The Land of Rai the interse of the territories of the Land of Earth, the Land of Fire, and the Land of Wind.

  Uhe overcast sky, amidst the drifting rain, the vilge surrounded by kes seemed abandoned by the world.

  The cold sculptures at the vilge entrance, drenched in rain, added an even more somber too the se.

  Naruto couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt toward Amegakure.

  He had once promised Konan that, after being Hokage, he would bring peaegakure.

  But iure, Amegakure still fell into dee, corrupted by the Kara anization, and became a breeding ground for evil.

  Even after Kara, including Isshiki and Code, was pletely eradicated, Amegakure never revived. It faded into the vast sea of shinobi history, with only the unending rain bearing witness.

  Now, this desote vilge would bee his haven, his base of operations.

  Naruto, of course, couldn't simply reap the bes without tributing. He had resolved to weather the same storms and hardships alongside it.

  Standing on the ke amidst the p rain, he gazed at the vilge and silently vowed: From today onward, Amegakure will be my sed home. What I owe from my past life, I will repay in this one.

  Konan, Orochimaru, and Kisame, who apanied him, were unaware of Naruto's thoughts, but they could sense a certaiermination rising from his silhouette.

  Upoering the vilge, there was no grand weling ceremony.

  However, both civilians and shinobi alike greeted Konan with revereheir expressions filled with genuine piety.

  To them, Konan was the Ahe spokesperson of Pain, their god. She held an irrepceable position in Amegakure.

  This isoted vilge was unaware that their leader, Pain, was no longer among them.

  They observed the strangers apanying the Angel with curiosity and caution, especially the blond man in the mask walking alongside her.

  Could he be Lord Pain?

  No, that couldn't be. Lord Pain was so mysterious and low-key, never appearing before others. His very existence was shrouded in mystery.

  Then he must be an outsider!

  Why would the Angel bring outsiders into the vilge?

  Surely, if she did so, there must be a reason. Lord Pain would never harm us.

  Feeling the skeptical atmosphere around them, Naruto murmured, "Pervy Sage must have faced a lot of challenges when he infiltrated this pce for his iigation."

  Konan replied calmly, "Yes. This pce is isoted from the world. After defeating Hanzō and uniting Amegakure, Pain became a god in the hearts of the people. Anyone who showed hostility toward him would bee a target of collective s."

  She tinued, "Before Pain's rule, there were actually two shinobi vilges: Amegakure in the Land of Rain and Amegakure in the Land of Rivers. Pain uhe two, creating the Amegakure we know today."

  Turning to Naruto, Konan said, "Now that Nagato is gone, Naruto, I want to support you in being the new leader of Amegakure."

  Naruto pondered for a moment and replied, "It's not the right time yet. I'm an outsider with no foundation here. Taking over as leader rashly would damage your reputation as well, Sister Konan."

  Konan's eyes flickered as she withdrew her gaze. "That's what I thought too. remain hidden forever. The fact that Pain is no longer here will eventually e to light. Before that day arrives, you o build your reputation. Wheime es, you rightfully succeed him as leader."

  As they discussed, they left the civilian area aured deeper into Amegakure.

  The architecture here rimarily structed of steel, with some stone elements. The style leaoward cold tones, plemented by religiously themed reliefs, creating an overall oppressive yet solemn atmosphere.

  Numerous steel pipes of various sizes extended upward, f a unique skylihis was closely reted to the vilge's heavy rainfall, ating such extensive piping and drainage systems.

  Perhaps due to his experiences iure, Naruto felt an inexplicable resoh this enviro.

  Gazing at the tallest tower to the south, Naruto remarked, "Amegakure is known for its t structures. The tallest ohere is said to be where Pain resided, right?"

  Konan nodded. "Yes. Pain liked to overlook the vilge in the rain from that tower. Akatsuki's highest-level meetings were also held there. That tower has even been marked by someone."

  Naruto g her from the er of his eye. "You mean Obito?"

  Konan's amber eyes darkened slightly. "Yes. That man who cimed to be Madara. His Sharingan possesses a space-time ninjutsu. After years of observation, I've roughly figured out its meics."

  She expined, "He mark spaces with his eye and freely travel between his personal dimension and the marked locations. That tower is one of his thousands of marked spots."

  Naruto pted this. "So Kamui's spatial markings target locations rather than individuals. In this regard, my Flying Raijin has an advantage."

  Konan looked northward. "So, I pn to abandon that tower and activate the backup tower to the north. Follow me."

  The four of them arrived at an open space to the north. Konan formed hand seals and pressed her palm to the ground.

  Rumble—rumble—rumble!

  Amidst the rumbling sounds, a tall tower buried deep underground rose to the surface, along with numerous smaller auxiliary towers.

  When the process was plete, Konan stood up, rain soaking her figure, her gaze full of hope. "This will be our arting point."

  Naruto nodded in satisfa. "It suits me perfectly."

  Konan suggested, "We've been traveling and braving the elements for so long. Let's rest well tonight and discuss future pns tomorrow. What do you think?"

  Naruto turo Orochimaru and Kisame. "What about you two?"

  "No objes," they replied in unison.

  "Then it's settled."

  With a flourish of his cloak, Naruto stepped into the tower.

  From the outside, the tower didn't look very rge, but its interior was surprisingly spacious.

  It had nine floors in total, with corridors and rooms on the first seven levels.

  As they asded the stairs, Konan said, "Orochimaru, Kisame, you may choose any room on the first six floors to stay in. However, the seventh floor is off-limits without permission."

  Kisame stopped on the sed floor.

  Orochimaru chose the fourth floor.

  Konan, however, followed Naruto to the seventh floor.

  The seventh floor was unique, with only three rooms arranged side by side.

  Konan asked, "Naruto, whi would you like?"

  Naruto responded with a question, "Whie will you take, Sister Konan?"

  Konan replied, "I'm fih any. You choose first. I'll take the oo yours, so we look out for each other."

  After thinking for a moment, Naruto said, "Then I'll take the middle one."

  Konan nodded. "Alright, I'll take the innermost one. If you're not fortable—"

  Naruto removed his mask, revealing a you weathered face. "Don't worry. I've growo living in caves over the years. Having a bed to sleep on is already a luxury."

  Konan smiled gently. "Those days are behind you now. Naruto, wele officially to Amegakure."