In the Hokage's Office, a huge topographical map of Konoha was spread out on the central floor.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, and Uchiha Kagami sat on the floor, gathered around the map.
"Danzo, your plan is very bold. In terms of the general direction, I completely agree," Sarutobi Hiruzen began with an affirmation. He knew that when dealing with someone as proud as Danzo, he couldn't just dismiss his ideas outright.
Danzo's expression softened slightly, and he sat up a little straighter.
"However, the devil is in the details." Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up a red pen and drew a few circles on the map. "Let's do a sandbox simulation."
He pointed to an area that Danzo had planned out and asked, "Look, you've planned the new commercial street and residential area together. The idea is good, as it's convenient for the villagers to shop. But have you considered that many shops on the commercial street, like taverns and barbecue restaurants, will be open late into the night? Will the noise affect the rest of the ninja in the adjacent residential area, who need to sleep early and wake up early for missions the next day?"
Danzo was stunned.
He had only thought about convenience and had completely overlooked the problem of noise pollution.
"And here," Sarutobi Hiruzen's pen pointed to another spot. "The drainage system you've planned is mainly to deal with stagnant water during the rainy season. The idea is right. But have you thought about where the daily domestic sewage produced by the villagers, like water from washing vegetables and bathing, will go? If it's also discharged into this ditch, won't the whole village stink to high heaven in the summer? Mosquitoes will breed, and it could even cause a plague."
"This..."
Fine beads of sweat began to form on Danzo's forehead.
He had only thought about drainage and had not considered the concept of "sewage disposal" at all.
"The most important point," Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression became serious, and his pen drew several heavy red lines between the densely packed houses that Danzo had planned on the map.
"Over ninety percent of the buildings in Konoha are made of wood. Building the houses so densely can indeed accommodate more people. But what if, and I mean what if, one of the houses catches fire?"
"The fire will be fanned by the wind, and the wind will strengthen the fire. In such a dense cluster of buildings, once a fire starts, it will spread at a speed we can't imagine. By the time our Water Release ninja react, the losses will be enormous."
Every question from Sarutobi Hiruzen struck Danzo's heart heavily.
Danzo's face had turned from white to green.
Uchiha Kagami was also shocked.
He looked at Sarutobi Hiruzen, his eyes filled with admiration.
Lord Hokage's perspective on problems was always on a level that was completely beyond their reach.
While they were still thinking about how to build more and stronger houses, Lord Hokage was already considering noise, sanitation, and fire safety.
This wisdom, this foresight... Uchiha Kagami felt more and more that following such a leader was the most correct choice the Uchiha clan, and he himself, had ever made.
Seeing his two capable subordinates stunned by his questions, Sarutobi Hiruzen cleared his throat and began his "masterclass."
"So, the first thing a well-planned village needs to do is functional zoning."
He picked up his pen and drew several large areas on the map.
"Look, we can divide the village into several different parts. For example, here, near the center of the village with convenient transportation, we can designate it as a commercial district, specifically for shops and businesses."
"Here, the environment is quiet, far from the main roads, so it will be the residential area."
"The Hokage building, the Ninja Academy, the hospital—these are the core institutions of the village. They can be concentrated together to form an administrative and educational district."
"As for those that produce noise and pollution, like the ninja tool forge and the military ration pill factory, we can move them all to the downwind side of the village and establish an industrial zone."
"Different areas have different functions and do not interfere with each other. This is the only way to ensure the orderly operation of the entire village."
Functional zoning?
Danzo and Kagami listened to this unheard-of term, their eyes widening, as if the door to a new world had been opened.
"Then, there's the sewer system," Sarutobi Hiruzen drew a few more lines. "We need to build two independent pipe networks. One is the surface drainage channel, specifically for rainwater. The other is the underground sewage pipe, which will collect all the domestic sewage from the residents and lead it to a designated location downstream of the village for centralized treatment. This is the only way to ensure a clean and hygienic environment within the village."
"Finally, and most importantly, the fire lanes!" Sarutobi Hiruzen's tone became extremely solemn. "When planning the residential area, we must leave a sufficiently wide road at regular intervals. These roads can serve as alleys for the villagers to walk in normal times, but at critical moments, they are the life-saving passages that can isolate a fire and save countless lives!"
Residential area, commercial district, industrial zone... sewer system... fire lanes...
One epoch-making concept after another came from Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth, completely subverting the understanding of Danzo and Uchiha Kagami.
They looked at the orderly, scientific, and reasonable blueprint for the future of Konoha that Sarutobi Hiruzen was outlining on the map. Their eyes changed from initial doubt to shock, and finally, to fervent admiration.
"So... a village can be built like this..." Danzo murmured to himself. He felt that his dozens of pages of plans were just a pile of waste paper.
"Alright, that's it for the theory class," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile as he stood up. He handed the planning map, which he had modified beyond recognition, to Danzo.
"Danzo, the specific execution is up to you."
Danzo took the drawing as if it were a priceless treasure.
He turned and rushed out of the office, muttering excitedly, "Sewer system... fire lanes... functional zoning... I get it! I completely get it! Hiruzen, you just wait. I will definitely build you the number one village in the ninja world!"
Uchiha Kagami looked at Danzo's fanatical back, then at Lord Hokage, who had calmly sat back down in his chair to drink his tea. Only three words remained in his heart.
A man of god.
Sarutobi Hiruzen picked up the already cold tea on the table, took a sip, and thought to himself, "The first step in infrastructure is to get the thinking straight."
"Now that the village's hardware construction is settled, it's time to look at the software construction."
His gaze turned towards the Ninja Academy.
"It's time to water and loosen the soil for these young seedlings of Konoha."
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