[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-paradise-of-reincarnation":3,"chapter-paradise-of-reincarnation-paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-988":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Paradise of Reincarnation",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2274846,4446,"Chapter 988: Chapter Three: Interests Between Ninja Villages","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-988",988,"\u003Cp>Dark clouds obscured the sun, and a light rain fell incessantly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Land of Rain, over sixty percent of the days are rainy, making the land extremely damp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mention the Land of Rain, and one immediately thinks of key words: dampness, poverty, war, and strong liquor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The term “strong liquor” seems contradictory to poverty—when even basic food and shelter are scarce, how can they afford to drink? This gives commoners from other nations a poor impression of the Land of Rain’s people, whom they imagine as reeking of alcohol, clad in tattered clothes, and gaunt from hunger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tattered clothing and gauntness do match the appearance of the Land of Rain’s commoners, but their drunkenness is entirely out of necessity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In such an extremely damp environment, failing to drink strong liquor in moderation would make the body unable to endure—rheumatism and other ailments would inevitably find them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Alcohol culture is one cause of the Land of Rain’s poverty, yet it is also one of its people’s economic sources, since strong liquor is a daily necessity; their brewing skills are certainly not poor, and may even rank among the top three in all nations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Producing good liquor alone does not bring wealth—it requires transportation channels. One day, the Land of Rain’s transportation channels opened, opened by the “god” in the hearts of its people; in the outside world, this “god” is known as Pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With trade, the Land of Rain was no longer poor, but recently its external trade was abruptly cut off. Though it reopened shortly after, they were forced to pay a 40 percent tax.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Land of Rain’s merchants naturally refused, yet within just a few days, they all accepted this outrageous condition—and a new transit hub for alcohol exports was added: Konoha.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, the Land of Rain’s alcohol exports can only be sold to Konoha; not only must they pay taxes, but they also endure a low purchase price. With no competition, the price would be squeezed to what extent is obvious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Konoha seizes over fifty percent of the profits from the Land of Rain’s exports. Those affected are not just merchants, but also the Land of Rain’s commoners: if previously one large barrel of liquor could sell for five taels, now it fetches at most about two point one taels—or even less.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Land of Rain’s commoners do not know that the money they are being stripped of is Konoha’s war loot—the spoils of the battle against Nagato.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naruto Uzumaki, who believes he protected everyone, may never realize what the people of the Land of Rain lost behind his “reformation” of Nagato, what Konoha gained, and how vast the interests involved truly are.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naruto Uzumaki became Konoha’s hero because he defended Konoha? Don’t be ridiculous. Konoha had been nearly leveled by Su Xiao and Nagato; Naruto merely succeeded in repelling the invaders. As a genin, his personal status and public background were utterly insufficient to earn him the title of Konoha’s hero.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Konoha once had three heroes: Hashirama Senju, Tobirama Senju, and Minato Namikaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Naruto became a hero primarily because he indirectly helped Konoha seize control of a small nation’s economy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Su Xiao and Nagato attacked Konoha, Konoha had the capability to occupy the Land of Rain—but lacked a legitimate excuse. This was an age of peace; Konoha dared not initiate war. Now the excuse was sufficient: the Land of Rain’s Kage launched a direct attack on Konoha and had ties with the Akatsuki.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The person in charge of the Land of Rain’s affairs was not the Fifth Hokage. The current Fifth Hokage surviving at all is already a miracle; the one handling this matter was Danzo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving aside Danzo’s moral character, his political acumen was undoubtedly strong. He was not Hokage, yet he built a loyal force within Konoha—this alone reveals Danzo’s capability.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under the ruthless exploitation of the cunning Danzo, the Land of Rain’s fortunes could hardly improve—it’s a miracle if they do. Soon, its growing prosperity may once again collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is the aftermath of Su Xiao and Nagato’s assault on Konoha. Su Xiao could not care less about the Rain Village—he had nothing to do with it. As for Nagato, in every sense, his political acumen was average at best, far below his power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Konan was helpless, but powerless to change it. Obito, however, was delighted: the Land of Rain being targeted was effectively drawing fire away from the Akatsuki. He had even considered disbanding the Akatsuki, since its combat strength had dwindled and it had drawn immense hatred.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But upon seeing the current situation, Obito immediately reassembled the Akatsuki. As long as Konoha didn’t fixate on them, there was no need to disband—their infamy was still fame, and if used well, it could greatly aid his plans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the Land of Rain, in a remote small town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was evening. The town’s streets were filled with passersby, all wearing rain capes, dragging their weary bodies after a day’s labor into the countless taverns scattered everywhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside a small tavern, Su Xiao, Bubu Wang, and Am were finishing their dinner. The meal was modest: only grilled fish and wild vegetable soup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Am ate heartily. With his monstrous appetite, this amount of food was far from enough to fill him—it was merely a snack after his main meal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao chewed his food slowly. He had traveled here from central Land of Rain, passing through several small towns. He had been here before; the place had changed little, except for the sudden proliferation of Konoha ninja.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These Konoha ninja claimed they came to support the Land of Rain’s insufficient forces and prevent invasion by other great nations. In truth, they were “gentle” invaders.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Land of Rain borders the Land of Fire directly, and also borders the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth. Once Konoha successfully stationed troops in the Land of Rain and established a war supply point, it would gain a natural advantage whether attacking the Land of Wind or Land of Earth, or defending against their raids.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bordering three great nations is the primary reason the Land of Rain endures constant war. When conflict erupts, it is the best buffer zone—without exception—since its triangular shape separates the three great nations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Konoha has coveted the Land of Rain for years, ever since the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, first desired to station ninja here. But the Land of Rain’s leader at the time, Hanzo, was too formidable. Tobirama Senju and Hiruzen Sarutobi, two Hokage in succession, launched five attacks on the Land of Rain—all were repelled. In these battles, Hanzo bestowed the title “Sannin” upon Jiraiya and others.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Konoha has succeeded—and the credit goes to a genin. Thus, Konoha spared no effort in granting this genin the title of hero, for he had fulfilled the long-held dream of two Hokage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These are Su Xiao’s conjectures based on Hokage history. Whether accurate or not, the number of Konoha ninja in the Land of Rain reveals the truth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Konoha had just endured a great war, yet sent so many ninja to the Land of Rain. Even Konoha elder Tsunade’s deputy, Homura Mitokado, personally took charge here to prevent interference from Sunagakure or Iwagakure. Sunagakure may be an ally, but if the profit is great enough, even allies are unreliable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao now understands the situation in the Rain Village well enough: this place is not safe to stay. If he engages enemies here, Konoha will immediately dispatch a large force to surround him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though all ninja villages appear calm on the surface, hidden currents churn beneath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xiao did not linger long in the Land of Rain. He headed straight east, toward the Land of Fire’s territory, intending to check the Akatsuki’s outpost within the Land of Fire—there, he might find traces of Akatsuki members.\u003C\u002Fp>",1305,"2026-06-19T23:49:56.324Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","628ae3be54174d815e4f99f56665df2439fa5ee6a47d9d90e5e84e7de358afa9","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-989","paradise-of-reincarnation-chapter-987",1000,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fparadise-of-reincarnation-cover.jpg"]