Dropped into Naruto, Breaking the World Apart

Chapter 154: Chapter 16: Armchair Strategist



Getsushoku laid out a map of the Shinobi World in front of Konan and Pain.

He pointed at the location of the Land of Rain with his hand.

"The Land of Rain is sandwiched between the three great nations—Wind, Fire, and Earth. It's always been a key battleground, which is why it has suffered terribly from war."

Pain nodded in agreement. That was the brutal reality.

During the Great Ninja Wars, the major nations never fought on their own soil. Small nations were forced to bear the consequences.

Every time the Land of Rain recovered a bit after war, another would break out and leave it shattered once more. The people here had always lived in poverty.

The major nations didn't even want to annex the Land of Rain. It was a massive mess—harsh environment, broken infrastructure. No one would take it even if it were free!

Getsushoku continued, "But in times of peace, the Land of Rain has a trade advantage that other nations lack. Since it borders the Lands of Wind, Fire, and Earth, it's right at the center. For merchants trading between these three nations, going through the Land of Rain is the shortest route."

As soon as he said this, Konan's eyes widened slightly. It was something she had never considered before.

Most shinobi only ever thought about national development in terms of military strength.

Could trade really boost the economy of the Land of Rain?

The purple ripples in Pain's eyes flickered slightly.

Getsushoku knew more than he had expected!

Konan suddenly furrowed her brow and stared at the map silently, a hint of doubt on her face.

"If you have any questions, go ahead and ask," Getsushoku said.

Konan glanced at Pain. Although she often had many thoughts, she rarely expressed them and simply followed Pain (Nagato).

Pain gave her an encouraging nod, so she spoke up.

"The Land of Rain has always been closed off. How can you ensure that merchants would even want to travel through it? If I were a merchant, I'd choose a safer and more reliable route."

The shinobi world was dark and chaotic. No matter how greedy merchants were, they wouldn't risk their lives just for profit.

It was a valid question—right to the heart of the issue.

To be honest, Getsushoku didn't really know the answer. Every policy, once implemented, could run into unpredictable variables, with results turning out drastically different from expectations.

Those transmigrators who copied Chinese policy into the shinobi world, assuming everyone here was a simpleton, only succeeded because of protagonist plot armor—otherwise, things would never go that smoothly.

Getsushoku didn't know, but he could certainly make something up.

"Build roads. Abolish tariffs." That was the solution he offered.

The Shinobi World didn't have a complete network of highways or railroads—so the Land of Rain could build them.

At the borders and within large nations, there were usually checkpoints for inspections and tax collection. The Land of Rain could waive those taxes entirely.

Konan frowned even deeper. Her gaze toward Getsushoku was filled with skepticism.

"Would that really work? And if it does, won't the other countries just copy the same idea? If the great nations implement identical policies, how could the Land of Rain compete?"

There were no copyright laws in the shinobi world.

The Land of Fire created the first Hidden Village, and the other countries immediately followed suit.Konan was sure: if the Land of Rain's policy could spur economic growth, the others would copy it without hesitation.

Getsushoku smiled lightly.

"No, they won't imitate it. The Land of Rain is a small nation—building a few highways wouldn't require too much investment. Besides, waiving tariffs is something you can decide. Don't forget—the Land of Rain doesn't have a daimyo."

Issues like taxation and the economy were typically handled by the daimyo. The Hidden Villages couldn't interfere, and even if they could, they didn't have the insight to.

The five great nations' daimyos rarely changed their policies. Even though the five great Hidden Villages had been tearing each other apart during the wars, the daimyos, in a way, formed a united front—ordinary people without combat power holding high political office.

Their policies were nearly identical, and they clearly had private communication channels—working together to suppress the shinobi.

To push through a new policy in a major nation would take endless political wrangling.

But the Land of Rain had no daimyo. The village and the nation were one. Pain could issue decrees and have them executed immediately.

By the time the five great nations made their moves, the Land of Rain would already have become the trade hub of the shinobi world.

At the end of the day, it was because the Land of Rain was small and dirt-poor—there was nothing to lose.

The five great nations were too stable. No one would risk rocking the boat with new reforms.

Getsushoku said,

"Once the Land of Rain becomes a transportation hub and merchants gather here, it'll definitely drive economic growth. Just think of all their food, housing, entertainment, gambling—that's a fortune in itself! Give it time, and the Land of Rain will rise! Jajajaja..."

Pain's expression finally shifted slightly.

"We can try it—see if the new policy works."

His gut told him that the Land of Rain would undergo dramatic change with Getsushoku's arrival.

He just didn't know if that change would be for better... or worse.

Getsushoku had no good intentions, but neither Pain nor Konan could see it. They only thought that despite his somewhat ugly face, he seemed to have a good heart.

Speaking of his face, Getsushoku had always been dissatisfied.

Before transmigrating, he had been a drop-dead gorgeous guy!

He never used to care much about appearance—but now that he'd lost his looks, he finally realized how important they were!

It wasn't about the convenience that came with good looks.

It was the emotional value that looks brought!

Ever since he arrived in this world, no one had treated him kindly.

And in turn, he had repaid this world with the worst kind of malice.

If he'd had a good-looking face, he could at least feel a bit better looking in the mirror—instead of brooding like a resentful housewife, always plotting to screw someone over.

Hurting others wasn't the issue.

The real problem was feeling miserable himself.

People who've been abused—it's truly hard for them to stay optimistic in daily life.

A twisted soul doesn't simply go back to "normal."

Time healing all wounds? That's crap.

The wounds are still there. People just get better at enduring them.

Sometimes, Getsushoku genuinely envied Hidan's pure, stupid, carefree outlook.

That guy always seemed so simple and happy.

And now Getsushoku finally understood why Sasuke in the original story cared so much about Naruto.

When you live in darkness, it's only natural to be drawn to someone who shines with light.

Kakuzu came to invite Getsushoku to join him in some good ol' scamming and swindling.

He'd recently set his eyes on a wealthy merchant—or rather, the man's wealth.

He wanted to test whether the tricks Getsushoku had mentioned would actually work.

Getsushoku gladly agreed. He'd been in a foul mood lately.

There was no point in internalizing it—when he felt bad, he made sure someone else felt worse.

Kakuzu, being a non-human entity fused with Earth Grudge Fear, was likely obsessed with money as a way to cling to his remaining humanity.

If his body had already lost its human traits, and his mind followed suit—then he really would be nothing more than a monster.

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Pls Drop some Power Stones

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