A few days later, the second group of people from the temporary base prepared to depart for the village. This time, there were a significant number of individuals accompanying them. Among them, Hanzo, disguised as a regular villager, was also part of the group, ready to join the main force heading to the Grass Village.
While Hanzo's exact intentions in the Grass Village remained a mystery, as Kakuzu had pointed out, sending just one Hanzo wouldn't pose any significant threat, and he wouldn't be able to cause trouble easily.
Moreover, Kakuzu, along with Uzumaki Yoshinori, would also be stationed in the Grass Village during this time. Despite Hanzo's claims of being motivated solely by money, his actions showed that he could be relied upon when necessary. As long as there were no betrayals from their side, Kakuzu's reputation was still held in high regard.
After giving some stern words to the three young ninjas to complete their summary reports expeditiously, Akihiko's side also got back to their regular duties. Although it was winter and the war between the Rain Village and the Grass Village had momentarily ceased, the vacation period here was over, and everyone had to return to work.
Consequently, the Grass Village's temporary base buzzed with activity once more. After receiving their salaries and enjoying a brief respite, the refugees from the Rain Village had developed a significant level of trust in the Grass Village's promises. As a result, the enthusiasm for work among the people was notably high.
Akihiko was puzzled as he examined the documents handed to him by Aso. "What's the purpose of this?" he inquired, his brow furrowing with confusion. He couldn't help but wonder why the documents from the Rain Village were now in his possession. Did they have some new request or proposal?
Aso seemed prepared for Akihiko's question and replied earnestly, "These documents contain information regarding the distribution of civilian populations in the Land of Rain over the past few years. If Leader Akihiko intends to recruit workers, this information could prove quite useful. It also includes data on the distribution of the major forces in the land of rain and about Hanzo-sama's poison defense."
To prevent ninja from other villages from infiltrating their territory, Hanzo had implemented a poison barrier near the borders of the Land of Rain. Any ninja from foreign villages who entered the area would be afflicted by this poison and incapacitated.
Initially, this barrier had been highly effective, but over time, its effectiveness had waned. Furthermore, in light of peace talks with the five major ninja villages, Hanzo had refrained from adding new poisons to the barrier. As a result, it was no longer a significant obstacle for ninjas from other villages. All the major ninja villages and even the black market had developed countermeasures against it.
As Akihiko examined the map of the Land of Rain on the table, Aso couldn't help but smile faintly. "This is something that Hanzo-sama wished to offer you," he explained.
"Your leader certainly has a broad perspective," Akihiko remarked, somewhat surprised. He continued to scrutinize the map with interest, pondering the potential uses of this information.
In comparison to maps obtained from external sources, this one appeared more detailed and included precise markings indicating the distribution of various forces. It not only contained information regarding ninjas from other villages but also detailed the internal factions causing turmoil within the Land of Rain.
Following the conclusion of the Second Great Ninja War, the Rain Village's ability to effectively monitor the Land of Rain had significantly diminished. Combined with the emergence of ambitious individuals and dissidents unhappy with Hanzo's rule, the Land of Rain was currently plagued by both internal and external conflicts.
A similar situation had transpired in the Land of Grass during its own tumultuous times, but the Grass Village had taken decisive and ruthless measures to restore order. Those who refused to comply were swiftly dealt with, and even certain remaining nobles had met their end. This occurred during the later stages of the Second Ninja War, a period when the five major ninja villages were preoccupied with their preparations for the next conflict and paid little heed to a relatively minor ninja village. Consequently, the Grass Village had been able to discreetly stabilize the Land of Grass.
As Akihiko continued to study the map, Aso sighed with a hint of sadness. "After all these years of war, the population in the Land of Rain has significantly decreased, and many areas are nearly deserted."
Aso directed his gaze earnestly toward Akihiko. "Those who have survived are also enduring immense suffering, grappling with hunger and the bitter cold. If Leader Akihiko..."
However, before Aso could finish his plea, Akihiko interjected with a raised brow and a stern tone. "Stop!"
He pointed outside the window. "Our factory is only so large. Even with the mining and sewer construction work, we can't accommodate so many people."
Akihiko had been wondering why the Rain Village was being so generous, sharing such a precious map and information. Now he understood that they were waiting for him to make this offer. In the current state of chaos within the Land of Rain, he had no interest in getting involved. This time in the Land of Rain, his main objective was to divert attention from the five major ninja villages and continue with his plan to kidnap *ahem* recruit people, and extract resources.
After the war concluded, he planned to return with a group of workers to continue supporting the Land of Grass's development. As for the Land of Rain's yearning for peace, it was theirs to have.
Once the war ended, and with the chaos in the five major ninja villages, the Rain Village could seize the opportunity to implement Nagato's policy from the original future. They could completely blockade the Land of Rain, prohibiting any ninja from entering or leaving in an attempt to achieve peace.
However, this strategy came with its downsides. It would severely impede the Land of Rain's development. Historically, the Rain Village's income was singularly dependent on assassination missions for revenue. Following the blockade, missions had to be taken from external sources.
In the original future, mercenary organizations like the Akatsuki had accepted missions from various nations to earn money, with a portion going to support the Rain Village. But now, the Akatsuki had practically become a laughingstock, leaving few who would support the Land of Rain.
Akihiko leaned back in his chair, pondering for a moment. He knew that the situation in the Land of Rain was dire, but he couldn't afford to divert too many resources from the Land of Grass. The development of his own village was of utmost importance.
"If we expand production and create new opportunities, we can provide more job openings. But for the time being, let's set that aside," Akihiko said, lowering his tone slightly as he observed Aso, whose expression shifted from hopeful to disappointed.
Seeing Aso's disappointment, he continued, "Certainly, the Grass Village and the Rain Village are allies now, akin to brothers."
Aso's spirits were immediately lifted by this statement. "Leader Akihiko, if you have any requests, please don't hesitate to let me know. During this period, the Rain Village is fully committed to cooperating with the Grass Village."
"We can arrange family-based recruitment here, essentially ensuring that one member from each family can work within a smaller region," Akihiko suggested with a wry smile. "We may not be able to provide meals, but they can utilize their earnings from work to purchase the food their families require."
"Is that possible?" Aso was initially taken aback as he asked in amazement, his mind trying to process the unexpected change in Akihiko's stance. However, as his initial shock subsided, excitement and gratitude quickly overtook him. "Thank you, Leader Akihiko!" he exclaimed with enthusiasm.
"However," Akihiko continued, "we will need assistance from the Rain Village to establish accommodations for some of the workers."
"The Rain Village will wholeheartedly support Leader Akihiko's plans!" Aso replied earnestly without hesitation.
"Then, let's give it a try," Akihiko responded, somewhat surprised by the swift and enthusiastic agreement.
Observing Aso's eagerness to make preparations, Akihiko rubbed his chin thoughtfully and inquired with a hint of skepticism, "What is your leader truly planning?"
Aso's expression momentarily stiffened, but he responded earnestly, "Our leader has no hidden agenda. He genuinely seeks a path to peace for the Land of Rain."
As Aso spoke, he noticed Akihiko's persistent curiosity. Remembering something of importance, he quickly added, "Oh, Hanzo-sama asked me to deliver this to you before he departed."
Akihiko was momentarily puzzled as he looked at the letter in Aso's hand. However, he didn't press for more information about Hanzo's intentions.
After all, he believed that an aging Ninja Demigod and a crippled Rain Village couldn't pose a significant threat to the current Grass Ninja Village. Doubtfully, he asked, "A letter? From your leader?"
Aso shook his head and clarified, "No, it's a letter from Konoha. They sent it to the Rain Village."
"From Konoha?" Akihiko accepted the letter from Aso, his curiosity piqued, and proceeded to open it. After reading its contents, he looked at Aso with a perplexed expression.
"You're declining this offer?!" he exclaimed suddenly, and continued, "This is an opportunity from Konoha to assist the Rain Village in negotiations with the three major nations. And you're rejecting it?"
"Since we've chosen to cooperate with Leader Akihiko, we have agreed to reject Konoha's offer directly," Aso affirmed resolutely. "In comparison to the five major ninja villages, we place greater trust in Leader Akihiko."
Akihiko was momentarily touched by the trust they had in him. However, as he contemplated something, he asked, "How do you plan to respond to Konoha's offer?"
"I'll draft a letter to formally decline Konoha's offer," Aso replied, preparing to take his leave. "I apologize for the inconvenience, Leader Akihiko."
As Aso made his way to exit, Akihiko halted him once more, a sly grin forming on his face. "Wait!"
Aso looked back with a puzzled expression, hesitating for a moment before asking, "Leader Akihiko, is there something else?"
Akihiko chuckled and responded, "You see, the other side has good intentions. You can't just reject them outright, it might hurt their feelings."
Aso blinked in confusion and hesitated before providing a clearer explanation, "Leader Akihiko, Konoha offered to collaborate with the Rain Village in attacking the 'Grass Village'."
Akihiko dismissed it casually, saying, "Oh, that's not a big deal. After all, anyone who visits us is considered a guest."
Aso's expression became even more perplexed at Akihiko's unexpected response.
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