Early the next morning.
Murakami Hana looked at Hyuga Arin and asked curiously, "Who offended you this time? Why do you look so gloomy? Can't you smile anymore?"
In the past, Hyuga Arin always wore a smile on his face—though it carried a chilling edge, as if he might strike at anyone at any moment.
Now, his face was cold as ice, like someone owed him several million ryō.
Can't smile, my ass.
Hyuga Arin looked at Murakami Hana expressionlessly and asked, "When are we leaving?"
He'd originally thought he could change class smoothly, only to be suddenly told he had to complete a quest—and that the quest might even involve crossing worlds.
Who could possibly be in a good mood after that?
His previously cheerful mood had plunged straight to rock bottom.
If he weren't unable to beat Murakami Hana, he would've really liked to let the man experience his strength firsthand and vent some of the anger in his heart.
What do you mean, can't smile, you bastard?
He, Hyuga Arin, was never someone who liked smiling in the first place.
"We can set off right now," Murakami Hana shrugged.
He had already fully grasped the basic situation in Muyin. As for the remaining hidden details—those simply couldn't be dug out anymore.
Perhaps only the now-dead Kusamori knew.
But Murakami Hana had no intention of asking Kusamori. He still wanted to live.
"Let's go." Murakami Hana glanced at the fat ninja, who was pretending to look busy.
"Wait a moment." Hyuga Arin walked over to the fat ninja.
He could clearly feel the man shudder.
Originally, Hyuga Arin wanted to smile reassuringly to ease his nerves, but he really couldn't manage it. In the end, he could only force a stiff, fake smile as he patted the fat ninja's cheek.
"I'll come back to see you sometime."
The fat ninja looked like he was about to cry. His entire body was wrapped in bandages now—all of it the result of Hyuga Arin's handiwork.
You're already leaving, and you still plan to come back? Is it really necessary to hold grudges this badly?
But Hyuga Arin wasn't doing this out of spite—it was a blatant threat.
After all, Nagato was still living in this city. Even though Hyuga Arin didn't know whether Uchiha Madara had already set his sights on Nagato, he didn't want to leave behind any threats to him.
As long as Hyuga Arin was alive, the fat ninja would never dare do anything to Nagato.
This was insurance for Nagato.
If too much time passed, the deterrent effect might weaken. But if, at that point, the fat ninja still dared to do anything to Nagato…
Uchiha Madara would probably have quite a lot to say to him.
Those people had far fewer scruples.
Murakami Hana saw everything Hyuga Arin did, but made no comment.
In the Hidden Rain Hidden Village, status and fists were the law.
As long as your status was high and your fists were strong, everyone else had to submit.
Struggle—that was the rule of the Hidden Rain.
…
The two left the city, with Murakami Hana leading Hyuga Arin as they rapidly traversed the forest.
Hyuga Arin discreetly activated his Byakugan, discovering that their route constantly doubled back. In several places, they even circled the same area twice—clearly a method to obscure the path.
Murakami Hana led him around without explanation.
Hyuga Arin didn't ask either, silently keeping his Byakugan active and memorizing the route.
The Byakugan's penetrating vision allowed him to quickly grasp the terrain, and the enhanced memory he'd gained after transmigrating let him remember it all with ease.
It had no effect on him whatsoever. If it were any other ninja, they would've long since been completely disoriented by Murakami Hana.
Thinking of Hanzo's legendary caution in the original story, Hyuga Arin had expected as much.
With their speed, it should've taken only two days to reach their destination—but Murakami Hana forcibly dragged it out to five.
And the route stayed entirely within the forest the whole time. By this point, anyone else would've completely lost their sense of direction.
Especially since Murakami Hana repeatedly took out a map midway through to confirm the route.
So you can't remember it either, huh?!
On the fifth day, Murakami Hana finally led Hyuga Arin out of the forest. He turned to him and took out a strip of black cloth.
"You can't see the next part of the road."
The blindfold was completely useless to Hyuga Arin, but he had no intention of exposing himself. He took the cloth and covered his eyes, asking curiously as he did so, "Aren't we heading to the Hidden Rain Hidden Village? Is this level of caution really necessary?"
Although ninja villages were relatively hidden, they weren't exactly secrets. Anyone with some ability generally knew their locations.
Even if Hyuga Arin hadn't lived here before, he knew the approximate position of the Hidden Rain.
Murakami Hana replied meaningfully, "Don't you want to meet Lord Hanzo? This route leads to Lord Hanzo."
Although it was technically still within the vicinity of the Hidden Rain Hidden Village, Hanzo's hidden location was merely close to it, not inside.
Hyuga Arin nodded. Once the black cloth covered his eyes, his Byakugan still allowed him to see clearly.
He watched as Murakami Hana wrapped a wire around one of his hands and led him forward by holding the wire.
After circling several more times, they arrived at a cave within the forest.
They didn't enter the cave itself. Instead, Murakami Hana opened a concealed door beside it.
Hyuga Arin was speechless.
He knew Hanzo was cautious—but wasn't this a bit too cautious?
Once they were inside, Murakami Hana finally removed the blindfold.
"Follow me," Murakami Hana said as he led the way. His voice came from ahead. "You haven't fully earned Lord Hanzo's trust yet, so naturally you can't know where this place is. Once you do earn his trust…"
Hyuga Arin nodded and followed behind him.
Although this was a hidden facility, the interior space was enormous and extremely spacious.
After walking down a long corridor, they entered a massive area the size of a sports arena, three stories high, with multiple rooms on each level.
There were many more ninja around now. Quite a few wearing Hidden Rain forehead protectors passed by.
Many of them greeted Murakami Hana proactively.
It seemed Murakami Hana was quite popular here.
As for Hyuga Arin, people merely cast a couple of curious glances at him before quickly moving on to attend to other matters.
Walking ahead, Murakami Hana's voice drifted back. "As long as you have strength, they'll respect you as well."
Hyuga Arin remained silent.
Why would he need these people's respect? All he needed was for them to drop experience and loot.
Seeing that Hyuga Arin had no interest in talking, Murakami Hana quickened his pace. The two arrived at the innermost room on the third floor.
"Next, don't speak carelessly," Murakami Hana reminded him.
Hyuga Arin nodded, and the two entered one after the other.
Inside stood a man waiting for them, clad in armor and wearing a breathing mask over his face.
"Lord Hanzo," Murakami Hana dropped to one knee. Hyuga Arin followed suit, kneeling behind him.
From the corner of his eye, Hyuga Arin couldn't help but size up this man—the future central figure of the Second Shinobi World War.
But with his Byakugan still active, he noticed something was off.
The chakra volume of this Hanzo…
Wasn't it a bit strange?
It didn't even reach jōnin-level chakra at all!!!
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