An Investigation of the Land of Rain

Hanzo's residence.

"Uncle!"

"Godfather!"

Two different voices called out. Hanzo held Yahiko in his arms and asked, "Are you getting used to school?"

"Mhm, my classmates are all really nice!" Yahiko happily nuzzled against Hanzo's chest.

"Uncle, now that you have a son, you don't want me, your nephew, anymore!" Su Zheng's voice, full of jealousy, rang out.

"You rascal, always causing trouble!"

Hanzo placed Yahiko in the inner room. He had prepared many good things. Yahiko, who had a somewhat mature aura, returned to his childhood state. It felt so good to be doted on!

Hanzo really liked Yahiko's robust appearance, so different from Su Zheng when he was little!

"Alright, tell me, what do you need me for?" Hanzo asked directly.

Su Zheng rolled his eyes. Seeing Hanzo's gaze occasionally drift towards the inner room, he understood and said directly, "Uncle, how is the reform in the Land of Rain progressing?"

Mentioning this made Hanzo a bit troubled. He wanted to change the Land of Rain, but his thinking was already fixed. He only focused on ninja and couldn't see the common people at all.

Naturally, he couldn't understand the suffering of ordinary people. This was also the fundamental conflict between the original story and Yahiko and the others.

He felt that it was only natural for the common people to pay taxes when ninja shed blood and sacrificed themselves to protect the Land of Rain!

But he didn't know there was a term called "overmilitarization"! He also didn't understand what a strong nation was for; he just kept fighting in the hope of maintaining peace. However, behind him, the civilians of the Land of Rain were almost drained of their last drop of blood!

This was also the reason why the Land of Rain couldn't develop!

Hanzo sighed and said, "Not well. Most of that money is rewarded to outstanding ninja in wars and those who have sacrificed themselves."

Su Zheng looked at Hanzo seriously and said, "Uncle, I want to take over the reform matters of the Land of Rain."

Hanzo gave him a deep look and asked, "How do you plan to do it?"

Su Zheng presented his prepared statement: "First, we need to maintain local stability. Then, I plan to inspect each village and compile a reconstruction and development plan for the war!"

Hanzo looked at his nephew with some surprise. He hadn't expected him to think so profoundly. It seemed his parents' deaths had a significant impact on him!

After careful consideration, Hanzo said, "I agree with your idea, but you need to have an official position to make it more legitimate!"

"Then let's make it Minister of Development!"

"Alright, you're quite bold, asking for a ministerial position directly. However, I don't have any experience in this area, so you'll have to find people to fill the roles yourself!"

"Then just give me the basic reports from each village."

Hanzo waved his hand, "Amegakure doesn't have these documents. You'll probably have to find officials in the Daimyo's office."

Su Zheng internally complained: So eager to collect money, but not willing to do any actual work!

"Brother, if you're going out to play, take me with you!" Konan grabbed Su Zheng's hand, wanting to go along. Nagato and Haruna also looked at him expectantly.

Su Zheng was amused and quickly explained, "I'm not going out to play. I have a mission to inspect the local development situation and formulate corresponding plans."

"Oh!" Nagato and Konan nodded dejectedly.

Haruna walked over and asked, "Can I go? I've read a lot of books, and it would be very useful if you brought me along!"

"No, the journey is too long, and the environment is harsh. I don't want you to suffer. You stay home, and you can help me brainstorm ideas later!" Su Zheng explained.

"Okay." Haruna no longer insisted.

Konan's eyes showed a flash of wisdom: So Haruna reads books to help brother. What a sinister intention! I must also work hard and strive to be taken along by brother next time!

Su Zheng was unaware that this outing had made Konan think so much. One could only say, don't try to guess a girl's thoughts!

He greeted Shota and Maki, asking them to help look after the house. Ever since Su Zheng's feat of annihilating the Gray Rain Clan, Shota had given up.

He felt he could never keep up with Su Zheng's pace, and lying on the ground was quite nice! His teacher, Maki, was very emotional. The brat from before was already capable of handling things on his own so quickly!

Su Zheng found the Daimyo's office. They assigned him a young official, Endo Akira. From his eyes, Su Zheng saw a pure kind of foolishness!

"A Zheng, why do you want to be an official? Isn't being a ninja better?" Endo Akira asked curiously.

He used to be quite afraid of ninja, but after learning that Su Zheng was younger than him, he felt much closer.

The Daimyo's power had been stripped away, and they were now under Amegakure. However, Hanzo didn't know how to govern, which left these officials in a very awkward position.

Su Zheng said, "The war has already brought too much pain to this country. I want to save the people of this country!"

Endo Akira inwardly scoffed: You ninja only bring war, and you want to save this country? Can you even do it!

He said aloud, "That's great. We have common ideals then!"

Su Zheng didn't expose him and hurried on his way.

Land of Fire, Daimyo's residence.

The Daimyo was playing Shogi with his strategist.

"My Lord, someone from Kobayashi Company has taken a large amount of supplies," the strategist reported.

"Oh! Do you have his information?" a man with a long, lean face and a fan on his head asked casually.

"Uh, no, Kobayashi Taro said he was his partner, and our people haven't seen him."

"He didn't touch our things, did he?" the Daimyo suddenly spoke.

The strategist knew exactly what he was referring to and immediately replied, "No, how would he dare touch the property of the lords!"

"Hmm!" the Daimyo said indifferently. How could someone like him care about such trivial matters?

Zijing Village, the Village Chief's residence.

"Your presence here truly graces my humble abode!"

"Are there any taboos you have, sir, so I can instruct the servants to prepare food and drink!" a man dressed in luxurious clothing, with a prominent beer belly, said warmly.

"No, no, feel free to prepare whatever you like!" Su Zheng waved his hand, indicating there were no taboos.

Ishida Sho arrived in the outer room, where the middle-aged retainer had been waiting for a long time.

The retainer asked in confusion, "Why is the master treating them so well? I don't see anything special about them!"

Ishida Sho stroked his mustache and smiled, "You don't know, that young ninja is the nephew of that Hanzo. Officials from the Daimyo's mansion are now under Hanzo's command. If I befriend his nephew, I can naturally ensure the inheritance of my family's assets. If he's satisfied, perhaps I can even advance further!"

The retainer flattered him, "Master, you are truly brilliant. But do you think someone like him would even notice us?"

Ishida Sho pondered for a moment and said, "This is what we'll do: bring Ayako here. We'll arrange something tonight. How can a young man like him resist the temptation of beauty!"

The middle-aged man said somewhat lewdly, "We don't even need Ayako for that. I've been craving her for a long time!"

Ishida Sho slapped him, "The important matter comes first. At worst, after this is done, I'll allow you to have her!"

Seeing the middle-aged man smile, Ishida Sho cursed with a laugh, "Look at you, go on now!"

"Yes!"

At the banquet.

"Sir, are you satisfied with this feast?" Ishida Sho asked, his face flushed with excitement.

Before Su Zheng could reply, Endo Akira quickly answered, "Satisfied, very satisfied!"

Su Zheng glanced at him. Endo Akira was already drunk. The girl sitting beside him had her clothes half undone, and his hand had already reached into the abyss!

Su Zheng, on the other hand, hadn't touched any alcohol or any of the girls. He was a true gentleman.

He didn't drink to always maintain a clear head, and he didn't touch the girls purely because he wanted to control himself. There was no need to vent his desires here!

Su Zheng turned around and looked at Ishida Sho, saying playfully, "Village Chief, have you forgotten something?"

Ishida Sho was a little confused. He hadn't forgotten anything! Could it be that Su Zheng wanted a woman and was impatient?

He saw that Su Zheng hadn't touched the girl beside him, so it must be that!

Seeing what Ishida Sho was thinking, Su Zheng felt a wave of disgust.

Snap! Su Zheng snapped his fingers, and a mesmerizing voice echoed, "Slap yourself 30 times!"

Ishida Sho's expression became dull, as if he were falling into a vortex, sinking deeper and deeper!

Slap, slap, slap!

The sound of forceful slaps echoed, even startling Endo Akira awake from his drunken stupor.

"A Zheng, what is this?"

Su Zheng ignored him. After Ishida Sho finished slapping himself, his previously plump face was even more swollen, but he still hadn't woken up.

"Tell me yourself, what have you done!"

"I, Ishida Sho, previously relied on the Hizume Clan, claimed all the village's land for myself, and forced the villagers to work for me; I also forcibly took Karin to be my woman..."

In a world without light, flowers can only wither!