Chapter 536: The Path Ahead for the Land of Rain
"I have indeed given careful thought to the problems of the Land of Rain,"
Naruto spoke slowly, his tone steady. "The points you mentioned are all crucial: unfavorable natural conditions, lack of resources, war trauma, a sparse population, and a weak foundation. These problems are all interconnected and indeed very thorny."
He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts, and then continued, "First, we must face reality.
It is unrealistic in the short term for the Land of Rain to rely on fertile land to develop large-scale agriculture like the Land of Fire, or to depend on rich mineral resources like the Land of Earth.
Simply copying the models of other regions would likely result in failure due to unsuitability."
"But,"
Naruto shifted his tone, "problems often also mean opportunities. The key lies in finding a development path that suits it."
"First, the transformation and utilization of natural conditions."
Naruto held up a finger. "Constant rain year-round is a disaster for traditional agriculture, but what about certain specific industries?
For example, mushroom cultivation.
We can also have people develop agricultural technologies suited for rainy climates, turning a disadvantage into a unique feature."
"Second, the recovery of human resources."
Naruto held up a second finger. "Although the population of the Land of Rain has plummeted due to war, the surviving people have forged an unyielding will through their harsh environments.
Furthermore, the Hidden Rain Village possesses many excellent Ninja.
In times of peace, the power of these Ninja can be redirected toward reconstruction and development.
We can implement a policy of recuperation and rehabilitation in the Hidden Rain Village.
Ninja can participate in engineering surveys, hazardous operations, logistics, and transportation, leveraging their unique skills."
"Third, infrastructure first to improve the foundation."
A third finger went up. "This is of paramount importance, and it's also what you just mentioned.
The infrastructure of the Land of Rain is underdeveloped.
Infrastructure investments led by Hidden Leaf Village can be tilted to some extent toward struggling regions like the Land of Rain.
Priority should be given to building sturdy, durable roads and drainage Systems to solve transportation and waterlogging issues; constructing reservoirs and water purification facilities to ensure clean drinking water while attempting to utilize hydroelectric power; and helping to rebuild or repair housing to improve living conditions. This will not only directly create jobs but also greatly improve people's livelihoods, laying a foundation for subsequent development."
"Fourth, seeking new points of economic growth."
Naruto continued, "In addition to agricultural transformation, we can consider developing specialty handicrafts, tourism, or even utilize its relatively secluded geographical location and past history of 'neutrality' to try and develop specific industries or research institutions that require confidentiality and security."
"Fifth, combining external 'blood transfusions' with internal 'blood generation'."
Naruto concluded, "In the Early Stages, the Land of Rain will need a large amount of external aid, including funds, technology, and food. Hidden Leaf Village and other relatively wealthy regions have a responsibility to provide assistance.
But this cannot be permanent.
Our goal is to help the Land of Rain establish an initial 'blood-generating' capacity through early support and infrastructure investment.
This will allow it to gradually rely on its own specialty industries and human resources to integrate into the trade cycle of the entire Ninja World, ultimately achieving self-sustainable development.
Poverty alleviation through mere blood transfusions is unsustainable; only by giving the Land of Rain its own ability to generate blood can it truly prosper and develop."
Naruto looked at Nagato and Konan, his tone sincere. "I know this still sounds fraught with difficulties, requiring a long time, continuous investment, and meticulous planning.
The revival of the Land of Rain is by no means something that can be achieved overnight.
But this is the path I believe we must take.
It is not about abandonment, nor is it about charity. It is about adapting to local conditions, teaching them how to fish, and helping the Land of Rain find its own way to survive and develop."
"As for the war trauma and population issues," Naruto added, "peace itself is the best medicine.
A stable environment, improved lives, and visible hope will slowly heal the scars. It will also attract the exiled population to return, and might even draw people from other regions to move in.
It will take time, but the direction is correct."
Nagato fell silent, his fingers on the armrest of his chair tapping gently and unconsciously.
Naruto's response did not avoid the plight of the Land of Rain. Instead, he proposed a solution that, while massive, seemed to have a traceable path.
This was completely different from the despairing path he once believed in—that "only by letting the world feel the same pain can they understand peace."
This was a constructive approach, focused on concrete problems and the lives of the people.
Konan also looked up. The aloofness in her gaze toward Naruto had lessened, replaced by a complex, scrutinizing look.
She had once deeply believed in Nagato's path and had witnessed the destruction it wrought.
Now, another entirely different path lay before them. Although its future was uncertain, at least... it was attempting to "build" rather than "destroy."
The dining room fell silent once more, save for the faint bustle of Hidden Leaf Village's night filtering in from outside the window.
Karin and Hikari couldn't quite follow the discussion and soon felt a bit dizzy and sleepy, but they could sense the gravity of the topic.
After a long pause, Nagato spoke slowly. His voice was still raspy, but it seemed to hold less doubt and more inquiry. "What about the specific plan? Who will execute it?
How do we ensure that these investments won't be swallowed by corruption?
How do we reconcile the wishes of the local people of the Land of Rain with the contradictions of external planning?"
The questions came one after another, increasingly specific and profound.
This was no longer simple questioning; it was beginning to enter the level of "how to operate."
The two talked for a long time, from the specific plight of the Land of Rain to the similar problems other small nations might face, and then to the potential challenges like cultural conflicts and the distribution of interests that might arise after the unification of the Ninja World.
However, the subsequent conversation remained mostly on a macro level and in the realm of principled discussions, with very little touching upon specific execution details or deep-level institutional designs.
This was not because Naruto was unwilling to go deeper, but because he was clearly aware of his own limitations.
His political acumen and governance experience were indeed not top-tier.
As a liberal arts student in his past life, although he had built a decent foundation of knowledge through rote memorization and had some understanding of concepts in history, geography, and political economics, actually applying these theories to govern a vast and complex world required him to learn and practice much more.
Being able to talk eloquently with Nagato just now and propose that development plan was largely thanks to the vague impressions of concepts like "infrastructure-driven economic growth," "industrial upgrading," and "targeted poverty alleviation" from his past life's memories, combined with a superficial deduction based on the actual situation of the Ninja World.
To truly formulate a detailed, feasible, and comprehensive plan, he would still have to rely on the wisdom of Nara Shikaku and Shikamaru, as well as the professional capabilities of Hidden Leaf Village's administrative team.
Having an external brain is truly awesome!
Naruto lamented in his heart once again.
Look at Akimichi Choza and Inoichi Yamanaka—didn't they also listen to Nara Shikaku most of the time?
If it weren't for the fact that he still needed the title of "Hokage" to gather strength and drive reform, he sometimes really wanted to just dump the Hokage position onto Shikamaru, so he could focus entirely on cultivating and dealing with the Six Paths Sage.
As they chatted, the topic gradually shifted from heavy future planning to relatively lighter subjects, such as recent changes in Hidden Leaf Village and ideas for improving certain Ninjutsu.
Just as the atmosphere seemed to ease, Nagato suddenly gave Konan, who was beside him, an imperceptible look.
Konan stood up, nodded politely to Naruto, Karin, and Hikari, and then quietly exited the dining room.
Uchiha Hikari, who had remained vigilant and hadn't completely let her guard down, tensed slightly the moment Konan left, a sharp glint flashing in her dark eyes.
She hadn't forgotten the past identities of Nagato and Konan. Who knew what tricks they might try to pull by leaving Naruto alone?
Naruto naturally noticed Nagato's signal and Konan's departure as well.
He understood in his heart that Nagato had some things he only wanted to say to him in private.
He cast a reassuring look at Hikari, then waved his hand, saying gently to Karin and Hikari, "Karin, Hikari, you two go out and rest for a bit as well. Nagato and I will chat privately for a few more minutes."
Hikari wanted to say something more, but seeing Naruto's calm and firm gaze, she ultimately pursed her lips, stood up with Karin, left the dining room, and gently closed the door behind them.
Before leaving, Karin cast a somewhat worried glance at Naruto.
Loving Book So Far? Check Out 30+ Advanced Chapters At PA Treon
patreon.com/FictionOP