Chapter 62: Beside My Bed, Sleep If You Want
Recently, Nōshin Kongō developed a severe skin condition. From his neck to his chest, thick layers of psoriasis covered his body. The relentless itching tormented him day and night. He scratched at it with his hands, causing flakes of skin to fall off in clumps. Even when he tore the skin until it bled profusely, the itch persisted.
When the skin was torn open, the wounds began oozing yellow pus. In the perpetually rainy and humid climate of Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village), the wounds became even harder to heal. Nōshin sought help from several medical-nin and applied countless ointments. While the bleeding would eventually stop and the wounds would scab over, once healed, another layer of psoriasis would form. The cycle repeated endlessly.
However, what troubled him most was not this maddening skin condition.
Since assuming the title of Amekage, Nōshin Kongō had felt that something was amiss, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
Currently, Amegakure was free from the ravages of war. There were no uprisings by starving citizens, neighboring nations were at peace, and the village treasury was well-stocked. The documents piling up on his desk each day never exceeded ten pages, and he could finish reviewing them in just about an hour.
Every month, the village received a tax revenue of two million ryō from the Hourglass Corporation, which he could spend however he pleased. On top of that, during festivals or holidays, he would receive personal gifts from the corporation. These days, his most frequent task was visiting the families of previous Amekage to offer his condolences.
With such a peaceful and effortless governance, Nōshin began to feel that he might surpass even Hanzō of the Salamander as the most successful Amekage in history.
But Nōshin Kongō was no fool who merely coasted along. Although he had rarely been on the battlefield or taken on missions—having risen through the ranks as a civilian strategist responsible for assigning missions—he had served under Hanzō for many years. Later, he became Hanzō's personal bodyguard and steward (though his primary role was as steward, with the bodyguard title being more honorary). His instincts told him that danger was looming, though he couldn't pinpoint what it was.
The answer soon revealed itself.
During the inauguration ceremony for his succession as Amekage, the Third Kazekage, Jinghang, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, jointly announced the Wind-Fire Peace Declaration. They also revealed plans to conduct a joint military exercise in the Land of Rivers. This completely stole the spotlight from Nōshin's inauguration. Naturally, Nōshin Kongō was displeased, but these two were titans whose strength far exceeded his own. Starting a conflict? He didn't dare.
Moreover, how had he even become Amekage in the first place? Wasn't it all thanks to the financial and political backing of the Hourglass Corporation?