After leaving Sunagakure Ninja Village, Bunpuku and his party headed straight into the Land of Rain, where Hanzō, the leader of Amegakure Ninja Village, personally welcomed them and hosted a reception. Since leaving the High Tower, Bunpuku had only visited the Land of Rivers. This was the second country he had traveled to.
Bunpuku had heard of the Land of Rain's reputation. Its year-round rainfall led to poor harvests, making it the opposite extreme of the Land of Wind in that respect. Yet the Land of Wind at least had some land suitable for farming, whereas the entire Land of Rain was shrouded in an unending rainy season.
But upon arriving in person, Bunpuku saw a different Land of Rain. Though the torrential rain still fell without respite, its people's lives had improved. Konoha Ninja Village had helped the country build water-management facilities and buildings that sheltered people from the wind and rain, mitigating the effects of the downpours and allowing some crops to grow normally. Within the Land of Rain's major cities, there were now few visible traces of the rainy season's effects.
"I truly never imagined the Land of Rain would become what it is today," Bunpuku said to Hanzō beside him as he took in the sights.
"I heard that Sunagakure Ninja Village's leadership kept you confined in the High Tower all those years. You must not know much about what was happening outside," Hanzō said.
"I knew a little. My student brought me news, but she didn't know very much herself," Bunpuku said. "I knew Konoha Ninja Village was providing aid to the Land of Rain, but I never imagined it had gone this far. I imagine Konoha Ninja Village must have poured a great deal of effort into it."
"Yes. The people of the Land