced with the deaths of his teammates, Sakumo's eyes were bloodshot, but his expression was blank, as if he were on the verge of breaking down.
Suddenly, at that moment!
"Boom!"
A terrifying thunderclap, as if collapsing the sky, startled the two Konoha ninjas guarding outside.
Inside the tent, Sakumo was jolted by the thunder, seemingly awakening from his stupor.
"Whoosh..."
He fell to his knees, gasping for air like a fish out of water, appearing quite eerie.
It took a while before he regained some composure, his mind seemingly awakening from his previous listlessness.
"What went wrong with this matter..."
Sakumo knelt on the ground, supporting his body with his remaining arm, his head bowed, and spoke hoarsely.
"Perhaps... I should seek the answer..."
...
At another location in the Konoha base.
Tsunade was still immersed in immense grief, having lost the vivaciousness typical of a young woman. She spent her days hiding in her tent, drinking away her sorrows, trying to forget the sadness of reality.
Orochimaru, known for his calm and rational demeanor, took command of the camp, especially after Sōsuke's sacrifice, temporarily assuming the role of overall commander.
Jiraiya had returned a while ago.
Seeing Tsunade in such a state, he felt incredibly saddened, but he couldn't bring himself to criticize her actions.
How could he tell her not to be so despondent, not to grieve so much, to be strong?
Her brother had died...
And Sōsuke, with whom she had nearly confirmed a relationship, also died...
The consecutive heavy blows had made it impossible for Tsunade to face the harsh reality anymore, and Jiraiya couldn't bear to force her to put on a brave face at such a time.
"Rustle..."
With a faint sound, a tent flap opened, and Jiraiya, soaked, slowly walked into the tent.
Outside, a fierce downpour was raging, while inside the tent, soft cries could be heard.
Smelling the strong scent of alcohol inside the tent, Jiraiya frowned slightly.
He saw the tent littered with scattered bottles, and Tsunade, lying on the table with her eyes red and swollen like peaches, crying to herself.
After crying until she was exhausted, she looked dazedly ahead, reached for a bottle with her fair hand, lifted it, and took a big gulp of the strong liquor.
"Mmm.... Ah... There's nothing like alcohol..."
After drinking, she murmured softly, feeling it wasn't enough and reaching for another drink.
Seeing this, Jiraiya frowned, stepped forward, and took the bottle from her hand.
At this moment, the tipsy Tsunade had no strength to resist, just staring at him with swollen, reddened eyes.
First, she belched, then scolded with a delicate voice.
"Is that you, Jiraiya!? You bastard! Give me back my drink!"
Jiraiya spoke sternly in response.
"Enough, Tsunade, continuing like this will only harm your body!"
Hearing his words, Tsunade's eyes filled with tears again, crying and scolding without concern for her image.
"So what if it does, give me the drink! What does my state have to do with you!"
Jiraiya remained silent.
Seeing him unmoved, Tsunade's face showed a hint of anger. She tried to stand up to punch him, but as soon as she got up, her drunk body fell to the ground.
She lay there dazed, suddenly pouting her lips, crying with grief, and whispered softly.
"It's... all my fault... If I weren't so weak... Sōsuke wouldn't have... sob... It's all my fault...."
Hearing her words, Jiraiya's eyes darkened.
He gently walked over, helped Tsunade up, and softly said, "You should know... Sōsuke... wouldn't want to see you like this..."
"Even for his sake... pull yourself together, Tsunade..."
After speaking, he gently laid Tsunade down to rest and watched as she slowly drifted into a drunken sleep before quietly leaving the tent.
Stepping outside the tent.
Once again drenched by the cold rain, he gradually regained his senses.
Thinking of Sakumo, who was still under custody, his eyes darkened slightly, and then he slowly made his way toward that tent.