Chapter 65: So What Is the Significance of Establishing This Rule?
Akatsuki claimed it sought peace for the shinobi world, but most of its members carried their own motives.
If someone asked who genuinely desired peace, the answer was obvious. Nagato and Konan, the two who inherited Yahiko's will.
At that moment, Nagato stared at Kenichi and stayed silent for a long time.
He had lived in the Land of Rain for years. He had lost his closest friend there. He had witnessed the poverty of its people up close, and before he ever held power, he had been one of them.
But after killing Hanzo, Nagato discovered an ugly truth. Even with Amegakure in his grasp, there was not much he could do for ordinary civilians.
Develop commerce aggressively? If the Land of Rain suddenly became prosperous, it would be like flaunting treasure in front of thieves. The surrounding great nations would notice immediately.
And if Akatsuki revealed its strength too early, it would only obstruct the final plan.
So Nagato had done little. He improved security. At the very least, people could live without fearing violence every single day. In the Land of Rain, that alone was already remarkable.
"What's your method?" Nagato finally asked, eyes fixed on Kenichi. He wanted to hear what solution this troublemaker had in mind.
"Honestly, what most people want is simple. They want to be full," Kenichi said, taking out the dirt cakes he had bought earlier. "But the people of the Land of Rain clearly are not."
Obito, Zetsu, and Sasori showed no reaction.
In this world, hunger was common. But shinobi were rarely the ones who starved. If anything, shinobi could sometimes become a burden themselves.
Kenichi had once read an analysis claiming that shinobi wars were, in part, a way to reduce excess shinobi and restore balance between productivity and supply.
Nagato did not respond. He only watched Kenichi.
Of course he knew people were not eating enough. But food came from the ground, and the Land of Rain was not a friendly place for farming.
Even if you turned the entire country into fields, it would not solve everything. The constant rain ruined land, flooded soil, and made many areas unsuitable for crops in the first place.
"So my plan is this," Kenichi said, holding the earthen cake up as if it were evidence. "We research crops that increase food production. If yields rise, people will have enough to eat."
This was not pure fantasy.
In Kenichi's previous world, the reason huge populations could live without constant fear of starvation was because grain yields increased.
Nagato's gaze sharpened. "Can you do it?"
His doubt was reasonable. No one in this world had done anything like that. It was a blank field.
"It takes time," Kenichi said with a shrug. "A long time of experiments and cultivation. You do not create higher yield crops overnight. You select, test, repeat, and keep repeating."
The reason Kenichi dared to propose it was simple.
This world had chakra, an absurd advantage that should not exist.
Back in the Land of Waves, he had collected plants and discovered that chakra had a special influence on them. If he could identify a stable, positive effect, he could save years of work.
Obito let out a quiet chuckle. What was the point? What if it led nowhere?
It would be easier to control the entire shinobi world and move straight toward the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Nagato ignored him.
"If you can produce results that prove what you're claiming, we'll discuss it again then," Nagato said.
Kenichi exhaled softly.
Research like this mattered. In his old world, top level yields could reach terrifying numbers. Even average yields were far beyond what most places managed centuries earlier.
In contrast, agriculture in the shinobi world was still primitive. Crop output was low across the board.
If this research succeeded, it would be a revolution for the entire shinobi world.
"Fine," Kenichi said, then immediately added, "but I need time to do research. If I'm collecting funds every day, when exactly am I supposed to work?"
Nagato's face darkened.
He seriously wondered if Kenichi was just trying to slack off.
But then he glanced at the dirt cake Kenichi had tossed onto the table. He remembered the days when he had searched through garbage just to find something edible.
After a moment, he gave a small nod.
"Gyoku," Nagato said, turning to Sasori, "you'll stay with him for now."
Akatsuki usually operated in pairs. It was control, supervision, and balance.
Before, they had lacked manpower. Now they could finally divide people properly.
"Leader Pain," Sasori said, "may I follow Kenichi instead?"
Nagato's face grew even darker.
Here we go again.
Another one saying names inside the organization. Had he not stated clearly that members should address each other by code names?
Forget it.
He was tired.
Kenichi alone already gave him headaches. Now Sasori was joining the chaos too.
"The reason?" Nagato asked, voice flat, as if he were forcing the words out.
"Because I want to exchange ideas about puppetry techniques," Sasori answered directly. "That would be very helpful to me."
"All right," Nagato said at last.
Kenichi gave Nagato a strange look. He could have sworn he heard Nagato sigh.
Obito's shoulders twitched. If he were not maintaining his senior image, he would have laughed out loud.
It was rare to see Nagato get cornered like this.
After sending the irritating Kenichi and the others away, Nagato finally breathed out slowly.
He realized he had been getting more and more exhausted ever since Kenichi joined Akatsuki.
That man was truly annoying.
"Nagato," Konan asked carefully, "what do you think about what he said?"
Compared to Nagato, Konan understood better what kind of life the people of the Land of Rain were living.
Otherwise, dirt cakes would not exist.
"…He and Orochimaru were expelled because they conducted illegal experiments," Nagato said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "So there's a possibility that he really can do it."
If it succeeded, fewer people would starve.
But when that day came, the great nations would simply increase their taxes without restraint.
That was why the shinobi world still needed a revolution.
"I have someone I want to recruit," Nagato said, standing. "But I need to go in person."
Akatsuki needed members who were less troublesome.
Kakuzu was a good choice.
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