Chapter 73: The Change in the Land of Rain
"Forget it."
Uchiha Itachi lowered his gaze in defeat.
He was already beyond saving, and he had no desire to continue struggling to live. Dying with regret might not be a bad ending.
"Go to the Land of Rain and see for yourself. Someone there is doing quite well."
Fang Yi saw through his thoughts and spoke up. "Some things, you won't believe until you see them with your own eyes. Maybe it'll change your view on life."
A player with golden potential like Itachi was among the finest lifeforms the ninja world could produce.
If he was willing to sacrifice himself for Konoha, why couldn't he be squeezed dry—or even made into a loyal dog?
If it required spending reward points to make someone do his bidding, Fang Yi wouldn't bother. But if a few nudges could lead someone to drain their own essence for his cause, he was more than willing.
Truth be told,
Uchiha Itachi was beyond redemption, but to those who had brainwashed him, he was an incredibly sharp tool.
Looking across the entire ninja world, not even the so-called "Fated Twins" protagonists could match the sheer plot armor of Itachi Uchiha.
For Sasuke and Naruto to grow stronger, one had to engage in life-or-death schemes with Orochimaru and endure beatdowns from masters; the other had to claw his way up from last place, spamming Rasengan and training nonstop with Jiraiya.
They both had to throw everything on the line to defeat powerful enemies.
But whenever Itachi appeared in a battle, the deadlocks were broken with absurd ease.
Every enemy that encountered Uchiha Itachi faced only one verdict:
Unsolvable.
Imprisoned in the Great Toad's stomach? Amaterasu solves it instantly.
Can't seal Orochimaru? Out comes Totsuka Blade and Yata Mirror.
Edo Tensei causing havoc? Here's a hidden trump card: Kotoamatsukami.
Kabuto, the biggest manipulator of the Fourth War and a pseudo-sage? Izanami ends the fight.
It was like a meta-game scenario: I burst you down, you bring out hard CC, I counter with cleanse and disruption. You switch to control comp—I counter with Gaara, Ino, and Shizune.
In a way, this too was a gift from the world's consciousness.
"The Land of Rain?"
Itachi repeated the words softly.
Wasn't that where the Akatsuki base was located?
He had always carried out Akatsuki's missions with perfection, never making a mistake. But deep down, he detested and rejected everything the Akatsuki stood for.
Greed, bloodshed, the hunt for Tailed Beasts—
this was violence for violence's sake. Akatsuki had become the greatest poison infecting the ninja world.
And now the mysterious game merchant claimed the key to ending war could be found in the Land of Rain?
Strange.
Suddenly, Itachi remembered something odd that had happened recently.
Every time Akatsuki gathered, the member usually by the leader's side—a female ninja codenamed White Tiger—hadn't appeared in a long time.
Normally, if a member died, the leader would make an announcement and forcibly recruit a replacement.
She must still be alive.
Could there be something hidden here?
Thoughts churned in Itachi's mind, but he remained expressionless and nodded calmly. "Understood, Mr. Merchant. If I get the chance, I'll visit the Land of Rain."
"Well then, I wish you both an enjoyable game experience."
Fang Yi smiled gently and waved, dismissing the projections in front of them.
If things went according to plan and Itachi simply died as a Cursed Arts User for Sasuke, it would've been the ideal scenario for Fang Yi.
Itachi, obsessive and mad, believed even after killing his entire clan that he was walking the right path. He faced death with serene acceptance.
But if he followed Fang Yi's lead and saw what Konan had accomplished in the Land of Rain, realized true hope, and understood that his path had been wrong all along—he might break.
He might fall into despair.
He might truly go insane.
But that would be Itachi's choice.
As a game merchant, Fang Yi didn't redeem anyone. He only sought to maximize benefits within the rules and boundaries.
After becoming a player, Konan had participated in numerous events with enthusiasm. Akatsuki's spare funds were channeled into the game. She led a group of minor Rain ninjas and civilians to build infrastructure.
Massive crop yields were followed by aquatic farming and fungal cultivation, leveraging the Land of Rain's unique climate.
Konan even gave up some of her in-game profits to initiate trade with Sunagakure in the real world.
Thanks to the cooperation of civilians and the inherent agility of ninjas, many regions of the Land of Rain saw dramatic changes in a short time.
Two civil unrests, previously on the brink of eruption due to poverty, were silently resolved.
In the past, such unrest would've required Nagato, using Pain's power, to appear and suppress the uprising with overwhelming force.
But hatred-filled eyes and stubborn resistance would always rise again, like weeds after rain—
Never yielding, no matter how many times they were crushed.
Yet this time, Akatsuki did nothing.
And the people began to show goodwill.
They began to open up.
Even Konan herself was amazed at how effortlessly peace had been achieved.
"They're just ordinary citizens dissatisfied with the Land of Rain—just like we once were."
After meeting with the rebels face to face, Konan had a moment of realization.
She and Nagato had become the very thing they once despised—another Hanzo, high above and unreachable.
And they hadn't even noticed.
"Pain doesn't bring peace."
This led to her first major argument with Nagato.
"Don't be ridiculous!"
Nagato, tubes in his body, ribs showing, face like a demon, gasped furiously.
No matter how soft Konan's tone, how sincere her heart, she couldn't reach him.
He wouldn't listen.
An otherworldly game merchant?
A new path to salvation?
Peaceful development?
Letting everyone experience happiness?
Deception.
To him, these were nothing but lies.
Those nobles basked in luxury—hadn't they already enjoyed enough happiness? And yet, they still exploited the weak, humiliated the poor.
They would never repent.
Only by making everyone experience pain—only by letting them taste the despair of war—could that final shred of hope be crushed.
Only then could the world find peace.
"Pain only brings temporary peace."
Konan shook her head. "Time dulls pain. Just like after every Great Ninja War, there's always a short peace. But if we keep this twisted, immature system... war will come again."
Nagato's voice rasped. He roared, "Then I'll keep giving them pain!"
"Is that really peace, then?"
Konan looked at her stubborn friend, unsure of what to do.
All she could do was keep going—
Let him see the change in the Land of Rain.
Let him see the joy on people's faces.
Kirigakure, Administrative Building.
Mei Terumi gently rubbed her temples. She had barely slept in days.
Not only did she have to lead her team through multiple Hell-level runs of [Death Soul Camp] to farm materials for unlocking family tokens—
she also had to deal with mountains of paperwork.
Even with advisors helping, it was endless.
"Mizukage-sama."
Chojuro knelt on one knee and reported, "The Hoshigaki Clan has developed a pill called [Vitality Elixir]. They're willing to sell it to the village at a very low price."
"What does it do?"
"It works like the one sold in the game store—instantly restores chakra with no side effects. Can be consumed repeatedly. It costs twenty reward points per pill in the store, but the Hoshigaki Clan will sell them to us for just ten points."
"Good. Thank the clan head for me."
That was the best news Mei had heard in days. Her sour mood lifted slightly.
There were chakra-restoring items in the ninja world—soldier pills.
But ninjas rarely used them.
Similar to stimulants, soldier pills could boost stamina and chakra quickly but severely taxed the body. The side effects were harsh.
Seeing Mei relax a bit, Chojuro nervously continued his report.
"Mizukage-sama... A player recently obtained a defective version of the family token in a Hell-level [Death Soul Camp] run."
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