Land of Rain, Hidden Rain Village.
Somber, dark clouds loomed over this village year after year. The entire village was covered in giant water pipes used for drainage. Under this gloomy weather, it was difficult to keep the human heart from becoming stifled.
Amidst the sound of drizzling rain, a ninja wearing a Hidden Rain headband pushed open the office door. He bowed respectfully to the man wearing a respirator mask before him. "Lord Hanzo, according to intelligence from the front lines, we lost contact with five more outposts today."
"Five more..."
Hanzo of the Salamander, leader of the Hidden Rain Village, leaned back in his seat. He looked at the subordinate who showed him absolute deference, his expression incredibly heavy.
About half a month ago, a mysterious force began launching strikes against the Hidden Rain Village's external outposts. The opponent acted like an experienced gardener, constantly pruning the branches extending from the village, gradually severing its connection to the outside world. Their ultimate goal was likely the Hidden Rain Village itself.
Hanzo's eyes were dark. Many days had passed, yet he still did not even know who the enemy was. He could only endure the blows passively. It wasn't that he hadn't thought about fighting back; after all, even a clay doll has a bit of temper. How could a former Demigod allow an enemy to whittle away his strength?
Unfortunately, the Jonin squads he dispatched had all vanished into the sea, failing to send back even a shred of intelligence. This plunged the former Demigod into a state of inexplicable fear.
Hanzo did not know why he was feeling this way. As a ninja of the Land of Rain, he had fought since childhood, experiencing countless battles. Without a strong psychological foundation and the courage to face death, he could never have achieved the illustrious title of "Demigod" in this war-torn land.
However, at some unknown point, he seemed to have lost the desire to fight and kill. He shook his head to dispel these strange emotions and spoke to the ninja before him.
"Go tell Danzo that I can provide him with more materials. Have him immediately dispatch an elite force to support the Hidden Rain Village."
The ninja below seemed hesitant upon hearing Hanzo's instructions. As a confidant, he naturally knew about the deals between the Hidden Rain and the so-called "Darkness of the Shinobi" from the Leaf.
To put it simply, Hanzo provided subjects for Danzo's various research projects—meaning large numbers of refugees from within the Land of Rain, and sometimes even ninjas. In exchange, Danzo used Root ninjas to help Hanzo eliminate dissidents and consolidate his rule as a Demigod, while also sharing certain research results.
But at such a life-or-death moment, were those Leaf ninjas truly reliable?
"Lord Hanzo, things have come to this. Only you taking action can save the Hidden Rain Village." The ninja raised his head, looking at the leader they once admired so deeply, the Demigod.
Hanzo froze for a moment. In that instant, many things flashed through his mind: the countless corpses on the battlefield, his aging body, and the endless enemies of the Great Shinobi Wars. Then, as if stimulated by something, a look of cruel, hideous ferocity appeared in his eyes.
"I know I must take action, but we don't even know who the enemy is! How am I supposed to act?" Hanzo slammed his hands onto the desk, his grip leaving finger marks in the wood. He gritted his teeth and said, "Tell Danzo I will give him whatever he wants, as long as he identifies the enemy!"
"Yes, sir."
Since the leader had already lost his composure, what choice did a subordinate have? He silently took the scroll Hanzo handed him, but Hanzo called out to him just as he reached the door.
"Ueno, you wouldn't betray me, would you?" Hanzo's cold gaze swept over the man's back, as if he might draw his ninja blade and cut him in two the next second.
Ueno turned around and said respectfully, "Lord Hanzo is the hero who protected the Land of Rain, the Demigod recognized by everyone. Without you, I don't know which corner of the battlefield I would have died in. Whatever decision you make, I will follow you to the end."
Hearing Ueno's assurance, Hanzo's gaze shifted indecisively before he finally waved a hand. "Go."
"Yes."
After leaving the office building, Ueno immediately went to a dance hall. He pushed open a secret door in the restroom and entered a hidden basement.
"Ueno, how did it go?" Two figures were already waiting in the dark room.
Ueno smiled and shook his head. "Just as the Priest guessed. Lord Hanzo is still thinking of using Danzo's power to deal with the enemy. He even promised he would 'give him whatever he wants.'"
"Heh..." A cold sneer rang out in the room. "The Priest's teachings are correct. Time is the most heartless blade that strikes at humanity. Even that once-invincible Demigod will be turned by the wash of time into a... pathetic old dog."
The other two did not join in the mockery, but the fact that they were here together already spoke volumes.
"Then we shall proceed according to plan," a female voice said, declaring the end of the brief meeting.
"Yes. Praise Lord Jashin."
"Praise Lord Jashin."
"Praise the Lord."
Ueno left the dark room. The Jashin symbol on his neck quietly faded away. He became once again the right-hand man of the Demigod Hanzo, an elite Jonin of the Hidden Rain. He left the village quietly, carrying the secret scroll Hanzo had personally entrusted to him.
Two days later, he returned with news that invigorated Hanzo.
"Danzo says he is willing to send two elite Root squads to assist you, and he has provided intelligence on the enemy."
Hanzo instantly perked up. Two elite Root squads usually meant six people. Since they were "elite," there had to be at least two or three Jonin among them. Moreover, Jonin trained by Root were formidable; this was a sincere gesture.
However, what Hanzo valued most was the other news Ueno brought: the intelligence on the enemy. He was tired of this feeling of being blind and was desperate to know who he was fighting.
Facing the eager Hanzo, Ueno spoke slowly. "I wonder if Lord Hanzo still remembers... the Akatsuki organization."
"Akatsuki..." Hanzo murmured the familiar name. "So it's them. But that makes no sense. Weren't those Akatsuki members wiped out by us and Root long ago?"
Though the process had been less than honorable, Hanzo had indeed emerged victorious.
"Could it be the two who were left..."
A strong sense of fear suddenly enveloped Hanzo. It was them. They had returned for revenge.