Chapter 77: Yahiko, Nagato, Konan
If time and space are too far apart, people's perception is severed, trapping them within the limited scope of what their five senses can touch.
This makes people realize their own insignificance, but conversely, it also induces a strong desire to match that vastness. The only things that can support people's survival in such a tragic situation, besides intense pleasure, are personal values.
However, overly narrow boundaries can also block all perception, conversely limiting all possibilities of extension.
Not feeling one's own insignificance, but becoming small along with the world.
People often say that a world shrouded in rainstorms looks like it's crying.
But for the Land of Rain, this is by no means romantic poetry, but a fact that makes no one smile.
The rain of the Land of Rain is an ceaseless storm, and also the torrential tears that the people living on this land no longer have the leisure to shed, but flow freely as rivers in their hearts.
In this rainstorm where the road ahead is almost invisible, three small figures wearing clumsy old-fashioned diving helmets are holding hands, trudging side by side on the mountain road in a sorry state.
Whether it's the severe road conditions under the storm or the heavy diving equipment, it's a huge burden for six or seven-year-old children who haven't had a full meal for a long time.
But there's no way around it. Lightweight waterproof equipment isn't something war orphans like them can get their hands on or keep. And in the Land of Rain, if you get soaked and catch a cold, you probably won't have the chance to get up again.
"Just a little longer... I remember there's a cave ahead where we can rest..."
Feeling his companion's steps becoming slower and the grip on his hand weaker, Yahiko, panting heavily, turned his head to comfort them.
"Okay..."
Through the clumsy diving helmet, the boy's already muffled voice was even more distorted in the storm. But even so, hearing his voice, the two children on his left and right, Konan and Nagato, responded with exhausted and weak voices.
Just like the war orphans seen everywhere in the Land of Rain nowadays, they met during their wandering. Since then, having lost their families' care and possessing no other survival skills, they have been surviving by stealing food.
Logically speaking, precisely because they need to wander around looking for a relatively safe place to live, it's impossible for them to come to this desolate wilderness far from towns and lacking food.
But fate is just like that.
Initially, these three children accidentally passed by the battlefield between Konoha and Ame, and were almost hit by a kunai with an Exploding Tag falling from the sky.
After luckily dodging the attack, they witnessed Hanzō fighting the ninja bestowed the name 'Konoha's Sannin' from a high place. Touched by that fierce battle, the idea of wanting to become strong sprouted in their hearts.
Whether to change the war-torn status quo of the Land of Rain or simply to survive, they needed strength no matter what.
In other words, find powerful ninja to learn ninjutsu from.
As the leader of Amegakure, Hanzō was naturally out of reach for a few war orphans, so they set their sights on the three ninja fighting Hanzō.
Although they had no way to persuade others to teach them ninjutsu, in the end, they had no choice.
However, due to the pressure brought by Hiiro Rinko's creations, the Sannin, who should have returned to the village to rest after that battle, did not embark on the return journey but went to reinforce different war zones after a short rest.
Therefore, these three children did not catch up with their target as they wished, and even lost their way back because they were too far from the town.
Now, Yahiko naturally knew clearly that he had led his companions to a dead end. But apart from meaningless apologies and bland encouragement, having nothing, he could give nothing.
However, as companions surviving together, Nagato and Konan wouldn't blame him for this. The precocity forced by the environment allowed these three children to see their situation clearly. After all, their actions were not decided arbitrarily by Yahiko alone. Acting together after discussion but failing to get the expected result, even if they died like this, it could only be considered bad luck.
Those who struggle to survive by any means necessary don't even have room for sadness and regret. This is what counts as "something sadder than sadness."
"We... we're here!"
Exhausting all their strength to cross that muddy slope, the cave Yahiko mentioned came into their view.
Just a rock cave to shelter from the rain was their greatest luxury at this moment. The three children, invigorated by this, burst forth with all their strength, running towards that cave as if fleeing for their lives, as if what fell from the sky wasn't rain but knives that would hack them to pieces.
Until they saw a flickering light at the entrance of the cave, mostly obscured by the curved walls.
It was the light of a campfire.
Instantly, the three children froze. In this environment, meeting their own kind could hardly be called touching—countless war orphans had proven this with their lives.
"Come in, brats. If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn't even have had the chance to discover me."
An emotionless voice echoed in the empty cave. Hearing such cold words, the three children's movements became even stiffer.
A moment later, Yahiko nodded firmly to his companions, then walked into the cave without turning back.
What came into his view was a young man sitting on a small stool by the campfire, looking down and reading a book. His red and white hair tied into a loose braid was quite memorable.
"The other two, come in as well."
Just as the boy was at a loss for how to react, the man added without looking up, "Standing stupidly at the entrance... if other ninja discover you and expose my location, I'll kill you first before fighting them."
"Nagato, Konan, come in quickly."
Hearing this, Yahiko slowly took off the clumsy diving helmet. Too late to shake off the water droplets on his head, he turned and called to his companions outside the cave.
After all, the other party could determine their number without even looking up. If he really had hostile intentions, they couldn't escape. In that case, it was better to come in and warm up by the fire. Even if they were to die, they could die comfortably.
Whether it was Yahiko's illusion or not, when the man said that, the temperature in the entire cave seemed to drop a few degrees, and the shadows cast on the rock wall by the campfire seemed to twist like living things.
Hearing this, Nagato and Konan also walked in.
After taking off their wet waterproof gear, the three children huddled together timidly by the fire, occasionally glancing at the man reading the book with what they thought were secretive gazes.
For a time, only the sound of crackling firewood and the falling rain outside remained in the entire cave.