At this moment, Amamiya Ayane had no mind to ponder why a wandering rogue ninja would appear deep within the Land of Rain.
She only knew one thing.
She was going to kill.
Rage surged through her veins.
How else could she vent it?
Only through blood.
Without warning, Ayane stepped forward. Arankiri sliced through the fine curtain of rain, its arc flashing cold and merciless.
The rogue ninja hastily raised his arm to block.
Clang!
Steel collided—
His kunai shattered on impact, cleaved cleanly in two by Arankiri's edge.
Ayane pressed the advantage relentlessly.
Step after step, slash after slash—the glint of her blade nearly wove itself into a lethal net.
The rogue retreated again and again until his heel struck the threshold of a hut.
No further to go.
Yet instead of panic, a smug smile spread across his face.
"Young ANBU… you've fallen for it."
He flicked the broken kunai fragments out as a distraction and rapidly formed a hand seal.
The ground trembled.
The already sodden earth surged upward—
Turning viscous and adhesive, yellow mud coiling around Ayane's ankles.
Earth Release: Earth Flow Wave!
A trap jutsu prepared in advance, triggered by a simple seal.
Among the five elemental releases, Earth was the most insidious.
At this level of combat—
Being caught meant death.
"This game ends here."
The rogue chuckled darkly.
"To kill an ANBU… I'm satisfied."
Certain of victory, he began to boast.
"From the very beginning, this battle has danced to my rhythm."
"A grand performance requires a proper stage."
"People look down on wandering ninjas like us… but before me, you're nothing!"
Ayane's gaze remained icy.
"You're right," she said calmly. "This farce should end."
She lowered her head slightly, gripping Arankiri in both hands.
Then—
She drove the blade downward into the earth.
The rogue burst out laughing.
"What are you doing? Trying to cut my jutsu apart with a sword?"
Even samurai of the Land of Iron wouldn't entertain such absurd fantasies.
Ayane ignored him.
Using the blade to obscure her hands, she forced out a quick seal.
Lightning Release: Induction Wave.
Blue sparks crackled from her palm, racing along the blade and into the mud—
Sizzle—
Electricity exploded outward from beneath her feet.
The very swamp meant to bind her became the perfect conductor.
Blue arcs scattered like blooming frost across the battlefield.
"Hand-seal-less jutsu?!"
The rogue's composure shattered.
His pupils dilated.
Instinct screamed for him to dodge—
Too late.
The electricity transmitted through the mud locked his body in place, paralyzing him completely.
Two D-rank jutsu—
Earth and Lightning in tandem—
Amplified by her titles and traits.
The effect rivaled Kumogakure's B-rank technique, Lightning Release: Earthly Surge.
"How can you—"
His question was cut short.
Arankiri pierced his heart and burst through his chest.
His voice died instantly.
Blood streamed from his lips.
Ayane withdrew the blade slowly.
Rain washed away the faint traces of crimson.
"You thought such a petty trick could restrain me?"
She sheathed the sword with a sharp click.
"But you were right about one thing."
"This battle has been in my rhythm from the start."
Understanding dawned in his fading eyes.
Everything I saw… was what you wanted me to see…
He tried to move—
But death had already claimed him.
Ayane glanced at the system.
[You have killed a Rogue Ninja (Chunin).]
[Achievement Points +85!]
[You have obtained a new trait!]
A new trait?
Her heart skipped.
Traits weren't easy to acquire.
After years at the Academy, she had only obtained the previous three upgradeable ones.
And now—another?
Just as she was about to check—
"Tian'e!"
"Run! Now!"
Woodpecker's voice.
He leapt into view, looking far worse for wear.
His combat uniform was shredded, blood soaking multiple wounds.
His mask was charred black—like it had eaten an explosive tag head-on.
"Woodpecker? What happened—"
"No time! Move!"
"That puppet master… he's Masho of the Sand! An elite jonin! I saw him once during negotiations!"
Elite Jonin.
Ayane's expression tightened.
Ninja rankings were simple—
Genin, Chunin, Jonin, Elite Jonin, Kage.
Five tiers.
Though not always perfectly reflective of reality.
Still—
In this era, decades before Shippuden—
An Elite Jonin was no fraud.
Even from Sunagakure.
She grabbed the unconscious boy and flashed after Woodpecker.
"Why would someone like that be here?"
"Don't know," he replied between breaths. "Likely fled after Sand's failed offensive against Konoha."
His voice strained.
"He doesn't have all his puppets. He's injured. Otherwise I'd be dead."
Ayane froze mid-step.
"Sunagakure is attacking Konoha too?"
"Of course."
"Why do you think Hanzō-sama shifted to assault Konoha's borders?"
The strongest of the Five Great Villages—
Konohagakure.
Realization dawned.
"So we allied with Sand?"
"Not allies. Mutual exploitation."
"We draw Konoha's attention. Sand's elite puppet corps strikes the Land of Fire from the shadows."
Ayane didn't hesitate.
"That strategy's doomed."
"…It was proposed by Chiyo. Windage's advisor."
Ah.
Everything lined up.
The rise of Konoha's White Fang—
Wasn't it from cutting down puppet masters in this very war?
She glanced at Woodpecker's hurried figure ahead and asked casually:
"By the way… when do we collect explosive tags at the front?"
He blinked.
Then I understood.
A subtle identity check.
Half amused, half exasperated, he replied:
"At the end-of-month clearance sale, of course."
Ayane smiled faintly.
Satisfied.
And quickened her pace.