The upper reaches of the Naka River, the canyon that was once just a mark on the map, had now completely changed its appearance.
On both sides of the valley, hundreds of ninja and craftsmen were busy at their posts like industrious ants.
Earth Release ninja used ninjutsu to open mountains and clear roads, peeling huge rocks from the mountain body; taijutsu-type ninja were responsible for carrying these rocks weighing tons to designated locations; and more craftsmen were building huge wooden scaffolds and molds.
The entire construction site was bustling with voices and activity, full of strength and hope.
Shimura Danzo, the general manager of the Konoha Construction Team, stood at the highest point of the construction site, on a lookout platform temporarily raised by Earth Release.
He wore his signature dark blue work uniform, his hands behind his back, like an iron tower, scrutinizing the huge construction site below.
His eyes were still gloomy, but a flame called "creation" burned within them.
Ever since Hiruzen gave him the formula for "Chakra Concrete," he had fallen into a state of frenzy.
He led his construction team, conducting experiments day and night.
Failure, adjusting the formula, failure again, adjusting again...
After burning through a whole month's mission funds, they finally produced the first batch of qualified "Chakra Concrete."
The hardness of that material exceeded everyone's imagination.
An ordinary kunai hacking at it wouldn't even leave a white mark.
Even a chunin from the Akimichi family using the Multi-Size Technique could only leave a shallow fist print on it.
When the first dam module poured from this material successfully withstood the impact of the most turbulent current of the Naka River, the entire construction site boiled over.
Danzo knew that he was one step closer to his "immortal monument."
"Everyone, pull yourselves together!"
In the early morning, Danzo's piercing voice, amplified by a secret chakra technique, resounded through the entire canyon, instantly jolting all the workers who were still a bit sleepy.
This was the "reserved program" of the reservoir construction site every morning—General Manager Danzo's start-of-work mobilization.
"Look at your feet!"
Danzo pointed his finger at the magnificent dam that was beginning to take shape. "Do you know what you are building?!"
"It's a reservoir!"
A young craftsman below shouted loudly.
"That's right! It's a reservoir! But it's more than just a reservoir!"
Danzo's voice suddenly rose, full of passion and power. "It is the lifeline of our Konoha! It is the guarantee that our descendants will be free from hunger and thirst!"
"Look at this river again!"
Danzo pointed to the roaring Naka River below. "It used to be an unruly beast, flooding every two years during the rainy season, destroying fields and threatening our homes! And what we are doing now is putting a rein named 'Konoha' on this beast!"
"We will turn it from a beast of destruction into a docile ox that plows for us! We will make every drop of its water irrigate our crops and fill every bowl of rice in our Konoha!"
These words were easy to understand, yet extremely inflammatory.
The craftsmen and ninja below listened with boiling blood.
They seemed to have already seen the clear river water flowing into thousands of households in the village through pipes.
"And I, Shimura Danzo, and you, are the sharpest tools to realize this great blueprint!"
"This dam will be poured with a brand-new material called Chakra Concrete! It will stand here for a thousand years without falling!"
"So, pull yourselves together! Use your sweat to pour this monument! Let our descendants, hundreds of years later, still stand here, point to this dam, and proudly tell their children—look, this is the miracle our ancestors left for us!"
"Start working!"
"Ooooooh—!"
With Danzo's final order, the entire construction site erupted in cheers and shouts like a tsunami. In everyone's eyes burned the flames of "sense of mission" and "sense of honor," filled with infinite drive.
Everyone was like they were on stimulants, howling as they threw themselves back into the fiery construction.
On the high platform, Uchiha Kagami watched all this, a helpless yet admiring smile on his face.
He had to admit that in terms of mobilizing emotions and inspiring people's fighting spirit, Danzo was indeed a genius.
Although the method was a bit... simple and crude.
"Lord Kagami, this is today's quality inspection report."
A steady voice sounded behind him.
Uchiha Kagami turned around and saw the brothers Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi walking towards him side by side.
Hiashi held a thick report in his hand, his expression as rigorous and serious as ever.
Hizashi's face, on the other hand, wore a sunny and cheerful smile.
Since the abolition of the Caged Bird curse mark and joining this meaningful construction project under the arrangement of Lord Hokage, the relationship between the brothers had undergone a world-shaking change.
The estrangement and unwillingness stemming from the main and branch family status had long since vanished.
What emerged instead was a kinship thicker than water.
"Thank you for your hard work, Hiashi, Hizashi."
Uchiha Kagami took the report and scanned it quickly.
The report detailed all the data of the seventeen concrete modules poured yesterday.
From the number of tiny air bubbles inside to the structural density of every inch, everything was clearly observed with the Byakugan and marked clearly.
Under the almost abnormal supervision of the "Hyuga Quality Inspection Team," the quality of the reservoir project reached an unprecedented height.
"Reporting to Lord Kagami!"
Hiashi said with a serious face, "Module No. 13, during the solidification process, Uchiha Kenta, a member of the Uchiha Fire Release Squad's 6th team."
"When releasing the Great Fireball Technique, because he had a couple of drinks during the day, his chakra output fluctuated by 0.1 seconds, causing a pinhole-sized crack in the southeast corner of the module. Although it does not affect the overall structural strength, according to Lord Danzo's highest construction standards, we have marked it as a 'defective product' and recommend reworking."
Uchiha Kagami: "..."
He glanced at the report, then at Hiashi's serious face that screamed "we are professionals," and didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Well done." Finally, he could only say this.
"This is what we should do."
Hiashi replied meticulously.
Hizashi beside him smiled and scratched his head: "Lord Kagami, don't mind him, my brother is just like this. However, that Senior Kenta from the Uchiha family has already been punished by Director Tekka to carry a hundred loads of water for the construction site."
Uchiha Kagami could imagine that scene, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help twitching.
Danzo and Sakumo, these two guys, were now completely caught up in a competition.
During the lunch break.
The brothers Hiashi and Hizashi sat by the Naka River, eating the bento delivered by the village's logistics department.
The bento was very rich, with rice, grilled fish, and even a few slices of "Konoha Pork" barbecue specially supplied by Sakumo's farm.
"It smells so good."
Hizashi took a big bite of the barbecue, narrowing his eyes in satisfaction. "Brother, what kind of life were we living in the clan compound before?"
Hiashi's chewing paused slightly.
He remembered the past.
He remembered the hideous "Caged Bird" on the foreheads of the branch family members, and the look mixed with awe, fear, and unwillingness when they looked at him.
He remembered the gap between him and Hizashi due to their status as main and branch family members.
Looking at now.
The Caged Bird had become a protective curse mark that would only trigger in times of crisis.
The branch family members could work together with him for a common goal.
The look in their eyes when they looked at him was no longer fear, but heartfelt trust and respect.
And his own brother, Hizashi, could be like this now.
Sitting with him without any grudges, joking, and eating the same bento.
"Brother, I never thought that our eyes could be used in such a place one day."
Hizashi looked at the magnificent dam that was beginning to take shape in the distance and sighed sincerely. "Not for fighting, not for distinguishing between main and branch families, but for... building the future of the village."
"This feeling is really good."
Hiashi looked at the heartfelt smile on his brother's face. His face, which was always tense and serious like their father's, also became incredibly soft at this moment.
He reached out and patted his brother's shoulder.
"This is all the new life given to us by Lord Danzo."
The boy's voice was incredibly firm. "Hizashi, we must use these eyes to protect the village well. And also... protect our family well."
"Mm!"
Hizashi nodded vigorously.
Not far away, Danzo, who was inspecting the construction site, took in this scene.
He looked at the brothers who were intimate under the sun, and at the quality inspection report they submitted.
A rare smile appeared on his always gloomy and serious face.
He remembered what Hiruzen had said to him back then: "A strong village must not only have a sharp sword, but also a thick shield."
He now seemed to understand a little what Hiruzen meant by "shield."
It was the hearts of the people.
It was that cohesion that allowed everyone living here to find their own value and feel proud from the bottom of their hearts to protect this home.
Danzo looked up towards Konoha, as if he could see the figure sitting in the office, strategizing.
"Hiruzen, you guy... are indeed more suitable to be Hokage than I am."
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