radicalducati Chapter 144 The Dawn is About to Fade
Chapter 144 The Dawn is About to Fade
Chapter 144 The Dawn is About to Fade Away
Kikyoyama Castle, Sunagakure Command Post.
Yura knelt before Rasa, head bowed, her body trembling slightly.
"Fourth Hokage, your subordinates are incompetent—"
Luo Sha listened to Yura's report with a blank expression, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
"The Akatsuki?"
He pondered the name, his brow furrowing slightly.
How dare a mercenary organization from the Land of Rain interfere in the internal affairs of Sunagakure and rescue an S-rank rogue ninja from Sunagakure?
No, that's not right.
Could this be Hanzo's signal?
Even Rasa's eyelids twitched at the thought of the man hailed as a demigod.
That man known as a demigod, the one who single-handedly fought against Konoha, Sunagakure, and...
A terrifying force that remained standing despite the clashes between the three great ninja villages of Iwagakure.
That man known as a demigod, the one who single-handedly fought against Konoha, Sunagakure, and...
A terrifying force that remained standing despite the clashes between the three great ninja villages of Iwagakure.
If Hanzo truly intends to join the war, and his target is Sunagakure—
That would be a huge problem.
Although he was annoyed that Yekura had been rescued, it would be a loss if it attracted Hanzo's attention or even hostility.
"Fourth Boss, should we send someone to investigate that Akatsuki organization and bring back Yotsuya?" Yura asked cautiously.
"No need."
Luo Sha waved his hand, his tone returning to calm.
"He's just a rogue ninja; he's escaped, so be it. Our priority now is to stabilize the front lines against Konoha, not to get involved in the mess that is the Land of Rain for the sake of Pakura."
"However, Akatsuki—remember that name. An organization that can give that blue-haired woman such power is definitely not an ordinary mercenary group."
"Send someone to investigate secretly, but don't alert anyone, especially don't attract Hanzo's attention."
"yes!"
Yura felt as if he had been granted a pardon and quickly withdrew.
Luo Sha stood alone by the window, gazing at the distant horizon where yellow sand filled the sky, his brow furrowed.
The unusual activity in the rain was clearly not ordinary.
Back then, in order to fight for peace and autonomy, Hanzo spared no expense and fought to that extent during the Second Shinobi World War.
Later, everyone respected the strength of the demigods and treated them with respect. Therefore, even though the three wars had reached this point and the Land of Rain was located at the intersection of the ninja worlds, they did not invade in the slightest.
The war in the ninja world is now escalating, with major nations suffering heavy casualties and losing more than one-tenth of their strength.
Could it be that Hanzo is trying to use this opportunity to enter the fray?
The land of rain.
This place is shrouded in rain all year round. The sky is gray and the drizzle is like endless tears, falling on this war-torn land.
Inside a small tavern hidden in the rain.
Yahiko stood by the window, looking at the rain outside, his eyes flashing with a complex light.
-
"Konan brought back a Sand Village ninja?"
"Um.
"6
Nagato's voice came from behind, his expression somewhat wistful: "It's the Sunagakure's Scorching Release user. Konan said that person was betrayed by Sunagakure, and her eyes—are very similar to ours back then."
Yahiko nodded.
"Since Xiaonan thinks she deserves to be saved, then let her stay. Our Akatsuki was originally created to shelter those harmed by war."
Nagato didn't say much. He remained as taciturn as ever, his long red hair covering most of his face and also obscuring his eyes, which were capable of changing the world.
"Oh, right, Nagato." Yahiko suddenly turned around, a smile on his face, "Do you remember that businessman named Shimizu Makoto?"
Nagato paused slightly, the image of the ordinary merchant in the border town of Taki no Kami who had smiled and stared at him while handing out eggs flashing through his mind.
"Remember."
"I've been thinking about what he told me back then." Yahiko's gaze deepened. "He said that peace needs strength to protect it, a shield and a sword. I didn't fully understand then, but now—"
He looked out the window at the land soaked by the rain.
During this period, he traveled extensively, lobbying and making efforts for peace, but with little success.
Those ninja forces didn't care about what they were saying at all. When the civilians saw that they were ninjas, they panicked and ran away in fear.
Even the egg trick became ineffective as wars continued to break out.
In this world, Konoha and Iwagakure are fighting tooth and nail for resources. Kumogakure, desperate to turn the tide, is even trying to seize control of the Jashin Cult. Sunagakure is willing to betray its heroes without hesitation for the sake of so-called profit!
In such a world, it's really hard to move forward with just ideas.
"Yahiko, what do you want to do?"
"I think----"
Yahiko took a deep breath, a determined light shining in his eyes.
"Make Akatsuki stronger. Not just stronger in its ideals, but stronger in its power. We must become a force that no power dares to provoke easily, and then use that power to protect what truly needs to be protected."
He turned around and looked at Nagato.
"Nagato, you'll help me, won't you?"
Nagato remained silent for a moment, then finally nodded slightly.
"Um."
Yahiko flashed a bright smile and patted Nagato's shoulder forcefully.
"Good brother!"
Just then, a figure silently appeared in the shadows of the room.
That was an outer member of the Akatsuki organization, responsible for intelligence gathering.
"Lord Yahiko, we have important information."
"explain."
"Lord Hanzo said that for the sake of a peaceful future, he has agreed to your visit."
The rain fell like a curtain, pattering softly against the eaves.
The moment Yahiko heard the news, his eyes suddenly lit up with a brilliant light, unable to hide his excitement.
"Lord Hanzo—has he agreed?!"
That's Hanzo!
The man hailed as a demigod, the absolute ruler of the Land of Rain, the legendary figure who single-handedly stood against the three great ninja villages of Konoha, Sunagakure, and Iwagakure during the Second Shinobi World War!
If they could gain Hanzo's support, Akatsuki's ideals could truly take root and flourish in the war-torn Land of Rain, and even—spread throughout the entire ninja world!
"This—Chief, please calm down."
The ninja hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Lord Hanzo's reputation hasn't been very good lately."
"Hahaha, I know what you're worried about. But think about it, Lord Hanzo is, after all, the leader of the Land of Rain. More than anyone else, he wants the Land of Rain to be at peace and to be free from the bullying of powerful nations. Our ideals and our goals are aligned with his!"
"and."
Yahiko paused, his eyes gleaming with anticipation: "If even Lord Hanzo is willing to support us, doesn't that prove that our path is correct?"
Nagato, who was standing to the side, did not speak.
Actually, he wanted to say something. What this person said was true; Hanzo's reputation was really not good now. Things in this world are not that simple.
But looking into Yahiko's clear and determined eyes, Nagato ultimately said nothing.
"If you've made up your mind, then I'll go with you."
Yahiko patted Nagato's shoulder hard, his smile bright.
"Good brother!"
He turned to look at the intelligence officer.
"Did Lord Hanzo specify when and where we should meet?"
"Three days later, in the northern back mountains of the Land of Rain. Only core members of Akatsuki are allowed to go, with a maximum of three people."
"Three people————"
Yahiko thought for a moment, "Then let's make it the three of us. Me, Nagato, and Konan. We'll set off once Konan gets back!"
"yes!"
S-rank rogue ninja, Scorching Release user Yekura!
The news spread like wildfire throughout the entire ninja world in just a few days.
Konoha, Iwagakure, Kumogakure ———
Intelligence departments in all the major ninja villages are frantically gathering relevant information, trying to glean insights into the power shifts within Sunagakure and their potential impact on the war's overall situation.
The battlefield of Iwagakure, the Konoha front-line command post.
Akimichi Torifu frowned as he looked at the intelligence scroll in his hand.
"What the hell is Sunagakure up to?" He handed the scroll to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Pakura is a hero of Sunagakure. The destructive power of her Blaze Release on the battlefield is undeniable. To declare her an S-rank rogue ninja and issue a worldwide warrant for her arrest at this time, has Rasa lost his mind?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi took the scroll, quickly glanced through it, and frowned deeply.
"Ye Cang's assassination attempt on Feng Ying failed, and he fled to escape punishment."
"That's a rather perfunctory reason."
"It's not just a perfunctory response, it's like they're treating us like fools." A Jonin from the Inuzuka clan sneered, "Putting aside whether Yekura would assassinate the newly appointed Fourth Kazekage for no reason, everyone knows the current situation in Sunagakure. If they want to continue this war, they can't afford to waste a combat power of Yekura's caliber."
"There must be some conspiracy involved!"
Upon hearing this, many people in the tent nodded in agreement.
Despite losing more than winning in the war against Konoha, Sunagakure continued to amass troops at Kikyoyama Castle, clearly indicating their intention to continue the war.
Under these circumstances, how could they possibly give up on someone with Yekura's level of combat power!
"Is it possible that this is a power struggle?"
Orochimaru slowly spoke, licking his lips: "Back when I was on the front lines in Sunagakure, those guys weren't all of one mind."
""
Oh?
Orochimaru's words immediately drew the attention of many people.
Everyone present was a ninja who had experienced countless political struggles and battlefield battles, so they naturally understood what Orochimaru meant.
Power struggles, internal purges, political sacrifices.
Such things are not uncommon in any ninja village.
"That kid Rasa, he's already turning on his own people the moment he takes over?" Akimichi Torifu shook his head. "Isn't he afraid of internal demoralization within Sunagakure and a collapse at the front lines?"
"Whether it's a power struggle or a political purge, it's all the same."
Hiruzen Sarutobi put down the intelligence scroll and said in a deep voice, "Whether Pakura's defection is true or false, we cannot let our guard down in Sunagakure. However, our primary task is to stabilize the battlefield in Iwagakure."
"Danzo has already sent a message; he has persuaded Hanzo. It won't be long before Hanzo attacks the Iwagakure supply line on the Amakusa border!"
"Hanzo?!"
"Has the demigod Hanzo Kijima agreed to form an alliance with our world? As expected of Lord Danzo!"
A gasp of surprise rippled through the command center.
For every Konoha ninja present, the name Hanzo meant much more than just being powerful.
During the Second Shinobi World War, that man single-handedly fought against the combined forces of the three great ninja villages, pulling the Land of Rain back from the brink of being divided up.
After that battle, the name of Hanzo resounded throughout the ninja world. Even figures like the Third Raikage and the Third Tsuchikage had to acknowledge Hanzo's terrifying strength. And the legendary Sannin of Konoha, who shook the ninja world, were not merely endowed with the title of demigod.
"Hanzo Kiji is willing to help—"
Akimichi Torifu's face showed disbelief, but even more so excitement: "If the demigod can really cut off Iwagakure's supply lines, then the situation in this war will be completely reversed!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, but Xinyan was also curious.
What exactly did Danzo promise to Hanzo that made him take action?
"Given Danzo's style, it's probably not as simple as just 'conditions'." Orochimaru licked his lips, a playful glint in his eyes: "In any case, getting someone of Hanzo's caliber involved in the war is indeed great news for our world."
"good."
Hiruzen Sarutobi said in a deep voice, "The most urgent task right now is to stabilize the Iwagakure front."
"Order all units to strengthen their defenses and closely monitor developments at the Ame-Kusa border. If Hanzo makes a move, our forces must seize the opportunity immediately and deliver a fatal blow to Iwagakure!"
"yes!"
Meanwhile, on the Hidden Cloud Battlefield.
Ai looked at the intelligence report in his hand, his brows furrowing into a knot.
"What is Sunagakure up to?"
He glanced at the earthen platform beside him and said in a deep voice, "I've met Ye Cang, and she doesn't seem like the kind of person who would assassinate the Wind Shadow. Besides, with that greenhorn Luo Sha who just entered the palace, it's hard to say who would win if they really fought."
"Based on intelligence analysis, this is very likely Rasa using this opportunity to eliminate dissidents," Tsuchita said in a deep voice. "Yakura has extremely high prestige within Sunagakure, especially among the lower-ranking ninjas. For Rasa, who has just taken power and whose foundation is not yet stable, she is indeed a threat."
"Purge dissidents?"
Ai snorted. The first battle that sparked the Ninja World War in his lifetime was against Sunagakure.
They originally wanted to seize the perfect opportunity presented by the Third Kazekage's disappearance, but damn it, they were defeated before they could even cross the first narrow pass.
Unexpectedly, a few years later, Sunagakure cut off its own arm.
When you fought with me, why didn't you cut off your own arm?
"Sunagakure, Iwagakure, Konoha—no matter how you look at it, this is not a bad thing for my Shikumogakure."
Ai asked in a deep voice, "How's the situation at the front?"
"They defended very tenaciously, mainly because there were too many and too strong successors from other worlds, and their counterattacks were too powerful." Tu Tai shook his head and said, "Especially the Byakugan; our world's actions simply couldn't escape the detection of other worlds."
"But once the action is exposed," our attack will encounter great resistance, so...
1
"asshole!"
Ai Yikang smashed the table in front of him.
The same thing happened when Toki fought Minato Namikaze's other world. Toki used his Byakugan to see through things, and then used Minato's space-time ninjutsu to intercept and restrict him at every turn.
Unexpectedly, even though Minato Namikaze is no longer here, Konoha still relies on the Byakugan to defend itself as solid as a rock!
"A hateful eye roll—"
Ai's expression was gloomy.
The Hidden Cloud Village is quite strong, and its overall foundation ranks among the top in the ninja world, but it lacks successors.
Konoha possesses the Byakugan and Sharingan, the ability to control the five senses, and two of the three great dojutsu of the ninja world. They even have a legendary successor, Wood Release.
Mist Concealment, Ice Release, Lava Release, Boiling Release, Corpse Bone Pulse—and now there's God's Hand, a continuation technique that's practically a bug!
The Sand Village and Rock Village each have their own lineages, such as Magnet Release, Scorch Release, and Swift Release, and there are even lineages that are carved above the lineage limits!
Only the clouds remain!
The bloodline limit of Kumogakure is extremely rare; at most, there is only one Storm Release technique.
While other clans also possess techniques like Magnet Release and Lava Release, most of these clans were individuals captured or recruited by the Third Raikage over the years, making them incomparable to these clans.
"Is there any way to limit the disdain from those in the next life?"
Ai calmed down and asked the earthen platform.
After pondering for a moment, Tu Tai shook his head.
"According to the history of Kirigakure, there is a type of legion called Red-Eye that is specifically designed to limit the Byakugan, but even in Kirigakure, that type of legion is almost extinct."
"In this Shinobi World War, Kirigakure's fight against Konoha still relied on Makoto Karatachi's God Hand—not to mention in the history of Kumogakure in our world, there is also a successor that can be compared with the Byakugan and Sharingan."
"What?!"
Ai's eyes widened.
Does our Cloud Village have such an awesome bloodline existence?
"What kind of technique is this? How can it rival the three great dojutsu?! Could it be the Rinnegan?!"
The only thing Ai could think of that could rival the three great eye techniques was the three great eye techniques.
The Byakugan and Sharingan are both in Konoha. Could it be that the last pair of Rinnegan exists in my Hidden Cloud Village?
Ai Xin was restless and Tu Tai was speechless.
If I, Shi Yunyin, had the Rinnegan, would this war have turned out like this?
They should have just pushed it all over by now!
"It's not the Rinnegan, but a type of eye technique called the Dragon Eye."
"Dragon eye?"
Ai looked puzzled.
His servant had never heard of such a technique before, and judging from the name, it was a kind of pupil technique.
According to historical records, during the Warring States period, Longyan was a prominent clan in the country of Shilei.
Tsuchida recalled, "They not only possessed powerful perception that was no less than that of the Sharingan, but they could also manipulate blood and create human bombs, making them extremely powerful in combat."
"In his previous lives, he fought against the Uchiha clan multiple times and was in no way inferior. During the Warring States period, he even possessed strength comparable to the Uchiha!"
Holy crap, that's amazing?
The prestige of the Sengoku Uchiha clan is undeniable; even A had to acknowledge their strength.
Compared to them, the Yotsuki clan of another world was nothing more than an insignificant little ninja clan.
Even the Lin Ding clan, the ninja clan to which Kinkaku and Ginkaku belong, is inferior to the Uchiha Senju by three points.
But now Tsuchikage says that there is such a ninja clan in the Land of Lightning, which really surprised A.
"Where is he now in the next life? Why is there such a ninja clan in my Land of Lightning, yet I have not heard of it?"
Ai couldn't help but ask.
"Well."
Tu Taimian said awkwardly, "Because of some, uh, power struggles, this ninja clan was suppressed by the daimyo during the Warring States period."
"ha?"
"I don't know the specifics, but what I read in my servant's ancient books is that the daughter of the clan chief married into the family of the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning as a concubine. The girl was gentle and beautiful, but she was envied by the first wife. Not long after the Daimyo married the girl, he died of illness."
"Later, the concubine was defamed by the principal wife and it was related to the daimyo's return, so the entire ninja clan was exiled to Hell Valley — by the way, at that time, the Uchiha clan was the one guarding the Me no Ike clan."
"6
'
What the hell are you even talking about?!
"Wait, you mean exile?"
"That's right." Tu Tai nodded and said in a deep voice, "My idea is that you, Lord Ai, could send someone to search for this race near Hell Valley."
"If anyone else survives, then Lord Ai, you can negotiate with the daimyo and gain control of this power!"
"Is that so?"
Ai looked slightly disappointed.
Love is still an uncertain thing.
It doesn't matter if it doesn't work out, but if it does, it would definitely be a major boost for the Cloud Village!
"I will send people to search Hell Valley, not just the earthen platform. Keep a close eye on the front lines as well. News from the black market says the Hyuga main family can't withstand the pressure and has sent people to the front lines. If there's an opportunity, we must not miss it!"
"Yes, Lord Ai!"
Ai Kang clenched his fists, his eyes resolute.
"Sooner or later, my Cloud Village will have its own Byakugan!"