Chapter 48: Rain Country Development Guide
Even in the Land of Rain, it didn't rain every day, but most of the time the sky remained overcast gray.
Nagato was developing a new sensory ninjutsu, attempting to cover the entire Hidden Rain Village with detection range to prevent spy infiltration under any sudden circumstances.
Whether him or Konan, both had become especially sensitive about certain matters due to past experiences.
Konan stood before the window, draped in Akatsuki's signature black robe with red clouds. The collar exposed a length of fair neck. Light purple eyeshadow adorning her eye corners added depth to her gaze.
Great nations often pulled one hair and moved the whole body. Even conflict between just two great nations could develop into a shinobi world war. And once shinobi world war erupted, the Land of Rain could hardly remain aloof—these were lessons written in blood.
Therefore, Akatsuki must investigate both nations' attitudes and actual situations to respond accordingly.
"Konan."
A deep voice came from outside the door. It was Pain.
"Nagato, how are the new Pain bodies?" she turned and asked.
"From now on, address 'me' as Pain," that voice corrected. "He is Akatsuki's only leader."
Konan fell silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Alright."
"How's the intelligence Zetsu delivered?"
"Acceptable. The cause and effect are basically clear." Konan couldn't help sighing. "The trigger was the Cloud Village attempting to frame the Hyuga clan during the peace treaty signing to extort the Byakugan."
A trace of contemplation flashed through Pain's eyes. Though clearly a corpse, aside from a somewhat cold expression, his demeanor was indistinguishable from the living.
"One of Konoha Village's two precious eye techniques. Its tactical value is undeniable. The Cloud Village making a move isn't strange."
Konan continued, "Konoha's response was very firm. Most likely Tsunade led the entire process. She may succeed as Fifth Hokage."
"Whether war breaks out depends on the Raikage's attitude."
"He's still considering. Zetsu will monitor the Cloud Village's movements. If they show war intent, we'll obtain intelligence immediately."
After both fell silent briefly, Pain asked again, "Has the Land of Rain's situation stabilized?"
"Not optimistic," she answered honestly. "Due to the tense situation between Konoha and the Cloud Village, Hanzo's followers who'd been hiding have become active again. They seem to plan contacting Konoha."
"I understand," Pain stood. "The Land of Rain no longer needs their power. I'll go with Zetsu to eliminate the threat, fully controlling this country as quickly as possible."
Finishing, he turned his head toward Konan. "You've worked hard, Konan."
"It's nothing." Konan shook her head.
"Even so, be mindful of rest." Pain's brows rarely displayed a trace of gentleness.
"I'll be careful." Konan interrupted him. "You're the one who needs rest more. The two newly added Pain bodies consume your body greatly, right?"
"I'll adapt soon."
Konan wanted to say more but ultimately remained silent. She understood Nagato's personality—knew persuasion was useless.
After Pain left, the office returned to quiet.
Konan returned to the desk, picking up another intelligence report Zetsu had delivered. The content involved the current Nine-Tails jinchuriki, Uzumaki Naruto. And also...
Hyuga Kiyonari.
She got her wish, seeing this name in the intelligence.
To avoid alerting the enemy, she hadn't explicitly ordered Zetsu to specifically investigate him. Just because the journal's Kiyonari knew Naruto, she'd hoped investigating Uzumaki Naruto might incidentally investigate him. But Zetsu had discovered Tsunade's newly accepted disciple while investigating her.
Konan set that intelligence aside, sitting back at the desk to continue processing the mountain of documents.
Outside the window, rain pattered. Time quietly passed as pages turned.
Not knowing how long had passed, when the last stack of documents was processed, Konan finally could set down her pen. She couldn't help stretching, standing to move her stiff body.
She glanced at the wall clock—already past ten at night.
"Time to go back."
Returning to her room, she immediately removed the Akatsuki robe and hung it on the rack, then reached toward her chest. Between the bodysuit lining and undergarments, she'd been carrying something all along.
Konan extracted the notebook warmed by body heat from inside her clothes, placing it on her lap and opening it.
She'd read the previous content countless times—could almost recite it.
A speculation occasionally surfaced in her heart: for instance, could this be the future Hyuga Kiyonari using some method to send this notebook to the present?
But time's mysteries—even the Rinnegan couldn't glimpse them. What about just an ordinary Hyuga clan member?
Konan continued flipping pages, surprised to discover new content appearing on pages that had been blank for days.
[During casual conversation once, Hyuga Kiyonari gazed at the already desolate Hidden Rain Village, feeling regretful. He asked me: "Have you ever thought about rebuilding here?"]
[Though casually mentioned, for me it was a rare opportunity. So I hoped he could contact Konoha for assistance, but he refused.]
[He said: "I left Konoha to escape debt. Exposing my whereabouts would be disastrous."]
Seeing this, Konan's lips actually rippled with a faint smile, so light it was barely visible.
Truly worthy of being a Sannin's disciple. Even the skill of owing debt was passed down.
[He spoke of some principles. I don't fully understand them all. But I know reviving the Land of Rain truly has hope now—but not something I alone, or my generation alone, can accomplish. To ensure later generations accurately understand these things, I've decided to record his words verbatim.]
[Hyuga Kiyonari said: "At the current stage, for a nation, population is the most important, most precious resource. With people, land can produce grain. Ore can be refined into steel. The entire nation can continuously develop forward."]
["Great nations are great nations seemingly because they possess vaster land, richer resources, but actually just because they can support more people. Therefore, if the Land of Rain wants to accomplish revival, the current most important task is attracting lost population back."]
[I said: "They say homeland is hard to leave. If not because life became unsustainable, who would willingly leave? Like you said, the current Land of Rain can no longer support more people."]
[He said: "See? The first concrete goal for reviving the Land of Rain has appeared, hasn't it?"]
["The Land of Rain has year-round rain, no sunlight. Developing agriculture probably won't work. But judging from old Hidden Rain Village's structure, the Land of Rain's steel smelting technology is quite advanced. If these smelting industries can restart, people can earn money. With money, they can buy grain."]
[I said: "Years of war already completely paralyzed the Land of Rain's energy systems. Do you think... I haven't considered this?"]
[He said: "Since I dare say this, guess whether I have a solution?"]
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