Since the country opened its doors, the atmosphere in the Land of Rain has become increasingly open. Even in the usually reclusive Hidden Rain Village, ninjas have begun to travel outside.
The financial income from the shops jointly opened by the Hidden Rain Village and the Hidden Leaf Village has been used to improve the village's environment, including excellent drainage facilities and various other enhancements.
The entire village looks brand new, and the ninjas no longer need to wear their masks.
Maruta took off the mask he had always worn and took a deep breath.
Although he could breathe with the mask on, it was nowhere near as easy and refreshing as this.
After a long period of suppression, once he was liberated, his entire body and mind felt different.
Maruta happily walked to the school, ready to begin his training for the day.
Although the Hidden Rain Village school had not gotten bigger, its internal facilities had been renovated, with a particular focus on rebuilding the training grounds to create an excellent training environment for the students.
"Asuna-nee!" Maruta immediately spotted Asuna, who was already waiting there, and called out to her.
After the previous incident, Maruta held great respect for this seemingly delicate girl.
Regardless of whether he was older than her, he directly called her "nee" (sister).
Asuna felt a little uncomfortable and corrected him multiple times, but Maruta continued to do as he pleased.
Asuna paused slightly, sizing up Maruta, and asked, "Are you Maruta?"
"Yes, can't you tell?" Maruta was a bit surprised.
"Hmm, your voice is the same," Asuna nodded slightly.
Previously, the Hidden Rain ninjas were fully armored, making it impossible to see their faces.
This was perhaps the first time Asuna had seen Maruta's true appearance.
Even as ninjas, the Hidden Rain Village sometimes couldn't provide enough food, so Maruta's face was a bit gaunt.
However, with the arrival of merchants from outside and the import of grain from the Hidden Leaf Village, his face gradually took on a healthy glow.
Just then, others arrived one after another.
Asuna waved to Uchiha Mizuki, who was not far away, then looked at Maruta and said, "Let's begin then. You haven't forgotten what I said yesterday, have you?"
"Of course." Maruta nodded emphatically.
He knew his comprehension wasn't great, and Asuna's method for him was to remember and recite a lot, simulating calculations in his mind.
For ordinary people with little talent, the only thing needed was effort.
"Even with effort, we might not necessarily surpass a genius, right?" Maruta had once said.
"My father said that talent determines the upper limit, while effort determines the lower limit.
At the very least, you should do your best.
Even if you can't beat a genius, you'll have given it your all," Asuna had replied.
So, every day when Maruta returned home, he would recreate the day's battles in his house.
If he couldn't remember, he would draw diagrams in his notebook, thinking about how to solve the problems.
It must be said that it was indeed effective, allowing Maruta to understand things he couldn't grasp before.
Asuna and Maruta began their spar again.
In terms of direct combat ability, Maruta was certainly no match for Asuna.
Therefore, Maruta focused on strengthening his evasion, deception, and distraction abilities.
He repeatedly disappeared from Asuna's sight, requiring some time for her to re-acquire her target.
"Very good." Asuna put away her ninja tools and said sincerely, "I didn't manage to hit you even once today."
Maruta, panting, sat in front of Asuna.
To achieve this, he had almost exhausted his chakra and stamina.
Hearing her words, he said, "I do feel my abilities have improved, but Asuna-nee, will this be effective in a real battle?"
"How could it not be? This is no longer the time for solo combat.
The focus is on teamwork.
If you can assist your teammates in restraining an enemy or create opportunities for them to assassinate, that's a great achievement.
No one can accuse you of incompetence."
Maruta smiled very happily.
He felt that since coming to the Hidden Rain Village, this period was when he had smiled the most, and it was all thanks to the arrival of the Hidden Leaf ninjas.
After a while, he slowly drank the medicinal broth to restore his stamina, then suddenly felt a pang of reluctance and said, "Asuna-nee, are you leaving soon?"
"Maybe." Asuna had been in the Hidden Rain Village for almost half a year, and the time for the exchange students to leave was approaching.
"I'm really going to miss you all." Maruta glanced at the other Hidden Rain ninjas.
After receiving training from the Hidden Leaf ninjas, every Hidden Rain ninja looked better than before, and their strength had improved.
Even Uchiha Ken, who found things troublesome, had given Ai a significant boost.
He wished the Hidden Leaf ninjas could stay forever.
"Asuna-nee, can you ask for an extension?" Maruta couldn't help but ask.
"That's hard to say.
It depends on the village's decision." Asuna couldn't give a guarantee.
They were subordinate to the ninja village, and their destinations were all arranged by the village, not based on their own wishes.
"Sigh." Maruta couldn't help but let out a sigh.
"Alright, if we really have to leave, there's nothing we can do.
Let's put all our energy into the remaining time," Asuna said.
"Okay, I'll leave it to you, Asuna-nee." Maruta sat on the ground and bowed to Asuna.
However, Asuna truly hadn't expected that their group would indeed stay in the Hidden Rain Village.
Three days before their scheduled departure, Hatake Sakumo suddenly gathered everyone and conveyed an order from the village, requiring the exchange students to assist in the village's construction in the Hidden Rain Village.
Anyone unwilling could request to return to the village, and the village would send others to replace them.
Most of the exchange students had only come to experience the secret techniques of other villages.
However, the results were very disappointing.
Small ninja villages were, after all, small ninja villages.
Even if their secret techniques were somewhat unique, they couldn't make up for the gap in strength.
Thus, most people chose to leave.
However, Asuna, Uchiha Mizuki, and Uchiha Ken decided to stay here.
Asuna mainly wanted to see what the Hidden Rain Village would become as it gradually developed, and she could also participate in it, which gave her a sense of accomplishment.
Uchiha Mizuki accompanied Asuna, and as for Uchiha Ken, no one knew what he was thinking.
Hatake Sakumo had no objections to this.
He also wanted Asuna to return to the village, but seeing her resolute attitude, he no longer tried to dissuade her.
Instead, he recorded the names of those leaving and sent them back to the village, which would then send other genin to replace them.
"Thank you." After receiving Hatake Sakumo's reply, Hanzō, as the leader of a village, bowed deeply to Hatake Sakumo.
Of course, Hatake Sakumo knew that Hanzō was primarily bowing to Fumori Masaki, who was behind him.
Hanzō hadn't expected the Hidden Leaf Village's aid to go so far, not only in combat but also in guiding other industries in the village.
These remaining Hidden Leaf ninjas used their knowledge of the village to offer advice for the developing local industries in the Hidden Rain Village.
"This is Sensei's intention, I hope Lord Hanzō understands," Hatake Sakumo said meaningfully.
"Naturally." Hanzō's lips, hidden behind his mask, curled slightly.
He certainly wouldn't be ungrateful for such a generous gift from the Hidden Leaf Village.
He also understood that the Leaf, as the leader of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, would be the Hidden Rain Village's most reliable ally and must never be betrayed.
"Lord Hanzō, Asuna wishes to stay here.
Although it might be somewhat inappropriate for a ninja, I ask that you take good care of her," Hatake Sakumo mused, then looked up at Hanzō and said.
"Haha, since Asuna is Fumori Masaki's daughter, she is also my junior.
Naturally, I will look after her," Hanzō laughed upon hearing this.
Hatake Sakumo felt a slight relief upon hearing the reply from the Hidden Rain Village's highest leader.
With both him and Hanzō present, Asuna should not encounter any danger.
Although they had never sparred, as masters, both could vaguely sense each other's strength.
In Hatake Sakumo's mind, Hanzō's strength was unfathomable, and he wasn't sure if he could match him.
"It's just a pity that the number of Hidden Leaf ninjas coming to the village is limited, which is regrettable," Hanzō sighed and shook his head.
"There's nothing we can do.
Even in our own village, ninjas are very scarce," Hatake Sakumo said with a wry smile.
Don't let the many positions fool you; the number of ninjas who can participate is very small.
Even if most civilian children attend school, it's still just a drop in the bucket when facing the entire Land of Fire.
This news quickly spread throughout the Hidden Rain Village.
Every Hidden Rain ninja who had trained with the Hidden Leaf ninjas felt extremely happy.
They had originally thought the Hidden Leaf ninjas would leave soon, but instead, things had taken an unexpected turn.
Maruta even specifically ran to the inn where the Hidden Leaf ninjas were staying.
Of course, he was stopped and couldn't enter, so he could only shout from outside.
Uchiha Mizuki, hearing the noise, rolled around on the bed, laughing.
After a while, still unable to stop, she said to Asuna, "I never thought someone who seemed so quiet at first would become like this now.
Is it because he's been suppressed for so long that his emotions are released more intensely?"
"Probably," Asuna wasn't very good at handling such things and could only stay by the side.
"Thinking about it, the Hidden Rain Village is quite pitiful.
Hey, Asuna, from now on, we won't just be guiding these people here; we'll also have to tell them how not to go astray and to follow the village's pace.
Why do you think Uncle Fumori Masaki wants to do this?" Uchiha Mizuki, in private, no longer referred to the Third Hokage but used the childhood address for Fumori Masaki, asking curiously.
"I don't know, but Father must have his reasons.
We'll just do as Father says," Asuna also didn't know her father's true goal, she said.
"That's right.
My father said that Uncle Fumori Masaki is a man of great wisdom and will surely lead the Hidden Leaf Village to its peak.
The village now feels like it has that kind of atmosphere.
Father was right, so we just follow Uncle Fumori Masaki's orders," Uchiha Mizuki nodded.
Asuna said nothing, but she was very happy that her father was such an incredible person.
Just as everyone was discussing this matter, Hatake Sakumo left Hanzō's office and walked out of the village.
As a captain, he rarely participated in specific tasks; the guidance of the Hidden Rain ninjas was all done by the exchange students.
He only supervised from the side.
Thus, besides supervising, Hatake Sakumo also went to observe the situation in the Land of Rain.
Hatake Sakumo slowly walked down the street.
The drainage facilities were already taking shape, and structures to block the rain had also been built.
He no longer had to wear a straw cloak and a sedge hat all day when walking outside, as he did during his previous visit to the Land of Rain, to avoid getting completely drenched.
Looking at the smiling faces of the people of the Land of Rain, Hatake Sakumo couldn't help but sigh.
No matter what, a solid material foundation was the guarantee.
He had once heard Fumori Masaki, whom he followed, say, "When the granaries are full, people know propriety; when food and clothing are abundant, people know honor and shame."
Regarding the rapid development of ideological and cultural thought within the Land of Fire, Fumori Masaki believed it was due to the Land of Fire's strong material foundation.
For other countries, even with the transmission of Ninja Creed thought, constrained by realistic factors, the development of ideological culture was like rootless duckweed, with limited influence.
Hatake Sakumo vaguely felt that as the material standard of living in the Land of Rain improved, the Ninja Creed thought, which had already developed to a high degree in the Land of Fire, would soon spread here.
This might also be a necessary measure Fumori Masaki intended to take for the Land of Rain.
Hatake Sakumo thought as he came to a shop and sat down, ordering some food.
Not long after, another person came into the shop and sat down next to Hatake Sakumo.
"Long time no see, Hanzō," Hatake Sakumo said.
"It's not really 'long time no see,' is it? I've seen you more than once these days, but you haven't really noticed me." This person was Hattori Hanzō, but his appearance was altered by a transformation jutsu.
"Heh, you're on an investigation mission, and I'm managing exchange students.
How can we compare?" Hatake Sakumo chuckled.
"I heard you're staying here longer.
Do you regret it a little?" Hattori Hanzō asked.
"Initially, a little, but it's different now.
Seeing the people of the Land of Rain living better and better, I also feel happy," Hatake Sakumo still smiled.
"It's good that you feel happy," Hattori Hanzō said nothing.
"By the way, what are you investigating now?
Have you found anything noteworthy?" Hatake Sakumo took a sip of sake.
"Of course.
There's some unusual movement on the Hidden Sand Village's side.
They sent a messenger to the Land of Earth.
Although we didn't intercept the letter, you can probably guess what it's about," Hattori Hanzō said.
Hatake Sakumo's expression immediately turned serious.
He had heard Fumori Masaki mention the instability of the Hidden Sand Village many times.
He said, "Are they really going to do it?"
"Very likely.
So our current goal is to keep an eye on the Hidden Sand ninja's messenger.
They can't act alone like in the last Shinobi World War; they're likely trying to win over allies," Hattori Hanzō said.
"The Land of Earth seems to have refused, so they might approach the Land of Lightning or the Land of Water.
Whichever it is, they'll have to pass through neighboring countries."
"That's a lot of work.
I hope we can stop it in time," Hatake Sakumo sighed, looking at the street.
"I don't want to see this country, just starting to recover, face the threat of war."