While the entire shinobi world was undergoing dramatic change because of genjutsu games, the Land of Rain—protected by the so-called demigod Hanzō and caught between three great nations—remained largely indifferent to the outside world.
At a time when every nation was actively introducing genjutsu games, the Land of Rain not only failed to adopt them but even rejected the Hidden Leaf's proposal to open an official game center there. It was like one of those isolated kingdoms led by rulers completely cut off from the rest of the world.
Of course, much like those rulers, Hanzō secretly had someone smuggle the game to him. In fact, he and a handful of people under his strict command were the only ones allowed to experience the genjutsu game.
He had to admit—it was impressive. But perhaps *too* impressive. Hanzō couldn't shake off his wariness. What if the game included hidden functions—like mind control or surveillance? That could shake the very foundation of his rule.
The Land of Rain was unlike any other country. Its cities were steam-powered, its government unique. There was no daimyō, no hidden village system like the other nations. Instead, the shinobi belonged directly to the country, and the sole ruler was Hanzō, the self-proclaimed demigod.
In his youth, brimming with ambition, Hanzō dreamed of founding a new era like Hashirama Senju. He was the strongest shinobi the Land of Rain had ever seen, and due to his unmatched power, he believed that Hashirama wasn't all that superior. Even if faced with the Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence, he had strategies to counter it—not just one, but several.
This delusion of grandeur led him to eliminate the ruling daimyō and nobility, crown himself the new leader, and build an efficient administration with talented, non-clan shinobi. For a while, the country flourished like a newly established regime.
But the shinobi world was still ruled by daimyō and the nobility. A powerful ninja from a small country might trample over his own aristocrats, sleep with their daughters or even their wives, and nothing would come of it—as long as he didn't disrupt the entire structure. Hanzō, however, challenged that very structure.
And that could not be tolerated.
If his reforms succeeded, other shinobi might follow. The noble class would lose their lavish lifestyles. The entire shinobi order could collapse.
So the world retaliated.
Every surrounding country turned against the Land of Rain. The Second Great Ninja War was launched, with the Land of Rain as its main battlefield. The war devastated the nation, and the economic and political blockade that followed lasted over a decade. The country was plunged into poverty and isolation.
Under this pressure, betrayal became inevitable. Hanzō was stabbed in the back multiple times. Though he survived them all, the wounds and psychological damage accumulated. He grew increasingly paranoid and reclusive.
The country shut itself off.
And when genjutsu games appeared, Hanzō allowed only himself and a few loyal aides to play them—never the general public. He trusted no one, believing the entire world was out to destroy him.
Naturally, this stirred dissent.
The Akatsuki, still in its infancy, was one such group. Though not yet the formidable force of the future, its founders—Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan—were already aware of the power of genjutsu games. Having tried them, they knew this was a game-changer.
Missing out meant falling behind.
In a world where every nation was moving forward, standing still meant being left behind. And Yahiko—a dreamer—refused to let that happen. He wanted peace, prosperity, and a better Land of Rain. Nagato and Konan, deeply inspired by him, joined in wholeheartedly.
Nearly three months had passed since their separation from Jiraiya. In that time, the Akatsuki was formed and had begun recruiting like-minded young people—open-minded individuals unshackled by rigid ideology.
These youths saw in Yahiko a leader worth following. They began to gather regularly, brainstorming ways to improve their homeland.
Yahiko promoted peaceful dialogue, a belief inherited from Jiraiya. Unlike his teacher, however, Yahiko hadn't been tempered by hardship. His vision of peace through understanding was idealistic to the point of naivety.
Still, idealism has a strange power.
His charisma and passion attracted others. Even if the plan was vague, the belief itself was infectious. Soon, a whole generation of young people was captivated by Yahiko's dream.
This growing support led to a surprising development: the Akatsuki now had a stable source of income—smuggling genjutsu games.
Despite the country's poverty, there was always a black market. Steam-powered tech from the Land of Rain was highly sought after. Smuggling was booming, and the Akatsuki took full advantage.
Underground game parlors popped up. Like internet cafés operating in secret, they offered access to the games. Hanzō remained oblivious—his blockade both effective and laughably ineffective.
Yet Yahiko wasn't satisfied. The games they smuggled in were incomplete versions. Rumor had it the full versions were only available through official channels, and only the major nations had secured them.
So what now?
Yahiko wanted to speak to Hanzō directly. He hoped to persuade the man to import the full versions officially. But Yahiko was too insignificant to gain an audience.
Their next best hope was to convince someone who *could* reach Hanzō. But those people were older, rigid, and uninterested in idealistic slogans. Most had long sold out their ideals. Yahiko's proposal was mocked and dismissed.
Worse, someone ratted them out.
Fortunately, Hanzō didn't care. When he heard the so-called ringleader was just a teenage boy, he scoffed. Let the kids play—reality would break them soon enough.
It was history repeating itself. In the original timeline, Hanzō ignored the Akatsuki until it was too late. When he finally took them seriously, he responded with ruthless force.
Though their first diplomatic attempt failed, Yahiko didn't give up. If the elites wouldn't listen, they'd go straight to Konoha.
Yes, Yahiko decided to lead a delegation to the Hidden Leaf.
Though he didn't want to bother Jiraiya-sensei, he was willing to pull strings for the sake of the Land of Rain.
Thus, as the Akatsuki began openly recruiting members, Yahiko formed a twenty-person diplomatic mission under the name of the "Akatsuki Trading Company"—and set off for Konoha.
Poll: What should replace Teaching Kendo in Tokyo 1980 (TKT)?
Hey everyone,
I've decided to put Teaching Kendo in Tokyo 1980 (TKT) on hiatus for now. In the meantime, I thought it'd be fun to run a poll to see what you'd like me to work on next. Can't wait to see what you all pick!
Options:
A brand new fanfic (picked by me)
Continue a recommended fanfic (suggested Readers and will be voted on)
Two chapters a day for Uchiha Kei: Game Dev in the Shinobi World
Two chapters a day for My Game Studio is Full of Valkyries?!
Two chapters a day for Monster Hunter Grand Assembly
📅 Voting will be open on Patreon for one week!
Heres the link to the poll
https://www.patreon.com/posts/poll-on-what-to-137136810?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_linkpatreon.com/BestElysium