Why Pain "Carried Rice" in Konoha

If you had to ask what the greatest feeling was about transmigrating into the Naruto World?

Daren Yi—Daren being his father's surname and Yi his given name—would definitely answer: it was real!

When a vast world, no longer constrained by anime episode counts, production budgets, real-world limitations, and all sorts of other issues, was vividly laid out before your eyes—

The shock and sense of reality were beyond words, something he could never have imagined while watching the anime.

Most obviously, Konoha was far larger than the anime had portrayed. The old district at its center still preserved the architecture and layout from the era when Konoha had first been founded, making it the closest to the original work's depiction.

Beyond the old district stood rows upon rows of skyscrapers. Gasoline-powered cars clogged the streets, internet cafés of every size filled the roads and alleyways, and pedestrians carried mobile phones and smartphones in their hands. Everything spoke of how this city had already become a modern metropolis.

Yes, that was right. With Technological Development and industrial growth, all kinds of technological goods had long entered ordinary homes. Refrigerators, televisions, microwave ovens, washing machines, phones, computers, the internet—everything was available.

Farther out, behind the cover of forests, vast factory districts stretched endlessly, surrounding all of Konoha's urban area in an even larger steel jungle that extended beyond sight.

Konoha had already become the largest, safest, and most prosperous urban cluster in the Land of Fire—and even the entire Shinobi World.

Countless people from all over the Land of Fire competed to come here for work and permanent residence. Like ants, they gathered into an endless sea of people, bustling about as they went to and from work, living and laboring.

During commuting hours, the dense crowds could always pack every broad road inside and outside the village to the brim.

Although smartphones and home computers had become widespread, they were not cheap. The internet cafés scattered across Konoha thus became windows through which children learned about the world, as well as their greatest source of happiness.

Daren Yi, a transmigrator who practically could not live without the internet, was deeply grateful for that.

...Everything was so familiar that whenever he woke from dreams late at night, Daren Yi could not help but wonder,

Had I really transmigrated into the Naruto World? Could this be decades after the original plot? Or perhaps a Parallel World connected by the Dragon Vein?

He often felt that something was off about this Naruto World!

Yet just seven years ago, Konoha had experienced the Nine-Tails' Rampage, and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and his wife, Kushina Uzumaki, had died because of it.

After carefully consulting all kinds of historical materials in Konoha's public library, he had also confirmed that—

Konoha's various historical records were largely similar to those in the original Naruto story. Fundamentally, there was no real difference.

Other than its higher civilian technological level, larger population, and some resulting differences in the scale of wartime troop numbers, there seemed to be no abnormalities at all.

This might have been the best of times. The tremendous growth of productivity and technology had made all kinds of goods and supplies more abundant than ever before.

It seemed there was no longer any need to fight to the death to eliminate surplus population; there were enough resources for everyone to eat their fill and meet everyone's needs.

The permanent peace that countless people in the Shinobi World had yearned for across countless eras, paying countless sacrifices to achieve—

Seemed to be right within reach!

The overwhelming majority of Konoha's residents believed so. Under the protection of the strongest Hokage in history, the Third Hokage, they could live in peace and stability forever.

In the eyes of people who had endured war and turmoil, safety had always been the foremost need!

And Konoha was the safest place. Everyone trusted the Hokage!

Of course, it was not entirely a good thing. Konoha had grown accustomed to using teenage shinobi during the age of war, or perhaps it was due to the short average life expectancy brought on by wartime—

In this world, in this era, even Konoha civilians generally began working at a very young age. Daren Yi himself was an example.

Though he was only thirteen this year, Daren Yi had already been working for two years. His position was that of a fairly well-known toy designer at a toy factory.

All he needed to do was submit a few "self-designed" toys every so often, and he could enjoy a high salary along with a share of the toys' sales profits. His income was quite considerable.

What could be said about this working age?

It was not very scientific, but it was very Naruto!

Under the night sky, after slacking off for another entire day, Daren Yi followed the route home from work and entered a shop that sold prepared foods.

Inside, some people sat drinking and gathering with friends, while others stood waiting for the owner to slice their meat. Most were official residents who possessed residence permits and property within Konoha.

They were directly protected by Konoha's shinobi and officials. Their treatment in every respect was completely different from that of the ordinary Land of Fire citizens who had moved in later. Most of the village's Civilian Ninja were related to them in some way.

Moreover, they especially liked to band together. Even major merchants and factory owners would usually avoid provoking this group.

Daren Yi was one of them in this life as well.

The bustling shop was filled with the fragrance of wine and meat, so tantalizing that it whetted everyone's appetite. Everyone was warm and friendly, laughing as they greeted one another as though they were all family.

"Little Yi, you're thirteen this year, right? Aren't you planning to get engaged or married yet? If you don't start looking soon, it'll be too late. You'll only be able to find an old maid nobody wants."

As Uncle Maeda skillfully sliced and packed Daren Yi's meat, he teased him.

In this world, in this era, neighbors liked marrying their daughters into families of acquaintances whose backgrounds they knew well. Engagements and marriages were usually arranged very early too.

"Actually, marrying a wife from abroad is pretty cost-effective too. Those little girls brought over from the Land of Rain before were all so delicate and pretty!

"If you spend money to marry one home and really aren't satisfied, you can even return or exchange her. It's just a pity that the Land of Rain supposedly has some Akatsuki Organization now. The people in that business say the trade can't continue.

"The Land of Water has been in chaos these past few years, though. So many refugees have been fleeing to our Land of Fire.

"You can pick a pretty, obedient one without too much family baggage, marry her home, change her surname, and once she has children, she'll be one of your own."

A drunken neighboring uncle wrapped an arm around Daren Yi's neck from behind and earnestly introduced the idea in a practiced, especially proud tone.

Holy shit!

What the hell are you saying, Uncle Imagawa?!

Daren Yi fell silent.

If Nagato heard those words beside them right now, wouldn't he have to reward you with a Super Shinra Tensei?

He seemed to understand why Pain had insisted on "carrying rice" in Konoha!

Who wouldn't go mad after hearing that in their shoes?

Really, some pain could never be understood without experiencing it personally, much less empathized with.

At this moment, Konoha's residents clearly could not understand what "true pain" was!

After Uncle Imagawa opened the topic, everyone in the shop began discussing "marrying foreign wives" with a certain proud, self-satisfied air.

Their words could easily make the future Fifth Mizukage, Mei Terumi, lower her head and weep, or make the future god who would crush an entire nation, Six Paths Pain, lose it and go mad!

People enjoying peace and stability would naturally be unable to stop themselves from feeling superior.

Lies did not hurt people. The truth was the sharp blade!

Real damage, every strike a critical hit—it was hard not to lose it!

...The Land of Water? Was this the aftermath of the turmoil caused by Obito controlling the Mizukage?

The giant's casual whim was, even from a great distance, a disastrous aftershock that the weak could not bear with their lives!

Daren Yi pondered absentmindedly.

Uncle Maeda noticed that Daren Yi was not very interested and tried to change the subject. "Little Yi, are you still thinking about Izumi?"

The lively shop suddenly fell silent for a moment. Only Uncle Imagawa, who could not read the room, sighed dramatically and shouted,

"Ah, Izumi was such an adorable little girl when she was young. She was so close with Little Yi, who had always been sensible since childhood. Everyone thought the two of them would definitely end up together.

"What a pity. She's a shinobi now, and a genius girl from the prestigious Uchiha clan. She's different from us common folk."

Daren Yi gave an awkward dry laugh, his words carrying a hint of resentment. "I'm really sorry I didn't get into the ninja academy."

The thick-skinned Uncle Imagawa remained completely oblivious. Patting his chest, he promised, "This uncle of yours will definitely introduce Little Yi to a foreign girl who's pretty, sweet, obedient, sensible, and asks for nothing when she marries over. Exchanges guaranteed if you're not satisfied!"

He even comforted him further. "Marrying a female shinobi may not be a good thing. If she beats you after marriage, you won't even have the ability to defend yourself. You can only take the beating.

"If she cheats and gets killed in a crime of passion, they're skilled at disposing of corpses. Even the Security Force might not find any evidence."

Daren Yi could not help wiping away a cold sweat. If it were Izumi Uchiha, wouldn't she awaken a Mangekyo on the spot upon discovering her husband had cheated?

"Ahaha, it wouldn't come to that, it wouldn't... Uncle Imagawa, you're still so good at telling terrible jokes!"

"Imagawa, stop joking around. And Little Yi, your prepared food is packed."

Uncle Maeda glared at Uncle Imagawa, who never considered the atmosphere when he spoke, telling him to rein himself in.

Taking the packaged meat dishes from Uncle Maeda, Daren Yi, an old customer, skillfully handed over a one-hundred-ryo note.

The currency value in this world was not exactly the same as in the original Naruto story. Prices were somewhat close to those in Daren Yi's previous life, but fluctuated drastically.

Whenever relations between the Five Great Nations became even slightly tense, the currency would depreciate like crazy. Daren Yi had always strongly suspected that some black-hearted bastards were ruthlessly harvesting the masses.

When he returned home, the two-story house with its small courtyard felt rather deserted with only Daren Yi living there.

His father in this life had been a civilian Chunin, while his mother had not even been a shinobi. The couple had both died on the night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage.

That was the same as the Fourth Hokage and his wife. Unfortunately, countless people remembered Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki, but no one remembered these insignificant little people whose lives were as cheap as grass.

In the room, dim even after he turned on the lights, Daren Yi stood silently before the mirror. His black-and-white eyes abruptly turned blood-red, and a pair of Three Tomoe spun soundlessly within them.