The entire Rain Country was in turmoil, and its Daimyo was becoming increasingly anxious. Under normal conditions, the Daimyo would never leave his position, but these were far from normal times.
The Rain Country had become a magnet for outlaws and rogue ninjas fleeing the pursuit of their respective villages. No one could predict what desperate acts they might commit when cornered. With no other options, the Daimyo of the Rain Country turned to his relative, the Daimyo of the Fire Country, to seek protection.
However, he was unwilling to leave his homeland, as doing so would mean living in disgrace. Thus, seeking external protection was the only option left. For a mission like this, it made sense for Konoha's Anbu to be dispatched.
The Third Hokage sought out Shinki, hoping the Anbu could handle the task.
After reviewing the scroll and closing it, Shinki asked, "Send a team directly?"
The Third Hokage shook his head. "It would be best if you went in person to arrange the protection detail and represent the village in discussions with the Daimyo of the Rain Country."
Meeting foreign dignitaries required someone of significant status.
The Third Hokage couldn't leave the village, and the elders were already preoccupied. Weighing the options, the Third Hokage determined that Shinki was the ideal candidate.
This was a straightforward mission, devoid of any hidden traps. Shinki considered the request and agreed, "Alright. I'll lead three Anbu teams to the Rain Country tomorrow, and they will stay to ensure the Daimyo's safety."
Three teams would be sufficient for this mission. Any additional manpower would be excessive. The Rain Country's Daimyo would also cover all expenses and pay Konoha a substantial fee for their protection.
After finalizing the task, Shinki turned to leave.
"Wait!"
The Third Hokage called after him. Shinki stopped and looked back, puzzled.
"Could you search for Jiraiya while you're there? If you find him, tell him to return to the village. We need him."
"Understood."
After a brief moment of thought, Shinki agreed. He wanted to see Jiraiya as well, so delivering the Hokage's message was a small favor. As long as the Third Hokage didn't cause problems, Shinki was content to cooperate with the leadership. But if they did stir up trouble, he was more than prepared to push back.
Shinki left the Hokage's office and headed to the Anbu base.
"Tiger, select three teams. We leave for the Rain Country tomorrow, and these teams will stay there for an extended period to protect the Daimyo."
"Yes, sir."
Tiger did not question the order and promptly went to choose the most suitable teams. For a protection mission like this, careful selection was crucial. Failing to safeguard the Daimyo could damage both the Anbu's and Konoha's reputations.
Apart from the three overt Anbu teams, Shinki also planned to leave a covert puppet team to ensure the Daimyo's safety.
"No one knows where Jiraiya is hiding in the Rain Country," Shinki thought. Jiraiya had been avoiding detection, aware that the Third Hokage would try to call him back to the village. But he couldn't abandon the three orphans he was looking after; they needed him to survive and grow in such a hostile environment.
The following day, after preparing for the journey, Shinki left instructions for Kushina, Nawaki, and Minato before setting out with his team. The lack of logistical burdens made their journey swift.
In just a day and a half, Shinki and his team traversed most of the Land of Fire and reached the front-line camp, where they rested for the night before pressing into the Rain Country.
"Please, leave us some food. Without it, the children won't survive," pleaded a middle-aged couple, kneeling in the muddy ground as rain poured down, begging the rogue ninjas ransacking their home.
"Get out of the way, old man!" one of the intruders snarled, wielding a sword in his right hand and a sack of stolen goods in his left. He aimed a brutal kick at the pleading man.
Before his foot could connect, two shurikens zipped through the rain and struck the ninja, sending him sprawling with a cry of pain. His partner froze in shock, eyes darting around frantically.
To his horror, he realized they were surrounded by masked ninjas clad in black armor—Konoha's Anbu. Panicking, he dropped his loot and tried to run, but a swift silver blade flashed in the rain, slashing his throat. Blood sprayed across the muddy ground, and the terrified couple clung to each other, unable to speak, silently praying that the strangers wouldn't harm them.
The rhythmic sound of footsteps on wet earth heralded Shinki's approach, umbrella in hand. He paused to glance at the fallen bodies.
"How many times has this happened?" he asked.
"Six incidents so far, sir," reported the squad leader.
The state of the Rain Country was worse than Shinki had anticipated. The influx of rogue ninjas and criminals had turned it into a chaotic hotbed of violence. Even those who had remained after the war contributed to the disorder.
"Leave some food for them," Shinki ordered before moving on. The squad leader quickly placed a rainproof bag of provisions in front of the couple before signaling the team to follow.
Did we survive? the couple wondered, stunned as they watched the Anbu disappear into the rain. They couldn't believe their fortune; strangers had saved them and even left food behind. It was a small gesture, but in their dire situation, it was everything.
Shinki's mission wasn't just to secure the Daimyo but also to assess the conditions of the Rain Country. He released puppets to scout for Jiraiya's whereabouts and gather intelligence.
The findings were grim. The death of Hanzo the Salamander had not only ended the war but had also obliterated the Rain Village's stability. Its surviving ninjas had become wanderers, and rebel factions had taken root everywhere.
In just one day, Shinki's team had already encountered six incidents of rogue ninjas breaking into homes.
>>>>>
Up to Chapter 340 available on Patreon.com/c/GGFanfiction :)
Gimme power stonesssss
Also, leave a review FFS