The Land of Lightning.
Located in the northeastern corner of the Naruto World, the country had many mountains and hills, with varied terrain. Most of its people lived in the mountains.
To adapt to the local conditions, farmers in the Land of Lightning mainly grew cold-resistant, high-altitude crops like buckwheat and barley, while also cultivating tea as an export crop.
Some areas had winding rivers. Once the planting season was over, farmers would catch saltwater and freshwater fish to supplement their food.
On this day, for the common people of the Land of Lightning, it was an ordinary morning.
They got up in the dark, kissed their children, slung fishing nets over their shoulders, and set off in groups of three or five to fish in the river.
Summer was almost over. They had to make the most of the tail end of the fishing season and catch a few extra fish to help make ends meet. If the harvest was good this year, perhaps they could even buy their children a couple of new outfits.
The farmers, moonlighting as fishermen, boarded their boats and made their way through the reeds.
A thin mist hung over the river in the early morning, blurring everything into a haze.
They cast their nets into the water, then hauled them back in after a while.
Nothing.
They tried two or three times in a row, but didn't catch a single fish.
"What the heck? Where'd all the fish go?"
The fisherman scratched his head, wondering why the river had gone empty today. Suddenly, his companion tugged at his sleeve.
"Look—"
Following his companion's gaze, the fisherman spotted a small boat drifting slowly across the river.
It wasn't large, with just enough room for two people, one big and one small. A brazier sat