032 First Arrival Amegakure
The Land of Rain lies at the border of the Earth, Leaf, and Sand regions.
Under its constant gray sky and endless drizzle, the village surrounded by lakes feels completely forgotten by the world.
Even the cold statue at the entrance, soaked by years of rain, looks more desolate than ever.
Naruto felt a deep guilt toward Amegakure
He had once promised Konan that, after becoming Hokage, he would bring peace to the people of the Rain Village.
But in the future, Amegakure declined.
It was consumed by the Kara Organization and became a breeding ground for darkness.
By the time Kara, along with Isshiki and Code, was finally destroyed, the village had vanished into the depths of ninja history.
Only the rain remained.
Now, this lonely village would become his sanctuary, his base.
But Naruto didn't plan to enjoy its safety with a clear conscience.
He had decided to share its burdens and rebuild it with his own hands.
Standing on the lake under the pouring rain, he looked at the quiet village and made a vow in his heart:
"From now on, Amegakure is my second home. I, Uzumaki Naruto, will repay what I failed to do in my past life."
Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame didn't know what he was thinking, but they could sense a quiet determination radiating from his back.
As they entered the village, there was no celebration.
No crowd.
Only rain.
Whether civilian or ninja, everyone bowed respectfully to Konan, their faces full of sincere devotion.
To them, Konan was an angel, the messenger of Lord Pain, and a central figure in Amegakure.
This village had long been isolated from the outside world, and the people didn't know that Pain, the leader they revered, was gone.
They looked at the strangers traveling with Konan with a mix of curiosity and caution, especially the blond man in a mask walking beside her.
"Could that be Lord Pain?"
"No way. Lord Pain is always so mysterious. No one's ever really seen him."
"Then is he an outsider?"
"Why would Lady Angel bring outsiders here?"
"Well... if she did, it must mean Lord Pain trusts them."
Hearing the murmurs around them, Naruto whispered,
"When Pervy Sage first came here to investigate, it must've been tough…"
Konan replied calmly,
"Yes. This place has always been closed off from the world. Pain, who defeated Hanzo and united the village, is seen as a god. Anyone who questions him is quickly silenced by the people."
She paused, then added,
"Also, before Pain's rule, Amegakure was actually divided into two factions, one in the Land of Rain and the other in the Land of Rivers. After Pain rose to power, he unified both sides. That's how the current Amegakure was born."
At this point, Konan turned to Naruto and said,
"Now that Nagato is gone, I want to support you as the new leader of Amegakure."
Naruto hesitated.
"It's not the right time yet. I'm still an outsider with no real connection to this place. If I take over too soon, it might damage your reputation, Senior Sister Konan…"
Konan's eyes softened as she looked away.
"I thought the same. No secret stays hidden forever. Sooner or later, people will find out that Pain is gone. Before that happens, you need to build up your reputation. Once the time is right, you can take over the village properly."
As they spoke, they walked deeper into Amegakure, leaving the residential area behind.
The buildings here were mostly made of steel and stone. The architecture felt cold and serious, with religious carvings decorating many walls.
The overall atmosphere was heavy and somber.
Large pipes ran throughout the village, both inside and outside the buildings. These were part of the city's unique look, built to handle the constant rainfall.
Naruto stayed silent. Maybe it was because of everything he had experienced in his past lives, but something about this place felt like it matched his soul.
He looked up at the tallest tower in the southern part of the village.
"There are a lot of tall towers here. They say Pain lived in the tallest one. That must be it."
Konan nodded.
"Yes. Pain liked to stand at the top and watch the village through the rain. The Akatsuki also held its highest-level meetings there. That tower still carries the mark of another person."
Naruto turned toward her.
"You mean Obito?"
Konan's orange eyes dimmed slightly.
"Yes. That man who calls himself Madara… His Sharingan has a space-time ability. After watching him for years, I've nearly figured it out."
"He can mark a location in space with his eye, then travel between that marked space and his own dimension. That tall tower is one of the many places he's marked."
Naruto thought to himself: So Kamui marks space, not people. In that sense, my Flying Thunder God is better suited for flexibility.
Konan looked toward the north.
"That's why I've decided to give up that tower. Instead, we'll use a backup tower in the north. Come with me."
The four of them walked to an open area in the northern part of the village. Konan formed a hand sign and pressed her palms to the ground.
Rumble—!
With a deep roar, a tall tower rose up from beneath the earth, along with several smaller towers surrounding it.
Konan stood up, rain soaking her robes, and looked at the tower with quiet hope.
"This will be our new starting point."
Naruto nodded, satisfied.
"It's exactly what I was hoping for."
Konan smiled.
"We've been out for a while. Let's rest tonight and talk about plans tomorrow."
Naruto looked at Orochimaru and Kisame.
"What do you two think?"
"No objections," they replied at the same time.
"That's settled, then…"
Whoosh!
Naruto flicked his cloak and walked into the tower.
From the outside, the tower didn't seem large, but inside, it was surprisingly spacious.
It had nine floors in total. The first seven had corridors and rooms.
As they climbed the stairs, Konan said,
"Orochimaru, Kisame, you can pick any room on the first six floors. But no one is allowed on the seventh floor without permission."
Kisame stopped on the second floor.
Orochimaru chose the fourth.
Konan continued upward with Naruto to the seventh floor.
This level was different. It had only three rooms, all lined up side by side.
Konan asked,
"Naruto, which room would you like?"
Naruto asked back,
"Where will you be staying?"
"I don't mind either. You choose first. I'll take the room next to you so I can look after you more easily."
Naruto thought for a moment.
"Then I'll take the middle one."
Konan nodded.
"Alright, I'll stay in the one farthest inside. But if you're not comfortable…"
Naruto removed his mask, revealing a young face touched by hardship.
"It's fine. After years of living in caves, just having a bed feels like luxury."
Konan gave a gentle smile.
"Those days are over, Naruto. Welcome officially to Amegakure."
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TO BE CONTINUED
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