Three days ago, I was hiding at home as quietly as I always did.
Father said it wasn't safe outside now, and children should hide at home, hiding themselves so well that no one could find them.
Unless Mom or Dad calls you out... don't pay attention to anyone else!
I had always done as told, going from the initial discomfort and complaints when the war started to now being used to it.
And three days ago, it was this habit that saved his life.
That day, he was sleeping in his hiding spot as usual when he suddenly heard a lot of chaotic noise.
"Run! Lord Hanzou is dead..."
"...Sob... The Land of Rain is finished..."
And... "Run! The people from Konoha are attacking!"
Then came wave after wave of screams... then people breaking in for supplies... the sound of fabric tearing and porcelain shattering... after that, more people entered the house one after another.
Then there was the sound of digging and prying iron... along with cursing before they left and the sound of the house burning... Fortunately, since it rains in the Land of Rain... the fire didn't reach the hiding spot.
Just like that, I hid for three days, but I was too hungry.
So I stood up and walked out.
If I didn't get up now, I felt I would never be able to get up again.
But what I saw made me unable to believe this was the place where I had always lived.
But the facts told me it was true... I knew who caused all this, but what could I do?
I couldn't find food; I was going to die soon!
Truly... I'm so unwilling!
---
Half an hour later.
"Captain, there's a child here!"
A Ninja walked up to the child lying on the ground and reached out his hand.
"Captain, he's still alive. He probably fainted from hunger."
"Then take him with us."
"Yes!"
Having said that, he hoisted the child onto his back and stepped forward.
"Captain, this place seems to have been destroyed beyond recognition. Let's go look somewhere else."
"True, let's keep moving then."
With that, the group left the area.
---
"Sigh, the world is becoming more and more chaotic. Hundreds more refugees fled here today."
A man with a sallow complexion, holding a tattered umbrella, looked at the bustling crowd before him and couldn't help but sigh in his heart.
Then.
He walked toward a house bathed in the rain not far away.
From time to time, he looked back to see if anyone was following him.
As he approached the door, the vigilance on his face didn't fade in the slightest. He scanned the front, back, left, and right of the house. After confirming there was no danger, he knocked on the door in a rhythmic pattern.
Subsequently.
The door opened a crack, and the man slipped inside. While closing the door, he didn't forget to observe outside through the crack once more to see if anyone was there.
Inside the house, there were also a man and a woman.
One was his wife, and the other was his son.
Ever since the war started, he had always been like this.
Cautious.
He had no choice.
Although this place was far from the battlefield, it was also close to the neighboring Land of Rivers. Due to the war, border defenses had weakened, leading to occasional raids by bandits from the Land of Rivers.
He heard that a family in the neighboring Village was targeted while the man was on his way home, and the entire family of three died that night.
Therefore, he had to be extremely careful; he absolutely could not bring danger home.
"How is it, He Miao? Lord Hanzou... is he really..."
"Sigh..." Hearing his wife's question, especially looking at those eyes full of expectation and apprehension, even though he didn't want to believe it himself, a pained expression couldn't help but appear on He Miao's face. "Lord Hanzou... is dead!"
As the words fell.
The woman could no longer suppress her emotions and began to cry uncontrollably, holding her head.
"Waaa... The Land of Rain... our home... is it going to be destroyed?"
"Shūko!" Seeing his wife weeping with her face in her hands, He Miao held her tightly and then said solemnly and seriously.
"Believe me, Shūko, even if the Land of Rain is truly gone, I will definitely lead you and Dafo to survive safely!"
Dafo was his son, already eight years old. In this world where a six-year-old could kill, an eight-year-old could already be considered a young adult.
"Dad, Mom."
Seemingly hearing the voices outside, Dafo walked out from the inner room.
Dafo's voice interrupted the grieving and hesitant couple. Both of them turned to look.
They saw.
Their son was holding a wooden stick, with a kitchen knife tied to the top with hemp rope.
"Dafo, what are you doing?"
Seeing the weapon in their son's hand, the couple couldn't help but ask.
"Making a weapon for self-defense, of course! Don't worry, I will definitely protect you, Dad and Mom!"
Hearing the child's words, the smiles of joy couldn't help but break through their originally worried faces.
"That's great, Dafo. Then make another one; Dad also needs to protect you both well!"
After sending his son off, he looked at his wife who was still smiling. But remembering the news he had gathered this morning, his expression became serious again as he spoke to her.
"From now on, we start packing our bags, prioritizing food and valuables. Be ready to flee at any moment..."
He finished.
Shūko's face froze, and she asked anxiously, "Has it already gotten that serious outside?"
"Yes!" He Miao nodded solemnly. "In the past two days, more and more people have fled here from the interior. They say those Ninjas have gone crazy. A Liang from the Village told me they are already preparing to pack up and flee together."
"Honestly! How did it suddenly turn into this!"
"Don't worry, we'll be fine. I know a small path to the Land of Rivers. We can sneak into the Land of Rivers then and find a place to settle down." He Miao hugged his frightened wife and said firmly, "Believe me, Shūko, we'll all be fine!"
"Mm!"
Then, just as the wife's voice fell.
The noise outside frightened them into a fluster.
"Run! Ninjas have broken in!"
"Run!!!"
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"
The voices of the refugees outside reached He Miao's house.
Expressions of terror immediately appeared on their faces, but as the head of the household, He Miao quickly forced himself to calm down.
He put a finger to his lips, making a shushing motion to his wife.
He whispered to his wife.
"Quick! Go pack the things; we'll escape through the back door amidst the chaos!"
But the next sound from outside made both of them freeze.
"Fellow people~ don't be afraid, we are not Konoha Ninjas!"
"We are allies of the Land of Rain! We signed an agreement with Lord Hanzou before; we are all one family!"
"Lord Hanzou!"
It seemed the newcomer had mentioned a keyword, and the commotion in the crowd lessened significantly.
Seeing the chaos subside, the speaking Ninja hurriedly stated his origin.
"Fellow people, we are Ninjas from the Hidden Sand Village, here to save you! Our Lord Kazekage once had an agreement with Lord Hanzou. Your Lord Hanzou once entrusted our Lord Kazekage that if the war was lost, the Hidden Sand Village would provide aid to the Land of Rain!"
The shouting Sunagakure Ninja spoke to the frightened people of the Land of Rain, borrowing Hanzou's prestige. Since Hanzou was dead anyway, he could claim whatever aid he wanted.
Besides, he wasn't lying to these Land of Rain villagers; the Kazekage indeed intended to aid them.
"Fellow people, Konoha Ninjas are currently burning, killing, and looting in the Land of Rain. After our Lord Kazekage heard the news, he immediately dispatched us to aid you. We have established a shelter at the Wind-Rain Border; many people from the Land of Rain are already there.
The Hidden Sand Village is one of the Five Great Hidden Villages, always implementing integrity, kindness, and inclusiveness! We will never be like Konoha; we are one family!
As long as you are people of the Land of Rain, whether elderly or children, we will accommodate all of you!
Fellow people! Don't run toward the Land of Rivers anymore; the bandits of the Land of Rivers have already surrounded the border. If you go there, you'll be like sheep entering a tiger's mouth!"