"Lady Angel, the Amegakure Delegation petitions on behalf of the people!!!"
"Lady Angel!! Please hear the pleas of the common people!!!"
"Lady Angel!! Please have Lord Pain appear and dispel those rumors!! Otherwise, we simply cannot live in peace!!!"
Outside the fence of Amegakure's Southern District, over a hundred young, able-bodied residents had gathered, shouting at the top of their lungs. To show their resolve, they had gone days without food or water, standing in the pouring rain without even opening umbrellas.
On the ninth floor of the tower.
Konan gazed at the scene, her brows tightly knitted. "Things have been going from bad to worse lately. Merchants have begun going on strike, one after another, and the people have even elected a delegation to pressure us. If we don't make an appearance soon, I'm afraid..."
Had it been one of those pampered Daimyo, he might have waved his little fan and said, "A strike? Excellent! Once these unruly peasants are all starving, they'll fall into line!"
But Naruto, who had served as Hokage, was an insightful, understanding leader!
Chewing Butter Bread as he leafed through the Scroll of Seals, he said calmly, "I think the people are reacting this way because all those years of war left them with a deep-rooted sense of insecurity. Even Hanzō, who was called a demigod, never solved that problem."
"So when Pain suddenly arrived and uprooted Hanzō's forces with overwhelming force, the people of Amegakure saw hope in his strength. The mystery surrounding him only deepened their awe, which was why they worshipped him like a god."
Naruto explained perceptively, "For the people, their livelihoods come first. No matter who leads Amegakure, what they need is a guarantee of safety. Ultimately, only by becoming stronger can I give them that sense of security."