Changes in the Rain Country

The Land of Rain, a country that seemed never to have known peace, had remained as turbulent as ever these past few years.

Compared to the great nations whose wars had already ended, this wretched country trapped between the three great powers remained locked in constant conflict. Though the repeated ninja wars of past years had nearly drained its national strength dry, peace still eluded it.

Yet now, it seemed to have finally shown the faintest signs of returning to calm, though the price paid had been exceedingly heavy.

Hanzo, the powerful man who had guarded the Land of Rain for decades, could no longer hold things together this time. His stronghold, Amegakure, was engulfed in war, and his enemies had even raised the cry of "Kill Hanzo!"

He had once known this person, and had believed him long dead by his own hand.

"Lord Hanzo!"

Standing at the highest point of Amegakure with a group of his most trusted subordinates, he received a report.

"We can't hold out any longer! The enemy has broken through the final line of defense. Lord Hanzo, please retreat at once!"

"What a joke. Where could this old man possibly retreat to?"

Hanzo merely laughed off his subordinate's advice.

Retreat? He was no longer young. Though his mind remained fairly sharp at over fifty years old, the decline of his body was inevitable. To put it bluntly, he was growing weaker every day. What was there left for him to retreat from?

Retreat was no longer a game he could afford to play. Rather than die somewhere outside, he would rather fight freely and fiercely. Besides, he knew full well that if he chose that path, it would achieve nothing except bring an unnecessary split to Amegakure.

Though his opponent's ideals differed from his