Chapter 65: What’s the Point of This Rule?

Chapter 65: What's the Point of This Rule?

The Akatsuki is an organization aimed at achieving peace in the ninja world, though most of its members have their own motives. However, if anyone sincerely hopes for peace, it's undoubtedly Nagato and Konan, who inherited Yahiko's will.

At this moment, Nagato looked at Kenichi, remaining silent for a long time. He had lived in the Land of Rain for a long time and lost his best friend there. He had also witnessed the poverty of its people, having once been one of them himself.

But after killing Hanzō, Nagato found there wasn't much he could do for the ordinary people of the Land of Rain. Should he promote commerce? If this small nation developed its economy too well, it would only attract the unwanted attention of the surrounding major powers. Moreover, revealing the true strength of the Akatsuki could hinder their ultimate plan.

So Nagato had done very little, improving security so that people could live in peace. That alone was already an achievement.

"What's your plan?" Nagato asked Kenichi, wanting to hear his solution.

"Most people only pursue one thing: to have enough to eat. Clearly, the people of the Land of Rain don't have enough food," Kenichi said, pulling out a clay-like cake he had bought earlier.

Tobi, Zetsu, and Sasori showed no reaction. Although many people in this world struggled with hunger, ninja were rarely among them. Even for ninjas—who far surpassed ordinary humans—there were times they could become burdens.

Kenichi had once read an analysis that suggested the wars in the ninja world were intended to reduce the number of excess ninja, restoring balance to productivity and supply-demand relations.

Nagato remained silent, simply watching Kenichi. He, too, knew people were hungry, but the crop yield was limited. Even if the entire Land of Rain were turned into farmland, it wouldn't be enough, and much of the region was unsuitable for agriculture due to excessive rainfall.

"My plan is to research crops that produce higher yields. With better yields, people will have enough to eat," Kenichi revealed his ambitious idea.

This wasn't entirely a pipe dream. In his previous life, much of China's success in ensuring that most people had enough food and clothing came from increasing grain yields.

"But can you do it?" Nagato was skeptical. No one in this world had ever conducted such research; it was a completely unexplored field.

"It would take a long time for experiments and cultivation," Kenichi shrugged. Developing hybrid rice wasn't an overnight process—it required years of trial and selection. However, Kenichi dared to propose this idea because of the existence of chakra in this world, which defied conventional logic.

In his travels through the Land of Waves, Kenichi had collected various plants and discovered that chakra had unique effects on them. However, this required extensive research to pinpoint its positive effects, potentially saving a lot of time.

Tobi couldn't help but chuckle. "What's the point? What if your research leads to nothing? Wouldn't it be better to put the entire ninja world under our control and implement the Infinite Tsukuyomi plan?"

"If you can produce results that prove your point, we'll talk," Nagato said, giving a positive response. Kenichi breathed a sigh of relief. Research on hybrid rice was essential. In his past life, yields of up to 1,200 kilograms per mu (about 0.16 acres) were possible, with average yields around 800 kilograms. By comparison, even the peaceful and prosperous Land of Fire only achieved about 400 kilograms per mu.

Agriculture in this world was still quite underdeveloped, so crop yields were generally low. If his research succeeded, it would revolutionize the entire ninja world.

"Alright, but I'll need time to focus on research. If I'm constantly raising funds, I won't have time to work," Kenichi said, causing Nagato's expression to darken. He wondered if Kenichi was just looking for an excuse to slack off. However, when Nagato saw the clay-like cake on the table, he recalled the times he had scavenged through garbage for food and reluctantly agreed.

"Chōjūrō, you'll stay with him," Nagato decided, planning to pair the new member Sasori with a partner, as Akatsuki teams operated in pairs for mutual oversight. Previously, there hadn't been enough members to do this, but now it was possible.

"Leader Pain, can I team up with Kenichi?" Sasori suddenly asked. Nagato's face darkened further. Another one! Another person calling someone by name instead of their code name! Didn't he make it clear that everyone had to use code names?

Forget it. Nagato gave up on the rule. It was exhausting.

"What's your reason?" Nagato asked, not wanting to speak any further.

"I'd like to discuss puppet techniques with him. It would benefit my research," Sasori replied directly.

"Fine." Kenichi looked at Nagato curiously. Did he just hear Nagato sigh? Nearby, Tobi's shoulders shook as he tried to stifle laughter. If it weren't for maintaining his senior figure persona, he would have burst out laughing. It was rare to see Nagato so flustered.

After Kenichi and the others left, Nagato finally exhaled, realizing that ever since Kenichi joined the Akatsuki, his stress levels had increased significantly. That guy was truly exhausting.

"Nagato, do you think what he said could work?" Konan asked, glancing at her friend. She was more familiar than Nagato with the dire situation in the Land of Rain, where people even resorted to eating mud cakes.

"He was expelled from Orochimaru's ranks for conducting illegal experiments, so it might be possible," Nagato said, rubbing his brow. If Kenichi succeeded, fewer people would go hungry. But if he did, the proud great nations would surely raise taxes as a result.

In the end, the ninja world still needed reform.

"I have someone I'd like to recruit, but I need to go personally," Nagato decided. Akatsuki needed members who were less troublesome, like Kakuzu.

You can probably guess who I'm referring to without needing names.