Meanwhile.
Within the Land of Rain.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky, their heavy black masses pressing down with an unbearable weight.
Yet beneath those oppressive clouds, the villagers of Amegakure wore expressions that were the complete opposite of the dreadful weather.
"Rumble!" "Rumble!"...
Two terrifying bolts of bright blue lightning suddenly tore across the sky, followed by deafening peals of thunder.
"Patter, patter..."
Alongside the thunder came the roar of torrential rain.
Faced with the downpour and the heavy clouds streaked with flashes of lightning, the villagers of Amegakure showed no reverence. Instead, they strolled through the rain without a care.
They let the rain soak them through.
Their faces bore unmistakable smiles. Walking side by side or in pairs, they chatted and asked one another questions, all of them looking delighted.
Though some of the villagers still looked gaunt, every face now clearly carried a lively spark.
Their eyes were no longer lifeless and hollow. They had regained their light, their hope, their anticipation.
Because...
Amegakure was no longer as hopeless as before. The villagers no longer felt they had no future!
Since the new leader of Amegakure, Lord Kinnara, had taken office, the policies he introduced had breathed new life into the village.
They had filled every villager of Amegakure with hope for the future.
At the heart of Amegakure stood a tall building constructed from black stone.
From its summit, one could take in nearly all of Amegakure.
On the rain-soaked streets below, every villager who passed by and looked up at the towering black structure wore a solemn expression, their eyes filled with heartfelt respect.
Things were different from the days when Lord Hanzo ruled. Back then, ordinary villagers had never enjoyed the village's generous treatment.
During Hanzo's rule, the ones who profited were the shinobi