https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-726-Leaked-Intelligence-and-the-Arrival-of-the-Mist-Shinobi-/12943602/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-728-The-Unexpected-Appearance-of-the-Lunar-Man-/12943604/
Chapter 727: The Transforming Rain Country!
Chapter 727: The Transforming Rain Country!
The rain poured down from the sky, drizzling and enveloping the Rain Country in perpetual gloom and dampness.
Numerous groups of people, covered in felt blankets and cloaks, and caravans lined up to enter and exit this city of metal pipes.
It was called the Rain Village, but in reality, it was a city.
However, compared to several years ago, the Rain Village had undergone a qualitative leap in both population and scale.
To put it in numbers:
Previously, the population was only a few tens of thousands, but now it had surged to several hundred thousand, no less than the Hidden Leaf Village.
Normally, it would be impossible to compare it to the Hidden Leaf Village.
But the Rain Village wasn't just a simple ninja village; it also served as the 'capital' of the Rain Country.
In other words, the capital of the Rain Country was also the Rain Village, and with the need to make a living, many came here, making the large population not surprising.
And this number only accounted for the residents of the Rain Country; if you included immigrants, it wasn't impossible for the population to exceed that of the Hidden Leaf Village.
The reason for such a significant change was, of course, one thing.
The Black Market!
Whether it was bird droppings from the Bird Country or black oil from the Fire-Wind Border, most of it was traded here.
Both types of goods were large-scale and involved astronomical profits, so it wasn't surprising that the Rain Country had undergone such a significant change.
Using these profits, they purchased vast quantities of food from other places and sold it at reasonable prices, naturally being able to support the large population of the Rain Village.
It could be said that the black market allowed the Rain Country to live more comfortably than in the original storyline, by an unknown multiple.
At the very least, the group of 'orphans' no longer existed.
The Rain Village's orphanages, which were run by the Rain ninjas, had taken in several thousand orphans, almost absorbing all the orphans in the Rain Country.
With money, they could do as they pleased.
The food, clothing, and shelter for several thousand people were a huge challenge for the original Akatsuki in the storyline, as they couldn't support them, but for the current Rain Village, it wasn't the slightest bit difficult.
In the original storyline, Akatsuki was a mercenary organization operating in secret.
To maintain secrecy, they naturally couldn't use their 'ill-gotten gains' to procure large quantities of supplies, or they would easily be exposed, revealing their true nature, even if the Rain ninjas acted as intermediaries for the purchases.
No one was foolish; naturally, they could analyze the approximate income of the Rain Village, and if they could spend large amounts of 'ill-gotten gains,' would they think the nearby Stone and Hidden Leaf ninjas were dead?
Sandwiched between two major countries, the Rain Village's every move was under scrutiny.
But with the black market, spending money to procure these items wouldn't arouse suspicion.
Because the black market was... too profitable!
With this money, improving the environment was not an issue.
Indeed, the 'Angel's' prestige in the Rain Village was at its peak, and the Rain ninjas obeyed their every command.
As for why the black market was set up in the Rain Village, the other major ninja villages knew but didn't react.
It was naturally due to its unique geographical location!
Located between the major ninja villages, it gave the Rain ninjas significant restrictions but also put the major countries at ease.
Combined with their formidable combat strength, the Rain ninjas firmly held onto the black market business.
Large quantities of black oil and bird droppings were traded here and then transported away.
As for how these items appeared, no one bothered to ask.
Two figures, clad in black robes with red cloud patterns, were stopped at the entrance.
"What's your purpose for coming to the Rain Village?" a Rain ninja in a raincoat asked.
"To purchase goods from the black market!" Tang Ping replied casually.
The question was asked merely to provide a trace, so that if something happened, they could quickly locate their target; it wasn't to genuinely discover their purpose for coming.
Due to the black market's nature, the Rain Village couldn't enforce overly strict registration.
After all, those who came to the black market didn't want their identities known, and if the regulations were too strict, they might not come at all.
"Don't cause trouble in the village!" the Rain ninja warned before moving on to the next person.
Meanwhile, several people in the nearby shelter were writing descriptions of them on paper.
At the very least, they wrote down several simple pieces of data, including time, number of people, and so on.
There was more than one entrance, and the directions were not limited to one, indicating the current prosperity of the Rain Village.
This time, Tang Ping and his group came to observe the surgery and the bustling scene, using their identities as 'peripheral members' of Akatsuki.
Like the relationship between Orochimaru and Konan, they too had a similar arrangement.
However, their public identities were as associates of Xiaonan.
Not long after entering the village, a thousand paper cranes flew in front of them.
Evidently, Xiaonan was guiding their path.
Using her unique Paper Illusion, the cranes were unaffected by the rain and flames, ensuring they wouldn't be destroyed upon contact. Thus, the cranes gracefully led the way, flying dexterously before the duo.
Winding through crowded streets and past densely packed buildings, they entered a tunnel-like passageway akin to a cave.
The most crucial aspect of the Rain Village was its flood control system.
Constantly shrouded in rain, without an efficient flood control system, the village would have been submerged long ago.
Hence, the intricate network of metal flood control pipes crisscrossed the entire village.
Without Xiaonan's guidance, they would have undoubtedly gotten lost.
Soon, the paper cranes led them to a beautiful female ninja with a paper flower in her hair and short blue hair.
Xiaonan!
Her appearance seemed cold and ruthless, a stark contrast to her former sweetness.
"Let's go!"
Even though she knew there was no surveillance around, Xiaonan, accustomed to her disguise, maintained this attitude as she turned to lead the way.
Tang Ping and Hyuga Tsukimi exchanged a glance before donning their masks.
This way, not only would their figures be concealed by the long robes, but even their hair, faces, and voices would be disguised, eliminating the risk of being recognized.
In other organizations, such actions might provoke dissatisfaction.
But Akatsuki was a mysterious, small-scale mercenary group, and their secrecy was fundamental. No one would consider this unusual.
Furthermore, their presence alongside Xiaonan indicated that their identities were vouched for by her, a trusted deputy of Pain, the leader. Suspecting them would be tantamount to doubting Pain himself, something no one dared to do.
Everyone knew that Xiaonan was Pain's most trusted subordinate, responsible for managing the organization's affairs, akin to a 'housekeeper' role.
Who would dare question those brought by her?
Soon, after bypassing a large section of pipes, they arrived at a vast underground space.
Approximately the size of a football stadium, this colossal space, several dozen meters high, was illuminated as bright as day by a bright light source above.
In the center were numerous surgical instruments and a busy figure.
Along the walls, about ten meters high, were pipe exits with metal corridor balconies positioned in front of them. Figures stood on these balconies, observing the surgery below.
Their arrival naturally attracted attention.
The yellow-haired Pain with the Byakugan, upon spotting Xiaonan, immediately averted his gaze.
Had it been anyone else, Pain (Chomen) would not have been so lenient, and at the very least, he would have been cautious.
But he made an exception for Xiaonan.
Pain's Rinnegan continued to scrutinize the surgery below.
Beside him was Orochimaru, his eyes gleaming with greed.
He had long coveted the Rinnegan.
Even his decision to join Akatsuki was largely influenced by his desire for these legendary eyes of the Sage of the Six Paths.
Standing by Orochimaru were Sasuke and Konan.
Konan's gaze was fixed on the surgery, while Sasuke's attention was on a figure in the distance, a youth with deep nasolabial folds and premature aging, wearing the Akatsuki uniform.
Uchiha Itachi!
The encounter between the two brothers in such a setting was intriguing, leaving Tang Ping eager to witness the ensuing events.
During the surgery, Tang Ping also sought entertainment, wondering if the younger brother would tear apart his 'Onii-chan'.
Today, Akatsuki had mobilized its entire force, with members scattered across the metal corridor balconies at this height of several dozen meters.
In addition to the previously mentioned individuals, there were also Zetsu, Hidan, Kisame Hoshigaki, Deidara, Dosu, Kakuzu, Sasori, and others. Among them were two unexpected figures that surprised Tang Ping.
One was an elderly man with half of his body wrapped in bandages, a deep 'X' scar on his chin, and a short-haired, sinister aura.
Danzo!
Tang Ping had not anticipated his presence here.
However, this had little to do with Xiaonan, as other members of Akatsuki, aside from her, could also bring people, and it wasn't a deliberate concealment.
The last person, however, left Tang Ping utterly astonished.
To be honest, he had never imagined encountering this individual here. Logically, it was impossible for this person to appear.
(End of Chapter)
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