The Truth of the World

After confirming that the mission target Ando had indeed committed betrayal, Shiba Seika's overt investigation suddenly made a breakthrough.

That afternoon, he took Konan and tracked Ando to a secret hideout hidden in the nearby mountain forest.

The hideout was tucked deep in the woods, well concealed, with a squad of rogue ninjas patrolling and keeping watch—the security measures were quite passable.

But this was hardly a challenge for the two Akatsuki elites now investigating.

Once they were in position, Konan quickly grabbed Shiba Seika's arm and spoke in a deliberately lowered, urgent voice.

"Seika, they're all local rogue ninjas from the Land of Rain. Don't act rashly. You promised me you wouldn't use such extreme methods this time!"

She hadn't even bothered to worry about the enemy threat first.

This left Shiba Seika momentarily torn between laughter and exasperation.

He didn't know whether to thank Konan for her trust in his strength or lament that his reputation had slid so far it was beyond recovery.

As for why Konan could tell at a glance that these rogue ninjas on the perimeter were all from the Land of Rain—it was because their poverty was unmistakably local.

None of the rogue ninjas wore standard-issue flak jackets; they just threw on cold-toned clothes that vaguely matched the surrounding environment. Half of them didn't even have ninja tool pouches, simply carrying a blade, wearing rainproof straw hats, and chewing on grass stalks.

Carefree yet destitute—very much in line with the local flavor...

Shiba Seika chose not to argue over such a trivial matter.

"Alright, Konan-senpai. Let's bypass them and sneak in to investigate."

Konan was a bit surprised, as if she hadn't expected Shiba Seika to be so agreeable this time.

Shiba Seika didn't rush to explain.

Because the real highlight wasn't out here.

They then skirted around these amateurish rogue ninjas and infiltrated the merchant Ando's secret hideout.

Soon, both were stunned by an entire warehouse packed full of goods.

After inspecting, Konan said incredulously, "It's mostly medicine and food, with a small amount of meat. My god, how did this man hoard so many supplies? When nearby villages are starving because of the war?"

Shiba Seika didn't answer.

He was also shocked, but for a different reason than Konan.

He was just surprised by the sheer volume of goods—he'd already suspected Ando was stockpiling.

"We need to find Ando right away. He has all these supplies, so why has he refused to help the refugees around here? If he just handed these out, our Akatsuki, Yahiko, and everyone else wouldn't have to struggle so hard to support the nearby villages," Konan said impatiently.

But the next moment, Shiba Seika grabbed her arm.

"Don't act rashly, Konan-senpai. Calm down first! Are you planning to just barge in and find him without thinking? And after you find him, what if he doesn't listen? Weren't you the one who just told me not to use extreme methods on the mission?"

Konan snapped back to reality, calming down. She turned and looked at Shiba Seika with a deeply complicated expression.

There was surprise, gratitude, and a lot of admiration.

"Thank you, Seika. You're right. I was too impulsive. You're really amazing—always so calm, like nothing can shake you."

Because this is the "gift" I carefully prepared for you.

"Konan-senpai, I understand how you feel right now, but I think it's time to wake up from your naive dream."

"What do you mean, Seika?"

"I don't know if people can truly understand each other, but I think you should at least see the reality of this world clearly first."

Konan was caught off guard, not expecting Shiba Seika to bring up their ideals at this moment.

But Shiba Seika didn't push deeper—he only planted the seed lightly, then grabbed Konan's hand.

"Come with me. Ando hoarded all these supplies, so he's probably hired more than just the people outside. We still need to be careful every step of the way."

This was the first time Konan had her hand held by Shiba Seika, but in her daze, she completely forgot to refuse.

They continued sneaking hand in hand, soon reaching a hidden room behind the warehouse.

Shiba Seika and Konan pressed themselves against the roof, peering down through a gap in the ceiling, and finally spotted their mission target: the hoarding merchant Ando.

And in the same room with Ando were several Iwagakure ninjas.

Even though they were in the Land of Rain, they wore their headbands openly on their foreheads, making no effort to hide—a blatant display of a great ninja village's arrogance.

Seeing this, Konan, who had just calmed down, erupted in fury again!

So this man not only refused to help the war refugees but also colluded with Iwagakure ninjas!

Fortunately, Shiba Seika still held her hand, squeezing her soft palm to soothe her.

Inside the room, Ando sat on a chair, puffing heavily on tobacco, venting with a face full of resentment.

"So do you understand now? My commission is to get rid of that annoying organization called Akatsuki. Ideally, kill them all, or at least drive them out of my town's area. Make them go recruit members somewhere else!"

The leading Iwagakure ninja frowned at this.

Though as a ninja, he shouldn't comment on a client's motives, this mission was too bizarre—he needed to confirm carefully.

"According to the intelligence we've gathered, the town you live in was saved not long ago by this organization called Akatsuki. So why would you hire us to drive away your benefactors?"

The sheer depravity of this Ando shocked the Iwagakure ninja so much that he even began to suspect the employer was in league with Akatsuki, trying to set a trap for them.

Who would have thought this Ando had no such schemes at all—he genuinely hated the Akatsuki Organization to the bone.

"Who asked them to save me? I hired my own ninja; I would have been fine without them! Did I beg them to come to the rescue?

And besides, those naive fools running around saving people is bad enough, but they even tried to interfere with my price gouging! Are you kidding me?!

If I don't jack up prices and make a fortune during the Great Ninja War, how am I supposed to sell my stock at a high price once the war ends?

What do the lives of those wretched commoners have to do with me? Even Hanzo the Salamander doesn't care, but they put on this act of being bodhisattvas—pah! Disgusting! If the Land of Rain really falls under the rule of these guys, how am I supposed to make big money in the future?!"

At that moment, after hearing Ando's confession, Konan's body couldn't stop trembling faintly.

Even though it was still a warm season, she felt nothing but cold in her hands and feet, with only the hand held by Shiba Seika still transmitting a trace of warmth.

She had never imagined, before coming here, that such people existed within the Land of Rain.

Her gaze turned back to Shiba Seika, countless complex emotions churning in her eyes.

Is this the reality of this world you were talking about?