Naruto:Suna Shinobi

The Land of Rain—also known as the Land of Weeping—was a nation defined by its ceaseless downpour. From a geographical and climatic perspective, the reason for its excessive rainfall was simple: the surrounding mountain ranges blocked the ocean monsoon winds, causing water vapor to accumulate and condense above its lands.

To the southwest, the Land of Rain bordered the Land of Wind, where a massive mountain range extended southward, surrounding nearly half of the Wind Country's territory. To the north, the towering mountains and plateaus of the Land of Earth further obstructed the flow of water vapor. Additionally, the Rain Country's terrain was lower than that of the Fire Country and the Grass Country to the east, causing moisture-heavy clouds to converge over its lands, making it the wettest region in the entire ninja world.

"Finally, I'm setting foot in the Land of Rain again," Hirito muttered, trudging through the muddy ground while carrying a sealing scroll. He followed the main force, his teammates Pakura and Baki walking beside him.

Pakura wrung out the wet sleeves of her outfit, glancing at the gray skies. "The water resources here are still as abundant as ever," she noted. "Last year, I came here for a few supply escort missions, and even then, I thought to myself—if only we could dig a massive river to connect this land with our village."

Baki, carrying a large waterproof backpack, nodded thoughtfully. "I suppose I'm the only one here who has never been to the Land of Rain. Before joining this squad, my missions mostly involved delivering supplies to the western border outposts. But, Pakura, you have a point. If we could construct a large canal connecting our village to this country, it could solve our water shortage problem and revolutionize the transportation of goods and troops. The potential for trade and agriculture would be immense!"

Hirito listened to their conversation while mentally mapping the terrain around them. "It's a good idea in theory," he admitted, "but not practical at the moment. Constructing a canal—while easier with ninja labor—would still cost an enormous amount of money and manpower. More importantly, it would be a military vulnerability."

Pakura raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Hirito glanced at her. "Think about it—if we build a canal and someone contaminates the water, poisons it, or even dams the flow to flood our lands, the consequences would be devastating. For ordinary civilians who rely on the river, such sabotage could lead to famine and economic collapse. If we want to build something like this, we need to control the upstream regions as well."

Baki and Pakura exchanged glances, momentarily stunned by Hirito's insightful analysis.

We all studied geography in the Ninja Academy… so why is it only Hirito who can think this deeply?

At the front of the formation, Chiyo listened in on the conversation, nodding approvingly. He truly is my disciple!

Just then, Feng Shang Qianlan appeared with a few quick leaps, landing lightly beside Chiyo. "Master Chiyo," he reported, "we scouted ahead. The ruins of Gray Rain Town show no signs of enemy activity—only a few refugees remain."

"Then we'll set up camp there," Chiyo decided. "As for the refugees, give each one two days' worth of rations and send them northward."

This decision was strategic. Intelligence reports suggested that Konoha and Amegakure had bases to the south and east, while Iwagakure held the northern territories. By directing the refugees north, Chiyo ensured that Konoha would come into contact with them first. This would mislead Konoha regarding Sunagakure's movements and buy time to strengthen their own position.

If Chiyo had been more ruthless, she could have ordered the elimination of the refugees to prevent leaks. However, such actions—if carried out openly—would violate the unspoken rules of war, drawing unwanted attention.

That being said, if Chiyo truly wanted to ensure secrecy, she could easily send ANBU operatives to hunt them down later.

Of course, Konoha's intelligence network—which included the Yamanaka, Hyuga, Aburame, and Inuzuka Clans—was formidable enough to uncover Sunagakure's main camp eventually. The refugees were just an added layer of misdirection.

But this was none of Hirito's concern.

Even as Chiyo's disciple, he was still only a Chunin—far from the level where his input would influence high-level war strategy.

Establishing the Camp

Upon arrival, the first priority was fortifying the encampment.

Those with Wind Release cut down trees for materials. Those with Earth Release constructed defensive walls. Watchtowers and other fortifications were erected with efficiency, showcasing the organized discipline of Sunagakure's forces.

Once their defenses were complete, Team 9 was assigned a new task.

"Qianlan," Chiyo called. "Once you're done, take your team to the logistics department. I need someone reliable to oversee supply inventory."

Hirito immediately understood—this was a protective measure.

Managing logistics meant staying away from the frontlines. While not completely safe, it was far less dangerous than direct combat. After all, enemy forces often targeted supply lines. If the main camp fell, then everyone, including Hirito, would be at risk.

The initial fortifications were completed within a few hours.

But just as Hirito entered the logistics department, urgent orders came from Chiyo:

"Immediately verify and distribute gas masks and antidote pills—

The enemy has arrived."

Hanzo of the Salamander

Hirito's eyes narrowed.

They had expected Konoha's forces to attack first.

Instead, it was Amegakure—led by none other than Hanzo of the Salamander.

As the warlord of Amegakure, Hanzo's intelligence network was superior to Konoha's, allowing him to intercept Sunagakure's forces before the Leaf Village could react.

His strength was unmatched.

In terms of raw combat ability, Hanzo was on par with the Five Kage.

A master of Ninjutsu, especially Water Release, combined with superior swordsmanship, blazing speed, and unparalleled battle instincts—he was one of the most feared shinobi of his generation.

But what made him truly terrifying was his poison-based abilities.

His summon, the Salamander, could release deadly poison capable of wiping out entire battalions. Hanzo himself had glands implanted into his body, continuously emitting toxic fumes that could kill anyone who dared to approach him without proper protection.

Just hearing his name made seasoned warriors shudder.

(End of this chapter)

Update Schedule: 7 Chapter/week.

Every 300 Power Stones+1 (5 ⭐ Review)

= 1 Chapter+1Chapter

By voting with [power stones], you can easily get double the number of chapters