Chapter 132: Arrival at the Hidden Rain Village
As the leader of the Joint Chunin Exam team, Dana had conducted a month-long special training for the seven squads, guiding their practice in various ways.
In that month, all the members had shown significant improvement and had been equipped with corresponding tactics, especially the top three seed teams.
The exam was in May, so in mid-April, the team set out from the Hidden Cloud.
In addition to the participants and their leader, Yotsuki Dana, there were also high-ranking officials such as the Third Raikage, A, and Dodai, as well as a good number of other Cloud ninja.
The Hidden Rain was an important strategic partner, so they had to be given sufficient support. Since Hanzo wanted to hold a grand event, to have face, they would give him face.
The group traveled through the countries along the way and, after nearly ten days, finally arrived at the Land of Rain.
Even before they had entered the country, they could already feel the air growing humid, and the rain becoming more frequent.
"The weather here is so uncomfortable," Tetsuo Okine said, helplessly fiddling with his damp, tangled hair. "Even the air feels soft."
Yahiko, who was from the Land of Rain, wanted to give everyone a better impression of his homeland. "It rains all year round in the Land of Rain," he explained. "Sometimes it rains for 300 days a year. This climate has created a unique natural environment. Most of the towns are built against cliffs or mountains to avoid the problems caused by the rain."
"Yahiko, you were born in the Land of Rain, right?" one of his teammates said, surprised. "You know so much."
"Yahiko's father is a water engineer," Konan explained. "He's participated in the construction of many of the towns here."
At the border, they could see several figures waiting in the distance.
Seeing the Cloud's team, they immediately set out to meet them. The one in the lead was Hanzo of the Salamander.
"Lord Raikage," he said warmly, "it has been a long time!"
The Third Raikage laughed and clapped him on the shoulder. "Lord Amekage, have you come to greet me personally? There's no need to be so formal!"
Hanzo also recognized Dana in the group and greeted him as well. This young man, who had already shown such astonishing talent, had caused the "Night of the Purple Moon" in Konoha. Ninja valued strength above all else, and he no longer saw Yotsuki Dana as a junior, but as an equal.
The Cloud had responded enthusiastically, giving the Hidden Rain a great deal of face. Not only had they sent a large number of participants, but the Raikage himself had come. Hanzo, in turn, had to show sufficient respect. He had been waiting at the border for some time. The Land of Rain was not a large country.
"Is that the 'demigod' Hanzo, one of the Four Heroes of Mount Tenmoku?" the students in the back whispered in awe. "His mask is so cool!"
As a man who had fought alongside their own Raikage and had created a legendary feat of arms, Hanzo's reputation in the Cloud was not low.
"Don't forget, Lord Dana is also in the team," someone else said. "Three of the Four Heroes are here."
Hanzo greeted the Cloud's party at the border and then led them towards the Hidden Rain Village.
They then learned that the Cloud was not the first to arrive. Just as at the Six Kage Summit, the most distant of the villages, the Hidden Mist, had been the first.
"If they had come a few days earlier, the venue wouldn't have even been built," Hanzo said with a laugh. "It's probably because the Land of Water is so far away. They're afraid of being delayed by some accident, so they always set out extra early."
"Did the Fourth Mizukage come as well?" Dana asked.
"Yes," he said. "Lord Mizukage led the team himself."
Hanzo was very pleased. The Mizukage's presence was an unexpected bonus. All six of the villages were participating. Though the Kage of the Stone, the Leaf, and the Sand had not come, with the Raikage and the Mizukage, there were now three. It was enough. This would be a grand event, hosted by the Hidden Rain.
Under Hanzo's guidance, the Cloud's party arrived at the cliffside village of the Hidden Rain.
Though it was also built against a mountain, the style was completely different from the Cloud's. The Cloud occupied a large number of mountain peaks, while the Hidden Rain had built tall buildings on a single mountain. Both the rocks and the houses, soaked by the rain, were a dark, glossy black, giving the place a strange, solemn beauty.
The Hidden Rain had prepared a special area for the participating teams, on the southern side of the village. The participants from all the villages would live, eat, and train here. Esteemed guests like the Raikage and the Mizukage would be housed separately.
Of course, Dana was planning on staying with the participants. He was, after all, their leader.
The Cloud's participants followed their guide to their designated area. An entire building had been reserved for their use, with a dining hall and dormitories. It was clear that Hanzo had spared no expense.
The Hidden Rain was, in a way, a second home for the Cloud, and the passing ninja all greeted the participants with a friendly attitude.
"Ahead is the training ground," a Rain ninja guide said. "We've prepared three of them, each with a different function. They're open 24/7."
The Cloud's group looked over. It seemed that some of the Mist ninja were already training, and they quickly attracted everyone's attention.
But then Konan's face went pale. "Is that a Genin?" she said. "Isn't that a bit ridiculous?"
An incredibly tall figure was practicing his swordsmanship. A ridiculously long greatsword was flipping and spinning in his hands. Not only was the sword wide and long, but the man himself looked to be about two meters tall.
"That's the contestant from the Suikazan clan," the guide explained. "He's said to be sixteen."
That's sixteen?! He's almost as tall as the Raikage!
Many of them stared, dumbfounded, at the thick, wide blade that was slamming into the ground with a loud thud.
And that ferocious face... he looked like the kind of man who ate three babies for breakfast.
Even Dana was a little surprised. Suikazan? Was that Fuguki Suikazan? And that strange height, and the almost-round body... the art style was a bit too "One Piece" for him. His name is Suikazan (Watermelon Mountain), so he's shaped like a watermelon and as tall as a mountain?
The other person in the training ground looked much more normal. A pale, slender girl in a slightly loose-fitting kimono was standing quietly. Besides her strange, dot-like eyebrows, she was actually quite beautiful.
Just as many of the boys were lost in a daze, the pale girl moved.
She charged at Fuguki Suikazan, her movements nimble and soft as she dodged the incredibly dangerous blade. With her unique appearance, it looked like an ancient dance, and it attracted the attention of many of the boys.
And then, she touched her own arm.
A white bone shot out from her palm. From the shape, it seemed to be her own arm bone. It was still covered in blood. Without a moment's hesitation, she pulled the entire bone out, and it transformed into a bone sword. She then engaged him in battle.
More and more white bones began to protrude from her body. In a few moments, she looked like a monster. Her quiet demeanor was gone, replaced by a frenzied look. Her loose-fitting kimono was torn to shreds by the protruding bones. But all the male ninja who had been watching now had no such thoughts.
She was barely human anymore.
Her ribs were sticking out.
In comparison, Fuguki Suikazan's appearance was much more human. In fact, he looked almost... simple... in comparison.
"The Shikotsumyaku of the Kaguya clan," Dana mused, stroking his chin. "That is a surprise."