Naruto: How to Be an Undercover Shinobi

A lone figure trudged across the endless desert.

Wearing a white headscarf and hood, he left deep footprints in the sand with every step.

This was the Land of Wind, where sandstorms howled year-round and drought ruled the land.

Even during the first Five Kage Summit, when the First Kazekage chose to accept only Shukaku instead of two Tailed Beasts in exchange for more resources, the country remained just as barren.

Their greatest shortage? Water.

Unlike the other great nations, the Daimyō of the Land of Wind didn't live in a separate city. Instead, he resided year-round in Sunagakure.

That was also Reiji's destination—Sunagakure, Land of Wind.

He had a lucrative offer he wanted to discuss with the Daimyō.

Just as Reiji neared Sunagakure, several shinobi wearing its forehead protectors appeared in front of him.

"Traveler in the desert, state your business!" a rough voice called out.

"I'm the Daimyō of the Land of Rain, here to visit your Daimyō."

Reiji set down his pack and produced a name card. In an ornate, elegant script, it read: Reiji Sakuhō.

It was a specialized font, studied only by a select few officials working close to the Daimyō.

As for why it wasn't Dan Shimura's name on it—that was part of the ruse Reiji had used to fool the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

The Sunagakure shinobi were visibly startled. Their tone immediately shifted as one stepped forward to take the card.

"Please wait here. I'll report to the captain."

"Go ahead," Reiji nodded.

The ninja left. Before long, an official in a long earth-toned robe and tall hat rushed over. Bowing politely, he greeted Reiji with enthusiasm.

"May I confirm—you are the Daimyō of the Land of Rain?"

Reiji smiled and nodded.

"May I see the abdication document?"

"Of course."

Reiji produced the contract he had signed with Daimyō Ametsu and handed it over.

The official quickly scanned the scroll, his expression soon turning to a pleased smile.

With that, he led Reiji into the village—which looked unmistakably poor.

Soon, they reached a fat man dressed in a green robe, a fan-shaped ornament atop his head.

The Daimyō of the Land of Wind had two curled mustaches and a plump, smiling face. He warmly grabbed Reiji's hand.

Not because Reiji held great status, but because the Land of Wind desperately needed something from the Land of Water.

The previous Rain Daimyō had been a diehard fan of the Fire Daimyō, which led to one predictable outcome:

Rain's water always flowed to the Land of Fire, nourishing its lush lands.

And the Land of Wind? They could only watch as Rain's downpours filled others' fields—not a drop for them.

And the shinobi of Sunagakure?

Excellent in battle.

But ask them to plant trees or dig canals? Impossible.

Sunagakure lay deep in the desert. Poor leadership and low productivity meant that even with a water-rich neighbor like the Land of Rain, they couldn't access a single drop.

That was precisely why Reiji had come.

His plan? Dig canals, bring water to the Land of Wind. In short—sell water.

The two Daimyōs hit it off and quickly signed a fair contract.

The Land of Rain would provide manpower and technical support to divert water.

In return, the Land of Wind would pay an annual fee and guarantee the safety of Rain's citizens during construction.

In the spacious reception hall, Reiji and the Daimyō of the Land of Wind talked at length.

At the end, Reiji made one final request.

When the time was right, Sunagakure would stage an "attack" on the Land of Rain.

On the surface, it would appear as an invasion. In truth, it would serve to evacuate all the Land of Rain civilians into the Land of Wind.

These evacuees would become the initial workforce for the water project.

The Daimyō of the Land of Wind pounded his chest in agreement. Though he couldn't directly command shinobi,

when it came to money—and giving the Land of Wind a new lifeline—he was confident the Third Kazekage would go along with it.

The meeting ended shortly after.

Reiji politely declined the Daimyō's dinner invitation, left a Flying Thunder God marker, and returned to Konoha.

Back home, Reiji sat on the veranda, staring at the quiet courtyard and mapping out his next move.

The shinobi world looked peaceful on the surface, but beneath, it simmered with hidden danger.

Massive economic loss would inevitably shake politics.

And problems politics couldn't fix? They would lead to war.

Right now, the entire shinobi world was like a barrel packed with gunpowder—just one spark could blow it apart.

Reiji had taken in a flood of refugees. For the rich—left with no one to exploit—it was driving them mad.

In Reiji's plan, that volatile force would be unleashed on Amegakure.

What he wanted was a cleansed Land of Rain—washed by a downpour, worthy of protection.

If all his subordinates were like that scumbag Onoton, then he'd rather destroy the village than keep it.

War would weed them out.

Reiji's plan went further—burn the entire village to the ground.

He didn't want a single survivor—be they shinobi, officials, or commoners already twisted by Hanzō of the Salamander's rule.

Of course, Hanzō was still a useful asset.

Reiji would use him until death—and even then, resurrect him with Impure World Reincarnation to continue serving.

That's why he relocated the refugees and the Land of Rain citizens to the Land of Wind.

This land was about to be reborn, its sins purged in the flames of war.

After all, Reiji was just an ordinary shinobi. No great backing, no elite subordinates. He had to rely on borrowed strength.

That thought filled him with drive.

Once the war ended,

he would secretly control the Land of Rain and rebuild Amegakure.

Then he'd lure in a flood of people—all the Uchiha, Uzumaki, Senju, Hyūga—forcing them to discard their surnames and repopulate the village.

Leadership would be decided with fists. Reiji himself would guide from the shadows, shaping the village's growth.

When the Second Great Ninja War broke out, his village would rise—fists to Konoha, boots to Ōnoki's face. If the Kazekage dared oppose him, he'd cut off their water.

Winning didn't matter—momentum was everything!

And finally, he'd have Hanzō beat the crap out of Jiraiya, Orochimaru, and Tsunade.

Just the thought made his brain tingle with joy.