Islanders and a Trap
Lightning Strike Island is located on the west side of the Angry Reef Archipelago, within the territory of the Land of Water, and not far from the Land of Hot Water. Its name is quite fitting.
Dark thunderclouds gathered over the entire island, and lightning flashed intermittently, striking the volcano at its center with astonishing force.
From a distance, apart from the ring of trees at the foot of the mountain, there is no other habitable place on the island.
As soon as Lu Zeming and his crew's boat docked, islanders gathered around to ask if they had any goods for sale.
"We are not merchants, just travelers passing through. Are you in dire need of supplies?"
The gaunt man, tanned dark by the sea wind, replied with a disappointed tone, "The island lacks everything; we haven't seen any maritime merchants in a long time."
After a moment's thought, Lu Zeming understood the reason.
The Blood Mist Policy was not only a bloody purge of Ninja, but also had a huge impact on ordinary people; simply put, it was a policy of closing the country off from the world.
The Land of Water is not located in the heart of China and lacks abundant natural resources. It is merely an archipelago nation with scarce natural resources. Coupled with its closed-off policy, it has no production of its own and cannot buy resources even with money. One can imagine what kind of life ordinary people lead.
A truly intelligent person would surely say, "We can catch fish! The ocean resources are so abundant, how could we possibly starve?"
Fish is a good food, rich in protein, but protein cannot replace vitamins and carbohydrates.
Eating only fish for a long time won't kill you, but your body will start to "burn up," leaving you thin and weak. It will likely damage your kidneys, or cause scurvy, loose teeth, skin bruising, and anemia.
This is what the islanders looked like when Lu Zeming saw them: they were all skin and bones, with lifeless eyes, and they had to rest after walking a few steps.
Many islanders leaned listlessly against the Desolate streets, with wooden planks in front of them.
Twenty taels, and you can do anything; a bricklayer, forty taels a day; selling yourself, ten taels a time.
Similar words, crookedly written on the wooden board, looked so glaring that it seemed as if blood was seeping out from between the lines.
You should know that in the Naruto World, a bowl of ramen costs sixty taels. The money these people earned with their bodies and dignity isn't even enough to buy a bowl of noodles.
Lu Zeming felt heavy-hearted and muttered a curse under his breath.
"What a messed up world!"
Lu Zeming did not rush to rescue Tide Thunder Yanagi's clansmen. He first found a deserted wasteland, built Spirit-Gathering Array, and then planted the fruits and vegetables he had brought with him in it.
After repeatedly urging the crops to ripen, he handed the large quantity of harvested ingredients to Rin, and then spoke to Kimimaro and Haku.
"Take these ingredients to the dock and use them to hire islanders, whether it's to clean the streets or repair houses. Distribute as much of this stuff as possible."
Everyone immediately understood what Lu Zeming meant: working was just a formality; getting the rewards was the real goal.
A strange look flashed in the eyes of Tide Thunder Yanagi, who was standing nearby, and he asked, "They're not from Flower Capital, why are you helping them?"
Lu Zeming laughed and said, "You said it yourself, they are human beings, and I am human beings too. Human beings should have compassion and sympathy for their fellow human beings. Don't be brainwashed by that fallacy of survival of the fittest. The progress of human civilization does not rely on lofty Daimyo and shadows, but on millions of ordinary people!"
Tide Thunder Yanagi didn't quite understand, but that didn't stop his words from stirring up a storm in his heart.
Lu Zeming patted Yanagi on the shoulder. "Let's go, let's go save your people."
Yanagi walked ahead, his steps somewhat hurried, leading Lu Zeming as they climbed upwards along a hidden volcanic rock fissure.
The higher you go, the hotter the air becomes, mixed with the pungent smell of sulfur. The surrounding vegetation thins out, replaced by charred rocks and twisted trees occasionally struck by lightning.
"My people are imprisoned in the cave above." Yanagi's voice trembled slightly, as if he were nervous or struggling with something.
Lu Zeming remained calm as he scanned his surroundings. The terrain here was indeed easy to defend and difficult to attack, but it was too desolate; there wasn't even the chirping of insects or birds, only the muffled rumble of thunderclouds rolling overhead.
Finally, they arrived at a spacious volcanic rock platform. In the center of the platform, there was indeed a dark cave entrance, but there was no one there, only a few charred wooden stakes.
Lu Zeming stopped, a half-smile playing on his lips, "Don't you have anything to say?"
Tide Thunder Yanagi's back stiffened slightly, then he slowly turned around.
His face was contorted with pain and inner turmoil. "You're a good person. I lied to you. Leave now while there's still time!"
"It's too late to leave now! No one will leave alive today!"
A sudden sound rang out, and dozens of figures dressed in black robes appeared around the platform, their positions subtly aligned with the Thunder Method Formation.
Lu Zeming showed no surprise and calmly said, "You really went to great lengths to lure me here. Yanagi even anticipated that I would see through your plan. You were certain I would come to rescue people!"
The leader of the black-robed men laughed loudly, "Hahaha, you arrogant fool! Let me tell you, in the Shinobi World, good people don't live long!"
After speaking, the man in black robes looked at Tide Thunder Yanagi.
"Are you betraying the village? Do you think he won't kill you just because you back out now? You two-faced coward, get to your position, it's time to make your move!"
Tide Thunder Yanagi apologized to Lu Zeming, then Earth Flow to his seat.
Lu Zeming chuckled and shook his head, "How do you know I didn't know this was a trap?"
"How arrogant! Anything you say now is futile. Those who dare attack Kirigakure should be prepared to die!" The leader of the black-robed figures suddenly spread his arms, uttering a low, strange prayer, "Deity Above the Thunderclouds, hear my plea and send down your punishment!"
Almost simultaneously, the seemingly endless thundercloud overhead suddenly boiled over! Bolt after bolt of lightning tore through the clouds, sealing the entire platform into a lightning cage.
As the man in black robes continued to pray, a lightning Giant Python, thicker than any of the previous lightning bolts, suddenly crashed down, striking precisely at Lu Zeming on the platform!
It was too fast; there was no time to dodge!
Boom--!
A blinding white light instantly engulfed everything, and a deafening thunderclap echoed in the narrow space. The violent lightning energy enveloped Lu Zeming, his robes instantly turning black and shattering, and his hair standing on end.
The leader, a man in black robes, stood outside the Lightning-Attracting Formation, a twisted glee in his voice. "It's over... Any flesh and blood, under the Thunder Punishment of ' Lightning Strike Island,' will only be reduced to ashes!"
Tide Thunder Yanagi closed his eyes, unable to bear to look.
However, the black-robed man's pleasure lasted only a moment.
The lightning did not dissipate quickly as expected; instead, it began to contract and condense inward. A blurry humanoid silhouette slowly emerged from the lightning, and instead of being destroyed, it let out a sound of enjoyment.
"Ha, what pure lightning power!"
Lu Zeming's exposed skin gleamed with a faint, metallic sheen, and the lightning energy was being greedily absorbed and refined by his pores as if it were alive.
"You..." The leader of the black-robed men's pupils constricted, and he took a half-step back in disbelief. "How could you be alright?"
"Consider it an early adaptation to the Tribulation Lightning." Lu Zeming stretched his neck, producing soft crackling sounds, and his aura suddenly became sharp. "This lightning is really effective at tempering the body. Keep going, don't stop!"
The leader, a man in black robes, nearly vomited blood in anger. Was he even speaking human language?
"Damn it, I don't believe you can withstand continuous lightning strikes."
With the full force of the black-robed men's Lightning-Attracting Technique, the thunderstorm in the sky more than doubled in size, and bolts of lightning, each thicker than the last, struck Lu Zeming.
Lu Zeming did not use any means to stop him; he simply endured the pain with his bare body.
At first he could stand, but gradually his body began to sway. He simply sat cross-legged on the ground and began to refine the hard-won Heavenly Thunder with all his might...