Unification

In the east, vast stretches of rubble were being cleared away. Dead rats and unclaimed bodies were burned in great numbers, while the people struggled to get by in makeshift tents.

Although life was hard, there was no despair in their eyes. Instead, they were filled with determination.

As one group of Holy Light Clerics after another pushed carts laden with stone past them, the people along the roads felt reassured. At last, they were no longer the ones who could be cast aside at will.

Suddenly, an old man caught a young Holy Light Cleric by the hand. "Are you... are you going to leave again?"

Seeing the anxiety on the old man's face, the young cleric smiled. "Sir, we're not leaving. From now on, we'll stay here and stand up for you."

The old man smiled along with him. "That's wonderful!"

Time passed little by little, and with everyone working together, the ruins slowly gave way to one brand-new city after another.

Meanwhile, the Holy Church began another brazen wave of expansion across the Land of Rain, gradually swallowing what little territory the country had left.

After years of war, the great nations were suffering from economic decline and dwindling manpower. Once the war ended, they were all busy restoring domestic production and rebuilding, leaving them no time to concern themselves with changes in the tiny Land of Rain. Even if they knew, they could do little about it. After all, any move by a great nation could set off repercussions everywhere.

The merchant association under the Holy Church, however, had become highly sought after in every country. To avoid becoming everyone's target, Reilly proposed to Ria that they establish branches in each nation and bring influential local merchants into the fold. They would sell goods to those merchants at low prices just above cost, leaving the merchants to handle local sales themselves. However, the merchants would have to employ professionals trained by the association to run their businesses, and every branch would have to fulfill the headquarters' material requirements. Any branch that failed to meet those requirements would have its supply of goods progressively reduced the following month.

Ria was very pleased with the proposal. It would both reduce attacks on the association driven by other countries' envy and allow them to place intelligence agents more safely.

"Priest Reilly, putting you in charge of the merchant association really was the right choice."

Reilly smiled faintly. "It's all thanks to the Holy Church's development. Without our comprehensive light and heavy industries, how could the Dawn Merchant Association have grown so quickly? And we also have powerful Holy Light Clerics guarding us. You should know that every country is now aware of the Holy Light Clerics as a profession distinct from ninja. That's both a good thing and a bad thing!" At this point, Reilly couldn't help frowning.

"Oh? The other countries know about the Holy Light Clerics now? How have they reacted?" Ria asked curiously.

"Their reactions vary from country to country! The Land of Wind, for example, is rather strange. Their ninja village is extremely hostile toward our association, but their Daimyo has welcomed us warmly. He even wants us to establish churches there! As for the other great nations, most of them seem rather dismissive!" Reilly lifted his tea and took a sip to moisten his throat.

"Heh, it's perfectly normal for them to be dismissive. So far, the Holy Church has only fought Sunagakure. But since the Daimyo of the Land of Wind is so welcoming, we might as well grant his request. After all, if we're talking about which country's ninja are most hostile toward us, Sunagakure certainly tops the list. Why wouldn't we take the chance to cause trouble for our enemies?" Ria smiled faintly, then suddenly thought of that old woman from back then. She wondered whether the woman had died in the Second War.

"But what if the Sand shinobi cause trouble for us over this?" Reilly asked in confusion.

"Cause trouble? Priest Reilly, have a little more confidence. Let me put it this way: in terms of strength, not a single great nation can stand on equal footing with us now. Not even Konoha!" Ria declared with absolute confidence.

In the two years since the war ended, the Holy Church had taken complete control of almost every city in the Land of Rain. As for the Daimyo, the Holy Church had dumped him in Amegakure and left Hanzō to deal with him as he saw fit.

As for why they hadn't wiped out Amegakure as well, Ria felt that as long as its ninja obeyed the Holy Church's orders, there was nothing wrong with one country having two systems. After all, the Holy Church wasn't some dictatorship bent on slaughtering everyone!

Besides, one tiny village had no bearing on the overall situation in the Land of Rain. If it really did stir up trouble, did it honestly think the Holy Church's five military regions were just there for show?

Every military region of the Holy Church had more than ten thousand Holy Light Clerics permanently stationed within it, with even the lowest-ranked at level 20. The elite First Army had an average level of 30, and that didn't even include its squad leaders and regiment commanders. Against such strength, the few thousand ninja in tiny Amegakure weren't even qualified to fight the weakest Fifth Military Region.

"Since you're so confident, Bishop Ria, I'll make a few more trips to the residence of the Daimyo of the Land of Wind and settle this matter. But we mustn't go too far at the start, or I'm afraid it will be difficult to keep things moving forward!" Reilly said excitedly. To him, the stronger the Holy Church became, the prouder he felt.

Watching the slightly excited Reilly, Ria gently patted the middle-aged man, whose hair was already showing streaks of white. "Priest Reilly, we always begin with churches. After all, without companions, how could we ever build such overwhelming momentum? Once this arrangement is settled, the people accompanying you will be our most experienced missionaries, and their combat strength will be assured."

"Yes, Bishop Ria! I'll head to the Land of Wind right away!" With that, Reilly picked up the black gauze hat on the table and prepared to hurry to the Land of Wind.

"Priest Reilly, please wait!" Ria took two packets of tea leaves out of her desk drawer. "These were personally prepared by Silvermoon Priest Meli. Take them home and brew some whenever you have time! They'll help slow your aging!"

"Thank you, Bishop Ria. Thank you, Silvermoon Priest Meli!" Reilly said, deeply moved. At that moment, he felt that all his efforts had been worthwhile. Not just because of the Holy Light, but also because of the people who stood alongside it. Having endured far too much deceit and treachery, he had only ever found a true home in this organization.

Ria chuckled. "I want you to live many more years, Priest Reilly. Thinking back to the first time I met you, it feels as though time has passed so quickly!"

"Indeed. You've grown into a breathtakingly beautiful young lady, Bishop Ria!" Reilly looked at Ria with affection in his eyes.

Ria smiled faintly. She didn't dwell on Reilly's praise, but the affection in his eyes warmed her heart. Those had been the hardest years of the Holy Light's growth. Had they not met a merchant like Reilly, who still had kindness in his heart, the Holy Light could never have developed as quickly as it had!

Meanwhile, in Amegakure, Hanzō sat in the village's main building, watching the Daimyo continue to weep. He waved a hand helplessly, and two Rain Ninja from ANBU immediately dragged the struggling Daimyo away.

Hanzō let out a deep breath. "Is this a test of loyalty? It seems I'm destined to play the villain. Hakai!"

"Lord Hanzō!" Hakai bowed his head.

"Make his passing painless!"

"Yes, Lord Hanzō!"