So Unfair

In the Land of Waves, Tayuya, Kimimaro, and Rin stood together on the banks of a river.

Their mission had proven arduous; despite their extensive search for Lars across countless villages and settlements, they had come up empty-handed.

"It's been days," Tayuya huffed in frustration.

Her eyes squinted against the light. Kimimaro, standing slightly apart from the animated exchange, wiped dust from his robe with a stoic expression.

"If we're to find this shinobi," he said, looking at both women, "we need to broaden our search. From now on, we'll split up and meet back here in ten days if we don't find anything."

Rin already processed the logistics of their separation. "I agree. It gives us a better chance of covering more ground." She glanced over at Tayuya, who crossed her arms.

"I'll check into the Silent Country," Tayuya declared, unwilling to take no for an answer.

"Then I'll head for the Storm Country," Rin said. "If Lars is taking refuge anywhere, it might be there. I'll search the remote villages for any clues."

Although she felt apprehensive about stepping into a territory that was notorious for its distrust of outsiders, her duties to Arthur were more important.

Kimimaro made the decision to check the Water Country, believing that was the likely place Lars would be at. It was vast and much closer to the Land of Waves.

As the trio parted ways, Rin ventured on foot toward the Storm Country.

Three days passed, marked by her solitary travels through terrain and forests. The air turned humid as she approached her destination: a scenic landscape gradually giving way to the dark contours of the Storm Country.

When she finally crossed into the boundaries of the country, droplets of water began to fall from the sky. She pulled her hood up tighter against the downpour as her eyes scanned the myriad of structures across the landscape.

Her attempts to gather information were met with skepticism in the small villages she visited. Disguised as a mere traveler rather than a kunoichi—careful to not attract undue attention—she spent countless hours asking around for word of Lars. Most shrugged her off with dismissive looks and warnings to keep her nose out of foreign business.

In one particularly quaint village, she finally found a lead. It was a pottery shop, and it was run by an elderly woman who had seen more seasons than Rin could fathom.

The woman observed Rin as she cleaned the shelves filled with vases and clay figures. "You're not from around here, are you? I can usually tell a traveler by their eyes."

"No, I'm not," she confessed, deciding to test the waters. 'I'm looking for someone… A certain shinobi who goes by the name of Lars. Blonde hair with a red kimono and gold armour. Have you seen anyone like that?"

The woman's expression shifted. "The name doesn't ring a bell, but… A few days back, a stranger passed through that matches that description. And to be honest, he didn't seem like he had any business in this part of the lands."

"Do you know where he went?" Rin pressed, feeling hopeful.

"Word on the street is he went to the Village Hidden in the Rain… You'd be best off asking there if you're looking for him."

"Thank you," Rin bowed.

Before she could leave, the woman stopped her and said, "You'd best be careful, dear; that village is… not kindly to foreigners prowling about."

"I know," Rin replied, remembering the memories Arthur gave her. "But I have no choice, so thank you for your help."

The woman nodded as her eyes lingered on Rin's departing form. "The path ahead doesn't look good for her…"

Just how terrible was the Village Hidden in the Rain exactly? That village was situated within a cloud-cloaked landscape with an almost perpetual downpour. Characterized by its fog and well-worn trails, the village's architecture had utilitarian structures and high-tech facilities, creating an almost industrial ambiance.

The constant rainfall also brought it melancholy. Waterways snaked through the village, serving as both transport and defense, reinforcing the isolation that the village had cultivated over the years.

That's not to say that the inhabitants took on a unique cadence. They were fine with the slick streets and often exchanged stories under awnings and umbrellas. It was that sense of awareness they shared due to the land being marred by war—something born from the hardships of growing up in a place that had seen its share of turmoil.

Many carried rebreathers, a practical adaptation to the damp air that allowed for enhanced endurance in combat situations, particularly in the arts of deception and mind manipulation.

One could say that this was the only village in the world that symbolized what it meant to truly struggle in the ninja world.

As Rin navigated through the dense, rain-soaked foliage, she could hardly shake off the sensation of being pursued, though the land seemed eerily quiet. Perhaps it was the constant patter of rain that was playing with her mind.

Hours later, she finally approached the village—a somber sight veiled in misty shrouds. Would Lars really be here? And if so, would they welcome her with open arms, or would they brand her an enemy before she could find him?

Instinctively, Rin slipped into a darker alleyway after entering. She couldn't afford to blow her cover, especially now.

As she entered the heart of the village, she heard many conversations muffled by the relentless rain. Finding a place to gather information wouldn't be easy here, but she had faith.

She paused in a sheltered alcove, allowing herself to absorb the surroundings. The locals moved about their daily business with unreadable expressions. It's here that she spotted a group of men engaged in heated discussion on the other side of the muddy square.

Perhaps she could ask them about Lars.

Deeming it safe, she decided to approach them as if she were a normal citizen. Then she paused at the edge upon hearing their conversation.

"—saw some well-dressed guy yesterday passing by," one of the men said in amusement. "Seriously, I think he was an outsider—probably a rogue shinobi with that weird hairstyle of his."

"Trust me," another sneered before looking around as if expecting trouble to pop out. "Rogue shinobis are trouble, and we shouldn't welcome them."

Rin became even more curious. She jumped into their conversation to ask what the shinobi looked like.

"Ugh…" one answered. "I think he had green eyes and this weird topknot shaped in a crescent—"

'That's him!' Rin immediately thought.

She stepped into the rain, abandoning the conversation. Since Lars was here, all she had to do was use her sensing technique and look for him.

"Wonder what her problem was?" the man asked as her figure faded.

Rin's journey led her through the outskirts of the village. Her sensing technique was manageable, thanks to Arthur, but they weren't well-refined enough that she could see physical appearances. What she was looking for, however, was higher-than-average chakra signatures.

Hours passed, and she came up empty, prompting her to return to the heart of the village again. She had failed, but she wasn't going to give up so easily.

There had to be another area that others might have spotted him.

As such, Rin approached a shop owner, an older man with a scruffy beard. He looked up at her with curiosity as she said, "Excuse me, sir, I'm looking for someone who matches this description."

The man studied her for a moment before responding. "I might have seen someone like that earlier today. Not many wander these parts, especially alone."

"Do you know where?!"

He pointed toward a route leading to the river. "Head that way. You might find him there."

At that, she turned and dashed down the track. The rain splashed around her as she navigated the muddy ground. She sprinted until the sounds of the village faded, replaced by the gurgling of the river.

Approaching the water's edge, she spotted a figure in a black coat standing alone. Rin's heart almost skipped a beat. But was it really him? Lars was stated to have a red garment on, not a black one.

She strained her senses, trying to detect any chakra signature from him, but he felt devoid of presence. The rain concealed her visibility, just as it masked her ability to identify him.

The last thing she wanted was to risk calling Arthur if she wasn't certain it was Lars. Clenching her fists, she decided to approach him.

"Excuse me," she called, raising her voice enough to be heard over the rain and river. "I couldn't help but notice you here alone."

The figure slowly turned, revealing a handsome man with an intimidating presence. Green eyes, slightly darkened blonde hair because of the rain, and a red kimono decorated with a white obi under a golden armour adorned with a lion.

For a slight moment, Rin's heart pounded. But she steadied herself—she had faced strong opponents before and wouldn't let someone like this threaten her.

How could she be absolutely sure, though?

The man smirked before saying, "You must be a ninja…"

Rin hesitated. "I'm not, I—"

"You're lying," he interrupted with a sharp gaze.

How did he know? She was employing the Chakra Disguise technique and the Transformation technique to appear as a harmless passerby.

Caught off guard, Rin struggled to respond. Then she managed to say, "I have my reasons for lying…"

The man's interest grew. "And what reasons could a girl like you have for coming way out here?"

Now she was in a predicament. To think this guy would be the probing type.

But she kept herself steady and countered, "The real question is what a rogue shinobi's doing in a place like this."

He paused, then turned away, ready to walk down the riverbank.

"This village isn't safe for you," he said as if seeing right through her disguise. "Go home while you still can…"

Before he could leave, Rin called out, "Wait!" She couldn't let him slip away. "I'd at least like to know your name!"

He stopped, casting her an unreadable look. "Why should I give you that?"

Now the truth of her mission clashed against the silence of the rain. But she held firm—she wasn't here to be a pawn; she was here to seek answers.

"Because," she said, "I can't go back without knowing!"

He seemed to consider her words. Was she honestly planning to follow him or something if he didn't reveal his name? The rain continued to fall as only his voice could be heard: "My name… is Lars…"

With that, he turned and gradually walked into the backdrop.

Rin stared at him, unwilling to let this chance slip by. So she carefully covered her lips and whispered, "Umm, excuse me, lord Arthur? Can you hear me? I found Lars!"

Her response was met with silence. This was disappointing, so she tried again, whispering Arthur's name as if it were a lifeline. "Are you there, lord Arthur?!"

Still nothing.

It had only been four days since she left the Wave Country. Even if she were to regroup, the others likely weren't there, and Lars might have departed this country by then.

Why wasn't Arthur responding already? Everyone knew they were each marked with his seal. He knew where they were at all times and knew when they called to him. Was there a barrier at play here or worse, because he was caught in a conflict?

She needed to make contact, and time was running short. Every second that passed increased the chance that Lars would fully slip away.

After a moment of indecision, she turned to Lars, ready to confront him. But the moment she had looked, he was already gone before her eyes.

"No," she exclaimed. "Why me?!"

She desperately looked around in every direction. The rain poured down, but all that remained of him was the sound of the water washing over the rocks. Without thinking, she pouted and stomped her foot against the slick ground.

"That's so unfair!"

"Hey!" a voice piped up beneath, startling her. "that wasn't nice!"

Rin froze and looked down to see she had stepped on a face that appeared to be black and white like a strange mask peeking from the muck. The face twisted in annoyance as eyes glared at her.

Instinct drove her to leap back, causing her to feel a sense of foreboding.

Then the figure emerged from the ground, clad in a black cloak adorned with red clouds. The moment she saw, she immediately understood—this was an Akatsuki member. And not just any Akatsuki member, but Zetsu!