This was the Land of Rain.
A country where it rained year-round, was divided within, and had endured years of war!
After the Second Great Ninja War ended, this country had not welcomed peace. Instead, it seemed that the war... had directly wiped out the very foundations of the country.
Even during the more than three years of peace that followed... it still had not recovered.
Especially Hanzo of the Salamander, the leader of the Land of Rain and a powerhouse known as the Half-God of the Ninja World... Before the Second Great Ninja War, he had been full of ambition. Yet for some reason, after the war ended, he suddenly fell silent and simply watched as the Land of Rain descended into chaos.
Some said his ambitions had been crushed. Others said... perhaps he was plotting something.
However.
None of that had anything to do with the ordinary people of the Land of Rain!
Right now.
What mattered more to them... was surviving.
"I still couldn't find any food today! At this rate... there won't be any food left at home!"
A sallow-faced man held a battered old umbrella as he looked at the heavy rain before him. He could not help but sigh inwardly and mutter under his breath.
Then.
He headed toward a house not far away, drenched by the rain.
As he approached the door, vigilance appeared on his face. He cautiously looked left, then cautiously looked right. Only after seemingly confirming that there was no danger did he gently press the doorbell.
However.
After a crisp chime rang out, the door did not open immediately. There was not even a sound from inside... as if no one was home at all.
The inside was completely silent!
About fifteen minutes later.
When he saw the curtain