Faced with the resentment of the single dog Scorpion, Mukai laughed heartily and directly took Konan's hand and ran up the Iron Sand hill.
The Iron Sand here has already sunk a bit.
Shisō's daily morning exercise routine has now been changed to one that was moved from another small hill of Iron Sand.
The area around this abandoned oasis has now been transformed into a bustling construction site.
Now that there is a water source, this place has regained its former vitality.
Many villagers recruited from the border regions of the Land of Rain Land of Wind are now digging foundations under Yahiko's organization.
Although Yahiko's thinking is somewhat naive, his organizational skills and charisma are truly first-rate.
At this moment, Yahiko did not stand high above and give orders, but instead led a group of his underlings to roll up their trousers and take the lead in doing the work.
It seemed that Yahiko was talking to the people around him while he was working, which occasionally drew laughter.
Mukai's planned fortress is based on this Qing Shi Mountain, which encompasses the entire Oasis Workshop.
In preparation for the upcoming Third Shinobi World War, the Mukai needs a base of operations on the front lines.
This place is not far from the Land of Rain, the Land of Birds, Land of Rivers.
The main belligerent countries that will likely engage in the Third Shinobi World War in the future will mostly choose these smaller buffer states as their primary battleground.
Having invested so much in the industrial base Mukai certainly doesn't want it to be destroyed by war.
Konan noticed that among the people working with Yahiko, there seemed to be several of the rogue ninjas they had captured that time, and remarked with emotion:
" Mukai, you are truly a miracle worker."
This once desolate land, where villagers were once helpless, is now able to live well.
Perhaps, one day, you really can change the Shinobi World!
Mukai put his arm around Konan's shoulder and said softly:
This is just the beginning of our career.
Compared to the complex and intertwined power struggles of Sunagakure, this neglected and desolate border region...
Just like us insignificant little people.
Even so, we must unite more ordinary people.
Arming ourselves to the teeth with the power of technology.
Let the entire Shinobi World become what it should be!
Konan nodded, nestled in Mukai's arms, and murmured:
I will do everything in my power to help Mukai achieve this goal.
I will always stay by Mukai's side.
Unwavering until death.
The desert wind carried an unexpected sweetness and charm.
Land of Rain Amegakure.
The enormous pipes, with their steampunk style, resemble exposed veins on a tower.
At the very center of this village, atop the tallest tower, lies the legendary chief's office.
The rain was relentlessly pounding against the black glass windows; it rained here for much longer than in Moon Sake Town.
The room reeked of mildew, and a dim, yellowish lamp shone from it.
The slightly hunched figure of the Hanzo of the Salamander was projected onto the wall.
The legendary Demigod of the Ninja World, the village's hero, appeared exceptionally large and gloomy at this moment.
Wearing a respirator, he listened blankly to a report from an Anbu:
"Xiao... an organization founded by a group of kids around ten years old?"
Hanzō repeated the syllable "Akatsuki" in a low voice, the sound echoing faintly in the empty leader's office.
The face hidden by the breathing mask made it impossible to see any expression.
Only those exposed eyes remained as sharp as they had been back then.
He slowly stood up from his seat, his back to the kneeling Anbu.
Outside the window lay the kingdom he ruled with an iron fist and poisonous fog; he even went so far as to control the Daimyo of the Land of Rain.
He once dreamed of challenging the Five Great Nations and making the Land of Rain powerful.
Unfortunately...
"Go on."
The Anbu trembled slightly and lowered its head even further.
"Yes, sir."
According to intelligence, this organization called Akatsuki,
It started with just a few war orphans and looked like a small, playful mutual aid group.
However, recently, it seems they have made contact with ninjas from Sunagakure.
The Akatsuki is now expanding, and some refugees and orphans have been organized by them to work on the side of the Land of Wind.
The core member of this organization is named Yahiko, an orphan from the Land of Rain who somehow learned some Ninjutsu.
Some children who knew Ninjutsu, as well as wandering ninjas, also joined in.
They mainly operate in civilian areas along the border.
They declared... they declared that they would achieve peace in the Shinobi World through communication and understanding between people.
"Peace?"
Hanzō let out a muffled chuckle.
The voice was filled with endless sarcasm.
"Foolish peace, peace? Ha!"
The main battlefield of World War II, which he instigated, was in the Land of Rain.
When the fighting actually started, he realized that compared to those great powers, the Land of Rain had pitifully little foundation.
During the war, this land was soaked in blood.
So-called peace is nothing but a hypocritical excuse for the strong.
"What are they doing?"
Hanzō looked at the world outside, which was shrouded in rain, and asked in a low voice.
The Anbu of Amegakure thought for a moment before continuing:
"They helped civilians rebuild their houses, fought off bandits, and repaired river channels and reservoirs."
Occasionally... occasionally I also mediate some small-scale conflicts.
They claimed to refuse to use force, but they showed no mercy in attacking nearby wandering ninjas.
Their prestige rose rapidly in the border regions.
"Prestige..."
Hanzō repeated the word, his eyes growing colder.
Helping commoners? Gaining reputation? What a familiar tactic!
He recalled his youth, when he too had relied on his immense strength and ideals.
He gained countless followers and eventually ascended to this position.
He's nothing more than a naive idealist.
But naive people often die the fastest and are the least worrisome.
They keep talking about communication and peace, but don't they still resort to violence to attack their opponents?
hypocritical!
His rule, that of Hanzo of the Salamander, was built on absolute military force, allowing no room for erosion.
If this organization is called Akatsuki,
The way he erodes the foundations of his rule is not through force, but through so-called "good deeds."
That would truly make him wary.
They're just shouting slogans now, but they're nothing more than a hypocritical little gang, no different from the various large and small rebel organizations in the Land of Rain.
"Keep an eye on them, if they continue to grow stronger."
Hanzo of the Salamander's voice was devoid of any emotion, like the cold rain outside the window:
I want to know everything about them.
Although it doesn't need to be taken too seriously, since it involves the Sand Village, it can't be ignored.
They sent people infiltrated to find out the exact locations of every new member's activities.
In particular, we must find out whether they have colluded with the Sand Village ninja.
"Yes!"
The Anbu felt as if they had been granted a pardon and Body Flicker Technique disappeared from the empty room.
After the Anbu left, the office returned to silence.
Hanzō looked out the window again, his gaze seemingly piercing through the rain. Suddenly, he heard footsteps again.
"What is it now?"
Hanzō's voice was filled with impatience.
The returned Anbu reappeared in the room and bowed their heads to report:
"Chief, the Hidden Konoha Anbu has sent someone, saying they have important intelligence."