Ever since entering the Land of Rain, the weather had been a constant downpour.
Tsunade, wrapped in a raincoat, glanced up at the overcast sky through her bamboo hat and grumbled, "It's been years since I was last here, but the Land of Rain is still just as miserable. I don't know how the people here can stand it."
"Tsunade-sama, are you sure we don't need to hide?" Uchiha Sogetsu adjusted his ANBU mask and scanned the surroundings, lowering his voice. "What if we get caught by Hanzo? That could be bad."
The reason they were in the Land of Rain was simple. The final sealing point indicated on the scroll was located within its borders.
As a shinobi from another village, entering the territory of the Rain Ninja Village was risky. Hanzo, the leader of the Rain Ninja Village, was formidable enough to have once faced off against Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade all at once. If the balance of power hadn't been in Konoha's favor, those three might not have made it out alive.
It was Hanzo who had given them the title "Konoha's Sannin," a name that would follow them for the rest of their life.
"There's no need to hide," Tsunade said dismissively, waving her hand. "Besides, what's the point? The moment we set foot in the Land of Rain, it was only a matter of time before Hanzo found out. It's better to just walk in openly. He's not likely to make a move against us."
"Are you sure about that?" Uchiha Sogetsu asked, sounding doubtful.
"What else?" Tsunade shot him a smirk. "If Hanzo was really that reckless, he wouldn't have let the three of us leave alive the first time."
From her tone, there was a hint of resentment.
Seemingly aware that the Uchiha kid might not trust her, Tsunade explained: "Don't worry, there's no direct conflict between Konoha and the Hidden Rain Village. Hanzo is a shrewd politician; he won't act impulsively. It wouldn't be in his best interest to start a war in the Land of Rain."
Uchiha Sogetsu frowned, questioning: "But if we're out in the open, how can we avoid Hanzo's attention while checking the seal's location?"
"Why would you need to avoid it?" Tsunade asked, reaching into her robe to pull out a piece of candy, which she handed to Hikari. "Here, have some candy; it'll keep you warm."
"Thank you, Tsunade-sama!" Hikari accepted the toffee and carefully placed it in her mouth.
The sweetness of the candy seemed to lighten her mood, and she couldn't help but squint her eyes in satisfaction.
"Just tell Hanzo directly." Tsunade clapped her hands with a smirk. "Even if he finds out, what's the worst that could happen? Do you think he'd dare interfere with the seal? I'm not underestimating Hanzo, but he's a cautious politician who understands the situation in the Rain Village. He's not going to risk provoking Konoha."
Uchiha Sogetsu looked at Tsunade with a raised eyebrow, feeling that her words held more than a little irony, hinting at something deeper than just Hanzo.
"Look," Tsunade said, pointing ahead, "Someone's coming to greet us."
Sure enough, a figure was approaching, wearing the forehead protector of the Hidden Rain Village. He walked up respectfully but had a hint of disdain in his eyes.
"Tsunade-sama, Lord Hanzo sent me to greet you," the ninja said with a forced politeness, though there was a noticeable edge to his voice. "To avoid any diplomatic issues, may I ask what brings you to the Hidden Rain Village?"
Even though it wasn't wartime, the sudden appearance of one of Konoha's legendary Sannin in their territory was enough to make the smaller village's residents uneasy. The memories of the Second Ninja War were still fresh, and they knew the power of the Five Great Ninja Villages.
"By order of the Hokage, we're on a critical mission," Tsunade replied without a hint of concern, ignoring the ninja's thinly veiled animosity. "It involves the Hidden Rain Village, so tell Hanzo to come speak with me directly. You're not worth my time."
She had the confidence to speak like that, backed by her strength and the reputation of the village behind her. There was no doubt that her words would carry the weight they needed to.
For the ninjas of the Rain Ninja Village, this was undeniably humiliating. When the leader of a village's ninja force is summoned to personally resolve a matter, it's clear that the balance of power is skewed.
"You!" The lead Rain ninja's expression contorted with anger, his eyes brimming with hatred.
Tsunade stepped forward, crossing her arms as she gave a stern look at each of the Rain ninjas. "Instead of wasting time arguing, you'd be better off heading back. And don't say I didn't warn Hanzo. We may not complete our mission this time, and things could get very difficult for him."
The threatening tone made the Rain ninjas hesitate. The leader's fury grew, but he knew he couldn't act recklessly. He turned away with a scowl. "You lot, follow them. Don't do anything without authorization. I'll report to Lord Hanzo."
"Okay, let's go," Tsunade said, ignoring the Rain ninjas like they were nothing. She took Hikari's hand, suggesting they explore the Rain Village. The dozen Rain ninjas followed them, fuming but unable to do anything.
Confronted by elite ninja from Great Ninja Village, even Hanzo, known for his mastery of water jutsu, had to swallow his pride.
Suddenly, an explosion rang out in the distance. The blast's brightness pierced the constant rain, lighting up the village.
"Someone's fighting!" exclaimed a Rain ninja. A figure in a black robe dashed toward them. "It's those damn traitors! The Akatsuki! They're with the Akatsuki!"
The Rain ninjas immediately identified the intruder. The Akatsuki member, with spiky orange hair and fierce eyes, was charging toward them with a kunai in hand, crouched low to the ground.
Akatsuki? Uchiha Sogetsu, who had remained silent to maintain his ANBU composure, showed a spark of interest. The spiky orange hair was a dead giveaway—this was Yahiko, the founder of the Akatsuki organization.
"Quick, stop him!" a Rain ninja shouted, but it was too late. Yahiko was upon them in an instant. With a single kick, he sent the nearest Rain ninja flying.
The impact was so intense that the Rain Ninja coughed up a mouthful of blood, his chest collapsing as he fell to the ground. It was clear he wouldn't survive.
"Ninpo Technique: Rain of Senbon!" Another Rain Ninja seized the moment, summoning water into dozens of sharp Senbon that whistled through the air towards Yahiko.
In mid-air, Yahiko quickly formed a hand seal. "Ninja Technique: Water Formation Wall!"
Given the perpetual rain in the Land of Rain, water-based ninjutsu was prevalent, and Rain Ninjas excelled at its use. Yahiko was no exception. A massive wall of water materialized out of nowhere, blocking the incoming barrage of Senbon.
"Konan!" Yahiko called in a low voice.
Suddenly, paper cranes rose from all around, fluttering like a swarm of butterflies.
The next instant, the paper cranes soared toward the attacking Rain Ninjas.
"Chiii!" A burst of flames ignited.
"No, they're explosive tags!" one of the Rain Ninjas exclaimed, but it was too late.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of violent explosions erupted, enveloping the group. In just a few seconds, a dozen Rain Ninjas were completely wiped out.
With the chaos over, Yahiko turned his attention toward a familiar face.
"Long time no see, Tsunade-sama," Yahiko said, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "How's Jiraiya-sensei doing?"
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