Dark gray clouds hung low over the Land of Rain, a steady drizzle pattering down incessantly, drumming against clusters of abandoned buildings and a crisscrossing network of drainage pipes.
Yahiko spat out rainwater that had seeped into his mouth, trudging along the muddy, slippery road until he reached a nearby small village.
Familiar with the way, he went straight to a house at the village center.
"Village Chief, are you home?"
Yahiko raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door, waiting quietly.
The door opened in response, revealing a gray-haired, stooped elderly man in his fifties or sixties.
At the sight of Yahiko, the old man's face first broke into a gentle smile. "It's Yahiko! Come in, come in. It's been a while since you last visited."
But when his gaze swept over the bruises and cuts covering Yahiko's face and body, his expression froze. He quickly reached out, pulling Yahiko inside, his eyes filled with concern as he pressed, "What happened? You're hurt so badly!"
Yahiko took off his damp cloak and forced a cheerful smile. "It's nothing, just some minor injuries."
Just as the Village Chief was about to ask more, two cheerful voices suddenly came from the inner room:
"It's Big Brother Yahiko!"
"Big Brother Yahiko is here!"
Two small figures darted out from the inner room—a boy and a girl, both around five or six years old. They clung to Yahiko, chattering excitedly:
"Big Brother Yahiko, where's Big Brother Nagato?"
"Haha, Izumo, Kotaro, you two little rascals. Have you been listening to Grandpa Village Chief lately?"
"Of course, Big Brother Yahiko!"
"That's good. Next time, I'll have Konan and Nagato take you out for a proper outing."
"Yay!"
Yahiko kept quiet about the dangers he had faced today, knowing that sharing them would only cause worry.
He then crouched down, embracing the two children in his arms.
These two were the Village Chief's grandchildren. Both looked pale and thin, their hemp clothes patched all over, struggling to get by alongside the rest of the village.
This was the truest reflection of life for the common folk at the bottom of the Land of Rain.
Yahiko's heart swelled with emotion.
Looking at Izumo and Kotaro, he thought to himself: If they had been born in peaceful Konohagakure, children their age would be living carefree lives under the sun!
It was precisely for this reason that he was so determined to create true peace, to protect countless villages like this one in Amegakure. And these villagers, in turn, placed their unwavering trust in the Akatsuki.
Seeing that Yahiko, despite his injuries, appeared calm, the Village Chief relaxed slightly and nodded, asking, "Yahiko, what brings you here today?"
Yahiko gently set the siblings down on the floor, patted their heads, and gestured for them to go play outside.
The two children were sensible enough to understand that the adults had important matters to discuss, and they skipped away happily.
Yahiko scratched his head, looking somewhat embarrassed. "Village Chief, I came today to ask for your help."
He then explained his purpose, mentioning the need to collect some blood samples. Finally, he took out the silver Shinji had given him and offered it forward.
At the sight of the money, the Village Chief's expression darkened. He quickly waved his hands, pushing the silver back.
"Yahiko, we've been able to live peacefully until now thanks to your protection. It's just a little blood donation—there are still a few young men in the village. I'll go call them right away."
But Yahiko was firm. He pushed the silver coins forward again and smiled helplessly. "Take it. This money can help the village get by. Use it to buy some food."
At the mention of "food," the village chief's hand, which had been refusing, froze mid-air, his expression hesitant.
Seizing the moment, Yahiko smiled and stuffed the stack of silver coins directly into the chief's palm.
The amount was roughly thirty thousand ryo, enough for the small village to live comfortably for a while.
The Land of Rain was perpetually overcast and rainy, with little sunlight. There was simply no arable land, and all food had to be imported from other countries.
However, these imported goods were always prioritized for the upper-class nobility.
Moreover, some unscrupulous merchants hoarded food and drove up prices, making it impossible for impoverished villages like this one to afford the exorbitant costs.
This silver would just be enough to relieve the villagers' immediate hunger.
In the end, the village chief tremblingly accepted the coins, his eyes reddening as he looked at Yahiko. "I'll go find people for you right away."
With that, he hurried out of his home.
Watching the chief's retreating figure, Yahiko felt a sense of relief, but soon sank back into deep thought.
He sighed softly, reminding himself inwardly: Yahiko, you must change the current state of the Land of Rain.
Before long, four relatively sturdy men arrived with the village chief.
The four also recognized Yahiko and casually greeted him. They rolled up their sleeves, exposing their forearms, their faces filled with trust.
Yahiko stepped forward with a smile, took out the blood collection bags, and followed the simple sterilization method Shinji had taught him. One by one, he steadily inserted the needles into their arms to begin drawing blood.
Soon, two bags of blood were collected. He carefully stored them away, secretly relieved, and looked up to express his sincere gratitude. "Thank you, everyone!"
"Yahiko, no need to be so polite!"
"It's just a small favor."
Seeing their sincere smiles, Yahiko's lips also curved into a bright grin.
After chatting briefly, he didn't linger any longer. Bidding farewell to everyone, he set off for the next village that had received help from the Akatsuki.
At each village, he explained his purpose. The villagers, grateful for past kindness, agreed without hesitation to donate blood—clear proof of the high reputation Yahiko and the Akatsuki held among the impoverished villages.
As usual, Yahiko also left money to support these villages.
After finally purchasing all the daily necessities Shinji needed at the last village, Yahiko finally let out a sigh of relief.
"Thankfully, I brought enough money." His face flushed slightly as he scratched his head, somewhat embarrassed.
Only then did he realize that collecting blood didn't actually cost much, yet Shinji had given him a full two hundred thousand ryo.
He thought to himself that he must find a way to repay Shinji properly later. He wondered if Shinji would even take an interest in the Akatsuki's modest resources.
Just then, several ninja suddenly appeared at the village entrance.
The moment Yahiko recognized the patterns on their uniforms, his eyes sharpened—these were Amegakure ninja under Hanzō of the Salamander!
He quickly pulled his hood tighter, paused his steps, and slipped into a narrow alley, cautiously peering out to observe.
He saw the ninja acting arrogantly, kicking open doors one after another. They held several portraits in their hands, going door to door...
"The paintings are all members of the Akatsuki, terrorists seeking to overthrow the Land of Rain! Report any sightings immediately!"
The ninja's tone was icy as he berated the villagers.
Yahiko held his breath, doing his utmost to conceal his presence, not daring to reveal the slightest trace.
He was certain the villagers here would never betray his whereabouts.
In a country like this, everyone knew the importance of self-preservation. Moreover, compared to the ruthless Hanzo, he was more worthy of the villagers' trust.
As expected, Hanzo's subordinates found nothing and left in frustration.
Yahiko tightened the hood over his head, a mocking sneer curling at the corner of his mouth. "Hmph, Hanzo, just you wait!"
With those words, his figure blurred as he swiftly raced toward the Akatsuki's hideout.
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