Raindrops fell like needles, endlessly striking every corner of the Hidden Rain Village. Wearing a black robe and mask, Asuka stood quietly, his gaze sweeping over the rain-soaked village. This was already his third day staying here.
After two days of wandering, he had completely grasped the current condition of the Hidden Rain Village and had also clearly seen the man once known as the "Demigod."
Hanzo no longer possessed the ambition he once had—the courage to challenge the Five Great Ninja Villages alone.
The village that had once stirred storms throughout the ninja world now radiated a decaying stillness. Asuka walked slowly along the muddy streets, the hem of his robe brushing against puddles filled with filthy water and splashing tiny droplets.
Most of the houses along the road were dilapidated. Their thatched roofs sagged under the weight of the rain, and the walls were covered in spiderweb-like cracks.
The people passing by were thin and gaunt. Their clothes were so ragged they barely covered their bodies, and their sallow faces had deep, hollow eye sockets. They moved numbly through the rain, too exhausted even to look up and avoid the dripping water from the eaves.
Watching this scene, Asuka's fingers twitched slightly.
It was hard to imagine that this very village, relying on Hanzo's deterrence, had once stood firmly among the Five Great Ninja Villages and even dared to provoke wars.
Yet the man who had created all of this now hid inside his heavily fortified mansion, indulging in luxury while ignoring the suffering of his people.
The mansion was surrounded by strict security. Layer upon layer of barriers completely separated the inside from the misery outside. From within the walls, the sound of decadent music drifted into the streets, forming a sharp contrast with the sorrow everywhere else.
The aging Hanzo had long lost the decisiveness and boldness of his youth. In their place remained only deep suspicion and paranoia.
The previous night, Asuka had silently infiltrated the perimeter of the mansion using the Body Flicker Technique to scout the area. He clearly sensed that although the internal guards were not particularly strong, countless traps designed to counter infiltration had been set up.
More importantly, even though Hanzo's sensory range was no longer as wide as it had been in his prime, he remained extremely sensitive to anyone approaching.
Aside from a handful of trusted subordinates, anyone attempting to approach the main hall would immediately be targeted.
"No wonder the Akatsuki organization has gained the people's support here," Asuka murmured softly.
His voice was swallowed by the sound of rain.
The ideals of peace promoted by Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan were like a faint light shining in the darkness, illuminating the desperate hearts of the people of the Land of Rain.
They hated war and despised Hanzo's corrupt rule. The emergence of the Akatsuki organization gave them hope that their fate might one day change.
However, it was precisely this popular support that made the rising Akatsuki organization the biggest thorn in Hanzo's side.
A ruler who had lost the support of the people feared nothing more than the rise of a new force capable of shaking his authority.
Even so, Asuka had no intention of interfering in the chaotic situation of the Land of Rain for now.
His gaze drifted toward the distant location of the Akatsuki stronghold at the end of the street, a cold light flashing briefly in his eyes.
The time had not yet come.
He still needed Hanzo—this "blade"—to completely shatter Nagato's illusion of peace and force him to witness the darkness and cruelty of the ninja world with his own eyes.
Only after experiencing the deepest despair would the true power of Nagato's Rinnegan fully awaken. Only then could the Akatsuki organization shed its current immaturity and grow in the direction Asuka desired.
Having confirmed the situation in the Land of Rain, Asuka no longer had any reason to stay.
Standing in the shadow of a street corner, chakra quietly surged around him.
In the next moment, his body turned into a faint red mist and vanished silently into the rain.
His destination this time was not the Akatsuki stronghold, but the Land of Demons, far away on the other side of the ninja world.
The Land of Demons was a nation outside the system of the Five Great Nations. It was famous in the ninja world for the lineage of its Miko clan. The country was perpetually shrouded in cold, gloomy mist, and ninja activity within its borders was rare.
Despite that, it was well known for sealing the legendary demon, Moryo.
Asuka was not interested in Moryo's power itself.
What truly intrigued him was Moryo's pure demonic form, which was neither chakra nor physical matter. That strange existence sparked his curiosity.
According to his knowledge of the timeline, Moryo was still sealed deep within the sacred land of the Land of Demons, and there had been no major signs of the seal weakening yet.
However, Asuka knew that seals inevitably weakened over time—especially if the inheritance of the Miko clan's power was ever disrupted. Such a gap would greatly reduce the stability of the seal.
His purpose for this trip was to meet the current Miko in advance and investigate the real condition of the seal.
Within a few breaths, he had already crossed thousands of miles and entered the territory of the Land of Demons.
Unlike the endless rain of the Hidden Rain Village, the sky here was covered with thick gray mist. A faint chilling aura filled the air, making anyone shiver the moment they breathed it in.
A thin layer of white frost covered the ground, crunching softly beneath his steps.
This time, Asuka did not wander or explore.
His goal was clear—the palace where the Miko of the Land of Demons had lived for generations.
The palace stood atop the highest peak in the country. Layers of barriers containing pure spiritual energy surrounded it, constantly counteracting the sinister aura of Moryo.
Asuka did not rush in recklessly. Instead, he used the Byakugan to see through the barrier and observe the scene inside.
Deep within the palace, on an altar, a young woman in white Miko robes knelt alone.
She appeared to be in her early twenties. Her features were delicate, and her skin was so pale it seemed almost translucent. Her long hair flowed down her back, swaying gently with her subtle movements.
She was the current Miko of the Land of Demons—Miroku.
At that moment, her eyes were closed. Her hands formed a seal as she softly chanted ancient incantations. Her voice was gentle yet carried a sacred dignity that seemed untouchable.
Eight eternal lamps burned around the altar. Their dim golden light reflected on her face, giving her an air of quiet loneliness.
In the next instant, Asuka appeared directly on the altar.
His black robe fluttered lightly in the faint breeze, and the mask on his face reflected the flickering light of the lamps.
He had expected the sudden appearance to startle the young Miko.
But to his surprise, Miroku slowly opened her eyes.
Those clear eyes, like still water, showed no trace of panic—only calm serenity.
"You have arrived, Mr. Wu," Miroku said softly, as if greeting an old acquaintance she had not seen for a long time.
She slowly lowered her hands from their seal and looked up at Asuka.
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