The rain in Amegakure never stopped. It fell all the time, covering the village like a heavy blanket. It beat against the tall metal buildings, which looked like giant towers stabbing the gray sky.
From far away, the village might seem high-tech—shiny metal, steam rising from pipes, lights glowing in the mist. But up close, it was a different story.
Cracks covered the buildings. Rust dripped down the walls.
The streets were soaked and messy, full of junk from years of being ignored.
Under Pain and Konan, Amegakure was a strict and isolated place.
People were poor, watched closely, and the village relied too much on the dangerous jobs the Akatsuki took.
The city looked strong on the outside but was falling apart on the inside. Years of war, fear, and control had left it weak.
Pain kept things safe, but at the cost of freedom, hope, and any real progress. It was a village always on the edge.
Ryouhei Kurozawa stood outside his shop, looking at the numbers in his ledger. The damp air had smudged the ink, but he could still read it.
His plan to buy supplies in bulk was smart—if he could make it work. But everything else was a problem.
Amegakure was a boiling pot, and he was just some outsider with no backup. One mistake could ruin everything. Or worse.
Inside, the shop was a bit better than before. He had cleaned the floor, organized the shelves, and used old tarps to patch up leaks.
Still, it was barely hanging on—just like the village. He'd only been here two weeks, but the pressure to survive was already heavy.
No chakra. No ninja powers. Just his brain and a growing fear that the whole place was holding its breath, waiting for something bad to happen.
The door creaked open. Tetsu, the skinny kid in the oversized cloak, walked in. A dull knife hung from his belt, but his eyes were bright even on this gloomy day.
"Yo, Ryouhei!" he said, shaking the rain from his hair. "Got anything new?"
Ryouhei gave him a tired smile. "Not yet, kid. Still working on it. How's your training going?"
Tetsu's smile faded. "They said I'm not ready yet. Still have to carry water buckets. For a whole month. Lame."
"You'll get there," Ryouhei said, setting the ledger down. "Takes time."
Tetsu looked down. "Time's the problem. Everyone's scared all the time. My sister's cough got worse. We ran out of medicine again. You said you'd get more, right?"
Ryouhei felt a pang in his chest. "Yeah. I'm trying. I've got a deal set up with a trader named Taro. If it works out, we'll have more herbs by next week."
Tetsu's eyes lit up. "You're really doing it?"
"Gotta start somewhere," Ryouhei said. He wasn't fully confident, but he had to sound sure for Tetsu's sake. The kid was one of the few who didn't treat him like a stranger. That meant a lot.
As Tetsu chatted about wanting to become a ninja, Ryouhei's mind drifted.
He'd seen more of Amegakure now—tiny alleys where kids played in mud, half-empty markets, and ninja patrols that moved like shadows.
The people were quiet, their faces tired. Pain's rule kept enemies out, but also kept everyone trapped. People were afraid to speak out.
The Akatsuki brought in money, but it was risky work. One bad month, and everything could fall apart.
He wasn't a historian, but he knew enough. Amegakure had a dark past—war, betrayal, and a god-like leader who demanded full loyalty. It wasn't a place for mistakes.
A loud knock pulled him back. Goro stood in the doorway. His face was covered in scars, and his cloak dripped rain.
"Time to go," Goro said. "Taro's caravan is almost here. We're meeting him at the border. You're coming."
Ryouhei's stomach dropped. Another trip through dangerous land. "Just me and you?"
Goro snorted. "You wish. Me, Kaede, and two others. You do the talking. Don't mess it up."
Kaede was the scary woman from the last mission—the one who called his bluff with the bandits "stupid but clever." Ryouhei wasn't sure if she liked him or just didn't hate him.
"Got it," Ryouhei said, grabbing his satchel. He took the ledger, a few coins, and the knife Hina had reluctantly given him. He didn't know how to fight, but the knife was better than nothing.
Tetsu perked up. "Can I come?"
Goro gave him a cold glare. "Stay here, kid. This isn't a game."
Tetsu slumped but nodded. As Goro turned, Ryouhei leaned down to Tetsu. "Watch the shop for me, okay? Don't let anyone steal my stuff."
Tetsu grinned. "Deal!"
The trip to the border was rough. Rain turned the road to thick mud. The air smelled like wet earth and rot. Goro led the group—Kaede, a thin man named Jiro, and a quiet ninja with a wrapped-up arm. They moved quickly, always watching the trees. Ryouhei struggled to keep up, his shoes sinking with every step. He felt out of place.
Kaede slowed down to walk beside him. Her short black hair stuck to her face, and her scar caught the gray light.
"You nervous, outsider?"
"Trying not to be," Ryouhei said. "Last time was close."
She smirked. "You're still breathing. That's better than most."
"Why do you call me outsider?" he asked. "I'm here, same as you."
"You're not the same," she replied, not unkindly. "You don't have the same scars. You didn't lose anyone in the wars. You just showed up."
Ryouhei didn't argue. She was right. He hadn't lived through Amegakure's pain. He came from a world where this place was only a story.
"Fair," he said quietly. "But I'm trying to help."
Kaede looked at him for a moment, then shrugged. "Keep doing that."
They reached the meeting spot, a clearing near the edge of a neutral zone. Taro's wagons were already there—three old carts filled with crates, guarded by rough-looking men. Taro stood under a tarp, his greasy smile exactly as Ryouhei remembered.
"Ryouhei!" Taro called out, arms wide like they were old friends. "Didn't think you'd come back."
"I had to," Ryouhei said, forcing a smile. "The village needs those herbs."
Taro glanced at Goro and the others, sizing them up. "Alright, let's talk business."