Archipelago, far from the mainland.
In the eastern sea beyond Konoha, countless islands stretched on, forming the Land of Water—the only Land of a Thousand Islands among the Five Great Nations.
Mist lingered here year-round, perpetually shrouding the skies above the Land of Water.
As though its eyes had been veiled by fog, the Land of Water possessed customs entirely unlike those of the Shinobi Continent. Almost completely isolated, it had not suffered greatly from the wars between shinobi, yet neither had its geographical advantage allowed its people to live peacefully in one corner of the world.
Gloom, betrayal, vigilance, cunning, cruelty, brutality—these seemed to be the fixed impressions of every Mist Shinobi.
Even Kekkei Genkai, regarded as treasures by the people of the Shinobi World, were seen here as demonic bloodlines that had broken out of hell and entered the human realm.
Though it was only a rumor that had gradually arisen in recent years, it had utterly changed the fate of the Land of Water—in the shimmering glimmer of the sea bloomed crimson nether flowers marked by dark red tears.
The Blood Mist Village. Even the air seemed saturated with blood.
"Tap, tap..."
At the gates of Kirigakure, an ANBU who had emerged from the thick fog kicked up splashes that had yet to fall before his figure vanished. Only a blurry silhouette remained, racing toward the Water Shadow Building glowing with dim yellow light in the distance...
Entirely unlike Konoha's architectural style, every building in Kirigakure had a circular structure, as if designed to withstand the winds and waves of the sea.
Cold gray-black structures stood scattered throughout Kirigakure, none rising more than a few stories high.
The fog that no wind could disperse clung tightly to them, as though they had been washed clean. The roads,