After all, the nighttime plowing was also quite arduous.
"What a peaceful scene..."
Witnessing the beautiful view before him, Hakushi smiled.
Boom!
In the distant hills, a sudden explosion of light erupted, blossoming magnificently atop the mountain.
Under Hakushi's watchful eyes, the mountain peak vanished into thin air.
"..."
◎
Land of Water.
This is an island country with a unique geography and its own distinctive culture.
Separated by the sea from the largest continent in the Ninja Realm, its combined land and sea area is large enough to rival major countries like the Land of Fire.
Surrounded on all sides by the sea, with many mountainous areas inland, it is frequently shrouded in thick fog year-round.
Also, being located off the mainland with a vast sea acting as a barrier, since the First Great Ninja War, the Hidden Mist Village of the Land of Water has not intervened in ninja wars since the Second Great Ninja War.
Recently, however, this land often veiled in dense mist has gradually earned the bloody name 'Blood Mist Village' for its ninja village, the Hidden Mist Village.
On a foggy path cocooned by mist, a merchant caravan slowly made its way forward.
The four-wheeled vehicles carried important goods, and the personnel responsible for escorting them wore black hooded cloaks, embroidered with the Shion Flower insignia on their backs.
This caravan is from the Land of Demons.
Due to recent military reforms in the Land of Demons, these guards have, in truth, adopted a new identity—the military of the Land of Demons.
Though this hasn't circulated among the countries yet, there's no real need to publicize it intentionally.
They transported vital goods onward, and after two more hours of travel, they would reach the largest port city in the Land of Water.
Through a cruise operated by the Demon Nation's military at the port city, they could safely return to the Land of Demons.
"This country is really awful."
One person blurted out, seemingly holding it in for a long time.
"What?"
"Of course, the Hidden Mist Village. It's terrifying there. Whenever we open a branch store, we get watched as soon as we leave the shop."
Not only that, every night you can faintly hear screams.
Those are ninjas dying from battles.
"That's internal affairs of another country, not our concern. We're just here to sell medicine."
"Be that as it may, this village is a disaster. I've heard that only one graduate survived from the ninja school this year, while the others all died."
Even though this kind of thing is forbidden to be spread within the Hidden Mist Village, rumors still manage to leak out.
Otherwise, prolonged repression would drive the villagers insane.
"That child they call 'Ghost'? It's truly tragic."
Engaged in sporadic conversation, they lamented the terrible state of the Hidden Mist Village.
For personnel assigned here, running a pharmacy in the village, while not life-threatening, means even going to the bathroom is under surveillance, which is just too much.
Mistrust, bloody brutality, and a twisted atmosphere fill this village.
As they transported goods forward, from the fog-covered bridge ahead came the sound of metal clashing.
It was the clash of weapons in battle.
Strong chakra collided and erupted with each other, the river below the bridge converging, and several water dragons from different factions fought, biting each other as rain poured down in torrents.
A murderous aura permeated the air, with both sides relentlessly attacking each other.
Ninja Techniques and shuriken, Explosive Tags fiercely bombarded the opposing side.
Both sides were Hidden Mist Ninja, attacking their comrades.
Blood stained by differences in ideology, divided camps!
"Here it comes again, battles of the Blood Mist Village."