Ten days later, the Land of Rain.
Gekko Chizan, together with Yugito, had already stepped into the borders of the Land of Rain.
This was a land that had suffered through countless wars, shrouded in drizzle, carrying a sense of desolation.
"This is the Land of Rain? The rumors were true—it really does rain all the time."
"I hate getting rained on. Sensei, let's hurry up and get moving."
Yugito wore a bamboo hat and a raincoat, but she was still clearly annoyed. After all, cats didn't like water.
Gekko Chizan, on the other hand, didn't care at all. Rain was something you just got used to.
And fortunately, Nagato wasn't in charge of the Land of Rain yet. Otherwise, with one Rain Tiger Jutsu, this place would see rain three hundred days out of the year—that would be unbearable.
"Seems like things in the Land of Rain aren't exactly peaceful right now."
Gekko Chizan suddenly looked to the side, where a small-scale battle was breaking out.
Hearing his words, Tagitsuhime slowly stuck her head out from Yugito's raincoat, flicking her tongue as she said,
"Indeed. And there are quite a lot of them."
"They're really going at it."
One watched from afar with insect eyes, while the other relied on Sage Art sensing.
Only Yugito couldn't see a thing. That made the girl irritated, and she stomped her foot in the puddle beneath her.
"Hey, can you guys stop speaking in riddles?"
"You think bullying people is fun?"
Neither Gekko Chizan nor Tagitsuhime paid her any attention. Especially Gekko Chizan—he directly raised his leg and started walking toward the battlefield.
Yugito was extremely displeased, clicking her tongue, which made the Two-Tails inside her chuckle softly in her inner world.
"Yugito, you've got no way to deal with this teacher of yours."
"Someone who could go toe-to-toe with Chōmei? No way you're talking him out of anything."
Already annoyed, Yugito grew even more irritated hearing this.
"Hmph, Matatabi, if you won't help me either, no fish for you next time!"
Matatabi instantly went silent. Just like Chōmei, the Two-Tails was basically a giant cat. Cats loved fish—that was instinct.
Even tailed beasts weren't immune. Ever since meeting Gekko Chizan, Matatabi's appetite had skyrocketed. Now he got grumpy if he didn't have dried fish every day.
The teacher and student quickly entered the battlefield's range.
Both sides wore Amegakure forehead protectors, yet they were fighting fiercely.
It was obvious these were all Amegakure shinobi, but clearly from different factions.
One side had more people—over twenty. The other had only nine.
And when Gekko Chizan saw this group, a glint flashed in his eyes.
Because these people were exactly his target. One with blond hair, one with red, one with blue… well, wasn't this just perfect?
"Chizan kid, that's a wicked grin you've got there."
"What? Planning to get involved?"
Tagitsuhime looked at the sinisterly grinning Gekko Chizan beside her and clicked her tongue. Even Yugito turned to look at her teacher.
Sure enough, that smile was far too evil.
"Tch, what do you two know? Seeing such a fierce fight… I can't help myself. How long has it been? How long since I last got to fight?"
"My body is trembling uncontrollably!"
Gekko Chizan pressed his palms together. That familiar Tiger hand seal appeared again.
The girl and the snake were utterly confused, but Chōmei grinned wide. Ever since Gekko Chizan had used this technique on Shukaku last time, his opinion had changed—this jutsu was just amazing!
Meanwhile, at the center of the battle—
"Yahiko, give up your pathetic dream!"
"A shinobi should seize everything through bloodshed!"
One of the Amegakure shinobi fighting shouted with hostility.
His opponent, Yahiko, young as he was, had a serious look on his face.
"Peace in the world shouldn't come from extreme violence. That is our goal. Shinobi should not become tools of killing!"
"Your way of thinking is wrong! I will change this world! Change the minds of everyone!"
"For that, I'll give everything I have!"
He roared his convictions while his hands exploded with greater strength, knocking his opponent back.
Then his fingers quickly formed hand seals.
"Water Release: Violent Water Wave!"
With the rain aiding him, this Water Release showed remarkable power, blasting his opponent away in a surge of water.
Yahiko's teammates were clearly stronger as well. Despite being outnumbered, they showed no fear.
Just then, several kunai suddenly flew into the battlefield.
Both sides were startled and quickly retreated, letting the kunai fall.
On the kunai were words… words that clearly weren't serious.
"What the heck?"
"Nagato, Konan, was this you guys?"
Yahiko turned to ask the two behind him.
Nagato's long red hair covered his eyes, but under it, the rings of his Rinnegan widened slightly in surprise.
His ocular power was incredibly strong, yet even he hadn't sensed who had thrown those kunai.
Let alone Konan, with her light-blue hair, standing beside him.
"Tch, just a bluff. Keep fighting!"
"Capture them all!"
The enemy leader, still soaking wet from the Water Release, roared in anger, clearly having lost his composure.
The battle resumed—
but no one noticed several smoke bombs suddenly appearing in the field.
"Boom!"
A series of explosions erupted, smoke swallowing everyone.
Both sides felt something was off and started to retreat—
when a cold voice cut through the haze.
"Taijutsu Secret Art: One Thousand Years of Death!"
Agonized screams instantly followed, screams so sharp they made everyone shiver.
Yahiko didn't even think—he rushed to find his teammates, but then—
"AHHHHHH!!!!!!!"
Gekko Chizan, mid-attack and enjoying himself, suddenly froze as a notification popped up in front of him.
[Ding! Detected host has used One Thousand Years of Death 100 times in a row. Special reward: One Thousand Years of Death power increased by 5%. When power increase reaches 20%, new trait will be activated!]
[Ding! Detected host used One Thousand Years of Death on Yahiko, causing both physical and mental trauma. Special reward: One Thousand Years of Death power increased by 5%!]
[Ding! One Thousand Years of Death power has increased by 21%! New trait activated: Intensifying the Pain! Target's pain sensation increased by 50%! Duration: 1 hour!]
Gekko Chizan stared silently at the impaled Yahiko.
This reward… seemed a bit more than he bargained for.
Then he turned to look at Nagato…