Naruto : Rise From The Rain

The Grass Ninja's frontline outpost was located atop a cliff at the intersection of the Rain, Grass, and Earth countries. Unlike the Land of Fire, which had expansive forests as cover, this area offered little natural concealment.

Here, a small observation tower had been erected, standing only a few meters tall. A lone Grass Ninja stood inside, boredly scanning the surroundings. Down below, the faint chatter of his companions could be heard.

The Grass Ninja couldn't understand why they had to go to war. If Konoha and Iwagakure wanted to fight, they should do so themselves—why did Grass have to get involved?

He was merely a Chūnin, and he'd seen firsthand the terrifying strength of Konoha's ninjas on the battlefields of the Land of Fire. Facing such enemies felt like a death sentence.

Feeling increasingly annoyed, he shouted to his companions below, "I'm hungry! Anyone got something to eat? Bring it up!"

The words had barely left his mouth when a sudden cold touched his cheek. Looking up, he realized it had started to rain. Being so close to the Land of Rain, sudden downpours were not uncommon, but the rain only deepened his irritation.

No one below responded to his call, and as he prepared to shout again, his eyes caught sight of something terrifying—a massive water dragon roaring toward the tower.

Boom!

The wooden observation tower collapsed with a thunderous crash. The sudden attack left the Grass Ninja stunned, and within moments, dozens of his comrades rushed out of their tents.

"Enemy attack!"

The panicked cries were drowned out by the rain and the sound of rushing water. Countless dark figures moved swiftly toward them, led by a barrage of shuriken and ninjutsu.

The Grass Ninja on the tower hadn't died immediately in the water dragon's assault. Dizzy and wracked with pain, he struggled to stand, only to find himself surrounded by floating white paper.

Rustle, rustle—

What's this?!

Horrified, he saw himself enveloped by the paper, which carried a slick, oily sensation. Coated in some sort of substance, the paper wrapped tightly around him, leaving him utterly immobilized. The oncoming sheets of paper continued to pile on until he was completely buried, unable to make a sound—or even breathe.

He never saw his attacker's face. Darkness consumed him entirely.

In the air above, Konan hovered silently. Her mastery of her Paper Release ninjutsu had reached new heights, and the overwhelming surge of chakra within her body made her feel far stronger than before.

She summoned more paper, which swirled like countless white butterflies, completely unaffected by the rain as they weaved through her enemies.

For Konan, killing wasn't difficult. She didn't need to personally finish off her foes—her ninjutsu could do so with ease.

Below, Yahiko watched in awe. "Konan's ninjutsu has become so powerful!"

Even Kyoso's eyes betrayed a hint of unease. This girl named Konan was far stronger than he had anticipated.

Meanwhile, Asahi focused entirely on his battle, not using Paper Release but still overwhelming his opponents with his overflowing chakra. Killing them was almost effortless.

The Grass Ninja's combat abilities were subpar, and the sudden Rain Ninja attack left them reeling. Unable to organize an effective defense, they crumbled under the relentless assault.

Those who tried to flee were struck down by Konan's airborne paper shuriken.

In just three or four minutes, the rain ceased.

Silence quickly descended over the area. Kyoso gave a terse order: "Dispose of the bodies quickly."

The Rain Ninjas piled the enemies' corpses together, searching them thoroughly but finding no valuable intelligence. Kyoso then set the heap ablaze with a single fire jutsu.

Yahiko stood silently, staring at the burning mound. Asahi gently patted his shoulder. Yahiko turned to him with a strained smile before addressing Konan nearby.

"Konan, your ninjutsu has improved again."

At his words, Konan pressed her lips together, her eyes drifting briefly toward Asahi.

Yahiko sighed. "It seems I haven't been working hard enough—I'm falling behind you."

Kyoso interrupted, "This isn't the time for idle chatter. We need to move quickly."

"To where?"

Whoosh!

A sharp whistling sound pierced the air, followed by a crisp clang as a flash of sparks erupted in front of Yahiko. A shuriken had been deflected.

It was Asahi who blocked the attack with a kunai.

Cold sweat trickled down Yahiko's back. The shuriken had been so fast that he hadn't even registered it in time to react.

Rumble!

The ground beneath them suddenly quaked, cracking open with countless fissures. Massive chasms appeared without warning. The Rain Ninjas quickly retreated, some narrowly avoiding falling into the deep trenches, saved only by their comrades' timely intervention.

"It's the Iwa Ninjas!" exclaimed Daibutsu from within the group.

"Support arrived this quickly?" Kyoso frowned.

"They must have some special communication method," Daibutsu speculated.

The Grass and Iwa Ninjas' outposts weren't far apart, and if one was attacked, reinforcements from a neighboring post could arrive within a minute or two.

Asahi, Yahiko, Konan, and Kyōsuke stood together, scanning the incoming figures. They spotted Iwa Ninjas wearing forehead protectors marked with the symbol of Iwagakure and dressed in standard Iwa uniforms. Luckily, there were fewer than twenty of them.

However, if the battle dragged on, more reinforcements from other posts might arrive.

"Prepare for battle!"

A rain of flying rocks descended like a storm, denser than the earlier downpour. The sheer intensity struck fear into the hearts of many Rain Ninjas.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Daibutsu rapidly formed hand seals, and a tall earthen wall rose between the Rain and Iwa Ninjas, blocking many of the incoming projectiles.

The wall, however, held for only a moment before a large crack split it apart, and under the relentless barrage, it crumbled completely.

Daibutsu glanced at the Iwa Ninjas and noticed one of them pressing their hands against the ground—it was likely this ninja who disrupted his jutsu.

Kyoso observed the Iwa Ninjas and saw that they were battle-hardened elites. By contrast, the members of Akatsuki on his side were inexperienced in true warfare and would struggle to match their opponents.

We have to find a way to retreat!

As he deliberated, the Iwa Ninjas closed in, and the two sides quickly clashed. The battle rapidly turned in favor of the Iwa Ninjas, with the Rain Ninjas struggling to hold their ground.

Kyoso pulled out a paper tag and performed a one-handed seal. "Hidden Mist Art!"

Boom!

A massive cloud of greenish smoke spread across the battlefield, enveloping everyone within.

"Yahiko, take the others and retreat. I'll cover you!"

"Lord Kyoso!"

"No arguments!"

Rumble!

The ground trembled once more, and the deafening noise filled the air. Asahi suddenly felt an oppressive sensation, as though he were trapped in a confined space. Without hesitation, he flung a kunai in a certain direction. The weapon sliced through the smoke, and moments later, a distinct clang echoed as it struck a wall.

Asahi frowned. "It seems we can't retreat anymore."