The owner of the Ninja Tools Store spoke arrogantly.
These finely crafted ninja tools were meant for the Hidden Sand Ninja, not for the poor ninjas of the Hidden Rain Village.
"Aren't you from the Land of Rain too? Why say such things?"
One person angrily questioned.
Although their poverty was the reason they couldn't afford it, being humiliated by someone from their own country stirred both anger and a sorrow over a nation in ruins.
Did he not feel any sense of belonging to this country?
"Hmph, the Land of Rain? I absolutely despise this weak country. Next month, I'll move to the Land of Wind, to live under the protection of a great nation."
"What?"
"The Daimyo and nobility care only for themselves, completely disregarding the life and death of us common folk. So why should I pay taxes for them to feast, drink, and frolic with women?"
The Ninja Tools Store owner spoke coldly.
He once believed the country would improve, but upon learning of the neglect by the Daimyo and nobility, hiding safely in the rearward, enjoying lavish food and play with beautiful women, his heart found no balance.
Such talk left Akatsuki members with no rebuttal.
"You should leave this country too; it's rotten to the core. Even the Daimyo and nobility yield to the Hidden Sand. You're young, no need to waste your lives here."
Looking at Yahiko and the others' youthful appearances, they seemed to be just under twenty years old.
The Ninja Tools Store owner gently sighed, no longer using harsh words.
"Sorry, we will not abandon this country."
Yahiko shook his head.
He glanced at the expensive price tags on various fine ninja tools. Though they could barely afford them, their money was needed to aid those living on the brink of life and death.
After all, their ninja tools, despite being somewhat worn, were still usable.
If only they could recruit someone skilled in repairing and maintaining ninja tools.
However, such talent most likely wouldn't hold their organization in high regard, would they?
After all, maintaining and repairing ninja tools requires very specialized personnel. In the Great Ninja Village, such talents are rare and heavily nurtured.
"A bunch of fools. This country is beyond saving."
With arms crossed, the Ninja Tools Store owner watched the backs of the youth gradually disappear into the rain, shaking his head with a sigh.
Leaving the city weighed heavily on Yahiko and his companions.
Though unpleasant, the words of the Ninja Tools Store owner reflected another serious issue.
The Land of Rain teetered on the brink of disintegration; the Daimyo and nobility's credibility had crumbled, with the Hidden Rain Village remaining silent throughout this Ninja Realm war.
An ominous feeling arose within Yahiko and the others.
If this corrupt influence continues to spread, the Land of Rain will cease to be a nation. Then will come a time of corpses scattered, blood flowing like rivers.
With heavy hearts, they ran through the rain.
"Big brother, that..."
An Akatsuki ninja pointed ahead, seeming to have noticed something strange.
The group looked up, their expressions suddenly changing.
Ahead, an exposed village in the heavy rain was ablaze, flames so fierce that even the rain couldn't extinguish the fiery sea.
Thick black smoke surged toward the sky.
"Go!"
They sped up their pace, quickly reaching the burning village.
Bodies, many bodies appeared on muddy paths, at windows, rooftops, beside walls.
Elderly, women, children, none survived.
It wasn't caused by battle, but by a slaughter.
A massacre where the strength was incredibly mismatched.
Yahiko crouched down, his expression mournful as he gazed at an elderly corpse lying on the ground, holding a child whose body had become cold.
Yahiko opened the elderly man's tightly clenched hand, causing a few grains of raw rice to fall immediately.
One could imagine, the elderly man was killed cruelly by looters while trying to reclaim his life-saving food.
"Did bandits do it?"
"No, it was done by ninjas! There were quite a few robust adults in this village; looking at the marks, the fight ended in less than a minute. After our internal cleanup, there aren't many powerful bandit groups left in the Land of Rain."
Yahiko's voice rang out firmly, fists clenching tightly.
Was it Konoha's ninjas... or the Hidden Sand ninjas?
Why do such a thing?
What did these innocent villagers do wrong?
Robbing food is one thing, but why ruthlessly strip away life as well?
Countless questions lingered in Yahiko's mind, as confusion and anger brewed within him.