Chapter 1266: Trap

“Is this all the supplies? I really don’t know where Lord Pain gets these things from.”

The one asking is a twelve-year-old Genin from Hidden Rain Village, with a round exposed head and wearing an anti-poison mask on his face. Comparatively, his physique is burly for his age.

He cooperates with the other Hidden Rain Ninja to move supplies out of the tower. These supplies are essential for the front line, including not just kunai, explosive tags, and soldier rations pills but also a large amount of military medicine.

“Stop babbling here, Mubi, hurry up and get the stuff to the transport squad. If you delay Lord Pain’s important business, you’ll be in trouble.”

Dressed in a yellow rubber raincoat and similarly wearing an anti-poison mask, with three umbrellas on his back and a conical straw hat on his head, is a somber-looking Hidden Rain Jonin.

“Got it, Captain Funato, but can I rest for a bit? I’m good at creating illusion technique traps, not so much at doing this kind of physical work.”

Mubi, the Genin, struggles to load a box full of supplies onto a tricycle, panting heavily.

“Really now, you’ve barely worked, and you’re already shouting you’re tired.”

Funato, the Hidden Rain Jonin, also looks helplessly at his subordinate. However, he knows that Mubi’s burly build is just for show; he’s not a strength-type ninja but a genjutsu-type ninja proficient in trap creation, which mismatches his appearance.

“Sorry, Captain Funato.”

Mubi apologizes.

“Forget it, there isn’t much left anyway. There are very few ninjas left in the village now; I really worry about enemies sneaking in.”

Funato Jonin sighs.

“With the Jonin seniors here, it shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

“The opponents are from the Land of Fire, and even though Lord Pain can take down Kanzo, who betrayed Lord Hanzou, facing the strongest of the Five Great Nations, it’s still overwhelming.”

Funato Jonin feels pessimistic about the ongoing battles ahead.

No wonder he’s so anxious; compared to strong countries like the Five Great Nations, the Land of Rain and Hidden Rain Village are really too weak.

Especially during the Third Shinobi War, Hidden Rain’s elite was all but wiped out, and its resources are already completely depleted.

Even for Jonin, compared to the same-ranked Jonin from the major countries, there is a very large disparity in terms of strength.

Not to mention, Hidden Rain Village severely lacks Jonin.

Eighty percent are Genin in the village, excluding the Chunin who are the backbone; currently, only five Jonin remain, and two of them are Special Jonin.

If the enemy ninja squad were to attack Hidden Rain Village massively now, they probably wouldn’t even be able to hold out for an hour.

“I just graduated from the Ninja School recently and became a Genin, but I’ve heard a bit about the matter of Kanzo.”

Mubi says.

“That kind of guy deserved to die. I hope Lord Pain can hold on; if we lose again this time, Hidden Rain Village really may face extinction.”

Funato holds a strong pessimistic view.

In the past, the Land of Rain, even under siege from different countries, was more or less the top nation beneath the Five Great Nations.

All because of the existence of Hidden Rain Village.

Under Hanzou’s leadership, Hidden Rain’s military strength was very formidable, especially in homeland battles, able to contend with the major nation’s ninja villages.

Having witnessed Hidden Rain’s glory and its decline, Funato has long placed life and death aside, just wishing that the next generation of youth can live better.

“We will win. Lord Pain has already allied with the Land of Demons, and the Land of Demons will also become our assistance. The Land of Demons has the ability to defeat the Land of Wind and surely can help us defeat the Land of Fire.”

Mubi, the Genin, holds onto hope, with a resilient spirit deep inside that refuses to give up.

Funato Jonin shakes his head, not explaining much more.

An alliance, huh?

That’s the most unreliable paper agreement.

As long as sufficient benefits can be gained, allies are meant to be sold out.

During the Third Shinobi War, it was precisely Konoha’s betrayal that led to Hidden Rain being besieged by the main forces of Hidden Sand Village, making Hidden Rain become Konoha’s vassal.

Until Kanzo died, that exceedingly dark period ended.

Numerous resisting Hidden Rain Ninjas were bloodily purged by Konoha’s Root; even the relatives of the leader Hanzou were exterminated, not sparing even infants.

Kanzo sold out all the inside and outside of Hidden Rain completely,

Having gone through these events, Funato never believes in so-called allies.

Sometimes, the allies are the ones who stab you the hardest when betraying you.

“I’m going to buy a pack of cigarettes, Mubi, watch over here for me.”

Funato Jonin takes out a cigarette box from his pocket, and upon opening the box with a lighter ready, he finds not a single cigarette left inside and can’t help but feel vexed, instructing Mubi to stand guard here with the other Hidden Rain Ninjas.

“Go ahead, Captain Funato. We’re guarding here, it won’t be unexpected.”

Mubi feels it’s not a big deal, after all, not only is Funato the Jonin here, there are other Jonin guarding too.

Given Funato Jonin’s speed, to buy a box of cigarettes back and forth would only take two minutes.

Funato Jonin nods and then uses the Instantaneous Body Jutsu to leave the spot, heading towards the location of the shopping street.

Hidden Rain Village is perpetually raining, and with winter’s arrival, the rain carries a piercing chill.

There are very few pedestrians on the road, all huddled at home, using heaters for warmth.