This Weeping Country

The Land of Rain, with its terrible terrain and the Shinobi World's unscientific climate, was drenched in rain year-round.

This nation seemed like an abandoned child of the Sage of Six Paths; no one could hear its sorrowful cries. The unending rain had stripped the country of all vitality.

Marshes and wetlands covered this land, where neither food crops nor cash crops could survive properly.

The houses that had been built were rusted and mottled. Only a few specially treated high-rises still retained normal structures.

Industrial equipment was even less worth mentioning. No steel construct could endure the ceaseless erosion of moisture year after year.

This was a slowly dying Hell on earth, with no hope in sight.

The Land of Rain barely survived through massive imports. Food, industrial goods, and daily necessities all depended on supplies from the Land of Fire.

The ninjas could only eat the scraps left behind by Konoha and Sunagakure Ninja, selling their cheap labor in exchange for meager wages.

The civilians were treated even more like beasts of burden. In this Shinobi World, trying to flee the Land of Rain and settle in the Land of Fire as a civilian was a crime punishable by death.

This damned Shinobi World... it really is unbearable to watch, Hanma thought with a faint sigh.

In a world of superhuman power, talking about equality truly seemed somewhat redundant.

But ninjas, who were born with such tremendous productivity, should have found it easy enough to let ordinary people eat their fill.

Unfortunately, the Shinobi World's rotten systems and insatiably greedy nobles had still created one human tragedy after another.

After reflecting for a moment, Hanma reined in his presence.

Thanks to the boost from Predator Domain, he was the perfect hunter.

He could erupt with Blood Qi during an attack to lock onto his prey, or conceal his aura while lying in wait, like a tiger or leopard drawing in its claws and fangs.

Hanma hid silently in the forest, watching the lifeless village before him as he waited for his target to appear.

"Lord Hanma, target Iga is expected to arrive in Area B-302 in five minutes. He is accompanied by fifteen ninjas. Requesting instructions."

A request from an Anbu operative came through the radio in his ear. It had to be said that the Hokage's technology tree was truly rather crooked.

"Squad One, spread out and keep an eye on the direction of Amegakure. Report any enemy reinforcements immediately."

"Squad Two, continue monitoring Iga's movements. Have the sensory ninjas expand their range."

"I'm heading to the ambush area now. Prepare to begin the operation."

If he could quietly kill Iga on the spot later, all would be well. Then he could head to the Land of Bears for a pleasant, publicly funded vacation.

But if Iga managed to call for reinforcements and summon his father, Hanzo, that would be somewhat troublesome.

In the span of a dozen breaths, Hanma had already reached the ambush site.

About two kilometers away, a group of hurried Amegakure Ninja were rapidly approaching.

Hanma's vision far exceeded that of ordinary people. Watching that face in the distance, nearly identical to Hanzo's, he calculated the distance and waited to sound Iga's death knell.

"Move!"

Hanma took the lead. At his speed, ordinary ninjas had no chance of reacting at close range.

Elbow strikes, Bengquan, side kicks—nothing but simple basic taijutsu movements. Yet backed by absolute strength and speed, they became the most reliable weapons for killing.

Vast strength rode on savage gusts from his fists. The leading Amegakure Ninja was smashed to pieces by a single punch, and wherever Hanma passed, blood and broken limbs flew through the air.

"Who are you?! Scatter! Protect Lord Iga!"

All the Amegakure Ninja saw was a blur flash past, followed by a violent boom ringing in their ears. Two more companions became crimson paint splashed across the earth.

The Amegakure Ninja stared at the giant man before them in fury and alarm. They were well trained, swiftly retreating and forming a defensive formation.

Hanma said nothing. Who would tell you who I am?

Maintaining his high speed, he continued closing in on Iga. With the physical abilities of these Amegakure Ninja, so long as he kept the fight at close quarters, they had no room to retaliate.

The slaughter continued. More than a dozen Amegakure Ninja had fallen to the ground, and the ceaseless rain washed away their blood, erasing the last traces they had left upon this world.

Iga roared in terror, "Blood Wolf, you damned Konoha bastard! Amegakure will never let you go!"

"Hey, hey, stop calling me that embarrassing old nickname."

Hanma leaped forward and bore down on Iga, intending to finish the mission directly.

"Water Release: Twin Water Formation Wall Technique!"

Iga's hands blurred through seals. After forming only five, he unleashed the technique.

The surrounding moisture gathered in one place, forming thick walls of water that protected Iga.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Strangulation Technique!"

Iga did not stop attacking. A massive water dragon rose into the sky and charged at Hanma with a roar, carrying a faint trace of Kage-level power.

Water Release truly had an innate advantage in Amegakure's environment.

Hanma's figure flickered. He had never feared wide-area ninjutsu like this.

Hanma easily smashed through the Water Formation Wall with brute force, sank deeply into his stance, and explosively pushed off. A string of sonic booms trailed behind him as he crashed straight toward the water dragon at terrifying speed!

More than a decade of unceasing reinforcement from the Heaven and Earth Furnace had guaranteed Hanma's defense. He truly could not be bothered to dodge such an unremarkable ninjutsu.

Against the momentum generated by Hanma's absurd speed, the enormous water dragon was utterly fragile and immediately collapsed.

A turning elbow slammed into Iga's abdomen. Hanma's fan-sized hand rose high and whipped directly toward his head!

Iga spat out mouthfuls of blood. The back of his skull caved in, his mind descended into chaos, and he completely lost control of himself.

"Pretty clever. You knew to use Chakra to protect your vital areas, but it was useless."

Looking at Iga, limp as a dead dog, Hanma could only sigh. The Shinobi World was like this—winners took everything.

Hanma picked up Iga and considered where to strike, preparing to give him an intact corpse with some dignity.

It was not that Hanma was kind-hearted. A person with Iga's status could still earn him some extra money at the Bounty Brokerage in the Land of Bears.

This brat should be worth twenty million ryo, right?

After all, he was in love now, and his expenses were rather high. Any money he could make was worth making.

Hanma gently exerted force and lifted him from the ground, preparing to lightly twist off his neck so that he could preserve as complete a body as possible.

A glint of hatred flashed through Iga's eyes, and a savage, twisted grin spread across his distorted face.

"Boom—!"

Some secret technique within Iga's body activated. His entire body swelled into a sphere, then exploded with a thunderous blast, releasing deep purple smoke.

"Everyone use Wind Release ninjutsu to disperse it. Retreat at maximum speed. Suspected highly toxic substance!"

Hanma gave the order to the Anbu present. They absolutely could not withstand this purple mist, which was suspected to be Ibuse's poison.

"Captain Hanma, a powerful Chakra signature is moving toward you from Amegakure. Suspected to be Hanzo. Should we intercept?"

The Anbu monitoring the direction of Amegakure faithfully carried out their duties. Even when facing Hanzo, they calmly asked whether interception was necessary.

"No need. All Anbu, withdraw. I'll cover the rear."

Feeling the numbness in his left arm, Hanma narrowed his eyes at Hanzo in the distance. Ibuse's poison truly lived up to its reputation.