The news of the attack on the Land of Fire's No. 3 hybrid rice experimental field spread through the shinobi world at a terrifying speed.
What shocked everyone wasn't just the destruction, but the video that followed. A grainy yet undeniable clip that spread across nations like wildfire—faster than rumor, faster than any messenger hawk. It infected villages like a virus.
"Oh my God! How could Pain-sama… do such a thing?"
"Is this really Pain-sama?"
In the streets of Amegakure, villagers froze in disbelief as the scene played across battered televisions and projection screens.
The god they revered—the figure they had long worshipped as untouchable—was clearly shown carrying a sack larger than his body, fleeing across rice fields like a startled thief. His robes whipped behind him, the Rinnegan shone coldly, yet nothing about the scene resembled divinity.
For a moment, silence reigned. Then panic.
Thinking of the rice that had been distributed recently, shinobi and villagers alike began to tremble.
"Could it be… was that rice stolen?"
The more they thought about it, the more their faith cracked.
…
The video didn't stop at Amegakure. Within hours, it was circulating in all four great shinobi nations.
Iwagakure.
Inside the Tsuchikage's office, Onoki sat stiffly, staring at the image on the screen. His hunched body seemed to grow heavier as his eyes locked onto the rippling rings of the Rinnegan.
"These eyes… no. It can't be…" His voice trembled.
He recognized them from ancient records, from whispered legends. The eyes of the Sage of Six Paths. The mythical Rinnegan.
Was the legend true all along?
And yet—what he was seeing was not the majesty of a god, but the humiliation of a man.
Onoki rubbed his temples, his head aching as though sharp blades twisted into his skull. "Even with such eyes… he was crushed by Konoha's Fifth Hokage… and forced to flee?"
Namikaze Mirai. That name carried a growing weight across the nations. A power Onoki could not rationalize. To see someone defeat even the wielder of the Rinnegan—this was something beyond common understanding.
The old Tsuchikage suddenly felt the shinobi world itself had grown strange, filled with forces and powers outside his grasp.
…
Kumogakure.
Within the Raikage's chamber, Ai glared at the screen, his broad chest heaving. His fists clenched until his knuckles whitened.
The moment Namikaze Mirai's blond figure appeared beside Pain, the Raikage's eyes went bloodshot.
"Namikaze Mirai!!!" His roar shook the walls.
This was the man who had humiliated Kumogakure, the man who had torn through their forces with terrifying ease.
And now, even through the flickering images of a video, Raikage could feel it again—the suffocating aura of overwhelming power.
Pain had fallen. The Rinnegan had failed. Yet Mirai stood, dominant, relentless.
The Raikage's throat tightened. 'If I faced him head-on… could I win?'
The answer was one he already knew. His fists trembled with unwillingness.
…
Far away, in a dark cavern lit only by flickering torches, the Gedo Statue spread its monstrous hands. Upon its fingers stood the members of Akatsuki, cloaked in their black robes patterned with red clouds.
A heavy silence hung in the air.
All eyes turned toward Tendō Pain, who stood atop the Gedo Statues's head, the Rinnegan glowing faintly. His usual composure faltered. For the first time, an indescribable weight clouded his gaze.
"This matter… is my responsibility." His voice echoed through the chamber.
The others shifted uncomfortably. Of course they knew what he meant.
Rice.
Carrying rice.
The image of their so-called god fleeing with food was now the most infamous joke in the shinobi world.
The Akatsuki's feared reputation had been cut in half overnight. Even those who rarely paid attention to politics now laughed at the rumor of "the rice thief". To claim membership in Akatsuki now risked ridicule rather than fear.
"Pain, this matter is not your fault." Konan finally spoke, her voice calm yet edged with protectiveness. "If anyone is to blame, it is Konoha's shamelessness. To plant a hidden photographer at such a moment… it was a deliberate trap."
But Pain shook his head slowly.
"No, Konan. I am indeed responsible. As the leader, if I cannot uphold the dignity of Akatsuki, who among us will?"
His tone was firm, but beneath it, Nagato's true body seethed with frustration.
From the shadows, Black Zetsu's narrowed eyes gleamed with irritation. 'Nagato… why did you provoke Namikaze Mirai in the first place? Because of your recklessness, our image is now mocked across the world. The Eye of the Moon plan will be hindered. Mother's revival delayed…'
Obito's voice broke the silence next, calm yet sharp. "Chief, what will you do?"
He, too, had felt Mirai's suffocating strength firsthand. Watching Pain falter against him only confirmed his fears—Mirai was far more dangerous than he had anticipated.
Pain raised his head. His voice reverberated like thunder.
"I will prove to the shinobi world who is god!"
…
While gods plotted in shadows, one ordinary man celebrated his newfound fortune.
Fujino Daikichi, once a lowly reporter for the Land of Fire's TV station, now sat in a spacious office, basking in his success.
His life had been misery—berated by his boss at work, nagged by his wife at home. He thought his days of mediocrity would stretch on forever.
But then came that fateful interview, a routine assignment at a hybrid rice test field. He never imagined he would capture the most shocking footage of the century—Pain, the so-called god, fleeing with rice.
"Pain! You are my lucky god!" Daikichi laughed, stretching luxuriously.
Thanks to that video, the station's ratings had soared to record highs. He had leapt three promotions in one stroke, from struggling reporter to station director. His colleagues bowed to him with respect. His wife no longer dared nag him.
And all of it, he thought, he owed to Pain.
He was still smiling when shhk! a black iron rod pierced through his chest.
Daikichi's eyes widened in horror. His head turned slowly, pupils trembling as he met the cold, merciless rings of the Rinnegan.
"Since you are so grateful for my gift," Tendō Pain said flatly, "use your life to repay it."
With a flick of his arm, Pain hurled the reporter's body out the office window. Crash! Glass shattered as Daikichi plummeted.
Screams erupted across the Land of Fire's TV station. Chaos spread as more Paths of Pain emerged, tearing through walls, cutting down staff. Animal Path's beasts roared, Hell Path's shadows writhed.
Broadcasts flickered with static. Then, suddenly, every screen across the nation went black.
Snowflakes of static cleared, and Tendō Pain's face filled the screens. His voice rolled out across every household.
"I want to declare to the world… Pain is a god!"
…
But before the audience could even absorb his words, the screen flickered again. The image warped, and another face appeared amidst the static.
A blond man. Stern eyes. The unmistakable presence of the Fifth Hokage.
"I, Namikaze Mirai, declare as the Hokage of Konohagakure." he said clearly, his voice carrying unwavering authority.
"Pain—stealing the Land of Fire's rice is a heinous crime. Konoha will block the Land of Rain's rice market. I call upon all nations to unite in punishing this rice thief!"
The words resounded like a hammer blow across the world.
Pain, god of Akatsuki, reduced to a rice thief by the Hokage of Konoha.
*****
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