Rumble.
(AB: Tatake!)
With an earth-shaking roar that left everyone stunned, the five enormous floodgates creaked open. Seawater burst forth like a wild beast let loose, surging into Lake Reto with tremendous force. Mist sprayed along both banks as the water slammed forward, and the sharp, salty scent of the sea immediately filled the air. Some onlookers even caught sight of fish darting through the churning waves, carried along by the torrent.
Once the initial awe faded, a wave of jubilation swept through the crowd. The people of Sunagakure erupted into cheers. Merchants, especially, could barely contain their elation as they looked eagerly toward the officials for updates.
The answer came swiftly.
Stepping forward was Sēramu, the newly appointed high-ranking officer in charge of the River of the Flowing Sand construction project.
"Reporting to Kazekage-sama, the floodgate release is proceeding smoothly. It is estimated that Lake Reto will be completely filled within thirty-six hours."
Lake Reto was no small basin. With a diameter of fifteen kilometers and a depth that reached two to three hundred meters at its deepest point, filling it was no easy feat.
"Good. Make sure it's closely monitored. Report any issues immediately."
"Understood."
This was one of the benefits of having supernatural power on their side. No matter what might go wrong with the River of the Flowing Sand, Rasa and the village's shinobi could always rely on their jutsu to contain or repair the damage swiftly.
Seeing that everything was unfolding according to plan, Rasa wasted no time. He turned and made his way back to the Kazekage Tower.
The others followed behind.
Naturally, Chiyo, Ebizō, Pakura, and Michikawa were not among them. All four had stepped back from the village's day-to-day affairs after being named elders. They had chosen instead to devote themselves entirely to rigorous training within the Dragon's Oasis.
Walking behind Rasa were Baki, Sēramu, Oshima, Ryūji, Ibara, and Yashamaru. But they weren't the only ones. Alongside them were two unfamiliar faces and one well-known figure.
The first new face was Kamado, a curvaceous young kunoichi recommended by Pakura to handle the routine tasks she no longer had time for. The second was Shi, a man wearing the iconic robes and facial paint of the Sand clan. His presence needed no explanation. Both were among the most outstanding members of Sunagakure's younger generation.
Of course, that praise only applied within the realm of civilian-born shinobi. Neither Kamado nor Shi possessed a kekkei genkai or any secret techniques. But both had displayed unwavering loyalty to the village and a reliable sense of duty.
It was clear that Pakura and Michikawa understood exactly what Rasa prioritized: stability above all.
However, there was one more candidate whom Pakura had recommended, and this one genuinely surprised Rasa.
It was Mukade, the shinobi brought in to study the airship technology recovered from the ruins of the Sky Ninja Village.
Yes, that Mukade—the same man who, in the original timeline, would eventually betray Sunagakure, harness the power of the Dragon Vein's chakra, and rise as Anrokuzan. But for now, Mukade was just a young, promising shinobi born to civilian parents. He was just beginning to showcase his talents, particularly in puppet jutsu, and at this stage, his loyalty to the village remained strong.
As for the veteran presence among them, it was none other than Nonō, the spy from Konohagakure.
With Karura's pregnancy entering a critical stage, Rasa had deemed it inappropriate for her to continue managing the orphanage. In her place, Nonō had seamlessly stepped in as the new director.
Thanks to her excellent work, Rasa had entrusted her with even greater responsibilities, including oversight of village logistics, post-war welfare programs, and the disbursement of relocation compensation.
To some, it might have seemed strange that such vital roles were handed to a spy and a possible future traitor. But in Rasa's eyes, their abilities had proven themselves beyond all doubt.
Nonō's patience, attentiveness, and gentle disposition made her the perfect fit for her responsibilities. As for Mukade, his natural talent needed no further proof. The fact that he could devise entirely new puppet techniques by channeling chakra from the Dragon Vein demonstrated his brilliance in research and innovation. With the course of the future now irrevocably changed, Rasa had chosen to fully trust them and had assigned each of them critical roles within the village's framework.
Seeing that everyone had assembled, Rasa didn't waste another moment.
"The upcoming Five Nations Summit to be held here in Sunagakure. How are the preparations coming along?"
For Sunagakure, this summit was more than a diplomatic gathering—it was a rare and invaluable chance to present itself to the Great Nations. If the village could fully showcase its transformation, strength, and potential, its future development would be solidified.
"Rest assured, Kazekage-sama. We've already issued all necessary orders. Everyone is on high alert and fully prepared for the summit ten days from now."
The response came from Sēramu. As Rasa's assistant, she had become deeply familiar with the village's internal workings and had firmly established herself as one of its new central leaders, positioned just below the four elders and Baki. This progression fulfilled Rasa's original intent to shift Sunagakure's power dynamic from a fragile two-faction balance into a stable tripod of influence.
If Michikawa represented the aristocratic faction, and Pakura the civilian shinobi, then Sēramu had now come to represent the immigrants and non-shinobi civilians.
In a shinobi village where strength defined value, those without shinobi in their family had always occupied the bottom rung of society. Even Pakura, known as the voice of the civilian class, rarely paid attention to these families, because in the eyes of many, those who couldn't become shinobi held neither political leverage nor strategic value.
But Rasa had a broader vision for the village's growth. He understood that while the power of shinobi remained vital, the support and contributions of the lower classes were equally indispensable.
This had become even more apparent in the past year, as more people migrated to Sunagakure. With this demographic shift, the village had to evolve beyond relying solely on its military strength. Transitioning toward commercial development and economic expansion meant that civilians were now central to Sunagakure's future.
That was why Sēramu had been made their representative.
In fact, if one measured influence purely by administrative authority and the size of the population she represented, Sēramu had already surpassed both Pakura and Michikawa. Yet neither of their factions objected to her rise. The reason was simple. From the shinobi's perspective, civilians, regardless of their number, posed no threat to their core interests. A shinobi village still belonged to the shinobi.
Rasa had no intention of challenging that belief. As harsh as it sounded, shinobi remained the true protagonists of this world. Their strength was the bedrock upon which Sunagakure stood. Only through a clear and firm hierarchy could the village continue to grow in a healthy and orderly fashion.
Of course, another reason the elders and factions remained content was because Rasa had ensured that profits were distributed fairly. Everyone had received their share and had little reason for dissatisfaction.
"You've worked hard, Sēramu. Go let everyone know I've already placed the opportunity to earn right in front of them. How much they make now depends on their own ability."
"I understand, Kazekage-sama."
"Are there any other issues?"
At that, the entire group voiced the same concern. With Sunagakure's population increasing at such a rapid rate, the current facilities—such as the shinobi academy, medical department, hospital, orphanage, and logistics services—could no longer keep up with the rising demand.
"What's the current population of the village?"
This time, it was Ryūji, head of the logistics department, who stepped forward. He responded with a look of mild shock.
"Based on our latest records, the number of registered villagers has risen from one hundred thousand last year to one hundred thirty thousand now. And that's just the official count. If we include all the unregistered merchants and workers currently living and working in the village, the real figure is closer to one hundred seventy thousand."
"That many?"
Even Rasa couldn't hide his surprise at the number.