Naruto: Passerby and Returnee

Chapter 171 Faith

The small town, recently reorganized, didn't have much to offer. It was harvest season, and the streets were nearly deserted, mostly filled with women and children. The strenuous work of fishing wasn't their forte, but sorting and processing their catch was their forte. They strolled from the commercial street into small workshops, watching the women skillfully pry open seashells, extract the meat and pearls, and deftly clean the shells.

Pearl oysters are indeed a treasure trove; pearls go without saying, their flesh is also quite delicious, and their shells have medicinal value—virtually nothing is wasted. However, their production cannot continue to exceed limits. Surveys show that the distribution range of these marine treasures is far less than it was decades ago, showing a gradual shrinking trend. However, in one area, the number of pearl oysters has not decreased but increased, entirely thanks to the wisdom of the local people. Aquaculture techniques must be promoted, and protecting the interests of the inventors of these techniques is also essential…

Ugh, can't he think about things that don't involve work? Habits are truly terrifying.

Naruto racked his brains trying to share, but there were so many things that Konoha ninjas could encounter. If he talked too much, he might inadvertently reveal things that Naruto shouldn't know. Fortunately, the town was only so big. They walked straight in from the east entrance and were soon attracted by the unique buildings on the west side.

"That must be a temple," Naruto asked, feigning ignorance.

Sasuke seemed to take a liking to it and led the way in that direction.

This group of buildings stands almost entirely out of place with the rest of the town's architecture, like finding a grown goose among a flock of chicks. They are almost excessively exquisite, constructed of rare blue bricks, painted vermilion, and topped with brown tiles. They also occupy the largest area in the town.

People raised in hardship could not be without resentment. The government had limited control over these leased territories, and the landlords cared little for the physical and mental well-being of the common people. However, they needed a group of laborers who wouldn't resist to create value, and thus, "faith" emerged. This church, based on songs sung by fishermen, idolized a hero who tirelessly sailed the seas to rescue stranded fishermen, fabricating various stories to portray him as a god capable of summoning wind and rain. Perhaps the initial intention behind these stories was good; perhaps they simply didn't want people to forget history and the hero's achievements.

However, this "good intention" was exploited and used as a tool to control and exploit the people. This church has existed even longer than the current regime of the Land of Mist. They use songs, stories, and carefully prepared illusions to make people believe in "God," entrusting their souls and hopes to Him while using everything else to support "God."

When Hui first took over this area, the church leader sent someone to inquire about the new profit distribution, only to be rudely "invited" away by Hui. Hui dismissed this with disdain, probably having seen too many spineless businessmen. He figured that as long as he demonstrated his influence, the other party would take him seriously. So, the next day, he held a grand celebration, gathering almost half the region's population. Now, they were indeed being taken seriously, but not in the way they wanted.

On the fourth day, a fairy-like "goddess" descended from the sky, waving her hand to overturn the cult leader on the altar, driving the man who had been deceiving people for most of his life insane. The "goddess" said nothing, but after overturning the chaotic performance of the demons, she tossed down a translucent white seashell, which floated straight into the hand of Hui's regional leader, then turned and drifted into the sea. This was far more exciting than any of the previous so-called "miracles." The people knelt in devout worship, immediately hailing Hui as the "goddess's" new representative. They didn't even care when Hui later brazenly ransacked the homes of these charlatans; in fact, they applauded and cheered.

The eyes of the people are discerning; how could no one find anything wrong with what this cult leader was doing? They're just used to obeying him.

This plan had, of course, been put into practice. Hui traveled the world, always encountering places deeply influenced by religion. For ninjas, anything unproven was false, but they found that directly stating this wouldn't convince the people, and might even provoke strong xenophobic sentiment. Meanwhile, the charlatans always used the common people as targets, inciting them to be at the forefront of opposition, making Hui hesitant to act. After suffering several setbacks, Hui finally found a viable solution. Since the people believed in gods, let the "gods" refute those charlatans, defeating them in their own way.

Simulating a god was effortless for the Uchiha clan, who possessed the Sharingan. This approach was a huge success and naturally became part of their workflow. Of course, Hui didn't simulate every god, nor would he immediately sever the lineage of these beliefs. If the essence of the belief stemmed from history rather than fabrication, they would usually preserve it and gradually guide the believers' behavior onto the right track. For example, they would abolish mandatory donations, prohibit active proselytizing, prohibit guiding donations, and impose age restrictions on believers. If the belief itself was fabricated and had no positive purpose, or even if it worshipped an evil entity, they would invoke a relatively positive "god" in the vicinity to destroy the temple and expose the ugly faces of these people.

The temple, after its renovation, wasn't deserted. Most people came and went, bowing to the statue, burning incense, and seeking psychological comfort. Drawing a fortune slip before setting sail was ingrained in everyone's bones, but from then on, drawing a fortune slip no longer required burning half the cost of the voyage; just one stick of incense was enough. Because their safety was guaranteed by the ninja master.

The gold, red, and white colors blended harmoniously and beautifully. Naruto didn't understand art, but he found the statue very pleasing to the eye. The smiling goddess with downcast eyes exuded compassion; her colors were comprehensive, and if you removed the artistic embellishments, she would look like a living person. They stood in the corner for a while, but no one came to find them. The new temple manager was busy distributing incense and had no time for anything else.

"Shall we go up to the Pillar?" Naruto asked.

Sasuke, who had remained silent the entire way, shook his head and said, "I don't believe in God."

Ninjas, of course, don't believe in gods. They possess the power to move mountains and fill seas, living as weapons of the state. A nation wouldn't allow its weapons to have a god; their only faith is to protect their country. The two children, having endured so much suffering, are even less inclined to believe. Naruto even knows that the existence of ninja myths is real, that they can easily destroy this fragile world.