The Agakure Hidden Rain Village belonged to the Land of Rain, a nation trapped between the borders of the Land of Earth, the Land of Wind, and the Land of Fire.
The country itself was not powerful.
In fact, it could even be considered weak.
However—
Agakure possessed one shinobi whose na shook the entire ninja world.
Hanzo of the Salamander.
Known as the "Demigod."
During the Second Great Ninja War, the middle-aged Hanzo had completely overwheld Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade in battle.
Even the title "Legendary Sannin of Konoha" had been granted by Hanzo himself.
Strength was the foundation of everything.
Even within a weak village like Agakure, Hanzo's reputation alone was enough to deter shinobi from the Great Nations from daring to stir trouble here.
Rain fell endlessly over Agakure year-round.
The entire village was perpetually shrouded in damp mist and dense rainfall.
At this mont—
Two uninvited guests wearing black cloaks embroidered with red clouds and bamboo hats quietly stepped into the village.
"The rain..."
The mont one of them was touched by the falling droplets, he frowned slightly, as though sensing sothing strange.
His eyes were wrapped in black cloth.
Judging by his facial structure and brows, he was not very old.
Yet the exposed skin on his face possessed an unnatural pale complexion.
"It's a ninjutsu disguised as rain."
His masked companion answered casually, unconcerned.
"It functions similarly to Konoha's barrier system. Anyone touched by the rain can be sensed by that person."
"A ninjutsu?"
Even beneath the blindfold, the first man still seed to be observing his surroundings carefully.
"A sensory technique covering an entire village on this scale... just how enormous is the user's chakra...?"
Before he could finish marveling—
Soone had already arrived using the Body Flicker Technique.
It was a woman.
Her short dark-blue hair lacked brightness, but her exquisite features combined with her cold expression created a chilling kind of beauty.
Like the two visitors, she too wore the black cloak embroidered with red clouds.
"It's you."
The woman frowned slightly upon seeing the masked man.
"Take us to him."
The masked man's voice subtly shifted, becoming lower and deeper.
"There's work to assign to you all."
"...Follow ."
The woman nodded before leading the two deeper into the center of the village.
The most prosperous area of Agakure lay at the village center.
It looked little different from any other comrcial street—
Except for the fact that it lacked prosperity.
The blindfolded man observed everything around him without restraint.
To ordinary people, a blindfolded person "looking around" appeared rather strange.
But after seeing the blue-haired woman leading them, no one dared comnt.
Passing through the village center and continuing inward, they eventually arrived before a tall elevated structure.
Only here could one truly overlook the entirety of Agakure.
Just like the Demigod Hanzo once had.
Standing here, he had ruled and monitored the entire village.
The woman brought the pair to the entrance of a secluded courtyard.
After walking through a dim corridor, they finally reached the top platform.
There—
An orange-haired man stood with his back toward them, silently observing the rain-soaked village beneath.
"...The fact that you ca this ti ans you finally have confidence?"
As the group approached, the orange-haired man slowly turned around.
The sight was horrifying.
Several black rod-like piercings protruded from his nose and ears.
His expression was cold and lifeless.
But the thing that drew the most attention—
Was his eyes.
Concentric ripple patterns spiraled within his pupils, as though capable of seeing through all things in existence.
"You know him already, Pain."
The masked man stepped forward and leaned casually against the wall before pointing toward the blindfolded figure.
"Here's the organization's newest mber."
"Shisui Uchiha."
"Shisui of the Body Flicker from Konoha?"
The blue-haired woman gasped softly upon hearing the na.
anwhile, Shisui Uchiha himself was equally shocked.
He recognized those eyes.
The legendary Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths!
Pain looked calmly at the blindfolded Shisui.
"A mber of Konoha's Uchiha Clan?"
Without warning—
Pain attacked.
Yet at the very instant Pain moved, Shisui's figure had already vanished from where he stood.
A shuriken suddenly sliced through the air toward Pain's forehead!
However—
Before the weapon could even approach Pain, it seed to strike an invisible force.
The shuriken was violently repelled and sent flying back even faster toward Shisui himself.
But Shisui's Body Flicker Technique was worthy of its legendary reputation.
Almost the instant the shuriken rebounded, his figure vanished again.
This ti—
He appeared directly behind Pain.
His hands had already completed the Tiger seal.
A Fire Release hand sign!
Seeing this, the blue-haired woman imdiately prepared to intervene.
But Pain spoke calmly:
"Konan. Don't interfere."
Konan halted her movent.
Pain slowly turned around.
And Shisui released his hand seals.
Throughout the entire exchange, the masked man remained silent, rely observing everything unfold from beginning to end.
"A refined Body Flicker Technique."
Pain stared at Shisui indifferently.
"But if this is all your full strength amounts to..."
"Then dying here would probably be less painful for you."
After saying that, Pain lost interest in him entirely and instead looked toward the masked man.
"You're certain adding him will be enough to deal with the Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist?"
"Don't forget how you barely escaped last ti."
"Hmph."
The masked man snorted coldly.
"I still don't know why the beast inside his body beca so much stronger than before, but..."
"It's only at that level."
"Last ti, he rely pretended to still be under my genjutsu and launched a sneak attack."
"This ti, he won't get another opportunity."
"It doesn't matter."
Pain interrupted him.
"If you think it's enough, then that's fine."
"Sa as before."
"I'll restrain the Hidden Mist shinobi and provide cover."
"You and him will complete the tailed beast capture mission."
"If you fail again this ti..."
"I'll personally handle it myself."
"Of course."
The masked man seed completely unbothered by Pain's leader-like attitude.
"But considering the tailed beast's real power exceeded previous intelligence, Akatsuki's current combat strength is clearly insufficient."
Turning toward Konan, he continued:
"Konan, speed up the recruitnt of new mbers."
"..."
Clearly disliking hearing him address her so casually, Konan glanced coldly toward both the masked man and Shisui.
"Just focus on your own tasks."
After the discussion ended—
The masked man and Shisui Uchiha departed Agakure under the cover of night, beginning their journey toward the Land of Water.
"You don't seem to possess the authority within the organization that you claid you did."
Even while blindfolded, Shisui moved through the darkness without issue.
"At least the two mbers we t today clearly don't like you very much."
"Of course not."
The masked man suddenly stopped midway through their travel and casually examined the surrounding terrain.
"After all..."
"Our relationship is nothing more than mutual exploitation."
Then he spoke again calmly:
"We'll rest here tonight."
"I'm tired."
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