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The capital was always bustling.
When the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds, the area outside the city gates was already teeming with people.
Artisans, youths, farmers... they gathered from all over the Land of Fire, their faces etched with fatigue, but their eyes shining with hope for the future.
"I heard you can earn five thousand ryo a day in the city. Is that true or false?"
"More than that! As long as you're willing to work, if you get into a daimyo manor workshop, food and lodging are provided, and there's a bonus at the end of the month!"
"My neighbor's second son sent back thirty thousand ryo last month, saying he was building roads in the city and could eat meat every meal!"
The daimyo manor's series of recruitment orders and high-welfare policies were madly attracting labor from surrounding villages and towns.
Prosperity, in this capital city, was fermenting at an unprecedented speed.
Shin stood on the highest pavilion of the daimyo manor, overlooking the crowds below. His brows were tightly furrowed.
The head butler, Takeshi, stood respectfully behind him.
"My lord, the city guard and the Department of Internal Affairs just submitted reports. The population in the west of the city has surged, and conflicts regarding public order and people's livelihood have already emerged."
As Shin's most trusted butler, Takeshi was responsible for managing all submitted intelligence and documents.
He knew his master prioritized people's livelihood issues, so he reported immediately when the document was submitted.
Shin tapped lightly on the windowsill.
"I ordered the Ministry of Works to start on that new residential area in the west of the city half a month ago. What? Has work not begun yet?"
"Reporting, my lord," Takeshi's back bent even lower. "The Ministry of Works... seems to have encountered difficulties."
"The Vice Minister of Works has been waiting outside for a long time, saying he has an urgent matter that he must report to you in person."
"Let him in."
Shin turned and sat back in his chair. His fingers still tapped rhythmically on the armrest.
A moment later, a Ministry of Works official, covered in sweat, hurried in. He immediately prostrated himself on the ground. "Greetings, my lord!"
"Speak. What is it that has you in such a hurry?" Shin's tone revealed no emotion.
"Reporting, my lord!" The Ministry of Works official's voice trembled. "That land in the west of the city... we can't build houses there!"
With that, he pulled out a blueprint and a bag of soil from his sleeve, then continued, "I organized the best artisans in the capital to conduct several surveys of that land and found that its soil is as soft as sand, and the underground water level is too high, making it impossible to support the foundations of large-scale buildings!"
"If we force construction, all the houses will collapse within half a year!"
Shin picked up the bag of damp sandy soil and squeezed it. "So, what is the Ministry of Works' conclusion?"
"I... dare to suggest that the land be converted into farmland, and another location be chosen for building the residential area."
"It's just... re-surveying, planning, and selecting a site will take at least three months to produce a preliminary plan..."
Shin's tone instantly grew heavier. "Three months?"
"By the time you all come up with a plan, the day lilies will be cold."
"By then, the west of the city won't just have public order issues, but a popular uprising will break out."
He looked at the Ministry of Works official prostrate on the ground and slowly said, "I reject your suggestion."
"You may leave."
"Yes!" The Ministry of Works official bowed hastily and retreated.
After the man left, Shin rubbed his forehead in thought, then looked towards the shadows in the study. "Have the Shadow Guard and the Kurokaze clan, all shinobi skilled in earth release, gather immediately at the construction site in the west of the city."
"Yes, my lord!"
No sooner had he spoken than a figure standing in the corner shadow flickered slightly, then vanished.
Shin then turned to Takeshi and said, "Prepare an inconspicuous carriage for me. I want to personally go and see that land."
"Yes, my lord."
Takeshi bowed in acceptance of the order and quickly withdrew to make arrangements.
Half an hour later, an ordinary carriage drove out from the side gate of the daimyo manor and merged into the crowded street.
Inside the carriage, Shin closed his eyes to rest.
The reason he decided to go in person was not a whim, but a long-considered decision.
Because he wanted to reverse a deeply ingrained concept.
Shinobi should not just be tools of slaughter.
In past eras, the value of a shinobi was judged by how many S-rank missions he could complete, and how many powerful enemies he could kill.
How narrow-minded!
Is the value of a powerful earth release shinobi merely to create an earth release wall for defense, or to trap enemies with swamp techniques?
Can a shinobi proficient in medical ninjutsu only treat the wounded on the battlefield?
No!
Doing so is too wasteful!
In his plan, earth release shinobi could change geology, reinforce dams, open mountains to build roads, and even create cities out of thin air!
Medical shinobi could be stationed in the capital, promote hygiene knowledge, prevent epidemics and disasters, and improve the average lifespan of the entire nation!
This was the true application of shinobi as extraordinary productivity!
Using the sharpest knife to chop firewood is a waste.
But if this firewood can ignite the hearths of the entire nation, then it is more valuable than slaying any kage-level expert!
Today, he wanted to show everyone what the shinobi, this knife, could do in his hands.
Gathering the Shadow Guard and Kurokaze at the same time was to make them understand that whoever could better solve his problems would live better.
Competition is always the best tool for improving efficiency.
The carriage passed through the bustling commercial district and entered the dilapidated west of the city.
The scent of perfume and food in the air gradually gave way to sweat and dust.
The roadsides were full of makeshift shacks.
After passing through this area, the carriage stopped in front of a desolate open space.
At the edge of the open space, two groups of people were already waiting, clearly separated.
On the left were seven black-clad shinobi with fierce auras, none other than the Kurokaze clan.
Constantly having their life force absorbed by Danzo, this once great clan had long since dwindled.
After their clansmen sent to the Land of Lightning left, only these few remained.
Even so, the longing in their eyes remained strong.
On the right were eight Shadow Guard with restrained auras. They were the earth release masters among the Shadow Guard.
The leader of the Kurokaze clan saw Shin and immediately stepped forward, kneeling heavily on one knee. "Kurokaze clan, earth release squad, all present, awaiting your command, my lord!"
The Kurokaze shinobi behind him knelt in unison.
On the other side, the leader of the Shadow Guard also knelt silently. His movements were precise. "Shadow Guard earth release team, here by order, my lord."
Shin's gaze swept over the two groups of people, ignoring them.
He walked slowly to the center of the wasteland and stomped hard, indeed feeling a sense of hollowness.
He squatted down and grabbed a handful of soil.
As the Ministry of Works had said, the soil quality was poor, with high sand content and plenty of moisture.
"Tell me your survey results." Shin asked without turning his head.
"Reporting, my lord, I have investigated with secret techniques." The leader of the Shadow Guard immediately spoke. His voice was calm and precise. "Within 10 meters underground, it is all this quicksand-like soil layer. Further down is a hard rock layer."
"I believe this place is unsuitable for building houses."
The leader of the Kurokaze immediately added. His tone was unwilling. "My lord, if one wishes to build houses here, one must first dig out all 10 meters of quicksand and then refill it with hard stone. The amount of work is too great..."
"Even if we use earth release ninjutsu, it would be difficult to complete in a short time."
The Shadow Guard was responsible for analysis, and the Kurokaze for assessing the difficulty of execution.
Eyes and knife, clearly divided tasks.
Shin stood up, brushed the dirt from his hands. "So, you also think this place is not suitable for building houses?"
"We... are incompetent, my lord."
The heads of both groups hung even lower.
Shin did not speak.
He gazed at the vast land, silent for a long time.
Then he slowly spoke. His voice was calm, but every word hit the ground with weight.
"I will only ask you one question."
"If I can transform these 10 meters of quicksand into rock layers, all within one day."
"Do you have the confidence to directly shape all the walls and foundations of the houses with earth release within half a month?"