Uchiha's personal opinion

Some pots and pans stained with blood rolled out of the sack.

"Why don't you clean up? It's so dirty and disgusting!"

Chitu continued cursing.

The other Iwagakure ninjas who were resting also got up and began preparing to slaughter and cook the sheep, grumbling all the while.

"Hey! Captain, you should be grateful~ We ran so far to find our settlement!"

Another Iwagakure ninja laughed and said, "Luckily we ran into a group of nomadic savages, otherwise we would probably have to go to the county town to find those noble families again."

"Don't keep going to the county town!"

Akatsuchi frowned and scolded, "Ninjas should be separate from worldly affairs; getting too involved is not a good thing!"

"I know, I know……"

The two Iwagakure ninjas who went out to "collect grain" waved their hands dismissively.

These are all old topics that they've heard so many times they're tired of hearing them.

"By the way, where is that Jonin from the Anbu?"

One of the Iwagakure ninjas, who had swiftly and efficiently slaughtered the goat, casually asked a question.

"do not know!"

Akatsuchi felt a little annoyed. "He doesn't eat!"

……

Guided by the secret technique, Ashura detoured from the other side and followed the scent left behind by the two Hidden Stone Ninja.

However, as they got closer to the source, the expressions hidden behind the masks became increasingly grim.

The smell of blood...

An extremely strong smell of blood...

Ashura felt his temples throbbing uncontrollably.

Finally, he saw a scene of horrific tragedy.

In the valley, in an open area that should have been a temporary resting place for mountain herders, lay blood-soaked corpses...

The vultures, hyenas, and wolves scattered across the ground showed no sign of fighting each other, focusing instead on enjoying this "gift from heaven."

Besides the corpses of the mountain people, there were also many carcasses of domesticated animals such as goats, black cattle, and miniature horses lying dead on the ground, and they all appeared to have been shot by ninja tools.

Ashura couldn't help but feel his hands and feet turn cold.

An entire settlement was slaughtered just for two sheep?

Even if it's plunder, why not just take two sheep and the loot they need and leave? Could these extremely poor mountain people possibly pose any threat to the lofty and powerful Yan Yin?

Is this something a human being could do?

Ashura's inner beliefs were deeply shaken.

"It's a ninja!"

Several mountain people, peeking out from among the distant stone forest and holding iron spears, appeared to be spying on the site of the tragedy, and they didn't seem particularly surprised.

However, after one of them noticed the Asura standing on the stone forest, he immediately let out a terrified scream, dropped the iron spear in his hand, and turned to run away.

The villagers who had come with him hoping to get a bargain immediately scattered like birds and beasts, as if they had encountered a demon.

Ashura, who had witnessed everything, stood frozen in place, without making any attempt to find out what was going on.

Even the wild beasts and birds of prey that were "feasting" remained completely unaffected and continued to enjoy their meal.

What exactly did I do?

What kind of people did I actually help?

What kind of people are ninjas?

What exactly do the "justice and destiny" in the Toad Immortal's prophecy represent?

Ashura felt utterly hopeless.

"Fire Release: Great Flame Technique!"

After a long while, Ashura slowly closed his eyes, then spewed out a fierce fireball from his mouth, engulfing the beasts and the remains of the dead in flames.

The fierce chakra flames burned endlessly, and the engulfed beasts and birds of prey let out mournful cries.

In the firelight, Asura's expression shifted between light and shadow.

But inside, he felt only a chill...

Chapter 410 Rain Ninja's Choice

"In accordance with Lord Deguang's great instructions and correct guidance, the United Company Charity Federation plans to increase basic living supplies aid to the Land of Rain, the southern part of the Land of Birds, and the northern part of the Land of Wind in September of the 40th year of Konoha. All supplies must be distributed to individuals and must not pass through the hands of outsiders!"

Kisame Hoshigaki, who was temporarily transferred to the charity by the joint counter-terrorism force, tried his best to force a smile, but against his already ferocious face, he looked more like a vicious person who wanted to devour someone.

The so-called United Company Charity Federation is actually a special intelligence agency jointly created by the United Counter-Terrorism Force, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and the Intelligence Department, and is affiliated with the United Company. The original intention and theoretical basis for the establishment of this agency is the psychological warfare theory proposed by Hyuga Hizashi, the chief of staff of the United Counter-Terrorism Force.

Therefore, when Uchiha Tokumitsu received the special request from the joint anti-terrorism force, his first reaction was surprise: he did not expect that there would be someone in this world who could figure out the essence of non-governmental organizations without a teacher. Although he could not judge whether this approach could play any role in a world dominated by supernatural powers, Uchiha Tokumitsu immediately approved the plan just out of a wicked sense of humor.

Therefore, after being coordinated by the joint company, the newly established charity federation "raised" a batch of supplies to carry out poverty relief activities in the western part of the ninja world.

Kisame Hoshigaki, who had just returned from the Land of Wind, served as the defense commander for this relief operation. Although the United Company's ninja staff carrying the supplies numbered only about 300, Kisame's middle-strength force of over 150 men served as the guards.

In addition, Hyuga Hizashi also commands a squadron of the counter-terrorism force, three special operations groups of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and five action groups of the Intelligence Department, totaling more than 90 people. They will coordinate and communicate from behind the charity team.

In other words, this charity team, which is nominally carrying out relief and poverty alleviation work, has nearly six hundred ninjas!

With a force like that, anyone would be terrified if they let it out!

……

You're saying this is a relief worker?

Even Hanzo of the Salamander, who was on good terms with Uchiha Tokumitsu, was somewhat troubled when he saw the number of people in the charity work team.

"Yes, Lord Hanzo!"

Former Hanzo's confidant, now a loyal retainer of the shogunate, Amada Jonin, said with utmost respect: "Upon learning that our western region had suffered from the annual floods, the United Company Charity Association immediately raised a large amount of supplies to aid our country and improve the basic living conditions of the affected people."

"Hundreds of ninjas..."

Hanzo the Salamander was still somewhat hesitant.

Although the Land of Rain has essentially become a society that is half ninja village and half shogunate, Hanzo of the Salamander still retains some of his pride as a "demigod" and is somewhat arrogant.

But he also knew in his heart that without the help of the United Company or Konoha, the Land of Rain alone would not be able to resolve the damage caused by this flood.

"Let's communicate with the joint venture company and ask them to leave the supplies so we can organize our own manpower to distribute them."

After hesitating for a moment, Hanzo decided to have both.

"This subordinate also mentioned this suggestion to Chief of Staff Hyuga Hizashi, but..."

Jonin Amada hesitated for a moment: "Mr. Hizashi refused..."

"..."

Hanzo the Salamander remained expressionless, silently continuing to peruse the charity's relief plan, his gaze, hidden beneath his gas mask, somewhat unfocused.

Is the Land of Rain still the same Land of Rain it used to be?

Even Hanzo, the salamander, couldn't quite grasp the technique.

If we look solely at the living standards of ordinary people and ninjas, the Land of Rain today is undoubtedly far superior to what it was before the Second Shinobi World War.

At least, as far as Hanzo the Salamander knew, the Land of Rain had not experienced a large-scale famine for several years.

This was not only due to the peaceful external environment obtained by Hanzo the Salamander's "sacrifice and surrender," but more importantly, the growing influence of the Tokuko Shogunate within the Land of Rain and the accompanying investment and expansion in handicrafts.

After receiving substantial investments from the Tokugawa Shogunate and the United Company, large workshops sprang up across the Land of Rain. With its abundant water resources, these workshops, which relied on water power, waterwheels, water-powered forging hammers, and other semi-finished product manufacturing, absorbed a large number of laborers from the Land of Rain, enabling the common people to solve their food and clothing problems through labor.

As a result, with a large number of young and middle-aged laborers joining the workshops, the already extremely fragile agriculture of the Rain Country completely collapsed. Its unique greenhouse cultivation technology was also thoroughly learned by the United Company and spread to other areas with better natural environments. In its place came rice and wheat flour from the Fire Country and meat products from the Grass Country.

Hanzo the Salamander didn't know whether this change was good or bad.

To explain the obvious benefits, ninjas and civilians no longer have to worry about food and clothing. They can earn money through labor and exchange it for what they want. For the civilians who have lived in the "Tearful Country" for generations, this is the best thing that has ever happened since the beginning of time.

But the downside is that the Land of Rain has been subject to the control of others ever since.

Although Hanzo the Salamander didn't understand economic theory, as the leader of a ninja village, he still understood the importance of food for a ninja village and even a country.

Throughout his rise to power, he led his equally hungry Rain Ninja on numerous campaigns to conquer small countries, all in order to plunder enough food to prevent the people of his village and country from starving to death. Therefore, no one understood the importance of food self-sufficiency better than him.

But what can be done about it?

The Shogunate's investment is very important to the Land of Rain. The large workshops built by the United Company also absorb a huge number of workers. If the Land of Rain cannot provide enough labor, then it will inevitably face reduced investment or even relocation of workshops. As for the poor people living in the villages of the Land of Rain who have long suffered from hunger, they do not care about food autonomy. They vote with their feet to enter the workshops and become workers who can eat their fill.

As for forcibly keeping farmers in the countryside... that's something Hanzo the Salamander wouldn't do.

Therefore, he is now facing a dilemma.

Because the floods caused by the torrential rains had destroyed the already fragile roads, a convoy of ordinary people could not pass through. Therefore, if disaster relief was to be carried out, ninjas would need to use sealing scrolls to transport large quantities of supplies. Thus, the entry of large-scale ninja convoys into the country naturally became a rigid requirement.

"...What are your thoughts?"

After a long while, Hanzo the Salamander finally asked in a low voice.

"Your subordinate..."

Jonin Amada hesitated.

But then, he gritted his teeth and spoke his mind: "As long as it benefits the Chinese people, I don't think there's anything wrong with it."

"..."

Hanzo the Salamander remained silent.

After listening intently for a while, and not hearing the leader's reprimand, Yutian mustered her courage again and said, "Of course, I understand what Lord Hanzo means, but for the Land of Rain..."

"So-called autonomy, independence, and dignity are completely unimportant in the face of the reality of being able to live a good life."

Hanzo the Salamander remained silent, simply flipping through the charity's proposal.

"The Land of Rain already has shogunate troops stationed there, so there's absolutely no need to argue about whether to allow ninjas to enter..."