I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 454: Focusing solely on your assigned tasks can prevent most trouble.

In a small settlement in the Land of Rain, some lightly dressed civilians were working hard to build houses. It was not yet summer, and with the frequent rain, many civilians were shivering from the cold.

Under such circumstances, any physical activity or exercise would be extremely risky and could easily lead to injury. However, they did not stop building, because it was undoubtedly worthwhile to take the risk of injury in exchange for a safe and secure home.

Besides civilians, there were also some ninjas, most of whom wore headbands from the Land of Rain, and some were ninjas from neighboring countries' ninja villages.

"Big guy, thank you."

A burly man, over two meters tall, emerged from the house. A hunched-over old man was expressing his gratitude. The burly man gave a somewhat embarrassed smile, shook his head, and walked towards another house.

"The fire's lit! Everyone come over and warm yourselves by the fire, and we can boil some water and cook something to eat."

At this moment, in the central open space, a young man with purplish-red hair shouted loudly. In front of him was a bonfire, which was very rare in the rainforest of the Rain Kingdom.

After all, the wood here, whether fresh or dead and fallen, has an extremely high moisture content, making it difficult to use as fuel. But for ninjas, it's just a matter of putting in a little more effort.

However, the warm campfire made people forget this, and they all gathered around the campfire, no longer worrying about the difference between civilians and ninjas, but simply enjoying the rare warmth.

The young man also stepped away from the campfire, making room for the civilians. Seeing that everyone was resting, the big man put down the thick, long, and very heavy log on his shoulder and walked towards the young man.

The young man sat down next to a boy with orange hair and said, "In two more days, this place should be completed. Yahiko, where's the next location?"

"Thank you for your hard work." Yahiko looked at the young man and the burly man who came over, and said, "Old Zi, Han, if it weren't for you, it would have taken us at least twice as long."

Han waved his hand, chose a spot to sit down, and even sitting, he exuded an extremely tall and imposing aura. Looking at the smiling people around the campfire, he said:

"I never knew there were such difficult places in the ninja world."

"This is the predicament of small countries: financial shortages and limited funds that must be used for central construction. Only in this way can they ensure that their territory is not easily invaded. As for the common people, they can only make do with what they have."

Unlike large countries, daimyo and ninja villages have the funds and manpower for emergency disaster relief, as well as sufficient resources to drive the development of the entire country, ensuring that even basic necessities like food and clothing are provided for their citizens.

With a face full of emotion, Yahiko said, "My biggest dream is to ensure that everyone has at least enough to eat and wear. You see, just having enough to eat and wear is enough to bring a happy smile to their faces."

The Land of Rain is a sorrowful country, where heaven seems to have poured out all its tears. As a result, the people here never see the sun or smiles. But I believe that everything will get better.

If the Land of Rain can be filled with happy smiles, then other countries and other peoples also have their own ways to be happy, don't they?

Although this isn't the first time Lao Zi and Han have invited us, nor is it the first time they've been refused, I still want to ask, are you willing to stay and help us?

Upon hearing this, Lao Zi put his hands behind his head and lay down directly on the wet boulder. He activated his usually very simple ability, but the rainwater beneath him did not evaporate. Only then did he realize that he seemed to be unable to use the power of the Tailed Beast.

He sat up again and said, "Yahiko, your dream is great and it touches me deeply, but I am a ninja from Iwagakure, and I will not betray my village."

Perhaps one day, when I'm able to retire from the military and return to my hometown, I too will travel the world, just like you, and do my best to help those I can.

Old Purple is actually underestimating him. He is not only a ninja of Iwagakure, but also the Jinchūriki of the Tailed Beasts of Iwagakure. Perhaps retiring to the countryside is just a beautiful dream for him.

He could be grateful to Yahiko for saving them and choose to stay in the Land of Rain for a while to repay the favor, which he would enjoy. However, Iwagakure would not agree to him staying there for an extended period.

Han nodded and said, "I'm the same as him. Don't forget, ninjas sometimes have fewer paths to choose from than ordinary people."

Yahiko nodded helplessly and said, "I understand. I was too greedy. But having you guys around makes me feel much more at ease."

This was Yahiko's plan. This was the second to last time he had tried to persuade them. As for the final time, it would probably be on the day when Rōshi and Han decided to leave the Land of Rain and return to Iwagakure.

Old Purple looked at the dejected Yahiko and said, "Actually, you know our identities, don't you? The length of time we can stay here is not something we can decide for ourselves."

Our decision not to leave now, or even earlier, is actually a form of escapism, because we've lost something very precious, and we dare not return to the village until we find it.

"Yes, I understand, but I'm a little reluctant to part with it."

Yahiko nodded, and Old Purple stretched and said, "By the way, Yahiko, when you saved us that day, did you encounter our enemy? I still don't understand how he defeated Han and me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Han's gaze fell on Yahiko. Yahiko felt a little flustered. As Jiraiya's disciple, he had heard of the legend of Wood Release and knew that it was a power that the current ninja world could not tolerate.

But the one who possessed this power was Sakamoto Tatsuma, the older brother who had saved them. Therefore, Yahiko tried his best to maintain his composure, shook his head, and said:

"I'm not sure. When I arrived, the two of them were already lying on the ground, and I didn't see anyone else."

"Is that so? It seems the enemy acted too quickly."

Old Zi didn't press him for details, but instead withdrew his gaze. In fact, he could guess that Yahiko probably knew the truth, and he also wanted to know what the truth was.

After all, not only did they defeat both him and Han, but they also defeated the Four-Tails and the Five-Tails, to a degree that the tailed beasts have been unable to recover their power for several months.

When they were conscious, neither Tatsuma the White Demon nor Minato the Yellow Flash showed the strength to do this; otherwise, they wouldn't have had to fight them back then.

But what happened after they fell unconscious? Did a new enemy arrive, or did Tatsuma do something to their bodies, or rather, to the seal, after they fell unconscious?

Only by knowing Konoha's methods can they be prepared for their next battle against Tatsuma or other members of Konoha. Besides the Four-Tails and Five-Tails, who are unable to respond, and the instigator, perhaps only Yahiko and the other two who saved them know the truth.

But no matter what, Yahiko still saved them both. Although Rōshi knew that since Konoha had chosen to let him and Han go, their lives were no longer in danger, and they would have lived regardless of whether Yahiko saved them or not.

To judge a person's good deeds, one should not analyze the results, but rather the actions. It is a fact that Yahiko saved them, and he also provided them with a space to rest, so that they would not be questioned as soon as they returned to the village.

So, since Yahiko refuses to tell the truth, they'll just have to wait. Perhaps when the Four-Tails and Five-Tails regain their power, they can learn the truth from them, or perhaps the village will find out the truth and come to take them away.

When Yahiko saw that Rōshi was no longer asking questions, he felt relieved. Both Rōshi and Han had noticed that Yahiko was just a boy of about ten years old and still too inexperienced. But since he had made up his mind, he shouldn't change course.

Old Purple even went so far as to change the subject, saying, "Yahiko, do you know why the Daimyo and the ninja villages coexist among the Five Great Nations? Even the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, who was so powerful back then, only chose to establish a ninja village, rather than a ninja nation?"

Yahiko shook his head. He hadn't thought about this question. Perhaps he didn't want the war to continue?

Old Purple explained, "It's very simple. Daimyo are more proactive than anyone else in developing their country's economy, and their centuries-old or even millennia-old heritage has allowed their roots to extend throughout the entire country, reaching every corner."

If the daimyo were to be rashly abolished, just as Hanzo did back then, the economic development of the entire country would stagnate or even regress.

Perhaps given enough time, the ninjas could regain control of the nation's economic lifeline and lead the country's development once again, but no organization could survive this transition period.

Even back then, if Hashirama Senju had rashly abolished the title of Daimyo, ninjas from other countries would have swarmed into the Land of Fire to plunder it. They might not have been able to defeat Hashirama Senju, but they could have destroyed the Land of Fire.

This applies to large countries as well as small ones. You can save a hundred or a thousand civilians with your like-minded ninja companions, but you can't save the entire country.

Therefore, you must take a different path, a path at least distinct from that of Hanzang.

Yahiko opened his mouth and asked, "Then what should I do?"

"That's up to you. I'm not from the Land of Rain. My understanding of this place comes from others and what I've seen and heard over the past few months. Only you people from the Land of Rain know how to navigate this country."

Yahiko, feeling somewhat disappointed at not receiving an answer, lowered his head in thought. Rōshi reached out and patted his thin shoulder, saying, "I hope that in the future, we will hear news of you in the ninja world."

"I will definitely do it!"

Yahiko nodded vigorously, looking longingly at the gray horizon. In the heavy rain clouds, two streaks of light, one gold and one silver, streaked across the sky.

"You two seem quite relaxed? The ninja world is in chaos because of you."

(End of this chapter)