Shield

Since the Five Great Shinobi Villages styled themselves as the righteous organization of the shinobi world, they naturally did not forget to win over the other small nations and minor shinobi villages.

They still had to keep up appearances. Though they did not expect these small nations' military strength to be of any use, it was enough as long as they did not cause trouble from behind the scenes.

It was not just the Land of Rain. The Land of Waterfalls, Land of Fields, and Land of Grass were not overlooked either. Even the peace-loving Land of Hot Water, which had no military force at all, received notice. Even tiny places—such as the Land of Tea, Land of Birds, Land of Waves, and Land of Sea, which could barely be considered one village per nation—were all pulled onto the Shinobi Allied Forces' war chariot.

The Land of Rain had once been the base of Akatsuki's former leader, but Nagato, who possessed the Rinnegan, was already dead. This closed-off nation had now changed hands. Though it maintained its usual tradition of secrecy, and outsiders did not know who was in charge here, no one would disturb this impoverished yet quite formidable nation at a time like this.

It was likewise a buffer zone wedged between great nations. Even the somewhat weaker Land of Grass and Land of Waterfalls had been notified, so naturally the Land of Rain received the same treatment.

However, the Five Great Shinobi Villages had not put much effort into recruiting them, and those small nations naturally did not wish to be dragged into such a massive war.

When immortals fought, little ghosts stayed far away—that was only sensible. The fence-sitters of the Land of Grass went through the motions before refusing. The Land of Fields, Land of