Chapter 286: Shikaku's Shock, Orochimaru Returns to the Akatsuki
"No problem, but if you get the chance, help me pinpoint Sasori's exact location," Haneda said.
Haneda made no effort to stop Orochimaru from leaving. The three types of crops they had already developed would keep him busy for some time.
As for Sasori, Haneda figured that with his cautious and shrewd nature, Sasori wouldn't easily trust Orochimaru.
"Understood." Orochimaru departed with some of the experimental samples in tow.
Watching Orochimaru's retreating figure, Haneda began contemplating how to most efficiently achieve the goals of his first Five-Year Plan.
With the crops already developed, Haneda had the means to mass-produce seeds quickly.
Unlike the hybrid crops of his previous life, these seeds would not degrade with each generation. Orochimaru's work ensured that the plants were purebred—either entirely dominant or recessive in their genetic traits. Unless a mutation occurred, all seeds would maintain the same high-quality yield.
The real challenge lay in distribution: deciding how much to allocate for poverty relief, how much to export for profit, and how to balance these goals without causing problems.
Relief efforts needed to be precise to avoid corruption by opportunistic officials. Exports had to be carefully managed so as not to leave domestic citizens hungry while foreigners thrived.
After much deliberation, Haneda decided to offload this complex problem onto Shikaku. He trusted Shikaku to work with the cabinet to develop a viable plan.
Haneda entered the office and, as expected, found Shikaku diligently working through administrative tasks.
Haneda walked softly, taking care not to disturb him, and only spoke once Shikaku had finished reviewing the document in front of him.
"Shikaku, do you remember the high-yield crop initiative I mentioned last time?"
"Orochimaru has successfully completed the project."
Without looking up, Shikaku replied, "I'll make the necessary arrangements for its implementation. Hokage-sama, please ensure the seeds are ready when the time comes."
Haneda nodded. That was exactly what he had planned to do.
However, noticing that Shikaku hadn't fully grasped the gravity of the situation, Haneda elaborated further:
"Orochimaru has cultivated a hybrid rice with a yield of 800 kilograms per acre. The wheat's yield has also significantly increased..."
Hearing the figure of 800 kilograms per acre, Shikaku finally looked up, shock and doubt evident in his expression.
"Wait, Hokage-sama, did you just say 800 kilograms per acre for the hybrid rice?"
Seeing Haneda's confirming nod, Shikaku couldn't believe his ears and pressed on:
"Hokage-sama, are you sure about this number? Could Orochimaru be deceiving you?"
"A yield like that is double the current standard! If implemented, it could entirely solve our domestic food supply issues!"
Haneda, having heard of even more incredible feats of agricultural science in his previous life, seemed unfazed and responded calmly:
"Yes, 800 kilograms per acre. I personally oversaw Orochimaru's work and even tested the results myself."
Realizing Haneda wasn't joking, Shikaku took several deep breaths to calm himself.
He had initially assumed that Haneda was simply using this initiative as an excuse to offload more paperwork onto him.
But now it was clear Haneda was serious—he really had partnered with Orochimaru to create extraordinarily high-yield crops!
Still, Shikaku remained cautious. In his experience, extraordinary results often came with hidden costs.
He began to suspect that Orochimaru might have sacrificed environmental adaptability in favor of maximizing yield.
Could Orochimaru have tricked Haneda, exploiting his limited expertise in agriculture?
After all, Orochimaru was a former S-rank rogue ninja of Konoha with no reason to help the village out of goodwill.
And as far as Shikaku knew, Haneda didn't have any particularly close relationship with Orochimaru.
Not wanting to voice his doubts too directly, Shikaku hinted instead:
"Hokage-sama, some regions have poor soil conditions, pest problems, heavy rainfall, or extreme cold. Have these factors been considered?"
Haneda cut him off mid-sentence: "I accounted for all of those factors long ago."
"I specifically instructed Orochimaru to address them."
"The hybrid rice isn't just high-yield—it's also pest-resistant. The wheat is similarly high-yield and has the added advantages of drought and cold resistance, making it suitable for even the harsh northern climates where it can achieve two harvests a year."
"Additionally, Orochimaru developed a mushroom variety called ox-leg mushrooms that can thrive in dark, damp regions. These mushrooms contain seven times the protein of beef."
Shikaku was left speechless.
There was no reason for Haneda to lie about something so important. It had to be true.
But Shikaku couldn't help the lingering questions swirling in his mind.
Wasn't Orochimaru one of the legendary Sannin, a ninja renowned for his combat prowess?
Why would someone like that possess such advanced knowledge of agricultural science?
And how did Haneda even know that Orochimaru had such expertise?
None of this added up.
...
Meanwhile, two and a half days later, Orochimaru returned to the Land of Rain.
At this time, in Amegakure, the center of the Rain Village, Tendo Pain sat atop the tongue of the massive Gedo Statue, sensing the chakra signatures of the falling rain.
Behind him, Konan approached.
"Is it Orochimaru?"
Pain stood up, raindrops cascading down his red cloud cloak as he cast a shadow over the village.
"Have Orochimaru and Sasori meet me."
A few minutes later, Orochimaru and Sasori converged in the Akatsuki's base.
Sasori eyed Orochimaru warily.
He could guess that Orochimaru's month-long absence had been spent working with Haneda.
Anyone associated with Haneda gave Sasori a strong sense of danger, prompting him to instinctively maintain a safe distance from Orochimaru.
Noticing Sasori keeping five or six meters away, Orochimaru licked his lips and gave a sinister smile.
"Aren't you curious about what I was doing last month?"
Sasori stopped walking and replied in a deliberately indifferent tone:
"What else could it be but one of your dull experiments?"
Orochimaru's smile widened.
"I collaborated with Haneda, the Hokage of Konoha."
Sasori turned to face him, sensing a chill run down his spine at the sight of Orochimaru's expression.
"You intend to use him to kill me?"
"That depends on your value," Orochimaru replied with a cryptic smile. "I only work with those who have something to offer."
"Let me be clear: Haneda would love nothing more than to kill you. He's asked me to confirm your location."
"Right now, I don't want you dead," Orochimaru said with a sly smile.
Hearing this, Sasori immediately picked up on the veiled threat.
"'Right now' doesn't mean 'never,' does it?" Sasori replied coldly, his eyes gleaming with a dangerous edge. "Orochimaru, are you trying to threaten me?"
Orochimaru maintained his eerie smile, licking his lips with a playful air. "I'm merely reminding you not to let your guard down too much."
"The leader won't turn a blind eye to your actions," Sasori retorted icily. "And I'm not as easy to kill as you might think."
"Of course not," Orochimaru said with a soft chuckle, his golden, serpentine eyes briefly flicking to the shadows where faint traces of lavender-colored eyes could be seen observing them.
He didn't need to say it outright, but the message was clear. Pain, the leader of the Akatsuki, was watching.
This wasn't just a conversation—it was also a subtle performance. Orochimaru was carefully signaling to Pain that he had no intention of betraying the organization.
When the two finally arrived at the meeting location, Tendo Pain sat regally on a high stone chair, exuding an air of godlike authority.
The moment Orochimaru and Sasori entered, Pain's cold, commanding gaze immediately locked onto Orochimaru.
"You disappeared for a month. What were you doing?" Pain asked, his tone calm but carrying an undercurrent of intimidation.
Without hesitation, Orochimaru replied truthfully, "I was fulfilling a request from Haneda, the Hokage of Konoha, assisting him with some research."
Pain's eyes narrowed slightly. Haneda had sought out Orochimaru? A rogue S-rank ninja of Konoha, now cooperating with its Hokage?
For Haneda to seek out Orochimaru, the latter must have possessed something of exceptional value.
"What exactly did Haneda want to research?" Pain asked, his curiosity piqued.
Orochimaru's smile grew wider, but he remained silent, leaving the question hanging in the air.
***
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