Naruto Card King

The Forest, Torrential Rain.

The sky was a dull gray, devoid of any trace of blue. Countless raindrops, as large as beans, merged into a relentless curtain of rain, slanting with the wind and drenching the forest. The downpour shattered countless delicate branches and fresh leaves, while the biting cold wind howled through the trees, seeping through clothing and chilling to the bone.

"Move faster!"

"Quit dawdling!"

"If we don't reach our destination by tonight, none of you will get to eat!"

The fierce transport guards bellowed hoarsely, cracking their whips repeatedly to urge them on.

On the broad path cutting through the forest, a procession of over a hundred ragged laborers trudged forward. They hauled heavy wooden carts covered in tarps, concealing their unknown cargo. However, the deep ruts left in the muddy road made it clear that the loads were immensely heavy.

The rain was relentless, the road was slick, yet the laborers had no choice but to press on, step by grueling step, against the wind and rain.

The guards overseeing the transport numbered fewer than ten—a small squad. Unlike the laborers, they wore straw raincoats and conical hats, sheltering them from the worst of the elements. Their only task was to watch over the laborers; they didn't need to exert themselves.

The straining carts groaned under their burdens, wheels squeaking as they rolled forward. The deep ruts faded into the distance as the convoy gradually disappeared into the misty veil of rain ahead.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three figures clad in straw raincoats and conical hats suddenly materialized on the main road, gazing at the vanishing procession. They were Haruto Saito, Tsunade, and Jiraiya.

"What are they transporting?" Haruto asked.

"Ore. There are three iron mines and one copper mine in this area. Most likely, they're hauling iron ore," Jiraiya responded.

"Do you pity them?" Tsunade tilted her head, looking at Haruto.

"Everyone has their own fate," Haruto replied flatly.

This was the Land of Rain, and it was the second afternoon since the three had entered the country.

Throughout their journey, Haruto had seen far too many miserable people. Poverty was one thing, but these people were enslaved and oppressed. The Land of Rain was a chaotic nation—small in size yet divided among warring factions, plagued by endless conflict. It was a paradise for criminals and a living hell for ordinary people.

There were simply too many pitiful souls.

Haruto was not the type to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders, and even if he were, there was nothing he could do for them now.

Upon entering the Land of Rain, Jiraiya had explained why the country was in such turmoil.

First, the Rain Ninja Village itself—its system and environment attracted criminals. Second, the Land of Rain was resource-rich, making it a battleground for competing interests. Third, its geographical location was too strategic—it bordered three of the Five Great Nations: the Land of Wind, the Land of Earth, and the Land of Fire.

None of these three great nations, nor their ninja villages, wanted the Land of Rain to unite under a single power. Such an event would be extremely troublesome for them.

This was why even Hanzo, the "Demi-God" and leader of the Rain Ninja Village, had been unable to pacify the country after more than a decade in power. The chaos in the Land of Rain was fueled by external forces—three great ninja villages, perhaps even all five, working to ensure that a sixth major force never emerged in the ninja world.

"Let's move. We need to reach the White Stone Mine before nightfall," Tsunade said briskly.

The trio resumed their journey, with Jiraiya carrying Haruto to maintain their high speed.

"Kid, are you really not going to let me step in? You still have two favors left to use, you know. Don't waste them," Tsunade called out as they ran.

"No need, thanks," Haruto declined once again. Tsunade had brought this up multiple times along the way.

One of the masterminds behind the Rain Ninja Village's funding was Tanaka Teiji. If Tsunade personally handled the assassination, the mission's difficulty would plummet. With her strength, failure was unlikely.

However, that would do Haruto no good.

Haruto wasn't killing for the sake of killing, nor simply to complete a mission—he was doing it for the rewards. Although Tanaka Teiji himself was an ordinary man, he was guarded by warriors of jōnin-level strength. Haruto needed to personally eliminate them to claim the benefits.

Moreover, using one of his hard-earned favors to have Tsunade do the job simply wasn't worth it.

"Hey, kid, is there anything valuable buried around here?" Tsunade suddenly asked, her tone betraying her greed.

"You're so annoying. I told you already, my predictions only work when I get a feeling for it," Haruto snapped impatiently.

Several hours later.

Night fell silently, accompanied by a steady drizzle.

It was a moonless night—utterly dark.

White Stone Mine was a renowned silver mine in the central-southern region of the Land of Rain. Originally called White Stone Mountain, it had been renamed after silver ore was discovered there. The southern slope of the mountain was the primary mining area; after years of excavation, much of its vegetation had been cleared away, leaving behind exposed earth, rocks, and gaping mine shafts.

The northern slope, however, remained untouched. Its natural environment was pristine—a dense forest.

Haruto and his companions ascended White Stone Mountain from the north, reaching the summit and selecting a vantage point overlooking the southern mining encampment.

Perched on a towering tree at the cliff's edge, Haruto steadied himself against the trunk, peering intently at the well-lit and bustling encampment below. He focused, but the distance and rain hindered his vision. Even with his True Sight ability, the rain interfered with his clarity, allowing only a general view.

He couldn't exactly activate the Byakugan in front of Tsunade and Jiraiya.

Jiraiya retrieved a collapsible spyglass from his pack, extending it and scanning the encampment. After a moment, he spoke: "About five thousand troops, mostly regular soldiers. As for samurai and ninja… I count over a hundred, and some might be from the Rain Ninja Village. The largest building in the core of the camp is lit—Tanaka Teiji is likely inside."

He handed the spyglass to Tsunade, who took a brief look before passing it to Haruto.

Haruto examined it skeptically before bringing it to his eye. Compared to modern tools, it was crude, but it was all they had.

Through the lens, Haruto systematically studied the camp.

It was enormous, divided into three main sections:

The northern district occupied 60% of the area, housing over ten thousand workers in rows of simple wooden huts. Thousands of laborers were visible toiling even at night, though intelligence suggested the mine had nearly thirty thousand workers.

The southern district, smaller but still capable of housing thousands, was where Tanaka Teiji's private army resided.

The core section in the center of the southern district contained the grand estate where Tanaka Teiji and his elite guards—samurai and ninja—were stationed.

Haruto focused on the estate.

The level of protection surrounding Tanaka Teiji was far greater than intelligence had indicated. This was an A-rank assassination mission, not an S-rank one. Typically, three jōnin-level fighters would suffice.

Yet, Haruto spotted at least five jōnin patrolling the estate—all Rain Ninja.

Why would jōnin patrol for Tanaka Teiji?

Something was off.

Just then—a sharp, piercing bird cry.

A massive, blue-winged bird with nearly a one-meter wingspan glided overhead, its black eyes scanning the ground below.

"That sound! Hide!" Jiraiya hissed, pulling them back into the shadows of the tree canopy.

"What's going on?" Haruto whispered.

"That's a Rain Falcon," Tsunade muttered grimly.

Haruto's unease deepened.

The security around Tanaka Teiji had intensified. But why?