Everything in Akatsuki Village was developing in an orderly manner under the careful planning of Leo.
The moment new merchants stepped through the village gates, they felt it immediately—an atmosphere unlike anything they had seen before. Akatsuki Village was brimming with vitality. The air carried the scent of fresh earth and bustling life, the streets were filled with movement, and the very energy of the village seemed to pulse with vigor. If one were to put it into words, it was simply this—a flourishing land where all things thrived.
With the constant influx of funds and resources, Akatsuki Village had transformed into a massive consumer market. Merchants understood a simple truth—where there was profit, there would always be people. And where people gathered, life itself would blossom.
Leo knew this truth well. For weeks, he had been working tirelessly to attract investment and pull in as many businessmen as possible—not only from the Land of Fire but from all the great nations. The more merchants who entered, the more active the economy became. And once the economy surged forward, the village itself would rise with it.
The benefits to Akatsuki were immeasurable.
And as the system within Leo's body chimed endlessly with its familiar ringtone, he could see the numbers climbing.
Ding! Prosperity level rising!
Ding! Prosperity level rising!
Every ring was like a drumbeat to civilization's advance.
---
The Blueprint of a Village
"According to Master Guangying's plan, this area will become the largest commercial district in the entire ninja world. The land across the river will be developed into a technology park, with entire blocks devoted to laboratories."
Standing before a group of finely dressed nobles and wealthy merchants from the Land of Fire, Kazuma Sato introduced Leo's grand design. His words carried weight, not only because of his confidence but also because of the reality backing him.
Just a short while ago, this had all been barren wasteland.
But now—thanks to the relentless work of Akatsuki's ninjas and construction teams—the land had been reshaped. With a few powerful Earth Release techniques and collective effort, rows of habitable houses and shops had sprung from the ground as if born from the soil itself.
Yet not everyone understood the vision.
The old ninja clans, hardened by a lifetime of battle, were reluctant to participate. For them, a ninja's life meant missions, combat, and survival—not construction. To ask them to dig trenches, stack bricks, or shape walls with ninjutsu felt like an insult to their pride.
They did not understand Leo's policies of economic growth, and it was far too difficult to make them embrace such new ideas overnight.
But Leo did not waste time arguing with them.
If they don't understand, so be it.
What mattered was not their comprehension, but their obedience. All they had to do was follow orders and remain loyal.
And so, Leo adapted the situation to their instincts.
"You enjoy taking missions, don't you?" he had said.
The very next day, the mission board was flooded with thousands of new D-rank tasks. Simple jobs—erecting walls, shaping streets, reinforcing foundations. For elite jōnin, these jobs were trivial, consuming only a sliver of chakra. A shadow clone or two could complete several assignments in an afternoon.
The reward wasn't much for each task, but with the sheer volume available, the accumulated pay became worthwhile. Soon, the first daring ninjas tested it out, pocketed easy money, and spread the word.
As expected, the law of true fragrance (people resisting at first but eventually giving in) held firm. More and more ninjas joined in, and the wasteland vanished, replaced by a growing townscape filled with markets and rented shops.
---
A Prosperous Marketplace
The villagers loved it.
For the first time, they had convenience stores within walking distance. They could step outside and purchase daily goods, food, and tools without long journeys. Even the most stubborn clans could not deny the comfort.
Meanwhile, the wealthy merchants who had come to inspect the progress were stunned.
"Ninjas live in constant danger, risking their lives on missions, and they're never stingy with money. A business here… there's no way it will fail!" one of them exclaimed.
But profit wasn't the only attraction.
It was safety.
The ninja world was filled with forests and rugged roads, and trade caravans constantly faced threats from beasts and bandits. Merchants often lost their goods—or even their lives. Only the richest could afford to hire ninja guards for their caravans.
But Leo changed everything.
Every merchant who settled in Akatsuki Village was issued a license and a distinct flag. Caravans carrying that banner were protected by the authority of Akatsuki.
Wandering ninjas and bandits might attack other merchants, but would they dare touch one carrying Akatsuki's emblem?
Robbing such a caravan was no longer simple theft—it was suicide.
Everyone in the underworld knew the difference. There were things you could steal, and there were things you never touched.
The result was immediate. Caravans associated with Akatsuki moved freely, and word spread quickly across the nations. For merchants, this was nothing short of revolutionary.
By the end of their tour, every wealthy merchant present had already made up their minds. One by one, they signed agreements to settle in Akatsuki Village.
---
The Office of Light and Shadow
Later that evening, Kazuma carried the contracts to Leo's office.
Sunlight streamed through the window, painting the room in warm gold. On Leo's desk lay a large red banner. He picked up a brush, dipped it in ink, and began writing with calm, confident strokes.
"All actions are subject to the command of Master Light and Shadow!"
The words stood bold and powerful against the crimson cloth.
Leo leaned back, admiring it. These banners would soon hang across the village. Some truths, he knew, needed to be ingrained not through force, but through subtle influence—shaping minds bit by bit.
At the same time, Leo's thoughts wandered to the ninja school.
Education must begin with the children. If the next generation grows up with loyalty and order, then the village's foundation will never crumble.
Kazuma, standing nearby, couldn't help but notice that every banner in the office carried the same message in different forms: Loyalty.
"Master Guangying," he reported, "the business promotion plan is going smoothly. Over a hundred shops have already been filled."
"Only a hundred?" Leo frowned.
Kazuma blinked. To him, that number was already extraordinary progress. But Leo's ambition went far beyond mere speed. For Akatsuki to dominate the ninja world, its reputation as the most business-friendly village had to spread like wildfire.
Extraordinary measures were needed.
"Kazuma," Leo asked suddenly, "which are the most influential newspapers in the Land of Fire?"
Kazuma tilted his head. "Master Light and Shadow… what are you planning?"
Leo smirked. "I want to write an article. Contact their editors, and make sure it's published on the largest page."
---
The Story of Civilization
With brush in hand, Leo began to write.
> A gold shop in Akatsuki Village suddenly plunged into darkness.
The lights went out, leaving the store in pitch black.
The sound of customers shuffling filled the silence, and the glass counters rattled.
"Everyone, please stay calm!" the store manager shouted. "Do not push. Stay where you are to avoid being trampled!"
He added quickly, "Anyone holding gold jewelry, hold it tightly and do not drop it."
Minutes passed, yet the lights remained out. A gray gloom filled the air.
The manager took a deep breath and continued, "According to regulations, sales must stop during blackouts. However—this customer is the Sage of Six Paths himself, and I cannot let him leave empty-handed. Place your chosen items back on the trays. We'll record the weight and price. Once the lights return, if you still wish to purchase, you'll pay the original price. If not, you are free to leave."
Amazingly, the customers obeyed. Two lines formed. One by one, necklaces, rings, and bracelets were placed carefully back on velvet trays, each labeled with the owner's surname. When light returned minutes later, not a single piece was missing. Even stray gold threads had been collected and returned.
In total, 37 items valued at 1.87 million ryō were accounted for. Every single customer stayed, paying in full. The last, an elderly woman, even donated her change of 2,000 ryō into the "Education Aid Box." She smiled and said, "Gold has value, but the light of the heart is priceless. Please use this to buy books for the children."
The next morning, a red note appeared at the shop's entrance:
"Yesterday, I returned 37 pieces of change, but received 2,000 ryō of warmth in return. Thank you."
The article concluded:
> What a civilized, harmonious, and orderly village this is!
A ninja village's business environment is not measured by how many powerful warriors it has, but by the integrity of its ordinary residents.
Akatsuki's villagers could have walked away with gold for free. Instead, they chose honesty.
If I were a businessman, I would move to Akatsuki Village without hesitation!
If the direction of human flow is the direction of civilization—then without a doubt, Akatsuki Village is civilization!
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