Rain fell endlessly over the Land of Rain, turning the streets into muddy paths and filling the air with a damp, lingering chill.
From the wooden doors of a roadside tavern, a tall figure emerged, laughing loudly. He had long, wild white hair cascading down his back, and his arms were casually draped around the waists of two scantily clad women. Their laughter rang out just as brightly, drawing curious glances from passersby.
The man's face was flushed, his grin lecherous and unrestrained.
If Aosui were present, he would have recognized the man instantly.
This was no ordinary drunk.
He was Jiraiya of the Sannin, one of Konoha's legendary three, famed throughout the ninja world alongside Tsunade and Orochimaru.
Logically speaking, a ninja of Jiraiya's stature appearing in the Land of Rain should have been on a covert mission—just like Aosui and his team. Yet appearances were deceiving.
Jiraiya had not been dispatched here by the village.
In fact, he had remained in the Land of Rain ever since the end of the Second Great Ninja War.
The reason was simple.
After the war had reduced this country to ruins, Jiraiya had encountered three orphaned children—war victims with nowhere to go. Moved by their situation, he had decided to teach them ninjutsu, guiding them along a different path from the despair surrounding them.
Had Jiraiya not been a direct disciple of the Third Hokage, such an act could easily have been deemed treason.
After all, despite the word "village" in its name, Konohagakure was not truly a village.
It was a military stronghold.
The same was true for all hidden villages across the ninja world.
They were armed organizations—professional mercenary groups, bound by contracts and利益 rather than morality. From trivial tasks like helping farmers harvest crops or finding lost pets, to grim missions involving assassinations and warfare, ninja accepted everything as long as the pay was sufficient.
That was the reality of the ninja system.
Even so, Jiraiya waved goodbye to the two women despite their enthusiastic pleas for him to stay longer.
"Next time," he said with a laugh, raising his hand lazily. "I promise."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the rain-soaked streets.
---
After leaving the tavern district, Jiraiya headed toward a small marketplace on the outskirts of town. The stalls were modest, selling dried grain, preserved fruit, and basic necessities. After selecting what he needed, he packed the supplies away and left the town alone.
He did not notice—or rather, did not bother to acknowledge—the figures trailing him from a distance.
They were not ninjas.
Just a group of local thugs who survived by preying on isolated travelers and villagers. In recent years, especially after the Second Great Ninja War, such people had become increasingly common in the Land of Rain.
Desperation bred cruelty.
And this time, they had chosen the wrong target.
The rain intensified as Jiraiya walked deeper into a narrow alley between collapsed buildings.
Suddenly, his presence vanished.
"Where did he go?"
One of the thugs stopped abruptly, panic flickering in his eyes.
"I swear he came this way," another said nervously. "How can someone that big disappear like that?"
Their leader frowned, scanning the surroundings.
Before he could speak, a calm voice sounded behind them.
"Are you looking for me?"
The group froze.
They turned slowly, only to find Jiraiya standing behind them, his expression relaxed, as though nothing unusual was happening.
The leader swallowed hard, then forced himself to speak harshly.
"Hand over the food," he barked. "If you know what's good for you."
Jiraiya sighed.
After confirming they were ordinary civilians with no chakra presence, he moved.
The confrontation ended almost instantly.
Moments later, Jiraiya dusted off his clothes and continued on his way, leaving the groaning figures behind in the alley.
Yet before he could go far, something caught his attention.
Several Rain Village ninjas rushed past him, their expressions tense and urgent. They paid him no attention, clearly focused on something ahead.
"Hmm?" Jiraiya murmured.
"Did something happen?"
Curiosity stirred within him.
Without hesitation, Jiraiya turned and followed them.
---
"Brother Aosui is incredible!"
Mukai Yuuki's voice was filled with undisguised admiration.
Minato and Sasaki Ayame nodded in agreement, their eyes shining as they watched the battlefield unfold.
After eliminating their own opponents, Aosui had immediately gone to reinforce Uchiha Mikoto's shadow clone, allowing the three young ninjas to witness his combat prowess firsthand.
Enemies they had once considered formidable were dispatched effortlessly.
A few swift movements.
A flash of steel.
And the enemy fell.
Only one opponent remained a serious threat—a Hidden Mist Village jonin, currently engaged directly with Aosui.
Unlike the others, she was no ordinary rogue ninja.
Jonin from the Five Great Ninja Villages were comprehensively trained in ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu, rarely possessing glaring weaknesses. Defeating such an opponent in a few exchanges was unrealistic.
"Tch…"
The Hidden Mist kunoichi narrowed her eyes, gripping her ninja blade tightly.
"He looks young… but he's far stronger than I expected."
She had initially been occupied with Mikoto's shadow clone. Only after dispelling it did she realize, to her shock, that her subordinates had already been eliminated by Aosui.
Now, even engaging him directly, she found herself unable to gain the upper hand.
As a rogue ninja, retreat was already crossing her mind.
But when she glanced toward her two companions battling Uchiha Mikoto, she forced that thought down.
The three of them had defected together.
Not for power.
Not for ambition.
But because they could no longer endure the Blood Mist policy imposed by Kirigakure.
They had petitioned the Third Mizukage repeatedly, pleading for change.
All their efforts had been ignored.
Comrades became enemies. Trust dissolved into suspicion. Survival required killing those you once fought beside.
In the end, disillusionment drove them to abandon their village, gather fellow rogue ninjas, and flee to the Land of Rain.
Now, it seemed their journey would end here.
With a sharp cry, the kunoichi launched another series of attacks, her blade clashing repeatedly against Aosui's weapon.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
Sparks flew as the two exchanged blows, neither giving ground.
Her swordsmanship was refined—proof of her past participation in the Hidden Mist's selection trials for the Seven Ninja Swordsmen.
Though she had not been chosen, her skill was undeniable.
Meanwhile, Uchiha Mikoto was holding her own against two opponents simultaneously.
Her movements were composed and precise.
The mere presence of her Sharingan forced her enemies to avert their gaze constantly, limiting their vision and reactions. Each hesitation brought them closer to defeat.
Another failed assault.
Mikoto countered with a sharp kick, forcing one of them back.
Kiyoshi's expression darkened.
"This won't work," he muttered.
"Yuuki!" he shouted. "Buy me time. I'll use that move."
Yuuki nodded immediately.
He knew what Kiyoshi intended.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
A powerful B-rank ninjutsu with devastating force.
Its only flaw lay in its complexity.
Even at Kiyoshi's impressive speed—four hand seals per second—it still required eleven seconds to complete.
In the midst of battle, that was an eternity.
As Mikoto noticed Kiyoshi beginning his hand seals, her instinct was to interrupt him.
But Yuuki moved first.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
A towering earthen barrier erupted from the ground, forcing Mikoto to leap aside.
She remembered that technique all too well.
The last time she had been struck by it, she had been launched into the air—momentarily helpless.
If she hadn't reacted in time, she would have died.
Yuuki continued casting the same technique repeatedly, not allowing her a single opening.
He wasn't trying to defeat her.
He was stalling.
Seconds passed.
One.
Five.
Ten.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
A roaring torrent surged forth, taking the form of a massive water dragon that twisted violently through the rain-filled battlefield, its jaws opening wide as it charged toward Mikoto.
---
To be continued…