The end of Hidden Leaf Year 36 marked a period of turbulent times.
The sky over the entire Shinobi World was gloomy, covered by thick dark clouds, foreshadowing the coming storm.
In recent years, the imbalance in economic development among various countries has exacerbated the gap between the rich and the poor, causing militant factions to rise in ninja villages across the nations.
Under the guise of pursuing fairness, they were in fact expanding their spheres of influence through military force and plundering resources to satisfy their own greedy desires.
Among them, the competition between the Land of Wind, Land of Fire, and Land of Earth was particularly fierce.
In Hidden Sand Village, after the failed attempt to seize the Uzumaki clan members, the Third Kazekage had to accept Chiyo's suggestion to vigorously promote the Puppet Technique, which could rapidly enhance the overall strength of the ninja in a short period. This led to the frantic consumption of the already scarce internal resources of the Land of Wind, making it urgently necessary to expand its territory externally to alleviate economic pressure.
In Hidden Stone Village, after Ōnoki ascended to the position of Earth Shadow, he received strong support from the Daimyo of the Land of Earth. In previous years, they had frantically stockpiled troops, leading to a surplus of Stone Ninja. In order to streamline the military, they urgently needed a war to expend the excess forces.
As for Hidden Leaf Village, thanks to the policies of the Third Hokage and the unremitting efforts of the Hidden Leaf Ninja, this once-first ninja village had finally emerged from the shadow of the First Shinobi World War after a full 22 years, restoring its former prosperity.
Faced with the Hidden Sand Ninja and Hidden Stone Ninja constantly encroaching on the Rain Country, Hidden Leaf naturally could not ignore it. Although the Rain Country's territory was small, it had a crucial strategic position for the three great nations, which could not be lost.
Thus, the three forces used the Rain Country as a chessboard, constantly sending forces to station within the Rain Country, engaging in open and covert struggles and intrigues.
In the early stages, it was just small-scale probing, but as each side silently increased its troop output, the scale of the battles gradually escalated, becoming increasingly fierce, often affecting innocent people and turning the entire Rain Country upside down, leaving the people in dire straits.
Heavy rain poured down, and this weeping little country became increasingly devastated.
Faced with this situation, Hidden Rain Village naturally could not sit idly by, but to little avail. Their expulsion efforts not only failed to work, but they were also drawn into this chaotic war. One after another, Hidden Rain Ninja performing missions perished like moths to a flame, which was regrettable.
The reason for this was that although Hidden Rain Village had Salamander Hanzo in charge, possessing Kage-level combat power comparable to the Five Great Shinobi Villages, the overall strength of the Rain Ninja was weak, and relatively speaking, still not up to par.
Unless Hanzo personally took action, the situation could be reversed, but once Hanzo really took action, it would undoubtedly herald the arrival of the Shinobi World War.
Perhaps the Three Great Shinobi Villages were certain that Hanzo would not easily tear up the agreement, which is why they were so unscrupulous.
In this turmoil, Hidden Cloud Village and Hidden Mist Village appeared particularly quiet.
The former chose to bide its time and remain aloof for some unknown reason;
While the latter, after successively losing the Second Water Shadow, the Kaguya Clan, and the Third Water Shadow, had fallen into a state of weakness. Even the selection of the Fourth Water Shadow had been delayed, and the two Tailed Beasts within the Land of Water had not been properly controlled...
In general, the Land of Water was overwhelmed with its own problems. If it were not for the fact that its map block was far from the center of the turmoil, it would probably be attacked by a group and become the first great nation to be destroyed in the war.
...
The heavy rain was pouring, and the raindrops were pattering on the branches and leaves in the forest. The sky was dim and gloomy, and the occasional flashes of lightning provided the only light.
"Has the weather here always been this bad?"
Nawaki reached out his hand, watching the raindrops shatter into crystal clear water droplets in his palm, and asked softly.
This was the third day since he left Hidden Leaf, and it seemed that the rain had not stopped since entering the Rain Country.
"Otherwise, why would it be called the Rain Country?" A free and easy voice floated from beside him.
Jiraiya walked forward leisurely with his hands behind his head.
Nawaki glanced at him and sighed slightly, "Master, our companions in front are still fighting desperately. Is it really okay for us to be so leisurely?"
"You kid is very motivated, but unfortunately, in war, motivation alone is useless."
Jiraiya didn't take it seriously and said with a smile, "Our mission this time is not direct support. In other people's territory, it's best to keep a low profile. Being too high-profile will backfire."
Nawaki hesitated and smiled, "I... I'm just worried about my comrades... I heard the base was destroyed."
"Don't worry." Jiraiya patted him on the shoulder, "Do you think the village wouldn't have thought of what you thought of? The elite squad supporting the main battlefield has already set off before us."
"Really!" Hearing this news, Nawaki was slightly cheered up.
Just then, Jiraiya suddenly stopped, his brow furrowed slightly, and his originally relaxed expression instantly became serious.
"What's—wrong—"
Nawaki was about to speak, but Jiraiya suddenly pressed his head down, and the sound of something cutting through the air brushed past his head.
In a fleeting glimpse, Nawaki saw clearly that it was a Kunai tied with an Exploding Tag, and the burning flames lit up his eyes.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"
Jiraiya immediately hugged Nawaki's body, and his long silver hair grew wildly, instantly wrapping the two of them into a rice dumpling, each strand of hair as tough as iron, airtight.
"Boom!"
The fire suddenly appeared, and quickly extinguished in the heavy rain. The thick layer of long hair took the brunt of the explosion, and Nawaki in the innermost layer was unharmed.
At this moment, the ground cracked slightly, and 4 figures jumped out of the cracks at the same time. They held ninja swords in their hands, their moves fierce. As soon as they appeared, they slashed fiercely at the silver hair ball around Jiraiya.
"Ninja Art: Lion's Mane Technique!"
A wave rippled across the surface of the long hair, and several silver-white spears suddenly pierced out, like a huge sea urchin.
It was completely condensed from strands of hardened long hair, sharp and fast, piercing through the bodies of all the attackers in the blink of an eye, and the blood quickly stained the earth red under the rain.
Jiraiya's secret Ninjutsu is a combination of offense and defense, and it is quite useful in actual combat. Even when facing some small Shinobi Beasts, it is more than enough to deal with them.
A neat shout came from the surroundings: "Earth Release: Split Earth Turn Palm!"
The ground shook slightly, and several cracks split the ground like lightning. The ground within tens of meters around Jiraiya instantly collapsed inward, and large and small clods of earth and gravel fell rustling.
Jiraiya immediately retracted his silver hair, and at the same time grabbed Nawaki's collar and threw him upwards with force.
"Master!" Nawaki exclaimed. As he flew up, the surrounding situation came into view.
Nawaki was a little panicked to find that they had been surrounded by a Ninja squad, all Stone Ninja, judging from their headbands.
"Don't worry!" Jiraiya showed a confident smile, stepped on the rubble, and quickly went up, stabilizing his figure while forming hand seals:
"Fire Release: Great Flame Bullet!"
He took a deep breath, and at the same time rotated his body, spitting out flames mixed with countless oil droplets from his mouth, forming a circle of hot and bright fire rings, sweeping towards the surrounding enemies like a thousand troops.
The flames burned, dyeing the rainy night red, and the powerful firepower was still powerful even in the rain!
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