After leaving Sunagakure, Bunfuku and his group headed straight for the Land of Rain. Hanzo, the leader of Amegakure, personally received them and held a welcoming banquet.
Since leaving the tower, the only place Bunfuku had visited was the Land of Rivers, making this his second time in another country.
Bunfuku had heard of the Land of Rain, known for its perpetual rainfall, which led to poor crop yields. In this regard, it was the complete opposite of the Land of Wind. While the Land of Wind at least had some arable land, the entire Land of Rain was shrouded in an endless rainy season.
However, upon personally arriving in the country, Bunfuku witnessed a different Land of Rain. Although the heavy rain persisted, the lives of the people had improved.
Konohagakure had helped the Land of Rain construct water conservancy facilities and build shelters against the wind and rain, mitigating the effects of the downpours. Some crops could now grow normally, and in the major cities of the Land of Rain, there were few signs left of the rainy season's impact.
"I truly didn't expect the Land of Rain to become like this," Bunfuku remarked to Hanzo beside him, observing everything before them.
"I heard that you were confined to the tower by the higher-ups of Sunagakure for a long time, so you probably aren't very familiar with the outside world, are you?" Hanzo said.
"I know a little. My student would bring me news, but she didn't know too much either," Bunfuku replied. "I knew that Konohagakure was providing aid to the Land of Rain, but I never imagined they would go to this extent. I believe Konohagakure must have put in a lot of effort."
"Indeed, the people of the Land of Rain will never forget Konohagakure's help," Hanzo said sincerely. As someone born in the "Crying Country," Hanzo had personally witnessed the hardships of the Land of Rain and how it had improved.
He genuinely felt that his decision to cooperate with Konohagakure, even if it meant eliminating the previous leader, was incredibly correct.
"In the previous war, our Land of Wind also caused you a lot of harm. I apologize for that," Bunfuku said after a moment of silence.
Hanzo paused slightly, then smiled knowingly and said, "You don't need to say that. The invasion of our country was the decision of the former high-ranking ninja of Sunagakure. Most of them have paid the price; Chiyo and Ebizo were exiled to the Land of Grass. There's no need for you, who was also treated harshly by the higher-ups, to bear their sins."
"But I am, after all, the Kazekage of Sunagakure. As the Kazekage, I should make amends for the past mistakes of Sunagakure," Bunfuku said solemnly.
"Having such sincerity is enough for me. The Land of Wind and Sunagakure have already provided compensation. A portion of the war reparations we received from you has been used to rebuild our country. You don't need to make further amends. From now on, let's get along amicably. In the alliance, we are like one family," Hanzo said, looking deeply at Bunfuku.
"Yes, let's cooperate well from now on," Bunfuku said with a smile and a nod.
Hanzo welcomed Bunfuku and his group into Amegakure, hosting them and serving them the specialties of the Land of Rain. With the improved environment, the cuisine of the Land of Rain had also gotten better.
Besides grains imported from the Land of Fire, other dishes featured unique fish or vegetables found only within the Land of Rain.
Bunfuku praised the food profusely. Due to the desert environment of the Land of Wind, fish was a very rare food. In the Land of Rain, while it couldn't compare to the island nation of the Land of Water, they had a certain expertise in preparing fish, and their unique fish species truly broadened Bunfuku's horizons.
During the reception, Bunfuku extensively questioned Hanzo about his past cooperation with Konohagakure. Each answer deepened his understanding of Konohagakure and how to cooperate effectively.
After resting for a day in Amegakure, the group set off again for the border of the Land of Rain. Hanzo continued to personally escort them, having set up a perimeter of vigilance nearby.
Few could infiltrate, and anyone who managed to get through would be stopped by him.
The war had only recently ended, and every nation was in a period of recuperation. Indeed, few dared to attempt assassinations. Even if there were, they were merely insignificant troublemakers hoping to gain fame through assassination.
However, these individuals often couldn't even get past the strict security Hanzo had put in place.
Regarding such foolish individuals, Hanzo merely gave a soft "hmm" when he heard the reports and inquired no further. Such people were not a minority; they were those who overestimated their abilities and jumped out. While they could be easily dealt with, they were truly an eyesore.
Bunfuku, though shaking his head and sighing at these assassins, had no intention of pleading for them. In the past, he might have wanted Hanzo to let them go if possible, but after becoming Kazekage, despite still being a gentle person, he understood that there were times when one had to make a stand.
He absolutely could not be lenient towards assassins.
As the Kage of a village, being merciful to assassins would be telling others that they could freely come and attempt assassinations. This attitude must never be shown. Hashirama Senju was known as a universally kind person, but he never showed mercy to rebels or assassins.
Kakuzu, back then, retreated wisely and didn't fight Hashirama Senju to the end. Hashirama Senju also chose not to pursue him, and with Kakuzu's formidable strength, he didn't fall immediately before Hashirama Senju, thus managing to escape.
The reason Hashirama didn't pursue was simply because he felt there was no need to be relentless with an assassin; if the opponent could escape, it was their own skill.
As for traitors, Hashirama Senju's attitude when he struck down his friend Madara Uchiha in the Valley of the End was enough to explain everything. When Hashirama Senju was in good health and on friendly terms with the leaders of other countries, no one dared to act deceptively.
Hashirama Senju would be kind to his friends, but for those who were not his friends, what they received was hostility.
It was also due to the excessive strain from the Valley of the End, coupled with the added strain of capturing Tailed Beasts, that Hashirama Senju's health rapidly deteriorated after the Five Kage Summit. Otherwise, the First Great Ninja War might have been delayed even longer.
Hanzo escorted them all the way to the border of the Land of Fire. Upon seeing the people from Konohagakure who had come to greet them, he finally stopped and said to Bunfuku, "This is as far as I go. Konohagakure will take over from here. Do you see that person ahead? He is Sakumo Hatake, a student of Fumori Masaki."
"Sakumo Hatake, I know him. Chiyo's son was apparently captured by him," Bunfuku said. The capture of Chiyo's son was also a key factor in forcing Sunagakure to surrender. Even Bunfuku, who had only recently emerged, had heard of this.
"Yes, a very formidable young man. Given time, he might become a crucial figure in the ninja world," Hanzo nodded slightly.
Just then, Konohagakure's welcoming party arrived. Sakumo Hatake stepped forward and said to Bunfuku, "Welcome to the Land of Fire, Lord Kazekage. We will escort you the rest of the way." He then looked at Hanzo and nodded, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Lord Hanzo."
"It's my duty. Nothing happened on my end; just make sure nothing happens on yours," Hanzo said with some concern, already very familiar with Sakumo Hatake.
"Please rest assured, we will certainly protect the safety of Lord Kazekage and everyone else," Sakumo Hatake said, looking behind Bunfuku. Besides him, there were the Kazekage's guards and some young Sunagakure ninja. The purpose of bringing these individuals was to allow them to learn during their visit.
According to the information Sakumo Hatake had received, these individuals might even take this opportunity to stay and observe within the village.
"We'll be troubling you then," Bunfuku said, nodding to Sakumo Hatake, while also observing Konohagakure's squad. The last time, he had gone to Konoha's camp as a peace envoy and hadn't had a good look at Konohagakure's battle formations.
Now, the Konoha squad escorting them allowed him to witness a glimpse.
It looked like the traditional three-person squad, the basic unit of the ninja world, but from their positioning and coordination, Bunfuku vaguely sensed that their composition was more complex. Squads were not merely combined; rather, there was an intertwining, a 'you in me, me in you' dynamic.
Bunfuku was secretly astonished, feeling that Konohagakure's victory in the war truly meant they surpassed Sunagakure in many other areas. His resolve to learn from Konohagakure during his upcoming visit grew even stronger. He had already witnessed many new things in the Land of Rain, and Konohagakure would surely exceed his imagination even further.
"Please," Sakumo Hatake extended his hand slightly, guiding Bunfuku and his group to the center of the formation, while the other Konoha ninja surrounded them, strictly guarding.
Immediately, the group set off for Konohagakure. Along the way, Bunfuku observed much more. Compared to the Land of Wind, the Land of Fire was undoubtedly very fertile. Even in areas not deeply connected to Konohagakure, one could see places that surpassed the Land of Wind. And the closer they got to Konohagakure, the greater the disparity Bunfuku saw.
Soon, the outline of Konohagakure appeared before everyone's eyes. Compared to Sunagakure, Konohagakure's first impression was one of grandeur, a pressure like a burning flame, and at the same time, a vibrant energy like trees.
Upon entering the visible range of Konohagakure, a ninja went ahead to report to the Hokage. By the time the group arrived in front of Konohagakure, the people designated to greet foreign guests had already arrived. All welcoming preparations had been completed long ago, just waiting for the moment Bunfuku and his group would arrive.
At the gates of Konohagakure, many people stood there. One person stood at the forefront. Even without the Hokage's attire, Bunfuku immediately recognized him as the Hokage. He wasn't sure why, but perhaps it was the aura the person exuded that revealed his identity.