Kazekage Ninja: The Rise of the Hidden Sand

Let’s set aside Autaro’s "prison life" for now and turn our attention back to Amegakure (Hidden Rain Village).

"Squeak—"

Yahiko pushed open the door to the grinding workshop, only to find the grinding stations empty, the water trough dry, and only three workers with paper notes stuck to their foreheads playing cards in the vast factory hall.

Yahiko couldn’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia. He remembered the time when he, Nagato, and Konan sneaked into this workshop to play while Jiraiya-sensei was away. Back then, the place was bustling—the sound of grinding tools, the workers’ shouts, and the flowing water in the trough all intertwined harmoniously. Now, the spacious factory hall echoed only with the sound of card-playing.

"Pair of threes!"

"Pass."

"Pair of fours!"

"Pass."

"Pair of sixes!"

"I’m down to one card. If you have a pair, play them all at once."

A slightly chubby worker remarked.