[I merged 2 short chapters]
The little girl looked at Hitomi, lost and uncertain.
"Idiot, give her candy. There are plenty of crabs in the river," Maki said when she noticed.
"Huh? But she kept staring at the crab," Hitomi asked in confusion.
"That's because the crab wasn't moving, so she thought it was dead," Maki explained. "Dead crabs are poisonous if you eat them."
The girl might not understand poisoning at her age, but surely the adults in her family had warned her never to eat dead crabs.
"Oh." Hitomi pulled the crab back, took out a piece of candy, and placed it in the little girl's hand.
The girl stared at the creamy-white candy streaked with delicate black veins. After a moment's hesitation, she carefully put it into her mouth. Then she gave Hitomi a bright, innocent smile.
Hitomi couldn't help but reach out and ruffle the girl's hair. "Eat up. There's plenty more."
The girl nodded happily.
White Fang, watching the scene, scratched his head.
Isn't this how I should be, a gentle person too?
Why does it always change when it's me?
He turned away, keeping a normal conversation with the boatman.
Before long, the boat pushed off, gliding across the river. Silver moonlight rippled on the water, glittering like scales. Waves rose and fell under its path.
Sitting at the side of the boat, Maki looked toward the dim lights of the distant city.
Hanzo of the Salamander…
He's still young.
Just how strong is this so-called hero without bloodline? I'll see it with my own eyes.
Naruto conquered the shinobi world at seventeen. Don't tell me I can't handle a Hanzo at sixteen.
Eventually, the boat reached the other side. Over an hour later, they docked at the port. The Amegakure ninja on watch barely gave them a glance and didn't approach. The four disembarked quietly, walked through the rain, and found a cheap inn to stay in.
One room. Four people.
The innkeeper kept sneaking glances at White Fang, even flashing him a sly, knowing smile.
White Fang answered with one just as ambiguous.
That night, they ate dinner but didn't rest well.
Maki sat at the far end of the room, leaning against the bed, her gaze fixed on the city lights outside the rain-speckled window. Every so often, she raised a hand and released a few Dragonflies.
The crimson-winged dragonflies flitted into the drizzle, flying off on reconnaissance.
Hitomi and Naori sat to Maki's left and right, heads resting on her shoulders, already dozing.
Across from them, White Fang crouched against the wall, hugging his knees under a thin blanket.
…Cold.
He couldn't bring himself to climb into bed, feeling awkward. Hugging himself tighter, he asked quietly:
"Did you find anything?"
Maki shook her head. "Nothing yet."
"Because of the heavy rain?" White Fang pressed.
"A little, but not enough to stop them," Maki said. "This kind of drizzle won't affect Dragonflies. But if it gets heavier, they won't be able to fly at all."
She explained patiently:
"They can fly in light rain. Their wings are waterproof—that's natural for dragonflies. But in a downpour, the rain will knock them down. Their wings get too heavy when soaked, and the cold drains their strength fast. If that happens, they'll die."
White Fang nodded slowly, then pointed at one of the crimson glimmers. "So they rely on sight?"
"Yes. Dragonflies hunt with vision. Their range is wide—comparable to the Hyūga's Byakugan. But at night, low light weakens their sight."
"It's easy to spot something distinct, like on a snowy mountain. But in a crowded city? Picking out a face is nearly impossible."
She added after a pause: "It's the same with Aburame parasites. They have poor night vision, but in combat, the user can direct them. The insects themselves don't need to see."
"…That's amazing," White Fang admitted.
"Yeah." Maki's answer was short.
The room fell silent again. With only the two of them awake, there was nothing left to say. White Fang found himself glancing toward Hitomi, unconsciously recalling her good points.
The night passed without conversation.
By morning, the drizzle still fell. Rain tapped the windowsill and eaves in a rhythm as clear as a ballad.
The four set out with umbrellas, walking through the rain-washed streets. Naori kept a disguise genjutsu active, her mask and illusion concealing the scarlet glow of her three-tomoe Sharingan as it spun, maintaining the technique.
The streets were lined with crooked spires and tangled drainage pipes, chaotic yet strangely orderly.
At noon, they ducked into a tavern.
Hitomi sat down, immediately slipped off her clogs, peeled off her socks, and wrung them out.
"This rain just won't stop," she grumbled, wiggling her toes. "So annoying. …Ah, that's better."
White Fang's eyes wandered to Hitomi's bare feet, then to Naori's, then to Maki's.
"…Aren't you going to take yours off too?" he asked.
Naori chuckled. "Senpai, if you value your life, don't say things like that."
"I'm not that kind of person," White Fang muttered defensively, waving his hand. He flagged down a waiter instead. "Women only get in the way of my sword."
By then, the tavern was buzzing with noisy Rain-nin drinking and talking too loudly.
"This country has no future, stuck between the great powers!"
"Our daimyo are weak, our leaders weaker—they just bow to the Three Great Nations!"
The drunken ninja's words drew the whole tavern's attention.
"During the First Shinobi World War, small countries were crushed between the big ones! We survived only as a buffer!"
"And when the Second Shinobi World War comes—our land will be their battlefield again!"
"Our homes will be destroyed! Our people slaughtered! And that day is not far away!"
The man slammed the table.
"More than ten years have passed since the First War! A new generation has grown up, blind to its horrors! The whole shinobi world is ready for the Second Ninja World War!"
"When that happens, will our country still cower in the gap? Still cry while giants trample us?!"
"We need a real leader! A hero to fight the great powers and protect our home!"
Someone in the crowd called out mockingly, "Oh yeah? And does such a hero even exist?"
"Yes!" the ninja roared. "That hero is our Hanzō the Salamander! Master Hanzo himself!"
Another joined in, "I've heard of him. They say he's unbelievably strong."
Across the table, Maki and White Fang exchanged glances.
The tavern erupted with cheers.
"That's right! If it's him, he can replace our weak leaders! He'll crush the Five Great Nations and make the Rain Country great again!"
…So this is the propaganda campaign.
Maki lifted her tea and sipped.
Another coup in the making.
Boring. Nothing new.
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