An Incomplete Solution

To survive, people could not do without food, and food needed the right environment to grow. Look at Wind Country: most of the nation was covered in yellow sand. Look at Earth Country: most of it was rock. Then look at this Land of Rain, gloomy and rainy year-round, without sunlight. How could crops grow? Without soil, how could crops grow? Yet there was one country in this world with a superior environment and pleasant scenery: Fire Country. Why did they get to live in such a comfortable environment while theirs was so harsh?

"I imagine you've always been troubled by this environment too." Watching Hanzo remain silent, Zhou Yang continued, "I noticed that the villagers of Amegakure—no, the people of the entire Land of Rain—mostly ate black bread. It did fill the stomach, and it was cheap, but it could only meet basic needs. Besides, most of that black bread was bought from merchants from other countries. Haven't you noticed the problem?"

"A problem?" At that moment, Hanzo clearly no longer cared whether Zhou Yang was a spy. In his view, someone of this age who understood such things could not have been produced by spy training alone. It required considerable intelligence, sensitivity, and understanding of a nation to reach this point. He knew that what followed might concern the survival of their village, so he waved his hand, ordering everyone nearby to move away. At the same time, he said, "This room—no, this entire residence. Without my permission, no one is allowed near it." After dozens of sounds rang out, the residence fell completely quiet.

Only after silence settled did Hanzo say, "Go on."

Zhou Yang smiled and said casually, "The food you rely on to survive is in someone else's hands. If their higher-ups suddenly issued an order forbidding—"

Before he could finish, Hanzo broke out in a cold sweat. This... this would cut them off at the root! He then looked at Zhou Yang. No, this kid cannot be allowed to live. If word of this gets out, it will be a disaster.

Zhou Yang, who had been sitting on the floor rather relaxed, felt killing intent again. This time, it was different from before. If the last time had merely been meant to frighten him, then this time Hanzo truly intended to act.

"Don't be hasty. Do you really think they don't know about this?"

"What do you mean? They already know?"

"Heh. Compared to your Amegakure, the other countries are not nearly so bleak!" Zhou Yang deliberately used the word "bleak."

Naturally, Hanzo understood what he meant. Compared to other nations, they simply had too few talented people. The whole of Amegakure could only produce someone like him; as for everyone else, he knew their capabilities well. Amegakure's assassination techniques were extremely advanced, so many people came here with commissions. Yet because of that, these shinobi only possessed the ability to assassinate, and their abilities in direct combat were generally weak. But true experts were not so easily assassinated, which was why their country truly lacked high-end combat power. Furthermore, such extreme training did not cover other areas at all, so many people knew nothing about governance—especially with him deliberately suppressing it.

"Then why don't they use such a strategy?"

"Simple. Because they don't dare." Seeing Hanzo's confusion, he explained, "The moment they used this method, they would face a sudden siege from every nation. Even a cornered dog would jump over a wall, let alone people. And they did not possess the strength of the God of Shinobi to suppress everything, so they didn't dare."

Hanzo let out a long breath. "Then aren't all your words just nonsense?" With no threat remaining, the killing intent in his heart naturally faded. He still rather admired the child before him: bold and knowledgeable. He just did not know what Zhou Yang's talent was like.

"So I brought you some news. Compared to countries like Wind Country, Earth Country, and Lightning Country, you possess a uniquely advantageous asset: the sea. The sea contains abundant resources, naturally. The seafood you use is limited to fish, but other marine creatures can also be eaten."

"Like those things you ate?"

"Yes. And because different ocean depths produce different species, you can vigorously develop fisheries. Have fishermen try to catch these seafood products, then sell them to every country. You could even make rare species seem scarce and precious. That way, you could stimulate the development of the entire village, and the people could become prosperous."

When Zhou Yang had watched Naruto in the past, he had noticed that their food was mostly very limited in variety, and almost entirely land-based. Seafood was extremely rare. In his view, the method he proposed was currently the best solution for Amegakure.

"But those countries with coastlines will definitely imitate us."

"Yes. That will depend on how we promote these seafood products."

"Promote?"

"Yes. If the promotion spreads quickly, our reputation will grow higher and reach farther, reaching important figures such as the Kage, the heads of great clans, or the Lords."

"Do we need something from them?" Hanzo instantly understood Zhou Yang's meaning.

"Yes, but our targets are not those fighters. They are the Lords. As Lords, their status within a country goes without saying, and even becoming a Kage required their approval. Though they possessed no combat power, their status was there, and most Kage would give them face. So they are our targets. This seafood will be our stepping stone."

"Then after currying favor with them, what terms should we request?"

At that moment, Zhou Yang suddenly stopped talking and even crossed one leg over the other.

Hanzo thought it made sense. He's already told me so much. Why would he continue without getting something in return? So he asked, "What do you want?"

"Very simple. We want to become your disciples."

"That's all?"

"That's all."

Hanzo showed no expression, but inwardly he was pleased. This kid knows what's good for him. It would be best to make someone like him one of my own. But he had standards for taking disciples. He could not accept just anyone. What if their talent was poor?

So he said, "You can become my disciples, but you must show your strength. I can't accept just anyone."

Then he gave a loud shout. The people keeping watch outside returned after receiving the order. Among them were three children of seven or eight, dressed somewhat similarly to Hanzo, except they lacked shoulder armor.

Seeing those three children, Zhou Yang thought, Could these three be Hanzo's disciples?

Their next actions proved Zhou Yang's guess correct. They swiftly knelt before Hanzo and said, "Teacher!"