After joining the caravan, Qingshui first examined Ide Hiroya's injury.
The boy's leg had already been treated before their departure, and after a careful check, Qingshui confirmed that the injury was not serious. There was no bone fracture—only strained muscles and bruising. As long as Hiroya avoided strenuous activity and received periodic treatment, the leg would recover naturally within a few weeks.
In short, it was not a life-threatening injury.
However, Ide Jūhachirō doted excessively on his only son. Even a minor injury made him restless, which was why he insisted on hiring a medical ninja to accompany the caravan.
Qingshui understood this sentiment well.
In the ninja world, injuries were commonplace. But for civilians, especially merchants who lacked any combat ability, even a small accident felt terrifying.
After confirming there were no hidden complications, Qingshui did not waste further time on treatment. He only instructed Hiroya to rest properly and avoid sudden movements.
Soon, everything was ready.
The caravan officially departed from Konoha, slowly heading toward the Land of Rain.
---
Two days later, the environment began to change.
The blue sky that had followed them since leaving the Land of Fire gradually vanished. Thick, oppressive clouds rolled overhead, blotting out the sun. By the time they crossed the border, rain began to fall—first lightly, then steadily, and finally without pause.
Cold rain soaked into the earth, turning the road muddy and slippery.
This constant rainfall made Ayame Sasaki, who was experiencing the Land of Rain for the first time, visibly uncomfortable.
She pulled her cloak tighter and looked up at the dark sky, confusion written all over her face.
"…Does it really rain all the time here?"
Her voice carried a mix of disbelief and unease.
Before anyone else could answer, Ide Jūhachirō, who was sitting near the carriage, spoke with a sigh.
"It doesn't rain non-stop," he said, "but it almost never stops either. Even when it does, the sky is usually overcast. Seeing the sun here is a rare luxury."
Ayame fell silent.
Growing up in Konoha, she was used to clear skies, warm sunlight, and a comfortable environment. The Land of Rain felt alien—oppressive, gloomy, and suffocating.
Even Qingshui found it difficult to adapt.
From a logical perspective, this kind of weather pattern was absurd. Continuous rainfall on such a scale violated basic climatic balance.
But this was the ninja world.
If chakra could rewrite biology, then reshaping weather patterns was hardly shocking.
He ultimately stopped questioning it and focused on the surroundings instead.
And that instinct saved them.
---
"Something's wrong."
Mikoto's voice suddenly cut through the sound of rain.
"There's a large number of ninjas ahead."
The moment she spoke, the entire caravan came to an abrupt halt.
Minato and the other two Genin instantly moved into defensive positions, while Qingshui subtly stepped closer to the carriage.
Mikoto raised her hand slightly, signaling for everyone to remain calm.
"Uncle Ide," she said without turning her head, "get into the carriage immediately. Once inside, don't come out—no matter what happens."
"I understand," Ide Jūhachirō replied, his face pale but composed.
He knew better than to argue.
Civilians who interfered in ninja battles were nothing but burdens.
Without hesitation, he climbed into the carriage and pulled the curtain shut tightly.
Moments later, figures emerged from the rain.
One by one, silhouettes appeared from behind rocks, trees, and muddy slopes, forming a loose encirclement around the caravan.
Qingshui's eyes narrowed.
Twenty.
There were at least twenty ninjas.
On their side, including Mikoto and himself, there were only five.
That was a four-to-one disadvantage.
In the ninja world, numbers mattered.
Unless there was an overwhelming gap in strength, numerical superiority could easily decide the outcome of a battle.
Mikoto stepped forward, her posture steady and authoritative.
"We are shinobi of Konohagakure, carrying out an official mission in the Land of Rain," she said clearly.
"State your identities."
The words "Konoha ninjas" echoed through the rain.
A ripple of unease immediately spread among the surrounding group.
Several of the rogue ninjas exchanged glances. Their grip on weapons tightened, and hesitation crept into their movements.
Among them, three figures stood slightly ahead of the others—clearly the leaders.
One was a tall man with sharp features and a scar across his cheek.
Another was a broad-shouldered man with a heavy blade strapped to his back.
The third was a woman with cold eyes, her expression tense.
The female ninja glanced at the man standing in the center and spoke in a low voice.
"Seiji… they're Konoha ninjas. Maybe we should retreat."
The man on the other side immediately shook his head.
"And starve for the next few days?" he snapped.
"We don't have enough food. If we let this caravan go, what do we eat?"
Despite his harsh words, fear flickered briefly in his eyes.
They were not fearless.
They were desperate.
This group was nothing more than a band of rogue ninjas, forced together by circumstance.
After the Second Great Ninja War, the Land of Rain had fallen into chaos. Countless displaced ninjas flooded the region, fighting over scarce resources.
Food was rare.
Jobs were rarer.
Stealing had become their only means of survival.
Unfortunately for them, they had chosen the wrong target.
All eyes turned toward Seiji, the man in the middle.
He was the strongest among them—and their leader.
After a brief pause, Seiji stepped forward.
His gaze locked onto Mikoto, carefully avoiding her eyes.
"We don't want to make enemies with Konoha," he said slowly.
"As long as you step aside and leave the caravan behind, you may go safely."
His tone was controlled, but firm.
As a leader, he had to consider the lives of everyone behind him.
Provoking Konoha was the last thing he wanted.
But starvation left them no choice.
Mikoto's response was immediate.
"You're delusional."
Her voice was cold.
Before Seiji could react, her eyes changed.
Scarlet chakra surged, and three tomoe spun rapidly within her pupils.
The Sharingan was activated.
Seiji's expression changed drastically.
"Sharingan!" he shouted.
"She's an Uchiha! Don't look into her eyes—avoid eye contact!"
The group reacted instantly, lowering their gazes or turning their heads away.
As a former Kirigakure Jonin, Seiji knew the terror of the Sharingan all too well.
But he had prepared for this.
Without hesitation, Seiji slammed his hands together and formed seals.
"Water Release: Hiding in Mist Technique!"
Thick mist exploded outward, blending seamlessly with the rain. In seconds, visibility dropped to almost zero.
This was a classic Kirigakure technique—cheap, effective, and designed specifically to counter dojutsu users.
The Sharingan was powerful, but it relied heavily on vision.
Obscure vision, and its advantage vanished.
Mikoto frowned.
"Formation!" she ordered.
"Swastika pattern—don't move recklessly!"
As she spoke, she formed seals.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Bang!
Three shadow clones appeared, each taking position in one of the four cardinal directions, creating a tight defensive perimeter.
Minato and the other Genin immediately followed orders, backs to each other.
Inside the mist, panic spread.
"I can't see anything!" Yuuki Mukai shouted.
Before fear could take hold, Mikoto's voice cut through the fog.
"Stay calm. Trust your teammates."
At the same time, Qingshui moved.
Unlike the others, he did not hesitate.
His hands formed seals smoothly.
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough."
He didn't hold back.
A massive surge of chakra poured from his lungs.
BOOM—!
A violent gale tore through the battlefield, ripping the mist apart like fragile cloth.
In an instant, visibility returned.
The rain was still falling—but the battlefield was clear.
Silence fell.
Seiji, who had been rushing toward Mikoto, froze.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"…Impossible."
His mist had been dispersed—instantly.
And not by Mikoto.
This realization sent a chill down his spine.
A Genin could not do this.
Even most Chunin couldn't.
That meant—
There was another high-level ninja among them.
Seiji's heart sank.
He had misjudged.
He had assumed Mikoto was the only Jonin present.
Now, he knew better.
But it was too late.
With no path to retreat, Seiji clenched his weapon.
If he could eliminate the Uchiha captain quickly, the rest might still be manageable.
With a roar, he lunged forward.
The battle had truly begun.