The rain in Falling Rain Town is getting heavier.
Large raindrops pounded on the roof of the abandoned inn, making a dense, pattering sound.
The night was as dark as ink.
The entire post station was shrouded in a cold, dark atmosphere.
On the streets, the accumulated water quickly gathered, forming a turbid stream that rushed forward carrying mud, sand, and debris.
The rain soaked the vendors' stalls.
Many people were busy packing up their goods, their shouts, curses, and the sound of rain mingling together.
at the same time.
Ninjas from different villages lurk on the rooftops surrounding the post station.
Hidden in the darkness, and taking advantage of the rain, they kept a close watch on the post station's every move.
Boom--
A bolt of lightning ripped through the night sky, briefly illuminating the entire Falling Rain Town.
In that instant, the scene outside the post station was clearly presented to everyone.
The streets teem with people, the rooftops are teeming with ninjas, and the seemingly peaceful yet treacherous post station is a testament to the dangers lurking beneath the surface.
Then, thunder roared, drowning out all other sounds, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.
Auction house.
"Seventy million for the third time, sold!"
The auctioneer's gavel slammed down, the dull thud particularly jarring in the otherwise silent hall.
Aburame Ryoma slowly rose to his feet, the hem of his black trench coat sweeping across the chair, a slight smile playing on his lips beneath his mask, as he walked slowly toward the exhibition stand.
Darui's fists clenched white under the table.
The Raikage gave him a budget of only 150 million, a figure that should have been foolproof, but who could have imagined that the old fox Danzo would be willing to Danzo such a huge sum?
As Aburame Ryoma took the metal scroll, he nodded meaningfully toward Box 9, with a hint of mockery.
The auctioneer wiped the cold sweat from his brow and, trying to remain calm, announced.
This auction has now concluded...
"Wait."
Darui suddenly stood up, smashed through the glass, and went to the auctioneer's side.
In the corner, Konan's paper wings trembled slightly.
She exchanged a glance with Kakuzu, who nodded imperceptibly, put away the money, and then appeared in the center of the booth.
"Is this guest going to break the rules of the Land of Rain?"
The air froze instantly.
Black lightning flickered faintly around Darui, while behind Kakuzu, five masked black monsters had quietly emerged.
Taking advantage of the situation, Aburame Ryoma slipped the scroll into his robes, his cold voice emanating from behind his mask.
"Is Kumogakure trying to rob us outright?"
"Rob?" Darui ignored Kakuzu and sneered at Aburame Ryoma, "I just want to see if Danzo's lackeys have the chance to smuggle the goods out of the Land of Rain."
After saying that, he suddenly turned around and walked towards the exit without looking back.
A smile played on the corners of Aburame Ryoma's lips beneath his mask.
Looking around, the auction was over, and the temporary trading area was bustling with activity again.
However, Kitsuchi and the others had disappeared without a trace.
At that moment, Asuma Sarutobi came to his side and said, "Give me a copy of the scroll, and I'll help you!"
Aburame Ryoma agreed.
Anyway, once we return to Danzo, Hiruzen Sarutobi can simply ask him for it.
"Sure! But I hope you're giving it to the Lord Hokage, not the Daimyo."
Asuma Sarutobi was slightly taken aback, not expecting Aburame Ryoma to bring up the matter so directly.
The Hokage of the Daimyo of the Land of Fire and the Konohagakure —how can two jewels exist in one country at the same time?
A complex emotion flickered in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "I know what I'm doing."
After discussing the matter, Aburame Ryoma turned to look at the two members of the Akatsuki.
"It seems a fight is inevitable now. What's your stance? The Great Ninja Village isn't so easily trifled with!"
Kakuzu snorted coldly, "Hmph, don't try to scare us with the name of the major ninja villages. When I fought Hashirama Senju, you were nowhere to be seen."
"In Falling Rain Town, you must abide by the rules of Amegakure. Anyone who dares to act recklessly here will not escape unscathed."
Konan frowned slightly, staring at Aburame Ryoma with an unfriendly expression.
"Your fighting is none of our business, but the condition is that you do not disrupt the order here."
She still remembers how Yahiko died.
If it weren't for the greater good, she would have already taken action against those beasts at the Root.
boom--
Just then...
A loud crash suddenly came from the roof, sending bricks and stones flying and dust billowing everywhere.
Countless stones rained down, hitting the crowd.
Boom--
Under the light of lightning, countless ninja figures filled the area around the hole, dressed in the uniforms of different ninja villages, each with a cold expression and a murderous intent.
The Iwagakure Explosion Corps led by Kitsuchi, Darui's Kumogakure elites, Konoha's Anbu and Root.
Aburame Ryoma chuckled, "It seems things won't go your way. But we're not the ones making the move, so what are you waiting for?"
These words instantly brought the already tense atmosphere to its peak.
These bastards really think the Land of Rain is their own home, sending so many people all at once.
Kakuzu's eyes narrowed, and the black monster behind him let out a low roar, ready to pounce on the enemy at any moment.
Konan's paper wings trembled slightly, and countless pieces of paper swirled around her, radiating a chilling killing intent.
Kitsuchi's hands slammed onto the ground instantly.
Earth Release: Rock Collapse!
The ground of the entire post station shook violently, and countless rock spikes burst forth from the soil.
The Explosion Corps from Iwagakure were also busy, pulling out Explosive Tag and throwing them towards areas with dense crowds.
Boom boom boom--
A series of explosions rang out, Kakkō shot into the sky, and the entire auction hall was shrouded in smoke.
The black lightning around Darui grew increasingly violent as he roared, "Fellow countrymen of Kumogakure, charge! Today we must seize the Secret Missile Refining Technique!"
The elite troops of Kumogakure and unleashed various Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
The two forces have clearly begun cooperating, aiming to seize the missile manufacturing method first, and then discuss the subsequent distribution later.
Meanwhile, the ninjas from the Anbu and Root were quickly divided into two groups.
One group charged towards Kumogakure and Iwagakure, while the other group protected Asuma Sarutobi and Aburame Ryoma in the middle, preparing to break outwards.
"Hmph, you think you can just leave like that? Not so easy!"
Darui realized their intentions and charged towards the encirclement like lightning.
Meanwhile, Kakuzu and Konan were also caught in the vortex of battle.
With his immortality and extensive combat experience, Kakuzu uses a variety of Ninjutsu, including Earth Release, Lightning Release, and Fire Style, making him difficult for enemies to defend against.
Konan, meanwhile, soared through the air, using the paper's agility to launch surprise attacks on the enemies below.
The situation at the auction was becoming increasingly chaotic.
The Explosion Corps from Iwagakure kept throwing Explosive Tag, and the entire auction house teetered on the brink of collapse amidst the explosions.
The walls began to collapse, the holes in the roof grew larger and larger, and rainwater poured in like a waterfall, mixing with the smoke and dust to form a muddy battlefield.
Outside the post station.
Hoshino stood on the rooftop watching the sounds coming from inside. Rain streamed down his face, but it did nothing to distract him from his focused expression.
A short while later, a member of the Inspection Department appeared beside Hoshino in Body Flicker Technique and said in a hurried tone.
" Hoshino, the Sannin from the Sannin Villages who left Falling Rain Town ahead of schedule have been intercepted, and their cybernetic bodies and modules have been recovered."
"In addition, over a hundred Rain Ninja have arrived in Falling Rain Town and are heading in this direction."
As he listened to the report from the members of the Inspection Department, a cold killing intent flashed in Hoshino's eyes, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.
"It seems all the factions have arrived!"
The Kumogakure, the Iwagakure, the Konoha Akatsuki... they've all gathered in this small inn.
Moreover, the black market has grown too fast in recent years; it's time to let them know who truly rules this game.
Whoever dares to set their sights on Sunagakure's core technology should be prepared to pay the price.
"Notify all squads to proceed according to plan."
"Let the black market remember this day. Anyone who dares to covet the Sunagakure technique will pay a bloody price."
Hoshino raised his hand and flipped it over, instantly producing a black flag in his palm, which he then waved violently.
In an instant, countless gray-black Kikaichū swarmed out of the flag, rushing in all directions like a flood bursting its banks.
"From this moment forward, no one is allowed to enter or leave Falling Rain Town."
As soon as he finished speaking, the Sunagakure troops lying in ambush throughout the town sprang into action, the roar of Chakra guns echoing through the night sky.
"First squad to seal off the eastern district."
"Second squad eliminates Rain Ninja reinforcements."
"The third squad is preparing to burn the town."
The gray-black swarm of insects covered every inch of land outside Falling Rain Town, and any ninja who tried to cross it would be devoured in an instant.
boom--
A loud explosion rang out.
More than a dozen figures rushed out of the post station, followed by dozens of ninjas.
Leading the group Aburame Ryoma, Asuma Sarutobi, and members of the Anbu and Root ninjas, followed closely by Kitsuchi, Darui, and others.
As for Konan and Kakuzu, they also appeared through the hole.
The group, who were still fighting amongst themselves, all changed their expressions drastically when they saw the scene outside.
On the street, dozens of members of the Inspection Department were engaged in fierce combat with the arriving Rain Ninja.
A series of booming sounds rose and fell as blue beams of energy traced deadly paths through the rain.
The gray-black Kikaichū surged like a tide, and wherever they passed, black market merchants who tried to escape fell to the ground. Strange wriggling bulged under the panels, and in the blink of an eye, they turned into mummified corpses.
"This is... Kikaichū?"
Aburame Ryoma's pupils contracted sharply beneath his mask, his voice trembling with disbelief.
As an elite member of the Aburame Clan, he understood better than anyone what this scene meant.
But what shocked him even more was...
These insects are completely different from the Kikaichū bred by the Aburame Clan; they are more ferocious and greedy, like demons that are never satisfied.
"Lord Ryoma!" A Root ninja retreated in terror, "These insects..."
Asuma Sarutobi's Chakra Blade cleaved through the incoming attack.
What happened?
"We've fallen into a trap!" Aburame Ryoma said anxiously, "This is a purge operation by Sunagakure!"
At this moment, countless Kikaichū poured out from the cracks in the ground.
Screams rose and fell, and within a few breaths, more than ten ninjas had turned into dried corpses.
" Earth Release: Earthquake Core!" Kitsuchi releases Ninjutsu.
The ground trembled violently, and huge waves of earth radiated outwards from him, blasting away the Kikaichū that had emerged from the cracks in the ground.