Rain was the eternal theme of this land.
Fine strands of rain fell from the gray sky, soaking the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain into a stretch of impassable mud. The air was filled with the damp, earthy smell of soil mixed with the stench of rotting vegetation.
Namikaze Minato and his group of four stood amid that mud.
Beneath their feet, one side was the firm black earth of the Land of Fire, while the other was the bluish-gray marshland unique to the Land of Rain. A crude wooden checkpoint stood between the two countries, marking the border.
On the other side of the checkpoint, several ninjas in standard Amegakure flak jackets leaned beneath a shelter, gazing over with indifferent eyes. They neither drove them away nor welcomed them.
"Captain, what do these guys mean? We've been here for half an hour, and they're just leaving us out here in the rain?"
The one speaking was Namiashi Raidō. His experience in Root had left him with an inescapable air of hostility. One hand had unconsciously settled on the Ninja Tool Pouch at his waist.
Kotetsu Hagane and Izumo Kamizuki exchanged a glance without saying anything, merely shifting a little closer behind Minato.
"Stay calm."
Minato's voice was steady. Rainwater dripped from the tips of his golden hair and ran down his cheeks, yet he seemed entirely unaware of it.
He knew that the test had begun the moment they stepped out of Konoha.
About another ten minutes passed before a Rain Ninja who appeared to be a squad leader finally sauntered over from the checkpoint. He held an oil-paper umbrella and wore wooden clogs, doing his best to avoid the mud beneath his feet.
"Konoha's Peace Observer?"
He looked Minato up and down,