Chapter 232: I Can Tell at a Glance That You Are Not
"This is the population summary of Kusano Town, compiled by Sakio and his team."
"This is the income and expenditure report of Reek Village."
"And the treasury barely has any food left."
"The remaining iron ore and ninja tools? Everything worth looting has already been taken."
...
In the familiar meeting hall, the Hyuga clan's top brass sat at a long table, arranged according to their rank.
Despite the lingering scent from the recent renovations, the dignified atmosphere put everyone at ease.
They hadn't gone overboard with construction just because they were now rulers of a nation. The architecture of the inner city faithfully mirrored the original Hyuga clan estate. From Ryosuke's residence to the meeting hall and even the ceremonial temple—it was all rebuilt exactly like their ancestral grounds.
The only real difference was the relentless, never-ending rain.
Seated quietly at the back of the table, Ryosuke watched his clansmen take turns speaking, choosing not to interrupt.
Although he held a high position in the clan, he had no official title—and he preferred it that way. He didn't seek power or responsibilities and voluntarily stayed out of the spotlight.
As Hyuga Souji had mentioned, the situation in the Land of Rain was far worse than they had anticipated.
As a first-time traveler, Ryosuke hadn't noticed much at first. But now, considering long-term life in a country where it rained constantly, a dull heaviness settled in his chest.
Beyond the environmental gloom, the spirit of the people was in complete disarray.
Their abrupt defeat—and the Hyuga's effortless takeover—had left the population disillusioned. Many no longer saw the point in striving at all.
Shops were shutting down, families migrating to other nations.
The fields lay fallow, the mines silent.
Even public services—hospitals, colleges—had been forced to close due to resource shortages.
The Land of Rain had become a hollow shell: rich in resources, yet barren in spirit. A land of hidden treasures, with no one left willing to uncover them.
"Originally," someone said, "economic and political affairs were to be handled by the Saki family and Kusanagi."
"We Hyuga were only responsible for military and cultural matters. We'd conduct regular inspections and receive tribute."
"Cleaning up the country's mess is their responsibility—we're simply waiting for them to finish."
...
Seated at the head of the table, Hyuga Hiashi—the clan head—explained the situation in a calm, measured tone.
Nearby, Ryosuke quietly stroked a cat as he listened.
The Hyuga's approach was similar to the arrangement between the Land of Fire and Konoha. They would manage military affairs exclusively.
However, having witnessed the issues that came from Konoha's passive role in governance, they planned to do things differently.
This time, they'd control not just the military, but culture itself—guiding the beliefs and values of the Land of Rain's people. They wouldn't allow the population to evolve unchecked.
It was reminiscent of the dynamic between a powerful immortal sect and the secular dynasties of legend.
The clan would hold supreme power—absolute control over the military—while leaving day-to-day rule to a royal proxy. That proxy, however, could be replaced at any time.
The sect protects the dynasty, controls it from the shadows, and earns the respect of the world. Yet when chaos erupts, the dynasty takes the fall, not the sect.
It was, from a certain angle, a foolproof business strategy.
The only real risk lay in whether the Saki family was capable of governing effectively...
...
"Master Hyuga, may I ask when we'll be allowed to begin…?"
Less than a week had passed.
Hinata hadn't even finished unpacking the supplies they had brought when Saki Yu visited again.
In a residence that mirrored the Hyuga ancestral home in Konoha, Yu sat stiffly across from Hiashi. His impatience was palpable.
"I've already completed the detailed investigation of each town and village," he said eagerly. "The reports have been submitted to the Hyuga for verification. Should I begin deploying personnel to manage the junior administrative divisions?"
His words came quickly, barely holding back frustration. After coming here once, then again, and again, his patience had frayed.
Hiashi had offered no help and no clear answer, only delays. Meanwhile, the situation outside worsened with each passing day. The resources were there—abundant—but he had no means to harness them.
Across from him, Hiashi remained composed. "Mr. Saki, there's no need to rush. We must fully understand the situation first."
The Hyuga clan had always believed in preparation before action.
Hiashi didn't mind letting the Saki family handle the profit-driven matters, but as clan head, he still needed to test them.
"Mr. Saki, have some tea. It'll soothe your throat."
Ryosuke, seated beside Hiashi, poured a cup with a calm expression. He didn't seem concerned at all—neither by the delay nor the frustration growing across the table.
To outsiders, it might look as if they were watching a prime business opportunity rot right in front of them—and couldn't care less.
"No, you two… even if the Hyuga are wealthy, you can't afford to waste it like this."
Yu let out a bitter laugh.
"Since your arrival, you've asked for nothing. You've simply wandered around the capital and poured all your resources into constructing the inner city."
"No attention to personnel. No appointments made. No plans in motion."
"I funded over a hundred investigations and surveys across various villages myself."
He paused, clenching his fists, face full of exhaustion and disappointment.
"The mines, the pastures, the farmland—everything lies unused. The people grow more hopeless by the day. Carts roll across the border into other countries every morning."
"And I can only sit here, watching this land of treasures slip through our fingers while worrying about you Hyuga!"
"I know your clan isn't blind to opportunity. But if you keep stalling like this, the foundation of this nation will vanish! At this rate, it won't even be a country anymore!"
His voice had risen without him realizing it.
He hadn't even touched his tea. The desperation was real now—Yu had reached his limit.
Although the Saki family had surrendered voluntarily, Hyuga's current attitude and behavior were completely different from what they had shown in the Land of Fire. For a moment, Yu couldn't figure out their intentions.
"Don't be impatient. Wait a little longer."
Hiashi casually poured out the cold tea and replaced it with fresh hot tea. "There are still things I haven't fully understood."
"Is there anything left to figure out? We've already investigated the situation in every town and village," Yu said, confused. "Just give me some manpower and reputation. As I deliver these letters, the mines will reopen, the pastures and fields will be replanted, and the people will find peace as food, clothing, and daily necessities gradually become plentiful."
"Next, we can arrange examinations, establish schools, and select talents to help govern the country—towns and villages alike—just like the Land of Fire."
"With one year as a foundation, we'll stabilize this turbulent land. Then, within three to five years, we'll establish institutions and offices to train the talents needed. In ten years, we'll strengthen our military and rise to the level of a superpower—like the Land of Fire!"
With just a few sentences, he outlined a beautiful dream.
Hiashi was momentarily stunned. "…That's a good idea."
As for managing a country, the Hyuga had never given it much thought. But after hearing what Saki Yu proposed… it really did sound quite simple.
"Of course, it's not that simple."
Hearing the tone in Hiashi's voice, Saki Yu realized he might've gone too far painting the ideal picture. "There are many details to consider—like the examination content, official class structures, taxation…"
In case Hyuga thought he was oversimplifying things and tried to push the Saki family aside, he quickly added challenges that sounded more complex.
This time, Hiashi wasn't surprised.
Those problems were common knowledge among the upper class. It wasn't that the Hyuga clan couldn't solve them—just that they were troublesome.
Human life is limited. If too much time is spent dealing with these tedious matters, the Hyuga would eventually be overtaken by other ninja clans.
That's why they had never considered solving such issues themselves, but...
"Wait a little longer. There are still things that need confirmation."
Ryosuke spoke, echoing his father's words.
"What are you waiting for?" Saki Yu frowned. "Every day you delay, you're losing ground in this deal!"
He couldn't understand why the man remained so stubborn after everything that had been said. What exactly were they waiting for? What major move was brewing?
"There are some matters concerning ninjas that we need to resolve first."
Hiashi paused, then finally revealed a bit of their plan. "To avoid problems down the line, we must eliminate certain people while they're still weak."
"…You mean the Rain Ninjas?" Yu immediately understood. "I think it's better to keep some of the useful ones."
But Hiashi's eyes remained calm, his voice cold. "We Hyuga will handle it as soon as possible—but it will take time."
"Mr. Saki, your job is to wait and help manage this country. What your family deserves won't be withheld, but you must not seize it yourself. And don't reach into areas you're not supposed to touch."
His tone turned stern.
Military and cultural affairs were not for the Saki family to meddle in. Some lines had to be drawn early—separation of powers was non-negotiable.
Faced with that stern tone, Saki Yu's expression stiffened, and his hand froze mid-movement.
Before the tension thickened further, Ryosuke spoke again, shifting the topic to ease the atmosphere.
Though he hadn't participated directly in his clan's plans for the country, he was aware of what mattered.
The trouble wasn't just the remnants of the Hidden Rain Village. A country's downfall couldn't be brought about by brute force alone.
Even now, if the Land of Rain former leaders suddenly pledged loyalty to Hyuga, the people below might still refuse to recognize them as their rightful rulers.
In past lives, empires only collapsed after corruption took root and morale broke.
The Hidden Rain Village—the Land of Rain's previous rulers—had actually governed fairly well. The people hadn't rejected their rule. But due to uncontrollable circumstances, the village suddenly fell, and the country had no choice but to accept new rulers to survive.
So now, among the Rain Country's population, there were still ordinary people, officials, and even Rain Ninjas who remembered their former leaders. Not everyone welcomed the Hyuga.
It was like a divorced family. When orphans and widows struggle to survive, the parents remarry to create a new home. But from the children's perspective, this step-parent—however well-intentioned—can feel like a betrayal.
To the Hyuga and their supporters in the Land of Rain, this new governance was a positive change—a win-win situation.
But to others, it was a bitter pill to swallow.
In this world, there's no such thing as absolute black or white. Every conflict, every development, is born from a difference in perspective.
But the solution isn't to slaughter all surviving Rain Ninjas. Nor is it to execute all the former officials, leaving only helpless civilians behind.
If the Hyuga lack tolerance, how can they ever achieve true development?
Their goal was clear: deal with those Rain Ninjas who remained loyal to the old regime or were associated with the Akatsuki. The Hyuga could tolerate many things—but not a pack of wolves hiding among the sheep.
As for the ordinary Rain Ninjas, or those unaware of Akatsuki's deeper schemes, they could be given another chance.
And that was why the Saki family had been ordered to stand down for now. The foundation still needed to be cleared of potential threats.
Still, Ryosuke wasn't entirely removed from the matter.
"The mustard."
Beneath smooth blond hair, a pair of gentle eyes rested on strikingly elegant features.
The man standing before Ryosuke looked unlike any noble or official he had seen in the Land of Fire. He had an air about him—something hard to explain.
He had killed before.
Ryosuke could tell at a glance. The man had clearly undergone combat training. He had no chakra, yet his physical presence wasn't weak. The calluses on his palms proved he had wielded weapons before—but he didn't carry the air of a samurai.
Now that the Hyuga's inner castle was complete, Ryosuke finally encountered the guest he had been waiting to meet.
"Hyuuga Ryosuke. I've heard your name for a long time. It's not easy to meet you in person."
The blond man smiled and extended his hand.
Ryosuke met his eyes calmly and responded with a question that cut straight through the facade.
"You're not from our world, are you? That name you gave—it's fake, isn't it?"
He didn't hedge his words. No guesswork. His tone was firm and certain.
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