Ayane smiled, a blue chakra flame ignited from the scroll in her hand, burning it to ashes, leaving a lingering scent of smoke in the air.
◎
"Water Style: Water Dragon Bomb Jutsu!"
A massive water dragon rose from the ground, charging at the militia firing kunai from their shuriken shooter.
The barrage of kunai was scattered by the water dragon, which exploded on the ground, creating a flood that swept away dozens of ragged militia and rushed them into the distance.
"Damn it, they're ninjas!"
Blood-soaked militia glared fiercely at the dozens of strangely dressed figures suddenly attacking the camp. Their swift movements meant that the disorganized kunai offensive merely limited their actions. But once these individuals employed large-scale ninja techniques, even armed militia would have their formations broken.
Bang!
There was a huge cannon sound, and the projectile accurately fell where the ninjas stood.
The ninjas didn't hesitate, using a water wall to block momentarily, allowing the cannonball to explode in midair with intense fire before quickly using Instantaneous Body Jutsu to leave the spot, wielding kunai or ninja blades, they quickly charged towards the militia by the thousands, cold fury flashing in their eyes.
The highest command given to them was to swiftly eliminate the over one thousand militia in the camp before the combat strength of the Hidden Rain ninjas arrived as reinforcements.
Reality also proved that even ordinary people with advanced weapons struggle to pose a significant threat to ninjas adopting guerrilla tactics in combat assaults.
Moreover, the attacking ninjas were very targeted.
Using large-scale long-range ninja techniques with mobility and flexibility, they attacked the vital points of the militia.
The rumble of thunder and the sound of wind and rain baptized the entire battlefield.
The destructive power generated by a dozen ninjas was extremely astonishing. Even though the militia wielding refined weapons had the potential to threaten the ninjas, thinking these weapons alone could reverse the gap between ordinary people and ninjas was overly optimistic.
Predictably, this was going to be a brutal and swiftly executed massacre.
A kunai flew through the air.
This time, however, the kunai wasn't fired by the militia but by Hidden Rain ninjas wearing anti-poison masks and cloaked in raincoats, their eyes cold and silent as they charged towards the enemy ninjas to provide retreat options for the militia.
"Retreat!"
The lead ninja attacking was irritated seeing Hidden Rain ninjas provide reinforcements, but remembered his mission well, opting not to get entangled with Hidden Rain ninjas, swiftly retreating from the battlefield with injured subordinates.
The Hidden Rain ninjas merely set up defenses following their directives without pursuing deeply.
...
"The worst has still come to pass."
Nagato, located at the rear camp, looked at the intelligence reports layered through transmission, sighing deeply after reading, revealing a sense of helplessness and frustration.
Ninja armament and militia armament are entirely different concepts.
Ninjas entering the fray meant that the ensuing civil war in the Land of Rain would no longer be just a unilateral internal conflict; those major nations would officially step from the shadows to the forefront, and an international statement might come soon.
Something like warnings to Hidden Rain, ensuring the rights of the elite class in the Land of Rain, indirectly cutting Rain's sovereignty.
These were all real events that happened during the Third Ninja World War.
If it were the previous leader Yahiko, he might focus on negotiation, but Nagato knows that rather than negotiating without fighting, negotiating post-battle might rectify Rain's declining years.
To not lose sovereignty again, contending with great nations is naturally indispensable.
The Land of Wind is recovering, too preoccupied to deal with Rain's issues, and the Land of Earth has dispatched Hidden Rock ninja squads just patrolling Rain's borders, watching the situation. So, where did those ninjas attacking militias come from becomes obvious.
——The Land of Fire!
Eager to reclaim lost face in the Land of Demons or weaken Rain to stabilize its borders, these are things the Daimyo of the Land of Fire must consider.
The Land of Demons may not fear the Land of Fire, but the Land of Rain cannot ignore the pressure the Land of Fire brings.
Whether in terms of military, economy, or politics, the current Land of Rain has none of these.
With governance divided, a sluggish domestic economy, and a lack of military strength compared to the Land of Fire with its Konoha Village,
Nagato feeling the overwhelming pressure closing in amid political, military, and economic disadvantages.
Watching the map with three countries of vast territories encircling the Land of Rain, Nagato sighed inwardly.
Breaking through the blockade of major countries truly isn't a simple matter.
"Shall I go to the front lines to help, Nagato?"
The Hidden Rain refraining from action presupposes ninjas don't appear on the battlefield.
If ninjas appear on the battlefield, it inevitably carries some characteristics of ninja warfare, differing significantly from conflicts involving ordinary people.
"No, you oversee here; it's still probing attacks from the Land of Fire. Taking down Hidden Rain is not something doable in a short time. They'll surely collect advanced intelligence about Hidden Rain's high officials first before deploying a large army."
After some thought, Nagato rejected Konan's suggestion to go to the front line.
Exposing identity and power now might retrieve Rain's disadvantages, but conversely, it would trigger intense panic among great nations, targeting Rain collectively and disrupting future Akatsuki plans.
"So what now?"
"The Land of Demons."
Nagato pointed to the country at the western edge of the map, far removed from the continental center.
"The Land of Demons? According to White Zetsu's intelligence, Chiba Hakushi has dispatched his daughter to the Land of Waves, evidently intending to stir things there."
Konan frowned.
"I don't know what Chiba Hakushi plans in the Land of Waves, but with Rain's weakened position and the absence of international support, the only ally to pull in is the Land of Demons. If drawing the Land of Fire deeper into Rain's civil unrest diverts attention from the Land of Waves, I believe Chiba Hakushi would be willing to reach a consensus with me."
"Would he agree so easily?"
Konan doubted that the Land of Demons would effortlessly assist Rain in countering the Land of Fire.
Previously, Rain's arms purchase from the Land of Demons was just business dealings, not fundamentally reliable profit-driven cooperation.
Following arms trades, the Land of Demons wouldn't offer any further help to Rain.
"It's uncertain, but worth trying. Besides, regardless of this, the Five Great Nations wanting to sign a treaty with the Land of Demons forbidding arms sales to small countries merits personally visiting the Land of Demons. If the Land of Demons accepts the Five Great Nations' proposal…"
Nagato took a deep breath.
Past negotiations with the Land of Demons placed him at a relative disadvantage, yet not forcing submission so much.
Akatsuki's affairs and Rain's affairs are entirely separate issues.
From the start, Nagato never intended for Akatsuki and Rain to be unified under management; after all, Akatsuki is a clandestine underground organization, not an overt renegade ninja group.
Therefore, as Akatsuki's leader, he could disregard the Land of Demons' formidable overall strength. But now, as Hidden Rain's leader, he must consider the Land of Demons' strong overall capability seriously, using suitable attitudes and reasonable prices to secure benefits for Rain.
If the Land of Demons agreed to the Five Great Nations' proposal forbidding arms sales to small countries, losing the weapon supply from the Land of Demons while great nations could equip advanced weapons from the Land of Demons would make Rain's situation even more dangerous.
"Konan."
Nagato suddenly called Konan's name.
"What's up, Nagato?"
Konan was taken aback.
"Do you think one billion per pound...this price is acceptable?"
"Huh?"
Konan clearly didn't comprehend.
"Gedo Statue, one billion per pound. This price, Chiba Hakushi should be able to accept, right?"
Nagato looked seriously at Konan.