Things were not going well in the Land of Rain.
The hybrid rice developed in Konoha had set off a revolution in the food industry across the ninja world.
At first, this seemed like a blessing. Higher yields, fuller grains, and the promise of ending hunger — what could possibly be wrong?
But revolutions rarely stop where you want them to.
Too many grain merchants had poured into the Land of Fire, all scrambling to claim a slice of this agricultural miracle. The rush into Konoha's territory drained merchants from surrounding countries, leaving their original trade networks hollow and stagnant.
The ripple effect was brutal. The traditional grain industry in many nations began to wither. Transportation businesses, shipping routes, and storage facilities — all tied to the old market — slowed to a crawl.
The Land of Rain, with its endless downpours, could not grow rice at all. Nearly all its food was imported.
And now… with the grain trade flooding into Konoha, who was left to export food to them?
Within months, the Land of Rain's food prices exploded to terrifying heights. A bowl of rice that once cost a handful of coins now cost a week's wages for a laborer.
And where there's scarcity, there's profit.
Some businessmen saw opportunity in disaster. Rice on the market was deliberately hoarded and rationed, making it even rarer. Every day, prices climbed higher.
The result was inevitable — the Land of Rain's rice market buckled. For the poorest citizens, eating a single hot bowl of rice became a dream.
Street fights over a bag of grain turned into riots. Blood was spilled over handfuls of rice.
In the Land of Rain, it was no longer people eating rice — it was rice eating people.
…
On the rooftop of a tall building, Tendo Pain stood motionless, black cloak patterned with red clouds fluttering in the drizzle. His Rinnegan eyes swept over the gray, wet city.
Below, the streets roiled with chaos — crime, violence, and desperation festering under the endless rain.
"Konan, do you see it?" His voice was calm, yet it cut through the downpour. "This is the disaster brought by Konoha."
Konan stood behind him, silent, paper wings tucked close.
She didn't need him to explain. The food revolution Konoha had triggered was reshaping the agricultural model of the entire continent. But the Land of Rain — already battered by decades of war and fully dependent on imports — was taking the deepest wounds.
Here, the market was too fragile to endure this kind of shock.
"Nagato," Konan finally spoke, "what are you going to do?"
"Konoha needs a trial."
The rippling purple of Pain's eyes reflected nothing — no compassion, no hesitation.
"Only if they suffer as we have suffered will they understand. Only then will they grasp the weight of peace. The world will never value peace until it has felt pain."
"Nagato…" Konan said carefully, "Konoha is strong now. The Fifth Hokage's reforms have made them even stronger. If you act rashly—"
"I know." Pain's voice softened, almost as if he could read her thoughts. "Now is not the time to attack Konoha."
"Then… what are you planning?"
Her eyes narrowed in confusion.
"Experimental fields."
Pain's gaze drifted out over the city.
"Konoha has ten fields in the Land of Fire, growing their new hybrid rice. That's where my eyes turn."
Konan's brow furrowed. She had heard rumors — that these fields were nearly ready for harvest, drawing the attention of merchants from every corner of the ninja world.
"Destroying them, seizing the grain, bringing it back to the Land of Rain — it will show the world the power of god. And it will be Konoha's trial."
The arrogance in his voice matched the certainty in his eyes.
The day of judgment was coming.
…
Northern Land of Fire — No. 3 Hybrid Rice Experimental Field.
Banners fluttered in the warm breeze. A grand ribbon-cutting ceremony was underway. Reporters from the largest TV stations jostled for position, cameras trained on the golden sea of ripened rice swaying under the sun.
"Ladies and gentlemen watching at home! Citizens of the Land of Fire! Feast your eyes — this is history!" one reporter shouted into the microphone.
"Look at those ears of rice! So heavy they bow under their own weight! I swear I've never seen anything like this!"
"Hybrid rice! Born here in Konoha!"
The broadcast streamed into thousands of homes. Children sat on stools beside their parents, wide-eyed. Old farmers leaned closer to their televisions, murmuring in disbelief at the bounty.
…
Uchiha clan compound.
Sasuke perched on Itachi's lap, pointing excitedly at the screen.
"Nii-san! Look! It's Yamato-nii!"
On-screen, Yamato stood proudly at a podium in front of the No. 3 field. As Konoha's Minister of Agriculture — and the Father of Hybrid Rice — he was explaining its advantages to the crowd, his voice firm, his eyes shining with conviction.
Itachi's gaze lingered on the image, unreadable.
"What's wrong, nii-san? Aren't you happy?" Sasuke asked, surprised.
"Of course I am." Itachi said with a faint smile, ruffling his brother's hair.
And he was. Yamato's accomplishment was monumental — something few could achieve in a lifetime. But beneath the pride, a quiet frustration gnawed at him.
They were both disciples of the Fifth Hokage's line… and yet Yamato had surpassed him in ways that mattered to the village.
Itachi's pride refused to accept being left behind so easily.
Before he could dwell on the thought, Sasuke suddenly shouted.
"Nii-san! Look! There's a weirdo flying down from the sky!"
…
Itachi's eyes snapped to the television.
Several black-and-red shapes were descending from the clouds above the golden rice.
His pupils contracted.
"This is—!"
…
No. 3 Field — moments later.
The live broadcast caught the exact moment six figures touched down, their arrival sending a ripple of shock through the gathered crowd.
Yamato broke off mid-sentence, staring at them in surprise.
Six Paths of Pain.
Six bodies, six pairs of Rinnegan eyes, standing side-by-side at the edge of the wheat-like waves.
The security ninja rushed forward. "Who are you? Do you realize this event is being broadcast nationwide—"
He never finished. His feet left the ground, throat constricted by an unseen force. In a blink, he was hurled dozens of meters away, slamming into the earth with a sickening crack.
Screams erupted.
"Run!"
"They're killing people!"
The orderly crowd dissolved into chaos. People shoved and stumbled over one another, desperate to escape. The reporters' hands shook so badly they could barely keep their cameras upright — yet the live feed continued, capturing every moment.
Pain stepped forward, his upper body filling the frame.
His voice carried across the field and into millions of homes.
"We are… Pain."
He paused.
"And the world shall know pain."
*****
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