Yu no Kuni

National Emblem

Yu no Kuni; The Country of Hot Water

One of Yu no Kuni's largest hot springs

Yu no Kuni, also known as 'The Country of Hot Water' or 'Hot Springs Country' is a country that existed during the time of Uzumaki Naruto and is well known as one of the primary countries that the Fourth Great Shinobi World War was fought in. The country is named for it's many hot springs and geysers that dot it's landscape, causing the nation to become an ideal vacation spot due to it's natural assets.

Economy

An example of a resort

Unlike most modern countries with shinobi villages, Yu no Kuni's military is not even close to the primary source of income for the nation. Instead, the country thrives on being the go-to vacation spot thanks to it's natural hot springs, towering geysers, white sand beaches, and rich history.

All manner of resorts and hotels dot the landscape, bringing in citizens from all over the world to enjoy an atmosphere in which they can decompress without the worries of every day life. There's a little bit for everyone in this country, and thanks to it's location between Hi no Kuni, Denchi no Kuni, and Rai no Kuni, there is no shortage to new vacation goers, bringing in diversity from all over. It is not uncommon to even see citizens from Mizu no Kuni organizing luxury 'cruises' between the two nations.

Recent happenings such as the rise of the NCIA and subsequent fall did nothing to harm Yu no Kuni's economy thanks to Yugakure's decline as an actual shinobi village during the time of Uzumaki Naruto. If anything, the sudden economic surge during the time of the NCIA only helped to bring in more customers than usual.

Architecture

Most buildings in Yu no Kuni are simple and traditional japanese buildings, giving the nation a rather low building level overall when it comes to residential districts. That said, the architecture of the resorts and hotels are so varied and strange that there is definitely little consistency between them. A great deal of funds are poured into the construction of new resorts in hopes of making them more visually appearing than the last with the belief that it will attract more vacation goers.

Ultimately, Yu no Kuni's greatest minds are not at all focused on the development of new technologies, but rather, how to make their hotels and resorts more interesting and unique. What they lack in practical technology, they make up for in creativity.

Terrain

Thanks to being wedged in-between the Lands of Fire, Rice, and Frost, Yu no Kuni has a great deal of variation as far as terrain goes. There are your heavily forested areas like Hi no Kuni, your sprawling valleys similar to those of Denchi no Kuni, as well as a mountain range that runs along the north that leads into the Land of Frost. And of course, the signature traits of the country are the hot springs and geysers that dot the landscape. Though many towns are quick to spring up nearby these pools of hot water, there are still many that have not been turned into a spectacle, intentionally left untouched so that the land can retain it's natural beauty.

Yu no Kuni is also a land of many rivers, streams and lakes. The most famous river is known as the 'River of the End' that is named after it's origins from the Valley of the End in-between the borders of Hi no Kuni and Denchi no Kuni. Due to how frequently the hot springs appear, most water in the country is naturally quite warm, since most springs flow into the other waterways.

It should also be noted that, due to it being one of the major theaters of war during the Fourth Great Shinobi World War, there are many places in the country that are obviously war torn and battered. Not allowing this crushed land to go to waste, however, the Daimyo of long past had decreed that these areas be turned into visitor locations where memorials were built in honor of the shinobi that had lost their life against the Akatsuki terror.

Culture

The life in Ame no Kuni is about as unforgiving as the rain that plagues it. As an industrialized nation, the mentality of the land is constant growth and advancement, even at the sacrifice of one's neighbor. That's not to say relationships here are hard to find and blandly cold, for the bonds that survive in this wasteland turn out to be for life. This land is all about fashion and they even developed ways to keep re-breathers in style. Depression and suicide rates are high and also are the influx of artists and dancers. People often carry umbrellas with the same gusto as one feels about their wallets and keys. Those umbrellas usually double for a weapon in disguise.

Weather

Rains are common throughout most of the year, and cold weather and warm weather otherwise fluctuate at fairly normal temperatures.

Transit

Much of Ame no Kuni is traveled by foot or by farmer's cart, because of the poorness of much of the country, though there are a rare few who use the Train extending from the Coal Country to Ame no Kuni. As well, river transit is very popular amongst the citizens. Small boats can be seen traveling up and down the river, taking trade goods and people from one destination to another. The large amounts of rainfall makes healthy rivers all year round as a reliable travel means.

Yugakure no Sato

Yugakure no Sato

Created shortly before the time of Uzumaki Naruto, Yugakure no Sato was one of the few shinobi villages that didn't quite stick. Due to the lack of applications to the resident ninja academy thanks to the 'carefree' mindset of the country's citizens, Yugakure no Sato was quickly deemed an economic failure by the Daimyo at the time. Despite already having trained quite a few shinobi, the Daimyo ordered that Yugakure's purpose be changed, shifting the village to be more in-line with the rest of the nation- peaceful and prosperous.

That said, the shinobi who were trained during Yugakure's time as a ninja village continued to do their duty as best they could, acting as bodyguards for the various hotels and resorts that were put in place. These shinobi passed down what few secrets they had to their children throughout the years. While Yugakure no Sato no longer has any official shinobi, there are a handful of citizens who do have minor shinobi training.

It is worth noting that Yugakure no Sato produced the Akatsuki member Hidan, leading people to believe that a Jashinist cult dwells nearby.