Orochimaru’s Magic Lamp

Rain Ninja Village wasn't truly lacking in funds.

As the de facto ruler of the Land of Rain, Nagato had access to considerable wealth.

Sealing the country off didn't mean completely severing ties with the outside world—it was a strategic decision made during the chaotic ninja wars. Thanks to the fearsome reputation of the "Demi-God of the Shinobi," the Land of Rain had actually fared better than its neighboring nations during the conflicts.

In contrast, places like the Land of Grass and the Land of Hot Water were devastated by major powers—becoming primary battlegrounds due to their geography and accessibility.

The relative stability in the Land of Rain allowed ordinary citizens to recover. Life was decent, and there was even enough surplus to export small amounts of rice and grain abroad.

But Nagato never treated tax revenues as his personal assets. Born to a humble family, he deeply empathized with the suffering of common people. So most of the village's funds were funneled into relief efforts and building factories—providing jobs to those struggling the most.

The factories didn't produce anything rare, only the most common ninja item: explosive tags. But they suited Konan's ninjutsu well, enhancing her combat power.

At this point, though, production had far outpaced demand. The market was saturated, but Nagato couldn't simply shut the factories down—too many lives depended on them.

That's why, when Konan mentioned supporting their next steps financially, she was referring to a different source: the personal stash of an S-rank missing-nin.

She knew how that old man—Kakuzu—thought.

He didn't save money for survival, but out of sheer habit. A bounty hunter for decades, hoarding wealth was second nature to him.

Ninjas without purpose often spiral into mental and emotional collapse. For someone like Kakuzu, whose body had long since become something unnatural, a failing will meant death.

That's why he clung to his role. And it's why he'd managed to amass wealth spanning multiple lifetimes.

Konan, who managed the finances of Rain Village, had long set her sights on Kakuzu's hidden coffers. Not to steal, of course—but to borrow. With interest.

That kind of quiet, passive investment aligned perfectly with Kakuzu's sense of value.

When Konan shared this idea, Nagato—still resting on his wooden bed—was speechless for a moment. After a pause, he said:

"You don't need to worry about funding. This mission was Madara's idea—he should shoulder the burden. Besides, this is just a test run."

He had tested his own strength before—annihilating lower-level ninjas was trivial. But the top shinobi of the Five Great Villages were a different story. Revealing his full power would inevitably provoke a united response from them.

That was the reality: no matter how fractured the Great Nations might be, they would never tolerate an individual powerful enough to threaten the status quo.

Even though Akatsuki rivaled the villages in top-tier power, its members were infamous and operated independently. That was the key to avoiding unwanted attention—at least for now.

Konan agreed. 'Madara's' provocation had forced them to shift gears prematurely, and they had to respond carefully.

"Also," Nagato added, "tell him to share whatever intel he has gathered."

Orchestrating war in a foreign land required solid intelligence. And in that area, Madara's network far surpassed anything Rain Village could currently field.

"I'll let him know," Konan replied. Her body dissolved into hundreds of fluttering paper scraps and vanished.

---

Uchiha Clan Grounds — Forest Training Field

Two figures—one tall, one small—stood face to face. A flurry of kunai and shuriken danced between them, the air ringing with clashing steel.

But the weapons didn't fall idly to the ground. Thin wires connected to each ninja's hands redirected them in midair, creating a second and even third wave of attacks.

Uchiha throwing techniques weren't just showmanship—they were an intricate skill refined by Sharingan users. In tight spaces, their enhanced perception even surpassed the Byakugan, allowing for complex maneuvers normal ninjas couldn't imagine.

Of course, Orochimaru considered it all quite flashy. Impressive to watch, sure—but more spectacle than substance.

Still, within the Uchiha clan, these techniques were beloved. Almost every Sharingan wielder honed them to sharpen their visual prowess.

That's why Uchiha Fugaku was so proud. Even though his son hadn't awakened his Sharingan yet, the boy could already keep up with older clan members.

"Lord Orochimaru," Fugaku said, standing outside the field, "the academy sent word two days ago. They want Itachi to graduate early. Said there's nothing more they can teach him."

His tone brimmed with pride. "So—when will you begin Itachi's formal training?"

"No rush," Orochimaru replied calmly. "It's not the right time yet."

He understood Fugaku's excitement. Itachi's talent was exceptional—even in peacetime, his achievements at such a young age were impressive.

But that was exactly why Orochimaru wanted to delay. He didn't want Itachi's potential burned out too early.

With a talent like his, awakening the Sharingan was inevitable—and so was the Mangekyō. But even for a Uchiha, the toll would be heavy.

Now that the ninja world had settled, there was no need to rush. No need to trade childhood for strength.

Orochimaru noticed Fugaku's disappointment.

"In fact," he added, "Itachi's growth is too fast. It needs to be restrained, or it might hinder his development later."

Fugaku looked confused. In the ninja world, no one ever complained about growing too quickly.

But Orochimaru didn't expect him to understand—not yet. Some things couldn't be explained in a few words.

Over the years, especially with the knowledge granted by the "Lamp Spirit," Orochimaru had come to a troubling realization.

Most ninjas grew strongest between ages 10 to 23. After that, growth slowed dramatically—even for him.

But in the other world the Lamp Spirit spoke of, it wasn't like that. There, the prime age for warriors was closer to 30, even 40. Some monsters even got stronger with age.

This puzzled Orochimaru. But when he confirmed that ordinary people in both worlds matured similarly, he had a bold theory:

Perhaps the ninja world stunted its own growth. Ninjas were pushed to develop too early—burning through their potential far faster than they should.

The current belief—that most strength comes early in life—might be the result of a kind of "survivorship bias." They never got to see the ones who grew slower, because those ones died too young.

In the war-torn ninja world, that made sense. If you didn't exchange potential for immediate strength, you didn't survive long enough to see your true limits.

But Itachi was different. He had the luxury of time.

"There's a scroll here," Orochimaru said, producing a small roll of parchment. "It contains a ninjutsu—one that helps stimulate digestion and restore energy. Let Itachi start with that."

He handed the scroll to Fugaku.

A humble beginning. But one that didn't burn too brightly, too soon.

_____________________

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