Naruto: With Favorabiltity System

Chapter 218: Passing Through the Land of Rain

The Land of Rain lies nestled between the Land of Grass and the Land of Wind.

Initially, Haneda considered taking a detour but was reminded of a promise he once made. Determined, he headed straight for the Land of Rain.

The Land of Rain is a basin. Upon reaching the border's mountain range, the sky divided starkly in two:

On the side of the Land of Grass, blue skies and white clouds reigned, while over the Land of Rain, the sky was gloomy, heavy rain pouring endlessly.

Karin exclaimed in surprise:

"What an amazing place! Is this the Land of Rain? A country where it always rains?"

"Yes, it's a fascinating place, but it's often called the Land That Always Weeps," Haneda replied.

Pakura, revisiting this land, reflected with emotion.

During the Third Great Ninja War, she had served as deputy commander here, a hero of Sunagakure.

Little did she expect to one day face betrayal by her village.

"Let's move."

Haneda handed out raincoats to the group and began descending the mountain. He had a clear destination in mind:

The place where he and Yahiko once made a promise.

As time passed, Haneda and his companions drew closer to their destination. A wide river running eastward toward the Land of Fire blocked their path.

"Do we need to cross it? Traveling in the Land of Rain is always troublesome," Pakura remarked, gazing at the river.

Deidara retrieved a lump of clay, which, after being chewed by the mouths on his palms, transformed into a giant bird.

"Hop on! Flying over will be much faster, hmm!" Deidara called, standing on his creation.

However, Haneda's group didn't respond for a long while. Curious, Deidara followed Haneda's gaze and noticed a large bridge spanning the river, connected to a smooth, well-maintained road.

"They remembered," Haneda suddenly said with a smile.

This puzzled Haku and Kimimaro.

"Who are 'they'?" they wondered.

Friends of Haneda's?

Seeing the others walk toward the bridge instead of boarding his bird, Deidara couldn't help but shout:

"Hey! Isn't traveling with a ride better than walking? Hmm!"

"Deidara, you ride ahead. I'm going to take a look at the road," Haneda said, waving him off as he headed toward the bridge.

Without hesitation, Haku and Kimimaro followed him, leaving Deidara circling on his bird.

"Hmph! What's so great about that bridge? I ought to show this bridge my art, hmm!"

Suddenly, Haneda's calm voice drifted back.

"No blowing up the bridge, Deidara."

"Got it, Haneda-nii!" Deidara reluctantly agreed, knowing he couldn't defy Haneda.

He flew toward the bridge, noticing Haneda's reflective gaze.

"Haneda-nii, does this bridge have some special meaning for you?" Deidara asked loudly.

Travelers from the Land of Grass and the Land of Fire crossing the bridge glanced at Deidara suspiciously and quickened their pace.

Haneda, however, looked at the bridge and the distant merchant caravans, recalling a past proposal he made to Yahiko and the others.

"This place has changed a lot," he murmured, walking along the paved road beside the river.

According to his memories, following the river would lead to Yahiko's old secret base.

Deidara flew his bird to follow Haneda but glanced back at the bridge with longing.

"I really want to blow up that bridge… Let the world marvel at my art, hmm!"

...

Eight invisible eyes watched silently from the shadows.

These belonged to the Six Paths of Pain, Konan, and Nagato.

Konan, once always smiling, now carried an air of solemnity and grace, like an angel. Nagato, gaunt and frail, sat behind the Deva Path.

"He's here. Should we meet him?" Konan asked, her gaze fixed on Haneda heading for the secret base.

Deva Path said nothing, and Nagato remained silent.

After a long pause, Nagato finally spoke:

"No. We are not part of the same group anymore. Our interests and stances differ."

"He is, after all, a shinobi of Konoha," Nagato added.

Konan bit her lip. "But Nagato, Yahiko's promise…"

Nagato interrupted:

"I will inherit Yahiko's will and create everlasting peace."

"But I am not Yahiko. I cannot represent him."

Inside the cave, silence fell once more. Then, Nagato broke it again.

"What do you want?"

Footsteps echoed as someone wearing a mask and the red-clouded cloak of the Akatsuki approached Nagato and Konan. It was Obito.

"I've found the members you need for your organization," Obito said coolly.

"Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin, and Biwa Jūzō of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist."

"Where are they?" Deva Path asked.

"One is in the Land of Fields. The other is already here, outside," Obito replied, his gaze piercing Nagato.

"Stop wasting time on irrelevant matters," Obito warned. "No matter how many roads you build, they won't bring peace. Bridges and roads like these only become targets in times of war."

With that, a vortex appeared in Obito's eye, and he began to vanish.

Konan retorted,

"These roads were Haneda's idea—to improve the lives of the people of the Land of Rain. They are roads to peace!"

"Do as you wish, so long as it doesn't interfere with our plans," Obito replied, adjusting his mask before disappearing entirely.

...

Following the cement road along the river, Haneda arrived at an abandoned house.

The building was dilapidated, its walls scarred with charred black marks. Rain dripped through a hole in the ceiling, falling onto the floor with a heavy sound.

"Did you live here, Haneda-san?" Haku asked curiously.

"Mm." Haneda nodded, walking toward a vine-covered wall.

"Hey, hey!" Deidara leaped off his bird, entering through the hole in the roof. He noticed the familiar, charred black marks on the walls and chuckled.

"So this was Haneda-nii's house? The scent of art is everywhere, hmm!"

Kimimaro, meanwhile, saw Haneda holding a wooden plaque adorned with a white frog. Haneda appeared lost in thought.

"Can you be quiet for once?" Kimimaro snapped at Deidara.

"Nope," Deidara replied, unapologetically.

"Enough, Kimimaro," Haneda interjected. "Deidara's chatter lightens the mood."

Placing the frog-marked plaque back where Yahiko's name was inscribed, Haneda walked to the door.

"Let's go," he said.

"So soon? Haneda-nii, don't you want to stay a little longer?" Deidara asked, sensing Haneda's heavy heart.

"No. I already know they don't want to meet me," Haneda replied, opening the door.

Just then, he sensed explosive chakra and turned back.

A swarm of clay spiders poured from Deidara's palm-mouths.

"What are you doing, Deidara?" Haneda asked.

"Blowing this place up, of course! If this place saddens Haneda-nii, it's best to turn it into a fleeting masterpiece! Hmm!"

Haneda's expression twitched. If Deidara really destroyed this place, Nagato and Konan would never forgive him.

With a snap of his fingers, Haneda unleashed a flurry of Chidori Senbon, piercing the clay spiders.

"This place holds too many memories to destroy."

...