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Arashi's voice was calm.
But his question made all the Ninja present freeze.
Within a day, transform quicksand ten meters deep into rock?
How would that even be possible?
Who would do it?
Was the Daimyo going to do it himself?
The Shadow Guard leader found the thought absurd.
The Daimyo he served was the ruler of the Land of Fire, a man of exceptional political acumen, but not a practitioner of Ninjutsu.
What was he planning?
Was this an impossible task meant to test their loyalty? Or was he using it to punish the Ministry of Works?
The Shadow Guard leader couldn't help but speculate.
The Kurokaze leader's thoughts were simpler but sharper.
He also had doubts, but he saw this as a test.
If they hesitated or questioned the order, it would mean the complete eradication of the Kurokaze Clan.
A death sentence.
But there was no choice.
The Kurokaze leader took a deep breath, then suddenly stepped forward, dropping to one knee with determination.
"My Lord!"
"As long as you can do it, even if the Kurokaze Clan must sacrifice our lives, we will build your new city within half a month!"
His voice was resolute.
He didn't know how the Daimyo would achieve it, nor did he need to.
This was an opportunity to prove their loyalty.
As their leader declared his stance, the Kurokaze Ninja behind him immediately followed, kneeling in unison.
"We are willing to die for Daimyo-sama!"
Their unified voices shook the air.
The Shadow Guard leader, who had been hesitating, flinched and cursed himself internally.
Whether this was real or just a test, loyalty was what mattered.
The Kurokaze Clan, remnants once labeled as traitors, understood this better than the elite Shadow Guard themselves.
Cold sweat ran down his back.
He dared not delay another second. He immediately knelt down, head bowed deeply.
"Your subordinate accepts the command!"
"We will surely complete the mission!"
Arashi looked at the two kneeling groups, and a faint thought crossed his mind.
Loyalty sometimes needed to be proven.
He said nothing more, simply turned and walked toward the center of the barren land.
All the Ninja remained kneeling, holding their breath, their eyes fixed on him.
Arashi stopped.
He didn't form any hand seals. He merely lifted his right hand gently, then closed his eyes.
The moment he did, the world seemed to fall silent.
An oppressive force descended from above, and the air itself seemed to groan under its weight.
Then they saw it—a pitch-black sphere forming silently in Arashi's palm.
The Kurokaze Ninja, veterans of countless battles, had seen many forbidden techniques.
But never one that made their very souls tremble.
On the other side, the Shadow Guard leader stood frozen.
As a descendant of the Senju Clan, he was highly attuned to life force.
But the power emanating from this black sphere was vast beyond comprehension.
How can he...?
Before he could finish the thought, Arashi released his hand.
The black sphere drifted downward and merged silently with the earth.
The process was quiet.
One second.
Two seconds.
Nothing happened.
Just as the Shadow Guard leader thought it was merely some illusion technique, the ground began to change.
The Kurokaze leader's eyes widened as the sand beneath Arashi's feet started to darken—
From yellow-brown, to deep brown, then to grayish-black.
"Crack… crunch…"
The sound came from beneath his knees.
He looked down in shock to see the sand hardening beneath him.
It was turning into solid rock.
"This… this is…"
The Shadow Guard leader's mind went blank.
He stared as the sandy earth petrified at incredible speed, spreading outward like a tidal wave.
Wherever it reached, dunes and hollows alike were instantly solidified.
When all was still, the entire area—miles wide and ten meters deep—had transformed completely.
The quicksand had vanished.
In its place was a vast, rocky plain.
A miracle.
A true miracle.
"Ah…"
The Kurokaze leader's jaw dropped, an involuntary sound escaping his throat as his whole body trembled.
He understood now.
There was no test. No hidden motive.
They had been naïve—trying to comprehend the will of one who ruled above all.
He was the Daimyo.
Their sovereign.
A presence that felt less like a man… and more like a god.
And the Kurokaze Clan was fortunate enough to be a tool in the hand of that god.
What greater honor could there be?
When everything was done, Arashi clapped his hands lightly, glanced around, and nodded with satisfaction.
"The foundation is laid," Arashi said calmly. "The rest is up to you."
"Remember, half a month."
He walked in front of the Kurokaze leader.
"Build it well, and the best spot on this land will become the new territory for your clan."
"As for the Shadow Guard…"
His gaze shifted toward the pale-faced Shadow Guard Ninja.
"Do well, and each of you will receive an extra year's salary."
With that, Arashi turned and walked toward the distant carriage.
The carriage slowly started, fading into the horizon.
Only the two groups of Ninja remained, still kneeling, unable to rise for a long time.
The wind howled softly.
After an unknown period, the Kurokaze leader finally moved.
He didn't stand. Instead, he bowed deeply toward the direction Arashi had gone.
Then, lifting his head, his eyes burned with fervor.
"Move!" he roared.
"Half a month! Daimyo-sama gave us half a month! This is grace! This is our chance for rebirth!"
"Everyone, move!"
"Go to the Ministry of Works! Go to the city! Gather every craftsman and all available materials!"
"If we fail to complete this mission, we'll die here to repay Daimyo-sama's kindness!"
His madness ignited the Kurokaze like wildfire.
They leapt up, shouting in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.
"Yes!"
The roar jolted the Shadow Guard leader back to his senses.
Seeing the blazing determination of the Kurokaze, and his own hesitant subordinates, shame burned in his chest.
He pushed himself up and gave his orders sharply.
"Deploy personnel!"
"Team One, cordon off the site immediately!"
"Team Two, go to the Ministry of Works for blueprints and manpower coordination!"
"Team Three, handle external security!"
He paused, his eyes sharp as he looked at his men.
"This is Daimyo-sama's command! We are Shadow Guard. We execute orders!"
"Yes!"
The Shadow Guard, as if waking from a trance, sprang into action.
Inside the Daimyo's manor, in the study, Gen had long been waiting.
After serving Arashi his tea, he reported respectfully.
"My Lord, the Twelve Guardian Ninja have arrived in the Fire Capital. They are currently waiting for your summons at the inn."
Arashi took a slow sip of tea.
"Inform them they don't need to see me."
Gen paused slightly.
Having the newly appointed Twelve Guardian Ninja wait without an audience was strange.
But he didn't question it and bowed. "Yes, My Lord."
Arashi continued, "Send them directly to the construction site in the west of the city."
"Tell them that from today onward, they're responsible for overseeing the progress and safety of the project."
"When the houses are built, I'll see them then."
"Tell them this—"
"I hope they understand something from that construction site."
Gen's brows twitched slightly.
Assigning the Guardian Ninja to guard a construction site?
What kind of order was that?
He quickly suppressed his confusion. His Lord often acted in ways beyond comprehension.
"Yes, My Lord. I'll make the arrangements immediately."
In his mind, this was simply a ruler's way of testing his subordinates.
But in Arashi's heart, this was the first lesson for the entire Shinobi world.
He wanted the Ninja to witness with their own eyes how they could truly serve the Land of Fire.
He wanted them to understand that under Daimyo-sama's rule, a Ninja's value would no longer be measured solely by their ability to kill.
And the Twelve Guardian Ninja were to be the first to learn that lesson.
(To be continued.)