The clear skies in the Land of Rain were fleeting, and soon the country was once again enveloped in heavy downpours.
However, for the people of the Land of Rain, a glimmer of hope had appeared.
Of course, the Konoha shinobi couldn't fully appreciate their feelings.
Aside from the medical ninja who had previously come here for treatment, everyone else, like those visiting the Land of Rain for the first time, felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.
Jiraiya wore a straw hat, but it couldn't completely block the rain, and his pant legs were already soaked.
He muttered, "Didn't I hear that the Land of Rain had cleared up recently? Why is it still like this?"
Tsunade walked beside him, each step splashing water.
Hearing Jiraiya's complaint, she curled her lip and said, "It's just a temporary change in the climate, not really an act of heaven.
How could it stay clear forever?"
The new curriculum introduced by Fumori Masaki incorporated the basics of dialectical and scientific thinking.
Because he required every student to pass a theoretical exam to graduate, those who came from the Ninja Academy were not as superstitious as ordinary civilians in other places.
They began to understand how to perceive the world.
As Fumori Masaki's student, Tsunade had always received focused education.
She understood more than ordinary students because she frequently visited Fumori Masaki's home and had heard him say on more than one occasion that many things in the world were objective phenomena and would not change due to the will of certain individuals.
Fumori Masaki later indeed answered her questions.
The people of the Land of Rain might consider the sudden clear skies a good omen, but Tsunade wasn't so convinced.
She had learned from Fumori Masaki, during a lesson on Wind Release techniques, that he had a ninjutsu that specifically required creating a certain climatic environment.
She then understood that climate also changed due to certain factors, and that was definitely not what was called an act of heaven.
Hearing Tsunade's answer, Jiraiya didn't have time to speak, but Orochimaru nodded.
As a ninja of the Research Department, he had long known to view other things in a scientific way.
This was the spiritual essence of the Research Department.
Orochimaru, who was called a scientist in Fumori Masaki's previous life, quickly understood its meaning.
"Is there no way to change this damn weather?" Jiraiya complained.
"This kind of weather is beyond human reach.
If it could truly be changed, perhaps only a god, like the Sage of Six Paths, could do it," Hatake Sakumo said.
"Perhaps one day, mortals can also achieve the miracles of a sage, without the so-called Sage of Six Paths, but through humanity itself," Orochimaru whispered.
"Ah, that's the theory from the third volume of the Ninshu Classics, isn't it?" Tsunade quickly said upon hearing this.
In the Ninshu Classics annotated by Fumori Masaki, the value and dignity of humanity were emphasized.
It wasn't entirely anachronistic; the original Ninshu Classics did contain similar arguments, just not as formalized as in his previous life.
According to those classics, the cultivation methods of chakra taught by the Sage of Six Paths, Asura, and other Ninshu masters, when guiding their followers, aimed for them to approach the realm of a sage.
This might refer to ideology or something else, but it was conveniently borrowed by Fumori Masaki.
"I think that's correct.
The types of secret techniques inherited by Ninshu in the past were far fewer than today.
In terms of methods, today's ninja are more resourceful than Ninshu of the past.
Even if ancient secret techniques were powerful, I don't think they are truly insurmountable now," Orochimaru said.
"I agree." Tsunade nodded and said, "For example, what the Medical Department obtained from the Earth Grudge Fear is beyond what past secret techniques could achieve."
"That's true, but who knows when that will be," Jiraiya said.
"But there's always hope," Hatake Sakumo said at this point.
He looked up at the overcast sky and said, "As long as there's hope, at least there's a goal to strive for."
When the group arrived at the Hidden Rain Village, the leader, Hanzō, personally came out to greet them.
He nodded to Senju Risa and Sarutobi Konosuke and said, "Long time no see, both of you.
The Hidden Rain Village is deeply grateful that the Hidden Leaf Village is willing to send a medical team."
"Since it's a promise, our Hidden Leaf Village cannot let down your expectations, as long as Lord Hanzō does the same," Senju Risa said.
Hanzō smiled slightly, turned slightly, and made a welcoming gesture, saying, "You must be tired from your journey.
Please stay in the village for a night, and the mission can begin tomorrow."
"Thank you.
Although we can't start work immediately, we can prepare.
Your village should have prepared relevant information, right?" Senju Risa asked.
"Of course, if you need it, I will immediately have someone deliver it to your room," Hanzō replied.
"Please do." Senju Risa nodded.
Thus, the Konoha ninja, arranged by the Hidden Rain Village, stayed in a hotel specially prepared for them.
These hotels were hastily renovated and naturally couldn't be described as perfect, but they were considered good accommodations, and most Hidden Rain ninja didn't have such good rooms.
"It's completely different from the houses in the Hidden Leaf Village," Tsunade said with emotion, standing in the hotel lobby and observing the surroundings.
"After all, our country rains all day long.
If they were all wooden houses like in the Hidden Leaf Village, it would be impossible to live in them year-round," the Hidden Rain ninja who was serving as their host said, his tone involuntarily tinged with envy.
Tsunade understood the underlying meaning.
She could comprehend that people from other countries envied the living environment of the Land of Fire.
She had known this for a long time.
She could only say, "I hope the climate here can improve soon."
"Lord Hanzō can definitely do it.
The weather cleared up before because of Lord Hanzō's ascension to power!" the Hidden Rain ninja said with some excitement.
Tsunade smiled helplessly, then hurried to Senju Risa's room, wanting to see the situation of the epidemic in the Land of Rain.
After all, she was still a medical ninja, and her purpose in coming here was to further improve her medical skills by participating in the treatment of the epidemic in the Land of Rain.
In Senju Risa's room, Senju Risa was reviewing the documents Hanzō had ordered to be delivered.
Summer in the Land of Rain had always been a high-incidence period for epidemics.
Although during the last ninja war, Konoha ninja had cured a large number of patients, in the years before Besa's isolation policy, the situation had once again returned to its original state.
This was actually quite normal; Konoha ninja were, after all, only external aid, only able to treat the symptoms but not the root cause.
"Overall, the illnesses haven't exceeded the previous outbreak.
It's not troublesome.
Even if unknown illnesses appear, they will at most be a minority and won't cause the situation we had last time," Senju Risa said to Tsunade, pointing at the documents.
Last time, the Konoha ninja, being new to the Land of Rain, were unfamiliar with the epidemic, and there were multiple instances of Konoha ninja themselves becoming infected.
Because of this, during the process of researching medicines, experiments were conducted on their own people more than once.
Fortunately, no one died as a result.
Now, the Konoha ninja already had considerable experience.
Senju Risa determined that this epidemic was consistent with the situation during the last ninja war, and she breathed a sigh of relief.
Because there were ready-made medical plans and medicines, it saved a lot of worry.
What she feared was the emergence of new epidemics that hadn't appeared last time.
"Then, I can also personally get involved, right?" Tsunade asked.
Senju Risa pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "With Miss Tsunade's medical skill, there's absolutely no problem.
Just be careful, and if you discover anything, remember to tell me immediately."
"I know, I know." Tsunade clasped her hands behind her head, leaned back, and said, "I'm not ignorant of the rules for medical ninja, Sister Risa, you can rest assured."
"I'm just afraid you might act impulsively," Senju Risa said with a laugh.
"Little Miss Tsunade caused quite a lot of trouble when she was young, giving both the Third and Second Hokage headaches."
"I've grown up, stop treating me like a child," Tsunade said, puffing out her cheeks, head down, and kicking her feet.
Senju Risa smiled and shook her head, then her expression turned serious, and she said, "One more thing, Miss Tsunade, you should know by what means Hanzō ascended to the position of leader, right?
The remnants of the former leader of the Hidden Rain Village are still active outside.
They might take the risk and come to attack and retaliate.
You must bring others with you."
"Understood.
If they really dare to come, I'll make them regret it," Tsunade said, waving her fist with a fierce expression.
Only those close to her knew the strength contained within that small fist.
Seeing this, Senju Risa couldn't help but smile and say, "Perhaps we should really worry about them, rather than Miss Tsunade encountering danger."