Chapter 298 Changes in the Rain Country

Payne and Xiaonan walked in the town where they once lived.

They had met here, and here, with the help of Yahiko, they survived until they met Jiraiya.

"A lot has changed here. The streets are cleaner and there are no more homeless children."

Xiaonan held an oil-paper umbrella and looked at the changes around him, sighing.

"Yes. I imitated the welfare home system established by Haneda, took in many orphans, opened some cotton mills, and provided some simple jobs, so that they could learn skills and be self-reliant with dignity."

"Haneda originally wanted to allow them to attend school for free and receive education, but due to the conditions in the Land of Fire, he was unable to meet them. He could only implement the policy in Konoha and then expand it to the entire country."

"I will also follow his path and keep going."

As Payne spoke, a smile appeared on his stiff and cold face.

This smile made Xiaonan unforgettable.

She still clearly remembered that Yahiko's smile used to be like this.

"Yes, under Haneda's guidance, the Rain Country has changed a lot in just half a year."

"Although we have the assistance of the Fire Nation, if we continue along this path, we will eventually reach happiness."

Payne stopped suddenly. There was a bakery on his right.

Once, Yahiko came here with the injured Haneda.

At that time, Akatsuki also had a very capable and idealistic cadre named Hatosuke.

But later on, only Nagato and Konan survived from the original Akatsuki organization.

"The price of a loaf of bread is now fifty taels, which is 90 taels lower than nine years ago and 50 taels lower than last year..."

"Most wages have increased slightly now, and judging by the prices, the living standards of people here are obviously rising."

Payne said this and added,

"The prices in the Hidden Rain Village are lower than here, and the wages are higher."

Xiaonan looked at the price marked on the bread and was distracted for a moment.

If it weren't for Haneda's help, if it weren't for Haneda pointing in the right direction...

Is the Rain Country still that good now?

Nagato tried his best, but it took him seven years to reduce the price of bread to 100 taels.

And Haneda only took half a year!

On the way to transfer Kakuzu's assets, Konan also inquired about the current situation of the Fire Country.

Haneda established reporting telephone offices across the country and used the ninja's mobility to crack down on crime.

With the popularization of high-yield grain, grain production has increased by nearly one-fold.

Compared to the Rain Kingdom, the situation in the Fire Kingdom is only better!

Payne's voice came again.

"Xiao Nan, how is the preparation of the 300 million detonating talismans going?"

"For Yahiko's dream and for the happiness of the Rain Country, we must eliminate Madara for Haneda!"

Xiaonan's thoughts were pulled back to reality, and her expression became calm:

"I have already prepared 170 million. I am also arranging people to purchase it secretly, and I am also making it myself."

"The funding behind this is a problem. It will take at least five years to raise 300 million detonating talismans."

Pein asked in confusion, "Kakuzu doesn't have enough money?"

Xiaonan nodded and said with some helplessness:

“No matter how many tasks you complete, it is still not as much as a company’s annual revenue.”

"Kakuzu hasn't worked hard enough in the past few decades. He's wasted too much time doing low-level bounties."

Payne was thoughtful. When he was following Haneda's strategy, he had already realized that the ninjas were the exploited party.

No matter what kind of task it is, the one who gets the most benefit is always the person who issues the task.

Moreover, the work of a ninja is not stable, which is similar to the saying mentioned by Haneda:

Not open for three years, open for three years.

Even Kakuzu, who worked diligently in the underground gold exchange, only managed to raise a few billion funds over several decades.

It’s still not enough to buy 100 million detonating talismans.

Pein stopped talking about the detonating talisman and asked about Scorpion and Deidara:

"Has Deidara, the half-student of Haneda, parted ways with Sasori now?"

"You can go pick up Scorpion on the way. He is not Madara's man and is very important to our plan."

Konan nodded and said, "Scorpion is not in danger of life for the time being. Deidara and Scorpion get along very well. Deidara even calls Scorpion Master."

"It's a bit like the relationship between seniors and juniors."

As expected, Pein said, "Both of them like to discuss art. It seems that Madara had expected this."

"Let's go."

…………

In the autumn of the 56th year of Konoha, after Deidara blew up the tunnel and completed the train track, he returned to Konoha.

At the third training ground, a large white clay bird landed.

Deidara jumped off the big bird. He looked at Haneda who released the Dust Release and said in surprise:

"Brother Haneda has also learned the old man's Earth Dust Release? Hmm!"

Haneda turned around and said, "Long time no see, Xiaodi, has the Flying Thunder God Mark been planted?"

Deidara scratched his head awkwardly: "I forgot."

"Ahem...Brother Haneda, Master Scorpion is actually not a bad person."

"Although his eternal art is a bit strange, always obsessed with dancing on your grave, Brother Haneda."

"But he's still a pretty good guy, huh!"

Haneda looked at Deidara with a dark face, wondering if this guy would betray him again?

However, he had other plans, and Haneda had already made arrangements with Orochimaru.

It’s just that Xiaodi is actually dating Scorpion, and he finds it a little hard to accept.

The child that I raised with great effort turned out to be nice to my enemy.

Haneda also experienced Ōnoki's pain, although Ōnoki did not see Deidara's betrayal...

"Forget it, go back and rest first, Xiaodi. If you get bored, you can go to the mine next to Konoha to practice your art."

Facing Deidara, who had followed him for some time, Haneda couldn't say anything to blame him.

But he silently decided to keep Xiaodi away from Akatsuki, especially Scorpion.

"Kana~Brother Haneda! If you ever plan to attack Master Scorpion, remember to take me with you!"

"I will let him blossom under the art of evanescence and send him off for the last time, huh!"

Xiao Di still has some conscience... Haneda thought secretly as he looked at Deidara's back.

After Deidara left, Kakashi teleported over using the Thunder God.

He noticed the big white clay bird flying in the sky and asked with a smile:

"Xiao Di came back quite early. I originally thought he would go out and play for a few months before coming back."

Haneda said: "You think he is as idle as you are."

Hearing this, Kakashi glanced at Haneda speechlessly. He was too lazy to argue with Haneda, so he got down to business:

"The study and labor education practice class you are going to organize this year is coming, and Naruto really hopes that you can accompany him."

"Naruto looked for you?"

Kakashi nodded:

"Well, you've been looking through the records of the Hyuga clan lately. I know you're looking for something, but you've been neglecting Naruto a lot these days."

Haneda was silent for a while and said, "Maybe. I don't have any clues about Yin Yang Escape, so I can only find another way."

"I really overlooked a lot of things about Naruto."

"I will participate in this event. Of course, this is also the job of the Hokage. I need to set an example."

Kakashi said: "Actually, you can just leave some things to me, Haneda..."

Haneda waved his hand and interrupted, "This is very dangerous, only I can do it!"

After saying this, he noticed the disappointment in Kakashi's eyes and comforted him:

"Okay, Kakashi, I know my limits. No one in the ninja world can match me, don't worry."

…………