Qingshui found the celebration banquet rather dull.
At least the holiday TV specials in the DC Universe were quite entertaining, and with a fortune in the tens of billions, Qingshui could enjoy most of the entertainment that world had to offer.
Still, the lively atmosphere wasn't bad, and this celebration banquet was only semi-recreational, also carrying a certain political significance.
Sasori, however, clearly disliked such occasions. After staying for a while and finding it uninteresting, he left midway to continue researching his Puppets at home.
Qingshui and Pakura, on the other hand, stayed.
As newly promoted young Jonin from this war, they were to go on stage and receive commendation from the Third Kazekage—Pakura would officially receive her Jonin assignment after today.
The Second Great Ninja War had raged for so many years, and the Sand Village's high-level combat strength had suffered considerable losses. The Third Kazekage intended to use these young, newly promoted Jonin to inform the Ninja World that the Sand Village still possessed sufficient power to stabilize the situation, and to inform the Daimyo that the Sand Village now had the strength to continue protecting the Land of Wind.
Before that, there was also a slightly performative final of the Chunin Exams.
Qingshui was quite interested at first, as he saw several former classmates from the Ninja Academy among the participants.
However, he soon resumed chatting with Pakura.
There wasn't much to see in a "rookie fight." If these individuals had the potential to continue growing, there would naturally be opportunities to get to know them later.
After the Chunin Exam finals and the Jonin commendation ceremony, the Third Kazekage began to announce a series of post-war arrangements that had been planned at the Jonin assembly.
This included matters related to canal construction and the Canal Construction Leadership Group.
The preliminary preparations and investigations had largely concluded, and this matter was finally on the right track.
"In summary, the construction of the water transport system connecting the Land of Wind and the Land of Rain will officially commence after the New Year. Related personnel deployment and construction progress will be uniformly arranged by the Canal Construction Leadership Group. This temporary group will be equivalent to a first-level department within the village, with myself serving as the head, and Jonin Qingshui of the Puppet Force serving as the deputy head..."
As the Third Kazekage spoke eloquently from the high platform, many eyes turned to Qingshui, who was sitting next to Pakura.
As the youngest Jonin since the founding of the Sand Village, and a disciple of Elder Chiyo and Ebizo, Qingshui had some renown. Even Jonin who weren't close to Qingshui generally knew who he was.
This incredibly young man, to everyone's surprise, had suddenly taken on such an important position!
The Third Kazekage had governed for many years, acting cautiously. He would absolutely not have entrusted such an important task to Qingshui simply because he was a disciple of the two elders.
After all, they had just heard the general outline of this grand plan from the Third Kazekage.
The Third Kazekage would oversee the entire situation, and his role as the head of the group was certainly to lend support to it. Therefore, the actual work would surely fall to the other leading members of the group.
Chiyo and Ebizo were certainly qualified to be leading members, but given their status, they didn't need the Third Kazekage to step in and support them.
Since Qingshui was placed in this position, it indicated that his role was irreplaceable, and perhaps the entire plan even originated from him!
Many Jonin recalled the report the Third Kazekage had asked them to write last year, right after the negotiations concluded.
Qingshui had connections, talent, and strength. To become a Jonin at his age, he would likely become a Kage-level powerhouse in the future. Therefore, for those ambitious ninja, fostering a good relationship with Qingshui seemed very necessary.
Thus, at the banquet held after the speech, many ninja, and even nobles from the Land of Wind, approached Qingshui to converse.
The construction of the canal would undoubtedly be a momentous undertaking for the Land of Wind, and people would certainly seek to gain credit and benefits from it.
And there wasn't much risk involved.
To participate, it was essential to establish a good relationship with Qingshui.
Fortunately, the Transparent World was a technique concerning spiritual cultivation, not an innate ability. Qingshui had long ago synchronized with his Avatar from the Demon Slayer World, and combined with the precise physical control granted by the Mind Illumination Technique, his acting skills reached a new level. The professional, fake smile on his face made everyone feel at ease.
The celebration banquet continued until midnight before finally concluding.
...
A week later, in the early morning.
At the First Line Gorge entrance of the Sand Village.
The Third Kazekage, Chiyo, and over a dozen powerful elders and high-ranking officials of the Sand Village were seeing off the Sand Village's envoy delegation.
"I've given you all the people you requested. It's just that on the financial side, the Daimyo remains unyielding. While ensuring the village's development, I can only provide a budget of sixteen billion Ryo at most."
The Third Kazekage, wearing his Kage robes, gripped Qingshui's hands as he explained.
"Sixteen billion should be enough, Lord Kazekage. If it truly isn't, we can always try to 'borrow' a little from Lord Hanzo."
Qingshui calculated in his mind, then smiled at the Third Kazekage.
The Third Kazekage raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Hanzo is not an easy person to deal with. Even with Elder Ebizo backing you, don't go too far with certain things."
"It's fine. According to our plan, this will greatly promote economic and transport ties between the Land of Rain and the Land of Wind. If Hanzo truly cares for the Land of Rain and wishes for his nation to prosper, he certainly won't refuse the construction of this canal. It benefits them too. We just need to explain the advantages and disadvantages, and let Lord Hanzo decide for himself.
If Hanzo disagrees, and the funds are indeed insufficient, we can also invite some wealthy nobles and merchants to invest, by promising them a share of the tariff profits once the canal is built. That would surely attract investment."
The Third Kazekage thought for a few seconds, then nodded slightly.
"That's also a compromise, but it's best not to resort to it unless absolutely necessary. Otherwise, it will lead to many unnecessary troubles and entanglements later on."
"I understand, Lord Kazekage."
Qingshui nodded to the Third Kazekage.
The latter reciprocated with a nod, then looked at Ebizo, handing him the ceremonial staff.
The purpose of this delegation's trip to the Land of Rain was to select the starting point for the canal and begin preliminary engineering work.
And operating within the Land of Rain would undoubtedly involve Hanzo's Rain Village. To avoid misunderstandings, it was best to openly send an envoy delegation to negotiate with Hanzo.
This required someone of sufficient standing, who could be on par with or close to Hanzo in terms of status, to speak with him.
Ebizo was that person.
He would serve as the chief envoy, and Qingshui as the deputy envoy.
"Elder Ebizo, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Leave it to this old man, don't worry."
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