Chapter 363
On the third day after Haruto Saito left Konoha,
Amegakure, the Land of Rain
The village, resembling a jungle of steel, appeared lifeless under the persistent drizzle. A heavy air of bloodshed loomed over the place, a feeling that had become even more pronounced since the start of the shinobi world war.
Currently, commercial activity in Amegakure was nonexistent. The streets were nearly deserted, with only patrol units maintaining their relentless, 24-hour surveillance.
Trade in Amegakure had always been minimal, and with the war raging, its commercial system had completely collapsed. However, the village still had an income source—its mines. The Land of Rain was rich in mineral resources, particularly metal ores. As such, part of Amegakure's war funds came from selling these minerals.
The other portion came from powerful financial backers, particularly wealthy merchants conducting business in the Land of Rain. These individuals, through various illicit means, exploited the common people, extracting profits that were nothing short of staggering. Supporting Amegakure was not a choice for them—it was a necessity. If Amegakure fell, they would lose everything.
That morning, within the village leader's office, Hanzo convened an emergency meeting.
The primary topics of discussion were Amegakure's potential alliance with Sunagakure and the urgent need for war funding. Many of Amegakure's elite assassins had already begun accepting missions from the black market, hoping to secure additional resources for the war effort.
Despite its active involvement in the war, Amegakure was in a vulnerable position. It was significantly weaker than the Five Great Shinobi Villages and had long suffered from internal strife. If given a choice, Hanzo would have preferred to avoid conflict. This war had not been instigated by him but rather by Onoki, the Third Tsuchikage of Iwagakure.
However, Amegakure did possess one major advantage—geography. The Land of Rain was the epicenter of the war, granting Hanzo's forces a highly developed intelligence network and rapid response times to battlefield developments.
Additionally, Amegakure's supply lines were significantly shorter compared to other villages, meaning that their logistical costs were much lower.