Chapter 455: Entertainment in the Shinobi World

To avoid exposing his plans before they were fully in place, Nagato didn’t hastily order the ministers under his control to propose establishing a shinobi village in the Land of Fields.

Instead, he first had members of Akatsuki eliminate the rogue shinobi who were plundering and pillaging throughout the country. This gave their fake identities some heroic reputation.

Then, through the manipulated ministers, he spread tales across Tano Kuni exaggerating their heroic deeds, so exaggerated that the rogue ninjas they defeated were said to rival the Five Kage, and Nagato and company were portrayed as righteous, merciful, and overwhelmingly powerful champions of justice.

Some uninformed people genuinely believed a group of noble heroes had risen in Tano Kuni.

This is the power of propaganda backed by wealth and authority, it instantly created the "heroes" of the Land of Fields.

Next, those same ministers began pushing the narrative that these heroes wanted to found a shinobi village in Tano Kuni. With all the ministers echoing approval, the Daimyō of Tano Kuni eventually agreed.

He was hesitant at first, but seeing that all his officials supported the plan, he assumed it couldn’t be a bad idea. After all, he didn’t know the first thing about governing, he figured that if he tried to rule the country directly, he’d only make it worse.

Though many considered their daimyō incompetent, he wasn’t entirely clueless. He knew that no matter how poor Tano Kuni was, it was still a nation. If it collapsed, everyone in government, including himself, would lose their standing.

Even so, as a daimyō, he could still go live in luxury among his peers in other lands even if his country fell apart.

However, he was very concerned about one thing, money. He asked how much funding Nagato’s group needed. If the price was too high, he’d call it off.

The relationship between daimyō and shinobi villages was simple, money in exchange for military power. That’s how all ninja villages operated in the current era.

Villages also took commissions from outside their own country, many from abroad. War commissions were the most lucrative, usually A-rank or even S-rank.

Smaller countries without powerful ninja of their own often hired shinobi from other nations to defend themselves.

Additionally, a shinobi village was essentially a city and could earn money through other means as well.

In short, the daimyō of Tano Kuni had no grand ambition. He just wanted to live comfortably. If Nagato’s group asked for too much, he’d refuse.

Fortunately, Akatsuki already had its own funding sources, so Nagato simply quoted a modest number. The daimyō accepted it easily.

Since they were setting up a ninja village in his country, even this lazy daimyō asked to meet the rumored powerful shinobi in person.

Nagato agreed and brought along those who would form the future upper echelon of Kōnin Village.

Nagato did not disguise himself. He appeared using Tendō Pain (Yahiko’s body), though not wearing Akatsuki’s iconic red-cloud cloak.

He brought three people,

Konan, who also didn’t disguise herself or wear the Akatsuki cloak.

Sasori, hidden inside his puppet body Hiruko.

Kuyūko, who slightly altered his appearance with a Transformation Jutsu.

The daimyō, upon seeing Pain’s body covered in facial piercings and Hiruko’s bizarre, hunched form, thought these "heroes" looked rather avant-garde.

Still, as a politician, he knew how to talk. With a round, smiling face, he said,

"As expected of such renowned warriors, even your appearances are so... distinctive. Clearly not ordinary shinobi."

His compliment drew no visible response. Pain calmly replied,

"Regardless of reputation, we thank the daimyō for supporting the establishment of our village."

The daimyō chuckled,

"It benefits us too, strengthens Tano Kuni’s military. Yahiko-dono, feel free to make any requests. We’ll do our best to meet them."

Nagato, still impassive, noted the use of "Yahiko", the name he’d provided. He’d chosen it because this village, in its symbolic sense, should be led by Yahiko.

As for being exposed, Nagato wasn’t worried. Yahiko wasn’t a famous name. No one outside Amegakure really knew it.

"May I trouble you, daimyō, to summon the country’s shinobi and encourage them to join our Kōnin Village? Even though we are powerful, a few people can’t sustain a shinobi village alone."

"Recruiting..." the daimyō thought about it and agreed. He couldn’t offer much money, but at least they couldn’t be a village of just four people.

"As for training ninja," Nagato added before the daimyō could respond, "I am quite confident. I believe that together we will make Tano Kuni stronger."

As he spoke, Nagato released a burst of chakra, his aura filling the palace like a thundercloud.

Two hidden ninja protecting the daimyō leapt out instantly, standing in front of him, their expressions tense. They had never felt such power before.

Several elderly officials in the court began sweating profusely. Their expressions toward Pain changed dramatically.

This wasn’t some fraud or illusion, this was the real deal. A monster.

The two ninja guarding the daimyō trembled slightly, but when they thought of their salaries, they refused to move, firmly standing their ground.

The daimyō felt this pressure for the first time, his jowls even trembling.

Nagato, seeing this, retracted his aura quickly. He said flatly,

"Please don’t be alarmed. I merely wanted to prove we are not empty boasts, but true warriors."

The two ninja exhaled in relief but stayed put. With no immediate threat, they now had a great chance to showcase their loyalty. Big rewards were coming.

The daimyō wiped sweat from his forehead and motioned for the ninja to step back. He smiled,

"Yahiko-dono’s strength is unparalleled. With someone like you, our village’s future is secure."

"Rest assured, I will make sure every shinobi in Tano Kuni knows of your justice and power. I’ll encourage them to join."

"Thank you, daimyō," Nagato replied, his face calm and unchanged.

The daimyō stared but couldn’t read anything from his expression. He gave up and simply assumed, "I guess all strong people are weird."

And in a way, he wasn’t wrong.

Of course, Nagato wouldn’t be pleased just because a small country’s daimyō offered support. It was all part of his plan anyway. Even if the daimyō didn’t say a word, the controlled ministers would’ve carried it out.

Perhaps when his entire plan succeeded, when the outcome he sought arrived, maybe then Nagato would smile.

Although Yahiko’s body was just a corpse, the Rinnegan-controlled puppet was different from ordinary puppets. It could display human-like expressions.

But Nagato wasn’t some clown. He wouldn’t make a puppet smile ridiculously.

Whenever he controlled Tendō, his heart felt only one thing, heaviness.

Yahiko was a good man, one who never cursed fate during hardship, but sought to change the world. If he lacked power, he trained. If he had power, he used it to save Amegakure, to stop endless war. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

And yet such a good man... was betrayed by his own nation. Now only his body remained.

How could Nagato feel anything but pain?

The daimyō, shaken by Nagato’s display, wasn’t in the mood for more chatter and quickly ended the meeting. He retreated to find comfort to soothe his shaken heart.

Nagato’s group also left promptly.

If their relationship with the ministers were cooperative, maybe they’d have discussed more. But it wasn’t, this was control, not partnership.

Collaboration would take too long. Nagato no longer had time. He was in a hurry.

Soon, under the joint effort of the daimyō and his ministers, the news of Kōnin Village’s founding spread across Tano Kuni and neighboring nations.

Neighboring Countries Overview

Tano Kuni is in the northern-central part of the shinobi world. Its southern border touches Fire Country, the only Great Nation it borders.

To the east lies Land of Hot Water, formerly home to a ninja village, now weakened, but still famous for its hot springs.

To the northwest is the Land of Frost, richer and better governed than Tano Kuni, though also lacking a ninja village.

Other nearby countries, Land of the Moon, Land of the Waterfall

Further out, Grass Country and Rain Country.

From this geography, it’s clear that Tano Kuni is among the weakest. Every country it borders is stronger.

Even the weakened Hot Water Country still retains shinobi heritage. And Frost Country’s economy and governance far surpass Tano Kuni’s.

Fire Country? It’s practically No.1 among the Five Great Nations. Tano Kuni trying to compare is laughable.

So when surrounding countries heard Tano Kuni was building a ninja village, they scoffed.

Hot Water locals thought, "Really? You? With what power? You can’t even produce one jōnin, and you want to make a whole village?"

Frost’s leaders mocked them, "We didn’t make a village, and we’re better off. You think you can afford it?"

And as for the tales of Nagato’s exploits, defeating bandits and rogue ninja, they considered it nonsense. Overblown fairytales.

Unknown ninja performing minor acts were now supposedly on par with the Five Kage? Ridiculous.

To them, it was as absurd as a third-world country claiming to have independently invented controlled nuclear fusion.

If they actually believed that, they’d be crazy.

Fire Country didn’t even bat an eye. Most of it never heard the news. Maybe the southern border folks joked about it at dinner.

Founding a ninja village isn’t even a big deal. There’s no shinobi HQ issuing regulations. If you have 100 people and guts, you can call yourself a village.

There are countless minor countries in the ninja world. A tiny nation stirring a little doesn’t warrant the attention of a titan like Fire Country.

Unless one of the big nations breaks a recent treaty and starts war, then they’d move.

But judging by experience, peace only lasts as long as Nagasawa is alive.