Reincarnation Paradise Park-Chapter 528 - 16: Hidden Rain Village
The lanterns are lit, within the borders of the Country of Fire, an impoverished village.
This village is situated on the edge of the Country of Fire, and because it’s located in a forest, transportation is inconvenient. Most people here make a living through hunting.
The village has a store that combines a restaurant, tavern, and general store. Every night, there are drunkards here.
In the corner of the restaurant, three men sit around a wooden table, with simple food laid out on it.
"How much farther?"
Su Xiao spoke up; at this moment, the atmosphere among the three was somewhat strange.
Kisame Hoshigaki sat next to Su Xiao, with the Ninja Blade Shark Muscle placed beside his hand, ready to swing it at Su Xiao at any moment. Itachi Uchiha sat at a spot further away from Su Xiao.
Kisame cleared his throat. He finally understood why Pain had invited Su Xiao to join. At this moment, he was less than half a meter away from Su Xiao, and that sharp feeling was unpleasant for him. The man next to him felt like a blade that could at any moment lop off his head, sharp and aggressive.
"Soon, if we hurry overnight, we’ll arrive in at most eight hours."
Itachi remained expressionless, but in his heart, he began to doubt Su Xiao. The other party seemed very eager to join Akatsuki. Considering his own status as a spy, Itachi didn’t bring this point up.
"You’re very eager to join us?"
Kisame asked. Although he was a rogue ninja, he was a very competent and loyal one. In subsequent plots where Kisame was captured, the enemy attempted to extract information from his mind using a perception ninja.
Kisame’s choice at the time was admirable. He broke free from his bindings and, upon realizing escape was impossible, used the Water Prison Technique to trap himself and summoned sharks to devour him, all to prevent leaking information. This ruthlessness and loyalty were respected even by his enemies.
As long as Kisame joined a certain faction and acknowledged it, he would never betray that faction.
"The Mist Ninja Anbu are hunting me down, otherwise why do you think I would go to join the Iron Country?"
"Oh? So you’re planning to join us to escape the pursuit of the Hidden Mist Village."
"Yes, I have some grudges with the current Mizukage of the Hidden Mist Village. If given the chance, I would very much like to kill that woman, and she wants to kill me too. The Mist Ninja Anbu have already chased me to the Country of Fire."
Upon hearing this information, Kisame nodded. In the past, others had joined Akatsuki to escape disaster, as Akatsuki was viewed by outsiders as war mongers.
The Akatsuki Organization is a mercenary group not belonging to any country. They instigate small wars and then monopolize war commissions of small countries at low prices, increasing the scale of wars, breaking the ninja system of large countries (undermining their economies), and monopolizing all wars.
They have several objectives.
First, to accumulate a large amount of money to prepare for the future.
Second, to instigate small-scale conflicts and gradually expand the scale of warfare, breaking the current system.
Third, to capture the Tailed Beasts, use them as weapons to conquer and unify the world, thus bringing peace.
This was the purpose of Akatsuki during Nagato’s rule. Nagato abhorred war and believed that to end war, a greater war must break out. Only by dismantling the ninja village system could true peace be achieved.
Nagato’s ideals were commendable, but unfortunately, as long as humans exist, war will never cease.
Jealousy, hatred, discrimination, pride, interests—all these things are enough to spark wars.
Although cruel, war is an indispensable point in advancing human civilization.
Knowing that Su Xiao was being hunted by the Mist Ninja Anbu, Itachi and Kisame didn’t show much reaction, as over 50% of Akatsuki members were hunted by various ninja villages.
After a brief rest post-meal, the three continued on their journey, heading to the Hidden Rain Village in the Land of Rain at the border of the Country of Fire.
The Land of Rain and the Land of Water may sound similar, but they are far apart, and the Hidden Rain Village has no connection to the Hidden Mist Village.
The Land of Rain is a small country, and it rains all year round. It’s said that it has never stopped raining there.
The rain there naturally wouldn’t cease because it’s a large-scale ninja arts barrier. Once enemies enter the Land of Rain and get wet by the raindrops, they’ll be sensed.
Currently, the Hidden Rain Village serves as the Akatsuki Organization’s headquarters, and Akatsuki’s leader, Nagato, is also the true leader of the Hidden Rain Village.
At this time, Akatsuki’s moral standing is ambiguous. If one were to define it, Akatsuki at this stage is an organization using extreme measures to create future peace.
In the future, after Nagato’s death, the Akatsuki Organization would fall into Uchiha Obito’s hands. At that time, Akatsuki becomes a genuine terrorist organization acting on the will of one person.
Therefore, the Akatsuki of this era differs from the one later on; if it were the later Akatsuki Organization, Su Xiao would never join.
The three traveled through the night. Due to their fast pace, the Mist Ninja Anbu pursuing Su Xiao could only watch in frustration.
As for after entering the Land of Rain, however many Mist Ninja Anbu come, however many will die.
After traveling for eight hours, dawn was breaking.
Unlike a regular morning, today’s dawn was exceptionally gloomy. The sky was overcast, signaling that they had reached the borders of the Land of Rain.
Sparse raindrops fell, and as they proceeded, the rain grew heavier.
As the rain fell on Su Xiao, a faint blue electric glow flickered. The Chakra mixed in the rain was instantly annihilated.
Running ahead, Itachi turned his head, looking at Su Xiao with a furrowed brow. He clearly sensed that energy devouring sensation.
Su Xiao changed within Itachi’s perception, not only with the previous sharpness but now with an inexplicable threat. The other had a special energy within him.
Kaka ka~
The Ninja Blade Shark Muscle on Kisame’s back trembled, causing Kisame’s expression to change.
"What’s going on?"
Itachi thought Kisame was sensing an enemy.
"Nothing, Shark Muscle just sensed some sort of energy. Right, Bai Ye?"
"Who knows."
Su Xiao withdrew the Blue Steel Shadow energy; it was merely a reflex.
The rain barrier of the Hidden Rain Village is called the ’Rain Tiger Freehand Technique’, a ninjutsu used by Nagato to perceive enemies.
Now that Su Xiao was near the Hidden Rain Village, it was certain Nagato had sensed them.
The Hidden Rain Village doesn’t cover a large area; the buildings are tall, with sharp, slender tops—a result of the perpetual rainfall.
Pointed roofs can best prevent roof leaks and reduce noise, lowering maintenance costs.
The entire Hidden Rain Village is filled with an extensive network of metal pipelines similar to heat supply pipes, though their specific purpose is unclear.
"We’ve arrived, I’ll take you to meet the leader."
Kisame stated, and Itachi turned to walk away, his steps slow.
"Seems like your partner is not in the best shape."
Su Xiao looked at the receding Itachi. The other’s life aura was fluctuating, seemingly from years of energy depletion.
"What do you mean?"
Kisame and Itachi shared a good relationship, having similar experiences.
"Nothing, isn’t it time to see the leader?"
"Follow me."
...
In a several tens of meters high metal skyscraper in the Hidden Rain Village, the room at the top was pitch black, with only a faint breathing sound.
"Konan."
A hoarse and weary voice came out.
The door opened, and a blue-haired woman entered the room.
As she opened the door, a faint light streamed into the room. Inside was an iron machine on which stood a man with a withered frame and a ghastly pale face. The man’s hands were connected to the machine, which seemed to be a simple control device.
The man had a head of muted red hair, and because of his frailty, his ribs were clearly visible. Most striking were the black iron rods embedded in his back, with connection points behind them.
