Chapter 79: Entering the Hidden Rain Village – Wiping Out the Thugs
The next morning at 9 a.m., the sky was overcast, and the Konoha frontline continued its usual light drizzle.
Ling Yu and the girls had changed into casual clothes, packed their weapons, and set off toward the Hidden Rain Village, ready to explore and have some fun.
Last night they had invited Tsunade to join them, but because Katō Dan and the other two were poisoned by Hanzō, Tsunade still needed to focus on researching the antidote—so she couldn't come along.
To ensure Tsunade's safety in case of a Rain ninja attack while they were gone, Ling Yu had secretly marked a small trace of Space Power on the necklace she wore around her neck.
If danger arose, as long as Tsunade channeled chakra into it, Ling Yu would sense it and instantly teleport with Mikoto and Kushina to her side.
After a few hours of travel, Ling Yu and the others successfully slipped into the Hidden Rain Village and arrived in the refugee district.
The rain had stopped for now, but the sky remained gloomy. Everywhere they went, the air carried the musty, moldy smell caused by constant dampness.
"So this is the Hidden Rain Village? It feels so much worse than Konoha."
The moment they entered, Kushina couldn't help but complain about the dilapidated wooden houses and filthy streets.
"Of course it's worse. Think about it—Konoha is vast and rich in resources, backed by the Fire Country, one of the great ninja nations. Life here is obviously better."
As Ling Yu led the girls forward, he explained:
"The Land of Rain, on the other hand, is just a small country. Its territory is tiny, resources are scarce, and it rains year-round. Compared to Konoha, it's on a completely different level."
Right now, the Hidden Rain Village was still under Hanzō's rule. Because Hanzō had declared war on the three great nations, the village had been aggressively recruiting soldiers and seizing supplies—leaving the streets eerily empty.
Worse still, the village was in chaos. The gap between rich and poor was extreme.
The wealthy had half their fortunes confiscated by Hanzō for military funds. To replenish their wealth, they squeezed the common people dry with heavier and heavier taxes.
As a result, many civilians now lived as displaced refugees. The streets were filled with beggars who couldn't pay taxes and were simply trying to survive.
After walking for a few minutes, Ling Yu finally led the girls out of the slums and into slightly cleaner streets.
"Alright, stop thinking about it. This isn't something we can fix. Let's find a hotel and get settled first."
Seeing the heavy expressions on the girls' faces, Ling Yu spoke softly to comfort them.
"Mm, okay."
They quickly found a hotel and booked a luxurious room.
For convenience in case they needed to leave quickly, the three of them shared one large room. Fortunately, it was spacious enough with three big beds—no one felt cramped.
"Come on! I want to try all the delicious food in the Hidden Rain Village today!"
Back to her usual energetic self, Kushina tidied her things and dragged the other two out of the hotel.
"On the frontline we only ate those awful military ration pills. Now that we're out, I'm going to feast and treat myself!"
Holding the money Ling Yu had given her, Kushina excitedly headed toward the street vendors.
"Mm, so good! Street food really is the best!"
After visiting several stalls in a row, Kushina's mouth was stuffed full, and both her hands were loaded with all kinds of snacks. She walked along happily munching away.
Mikoto and Ling Yu weren't as voracious as Kushina. They only sampled a little here and there and didn't buy much.
Their lavish spending quickly caught the attention of a nearby group of thugs.
These thugs were mostly former battlefield deserters or dropouts with no steady income. They made their living by extorting "protection fees" from the locals.
They usually targeted honest citizens and robbed anyone who looked wealthy but powerless.
Because many of them had once been ninja, ordinary villagers couldn't fight back and had long since given up resisting.
"Hey boss—look at those three kids. They're loaded! How about we rob them? Then we'll have money for drinks!"
A short, pale-faced thug pointed at Ling Yu and the girls and spoke to the tall, fierce-looking former Rain ninja leading the group.
"Heh heh, they look like rich tourists. Let's do it!"
With that, the big man led his lackeys straight toward Ling Yu and the others.
"Hey! You three don't look like locals. Where are you from? Lend your big bro some money to spend, yeah?"
With seven or eight underlings behind him, the big man quickly blocked their path.
The surrounding civilians scattered the moment they saw the thugs—as if fleeing a plague—leaving Ling Yu and the girls completely alone with the group.
"Hmph! Where we're from is none of your business! And you think you can extort money from me? Who do you think you are?!"
Looking at the thug's delinquent appearance, Kushina snorted coldly and cursed him outright.
"Arrogant little brat! Since you won't cooperate, don't blame us for taking it by force!"
After being cursed out by Kushina, the big man flew into a rage.
To avoid losing face in front of his lackeys, he reached out to grab Kushina, intending to teach her a harsh lesson.
"Shinra Tensei!"
But before his hand could fully extend, Ling Yu unleashed the repulsive force and sent the big man flying.
"I'll finish him off. You two take care of the rest—kill them all!"
After giving the order to Mikoto and Kushina, Ling Yu drew his weapon and walked toward the fallen thug leader, ready to deliver the finishing blow.
"Damn it! He dared to hit our boss! Get them! Capture them all!"
One of the lackeys saw their leader get blasted away and immediately shouted to the others.
"Charge!"
"Grab them!"
"Revenge for the boss!"
With a chorus of yells, the thugs split into two groups—one rushing toward Kushina and Mikoto with weapons drawn, the other charging at Ling Yu.
Seeing them approach, Kushina was about to fight—but then she looked down at all the snacks still in her hands and hesitated to drop them.
"I'll handle it!"
Just as she was struggling, Mikoto's gentle voice came from beside her.
Stepping forward, Mikoto positioned herself in front of Kushina. Raising her head, her Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan instantly activated.
"Cherry Blossom Wave!"
In the next moment, countless cherry blossoms poured from Mikoto's eyes. The pink petals gathered into a surging tidal wave that completely engulfed the charging thugs.
Not a single sound escaped. When the cherry blossoms dispersed, the thugs had vanished without a trace—as if nothing had ever happened.
"I hope in their next life they won't be so arrogant. Let's go."
After finishing her side, Mikoto saw that Ling Yu had also dealt with his group of thugs. The three continued their shopping.
By noon, they had explored every street in the area and bought plenty of local specialties. They returned to the hotel to rest before heading out again in the afternoon to explore another part of the village.