"It is really lively outside." A middle-aged man, holding a cattail leaf fan, fanned himself. Sweat continuously fell from his forehead. He said, "After fighting Uzushiogakure, they just fight amongst themselves. Tsk tsk, why do they love war so much?"
"Who knows?" A shirtless middle-aged man next to him took a gulp of water from his bottle. He said, "The weather is just too hot. They still have the mood to keep fighting."
He shook his water bottle and sighed...
"Needing three or four bottles of water a day, it is just too hot. I need to take a cold shower later."
"You should go early. Otherwise, there will definitely be many people." The fanning uncle said, "By the time your turn comes, it will probably be late."
"No problem." The shirtless uncle said casually, "I will go for a swim in the sea first later. I can just rinse off when I come up."
Looking at the unfinished bridge not far away...
"How long do we need to work here?"
"Probably until next year." The fanning uncle opened his own water bottle and also took a drink. He said, "From here to the Land of Hot Water... now it should be called our Uzushiogakure mainland. The distance between our two sides is very far."
He thought for a moment...
"It is only mid July now. According to the foreman's plan, with construction starting from both sides simultaneously, the fastest will probably take over a year."
"That is quite long." The shirtless uncle nodded and said, "It is only mid July and it is already this hot. There is still quite some time before it gets cooler."
He took out his damp towel and wiped his face...
"I heard the Yuki clan is never afraid of heat or cold. Such a convenient ninjutsu."
"Of course. That Ice Queen shop within the country, you know it?" The fanning uncle said, "It is opened by the Yuki clan. They do not need refrigerators to make ice. Their cost is very low, but they sell it at a high price. But..."
He sighed...
"My kid just loves to eat it."
"Haha." The shirtless man laughed loudly, "It is indeed quite expensive. My son bought me one before. The taste was especially good. I had never tasted anything like it before. I thought about buying a few more to cool down. But when I heard the price, tsk tsk... Let's just say I did not dare to buy anymore."
"Right." The fanning uncle nodded, his face showing a touched smile. He said, "If we were living like we did a few years ago, forget about tasting it, just hearing the price would probably scare our legs weak. It is only after coming to Uzushiogakure..."
With a trace of nostalgia and satisfaction...
"That we have a little extra money to buy some good food for the family and buy new clothes."
He motioned with his chin towards a few thin men with somewhat sallow complexions nearby...
"Look, those few just escaped from outside. Aren't they just like us a few years ago? Not eating enough and not dressing well."
He sighed and fanned himself...
"Uzushiogakure is still the best."
"Yes." The shirtless man also nodded, speaking with emotion, "Back then, when I heard others say you could earn big money working in Uzushiogakure, I thought it was a lie. But thinking my whole family was about to starve, I gritted my teeth and decided to come. The result..."
A proud smile appeared on his face...
"Now, whenever my wife talks about this, she still gives me a thumbs up."
He sighed...
"It is just that we are still considered foreign residents, without Uzushiogakure citizenship. The school fees are more expensive, and we cannot buy a house. It is a bit of a regret. I have saved quite a bit of money these past few years and was planning to make a down payment."
"Be content." The fanning middle-aged man smiled and shook his head helplessly. He said, "At least the kids can still go to school now. They can find better jobs later. If it were like our time a few years ago, we would only be able to scrape a living from the dirt our whole lives."
"Haha, that is true." The shirtless middle-aged man scratched his head sheepishly and laughed loudly, "My eldest son's child is very smart in school. The teacher always rewards him with little red flowers. He will definitely be better than his grandfather and father."
He stood up and wiped his sweat...
"It is about time. I am going to take a cold shower to cool off. Are you coming?"
"You go ahead, you go ahead." The fanning middle-aged man shook his head and said, "I am quite cool like this with the fan."
He looked at the scorching sun...
"I plan to sleep for a while first. I will not wash."
"In that case, I am going." The shirtless man smiled and nodded. He said, "You old codger, you can still sleep in this weather. Do not get heatstroke."
"Go, go, go." The fanning man waved his hand impatiently and said, "Hurry up and go. Otherwise, if the foreman finds out, he will deduct your pay."
Then, he found a slightly shadier spot and lay down directly...
Those working manual labor outside are not so particular. Especially people like them who have had it hard. In the past, no matter how hot the weather, didn't they still have to go around looking for food on an empty stomach?
He closed his eyes, his hand slowly fanning, dispersing the heat. He murmured, "It is still better now."
...
"Lord Mizukage, why can the Yuki clan be our superiors?" A young ninja, with an indignant expression, looked at the lazy Fifth Mizukage in front of him. He said, "They are already old and their strength is not even as good as mine. Why?"
He was already a Jonin at his young age, destined for a limitless future. Yet, he actually ended up with a middle-aged Genin as their team leader. It was too humiliating.
If it were a Chunin, he could still accept it. But a Genin, and not the kind with Kage-level strength but Genin rank, but a genuine, bona fide Genin. How could a talented Jonin like him stand that?
"Oh?" The Fifth Mizukage, upon hearing the Jonin's words, was momentarily stunned. She said, "What is your job?"
"Good at water skills, fishing." The Jonin said with a grievous and indignant expression, "I am a Jonin."
He was considered part of the elite among ninjas, yet he actually ended up fishing?
"Is that so?" Terumi Mei rubbed her forehead with a headache. She said, "You want to change jobs?"
Recently, she had encountered this kind of situation several times. Seeing the traitors of their own village living so well, even becoming their superiors, these elite ninjas from the original village naturally could not stand it. But...
She herself was just an employee now. Wasn't her own immediate superior also an older, weaker Jonin?
He seemed to be called something like Muroto Sosuke?
He had been transferred from Uzushiogakure not long ago. All civil disputes and criminal cases here were handled by him. Wasn't she, the Fifth Mizukage of Kirigakure, also obediently cooperating with his work?
Although, the working environment here was really not bad.
There was air conditioning, cold drinks, high temperature subsidies, soft chairs, and the room was spacious and bright. Much more comfortable than her shabby Mizukage building.
Why couldn't the people below just work obediently?
But since she brought them here, she, the Fifth Mizukage, had to take responsibility. She sighed helplessly and said, "What do you want to do?"
"A ninja, of course, is still a ninja." The young ninja's eyes lit up. He said, "No matter what mission it is, please let me carry out missions, Lord Mizukage."
"That is impossible." Terumi Mei, after hearing his words, was stunned for a moment, then said with a bitter smile, "Uzushiogakure does not have the profession of ninja."
They had abolished the hidden village and mission system. Where would missions come from?
"Now, even the Land of Water Daimyo's side has canceled the mission system. All ninjas have started to go out and work."
Whether it was farming, moving bricks, weaving... nowadays, ninjas could be seen in every industry in Uzushiogakure.
"But I have seen that Uzushiogakure definitely still has ninjas." Seeing the Mizukage's unbelieving look, the young Jonin quickly explained, "The ones wearing Uzu-nin uniforms, training every morning."
"That is the Uzu Army." Terumi Mei sighed, her face full of helplessness. She said, "The Uzu Army that protects Uzushiogakure. They are not ninjas. They do not receive bounties for carrying out missions."
"It is fine. Assign me to that then." The young ninja patted his chest and said, "I can definitely do it well."
Who cares if it is Uzu Army or Uzu-nin.
It means the same thing.
However...
"Impossible." Terumi Mei shook her head and said seriously, "We have just arrived not long ago. Our political vetting will definitely not pass now."
So...
Please consider something else.