Give Your Heart for the Land of Rain

Seeing Erika's Loyalty Value rise by another 5, Jingū Kiraku nodded in satisfaction.

Looks like I really do have quite the Overbearing Aura!

At most, with just a tiny bit of help from the system...

Just as Erika was about to leave and carry out Jingū Kiraku's orders, another jonin, Amemura, arrived.

He hurried over, seemingly with something urgent to report.

"What happened?"

Jingū Kiraku instinctively glanced at the system map—

He hadn't noticed anything unusual.

Seeing Jingū Kiraku frown, a faint smile finally appeared on Amemura's stiff, poker-faced expression.

"Lord Jingū, it's good news."

"Oh?"

Jingū Kiraku was intrigued. With Hidden Rain Village in such a leaky state, what good news could there possibly be?

"Food! There's been a bumper harvest!"

The excitement on his face was almost impossible to suppress as he said this.

The problem of food had plagued the Land of Rain for over a hundred years!

Under such circumstances, even the most despicable person would feel reverence before bread.

As for Jingū Kiraku, his first reaction was—

Huh??

Did the system's power take effect that quickly?

Just minutes ago, he had been wondering how the system would manifest "Food Yield +1." He hadn't expected the answer to be revealed so soon.

Seeing the surprise on Jingū Kiraku's face, Amemura had no choice but to explain again.

"This year, all the rice fields around Hidden Rain Village have had a bumper harvest. The stalks that used to stand bare and lonely are now heavy with panicles."

Before he had even finished explaining, Jingū Kiraku had risen from his seat and grabbed Amemura by the arm.

"Take me there, quickly!"

Because of its lack of sunlight, crops struggled to grow in the Land of Rain, but that did not mean they could not grow at all!

They simply grew more slowly, and food yields were extremely low.

However, this year's situation seemed somewhat unusual.

Under weather conditions nearly identical to previous years, Hidden Rain Village had actually received a bumper harvest?

It sounded unbelievable, yet it had truly happened.

By the time Jingū Kiraku, the leader, arrived at the rice fields, quite a few villagers had already gathered there.

"Lord Jingū, that's the largest rice field in the village ahead."

Walking in front, Amemura pointed at the unusually lush green field before them.

He, all the accompanying shinobi, and the surrounding villagers all wore joyful smiles.

For over a hundred years, Hidden Rain Village had never seen such a beautiful sight.

"Damn, it really is."

Under everyone's watchful eyes, Jingū Kiraku walked up to the rice field and bent down to examine the plump rice panicles before him—

He did not pick one. Every person in the Land of Rain should hold food in reverence.

"They really are full."

Jingū Kiraku sighed.

Of course, this fullness was only equivalent to the average level in other countries, but it was enough to send everyone into wild delight.

And judging by their maturity, harvesting could begin in a little over half a month.

That would at least ease the village's food shortage somewhat...

Without question, this allowed Jingū Kiraku to breathe a sigh of relief.

Selling off Hanzo's antiques and treasures should be enough to keep them afloat a while longer.

Just as he straightened up, intending to inspect the other rice fields, a farmer in the distance suddenly dropped to his knees with a smack.

His kneeling seemed to trigger some sort of chain reaction.

The surrounding villagers followed suit and knelt down as well, shouting in a disorderly chorus.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Lord Jingū!"

"Thank you, Lord Jingū, for saving Hidden Rain Village from disaster!"

Huh??

Several question marks immediately appeared over Jingū Kiraku's head as he looked at the people suddenly worshipping him.

Though this bumper harvest really was related to him, how did these people know that?

Jingū Kiraku immediately turned an astonished gaze toward Amemura beside him.

Sensing his leader's gaze, Amemura blanked for a moment before explaining.

"Um, I heard some rumors on the way here."

"These villagers seem to believe that your arrival caused the gods to bestow their blessing."

"Otherwise, there's simply no way to explain why these rice panicles grew so... overnight."

"Full."

Hearing that explanation, Jingū Kiraku's expression became somewhat strange.

No, that works too?

So after I took office, scholars just naturally came out to justify me, huh?

Still, as he watched the Reputation Value on the system panel soar wildly, Jingū Kiraku smiled faintly to himself.

To be honest, this harvest really had depended on his unrelenting efforts, plus the system's insignificant little bit of help...

He deserved these Reputation Values!

Of course, before leaving, Jingū Kiraku cleared his throat and said,

"Everyone, rise."

His voice instantly carried across the entire field.

Everyone fell silent and raised their heads, seemingly eager to hear what their new leader would say.

Not only them—curiosity also appeared on the faces of Amemura and Erika, who stood beside Jingū Kiraku.

Then, under everyone's gaze, Jingū Kiraku finally spoke.

"Everyone, what I want to tell you is that this harvest is not my achievement."

Jingū Kiraku's opening words immediately left everyone looking astonished, especially Erika.

Was there really someone who would willingly give away such praise?

She could not understand it.

Amid those puzzled gazes, Jingū Kiraku spoke again.

"This harvest was created through the shared efforts of every one of us."

"And I am no chosen one of the gods!"

"If there must be a god, then I want to tell you that every one of you is your own god!"

His voice suddenly grew much louder, and his tone carried unimaginable conviction.

"Everyone, the Land of Rain is a country filled with suffering, a Land of Eternal Weeping in people's eyes."

"But I believe that the Land of Rain is a great country, and you, who persist in pursuing hope amid all this suffering, are an even greater people!"

"So everyone, stand up!"

"Let us water this land filled with blood and tears together. Let it grow abundant food from blood, so that our descendants will no longer have to worry about food."

"Let us unite as one and drive out those damned invaders, so that men will no longer bleed and women and children will no longer suffer oppression."

"Let us hang those heartless merchants and nobles from the streetlamps, and grind those bloodsuckers into dust!"

Jingū Kiraku's voice grew impassioned, and a terrifying conviction and courage rose in everyone's hearts.

Then they saw their leader raise his arm high, clench his fist, and place it before his heart.

"Give your hearts for the Land of Rain!"

"The Land of Rain shall prevail!!"

"Give your hearts for the Land of Rain!"

"The Land of Rain shall prevail!"

The thunderous cries shattered the gloom overhead, while the gently swaying rice panicles in the fields bore everyone's hopes and dreams.