At this time, the Land of Rain was completely different from before.
In the past, due to a lack of funds and manpower, the Land of Rain had not developed a good drainage system or smooth roads, which was undoubtedly very disadvantageous for traveling merchants.
Therefore, under the leadership of the Hidden Leaf Village, merchants pooled their funds for improvements, with the assistance of artisans, Hidden Leaf ninjas, and Hidden Rain ninjas.
After several years, they developed smooth roads and well-maintained water conservancy facilities.
Although it still rained all day in the Land of Rain, the environment was no longer as harsh as before, making it easy for ordinary people and merchants to travel unimpeded.
Coupled with other investment projects in the Land of Rain, not only did merchants from the Hidden Leaf Village receive generous returns, but the people of the Land of Rain also benefited.
"How amazing!" When Asuna and her group entered the Land of Rain, they were shocked by the scene before them.
It was completely different from the Land of Rain she had heard about.
"Hmm, I haven't been to the Land of Rain in a long time, so I didn't realize the changes here were so significant,"Hatake Sakumo also said, a little surprised.
In recent years,Hatake Sakumo had mainly been active within the Land of Fire.
He no longer needed to serve as a guard for medical teams because the Land of Rain already had medical branches invested in by the Hidden Leaf Village.
Coupled with environmental improvements and the spread of correct medical knowledge, the incidence of epidemics was much lower than before.
The ninja world situation was also largely peaceful, leaving no place for combat personnel like him.
Speaking of which, Hattori Heizo often went to the Land of Rain because, as a central geographical location for the three countries and due to the needs of economic development, the Land of Rain was a place that all factions were keeping an eye on.
As an Anbu member, Hattori Heizo was responsible for gathering intelligence.
However,Hatake Sakumo rarely saw Hattori Heizo, and even when he did, they would only talk about daily life.
Regarding missions, Hattori Heizo would not say a word, partly because going into detail was boring, and partly due to Anbu's confidentiality, he could not disclose anything to others.
"These are all thanks to your village's assistance; it has truly been a great help," the Hidden Rain ninja who came to greet them said, turning his head and smiling slightly.
This Hidden Rain ninja was an enlightened member of the village, one of those who believed that cooperation with the Hidden Leaf Village was beneficial.
Hanzo also had him come out to receive them for this reason, as it was better to have someone close to the Hidden Leaf handle foreign guests.
Having those with subtle hostility go would only make both parties unhappy.
As they walked, the Hidden Rain ninja informed Hatake Sakumo and his group about the changes in the Land of Rain over the years.
Not to mention how many lives the medical branch had saved, the projects invested in by merchants from the Hidden Leaf Village also provided new job opportunities for the people, improving their living standards and significantly increasing their income.
Some of the more affluent citizens could even pursue entertainment activities.
Merchants under the control of the Hidden Leaf Village, although also driven by profit, still brought improvements to the lives of the people of the Land of Rain.
However, merchants within the Hidden Leaf Village were not all the merchants in the entire country.
Those other merchants had no restrictions and could freely pursue profit.
Of course, even so, the lives of the people of the Land of Rain were still improving.
After all, the Land of Rain was truly too poor in the past, lacking everything.
Merchants from other countries only needed to bring some new things to have a significant impact.
Overall, the Land of Rain was indeed moving towards openness and prosperity, which was exactly what Hanzo and others hoped for, and they were naturally very grateful to the Hidden Leaf Village.
They did not know that in this situation, the economic lifeline of the Land of Rain had already been handed over to others.
Unless a method akin to rebirth from nirvana was adopted, it would be impossible to break free.
This was precisely the goal of the Hidden Leaf Village: as long as they could demonstrate their value and stick closely to the Hidden Leaf Village, the Hidden Leaf Village could provide them with the harmonious life they desired.
As for other things, such as the status of a powerful nation, there was no need to pursue that.
After providing identification, the Hidden Rain ninja led everyone into the Hidden Rain Village, first to meet Hanzo, the village leader.
Kakashi Sakumo had met Hanzo before, and his expression was very calm, while the others whispered on the way, wondering what the Hidden Rain leader looked like.
But when they actually saw Hanzo, the young Jonin all fell silent, looking at him with surprise, curiosity, or fear.
Hanzo had a burly physique, and unlike others, he wore a mask year-round.
People didn't know that his purpose in wearing the mask was to prevent poisoning others with his breath; they only felt that Hanzo, wearing a mask, looked even more mysterious.
"Long time no see, I believe your name isHatake Sakumo, isn't it?" Hanzo still remembered Hatake Sakumo because he was Fumori Masaki's student and had good strength.
"Long time no see, Lord Hanzo,"Hatake Sakumo bowed slightly, then pointed to the ten genin behind him and said, "They are this year's exchange students, and we hope they can receive guidance from your village."
"Guidance is not something we can offer; your village's strength is far superior to ours.
It should be said that our village's genin should learn from you," Hanzo laughed heartily and waved his hand.
"No, your village also has unique customs, which our village needs to learn from,"Hatake Sakumo replied with a smile.
He remembered Fumori Masaki's teachings: even in front of forces inferior to their own, one should not display any arrogant attitude, but rather respond with neither humility nor arrogance.
Although Hanzo said that, he was still worried about the low average strength of his village's ninjas, fearing they would lose face.
Upon hearingHatake Sakumo's words, he immediately felt much better.
Kakashi Sakumo handed over the list of students, which contained small portraits.
Hanzo looked at it, comparing the faces, and suddenly saw a name, Asuna Masaki.
Slightly startled, he immediately looked up and saw the cold-faced girl.
"Asuna Masaki, could your father be..." Hanzo couldn't help but ask.
"Yes, my father is the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village," Asuna replied when asked.
"Oh! How is your father's health?" Hanzo's expression softened, and he said, "The last time I saw your father was during the Ninja World War.
Since then, I've only been able to communicate with him through letters.
How has he been recently?"
"My father is in very good health and has always been concerned about the situation of the village and your village.
He works late every day before returning home," Asuna said after some thought.
"Hmm, it's good that he's in good health.
And yes, he's so young; he certainly won't be half-dead like the leaders of other ninja villages.
I really hope he lives a long life," Hanzo said with a smile.
These were his true feelings, as he believed Fumori Masaki would sympathize with the people of the Hidden Rain Village.
If it were the leader of another ninja village, or if the Fourth Hokage were in power, the situation might be different.
"Thank you for your kind words, Lord Hanzo," Asuna bowed slightly and said.
Hanzo nodded slightly and said to his confidant beside him, "The rooms have been arranged, right?
Take them there, and remember, do not neglect them along the way."
"Yes," the confidant nodded in response and said toHatake Sakumo, "Please follow me."
Then,Hatake Sakumo and his group were led to a newly built inn, located near the Hidden Rain Village's Ninja Academy, primarily to facilitate the exchange students' training.
The inn was not very large, but its facilities were complete, built to the highest standards of the Hidden Rain Village.
Even though they were only genin, they were genin from the Hidden Leaf Village and exchange students specifically sent there, so treating them well was entirely appropriate.
Because the inn had double rooms, Asuna requested to stay with Mizuki Uchiha.
Yes, although Mizuki Uchiha's initial aspiration was to join the police force, with the approval of Kagami Uchiha, she was transferred to the exchange student list through an internal process at the Ninja Academy.
Seeing the room's facilities, Mizuki Uchiha gasped and immediately threw herself onto the bed, gently rubbing her cheek against the soft pillow.
"I can't believe there are such soft pillows here; it's incredible," she said.
"It should be a product from the Land of Fire.
I saw many such shops along the way," Asuna said, looking around the room and picking up a cup.
"Hmm, it seems they spent quite a bit; the Hidden Rain Village has certainly been diligent."
"Of course," Mizuki Uchiha said, "Although they say we can learn something here in the Hidden Rain Village, in reality, it's just for us to guide the people here, and those who aren't strong enough."
Because strong Hidden Rain ninjas would surely go to the Hidden Leaf Village for further training, those who remained here were definitely not qualified to be exchange students.
"Perhaps there are indeed things worth learning from them.
Due to various reasons, the Hidden Rain Village retains very strong traditions, mainly the combat methods of past ninjas, which involve probing the opponent, forcing them into a desperate situation, finding ways to get into their blind spot, and using sneak attacks," Asuna said.
Due to the poverty of the Land of Rain, even the ninja village could not accumulate a large number of ninjutsu scrolls as its foundation.
In terms of techniques, it was far inferior to the Five Great Nations.
Hidden Rain ninjas generally lacked powerful frontal combat capabilities; people like Hanzo were very rare.
He not only mastered all the ninjutsu within the Hidden Rain Village but also could draw inferences from one example and develop new uses.
Although Hanzo did not make many moves due to the peaceful situation, and most of his opponents were ordinary people, his strength did not disappear due to the butterfly effect.
He still possessed the powerful strength that was called a demigod in the original work.
At his level, there was no need to pursue a variety of ninjutsu; his techniques were almost back to basics, but no one could witness them.
Therefore, ordinary Hidden Rain ninjas retained the old customs of ninjas from the Warring States period and even earlier, learning more about deception and concealment techniques.
Their own strength only needed to be enough to pierce a heart.
This method of trying to conserve chakra and strength was used by traditional ninjas of that era, who were few in number and accustomed to taking on solo missions.
"What we need to make up for might be these seemingly abandoned traditions," Asuna said, sitting on a chair, with one hand resting on her cheek, her eyes slightly lowered.
"In the village, only Anbu and ninjas in related specialized fields receive such training; we only received some basic knowledge."
"Ah, that's true.
This result is due to your father's specialization.
Do you know that some people in the village are saying that your father is making ninjas less like ninjas?" Mizuki Uchiha said.
"This has nothing to do with Father; it should be caused by the changes of the era.
Even without Father, would we, who grew up in the Ninja Academy, truly be exactly like traditional ninjas?" Asuna couldn't help but retort.
"Perhaps not," Mizuki Uchiha thought for a while and shook her head.
It was no longer the Warring States period.
Except for Anbu ninjas and intelligence division ninjas, most ninjas were in contact with ordinary villagers.
From this point alone, they had already violated the old ninja code, not to mention that in the process of contact, they would inevitably be influenced by them, their personalities gradually becoming more cheerful.
There were already many ninjas in the village who, if they took off their uniforms, looked no different from ordinary people.
"So, this has nothing to do with Father, but we do need to catch up on our studies.
The environment in other ninja villages might not be as harmonious as ours, and they might retain more ninja traditions," Asuna said, nodding with a "that's how it is" expression.
"Asuna, don't be so serious.
Do you know, you look quite scary," Mizuki Uchiha said after a moment of silence, a little awkwardly.
Asuna's expression was truly too cold, making people wonder if her face was a sculpture.
Her eyes would turn slowly, giving people the feeling of being coldly stared at.
Under normal circumstances, it would be fine, but once Asuna became serious, every move seemed to carry that kind of pressure.
"I'll try my best," Asuna could only say.
"Alright, alright," Mizuki Uchiha also knew that she and Akemi had brought up this issue in the past, but Asuna could never change.
Going to the hospital also didn't reveal any illness, so they could only conclude that her mental state was too stable, leading to difficulty in facial expression changes.
In the unfamiliar village, the two had no intention of going out, so they played in the room for a while.
Asuna also shared some of the experiences her father taught her, which made Mizuki Uchiha quite jealous.
Although her father only managed the police force, and Asuna's father managed an entire village, due to Fumori Masaki's management of division of labor, he was busy, but not as busy as Kagami Uchiha.
The two chatted until evening, and after their normal sleeping time, they said goodnight to each other and went to their own beds to sleep, preparing to get enough rest for the next day.
At this time, the news of the Hidden Leaf Village's exchange students arriving at the Hidden Rain Village was detected by foreign spies within the Land of Rain and immediately transferred through multiple channels to their respective ninja villages.