Ohnoki looked at the disciple in front of him and had to admit that he was indeed moved by this disciple. He had a natural charm that made people around him submit to him.
"It's not easy to realize what you said. Do you have a detailed plan?"
At dusk in Iwagakure Village, the heavy stone door of the Tsuchikage's office blocked out the hustle and bustle of the outside world, leaving only the light of the setting sun slanting in, stretching Ōnoki's short but mountainous figure and casting its shadow on the huge bamboo hat pattern that symbolized the Tsuchikage's authority.
He crossed his hands on the stone table, but his eyes were fixed on Chi Chen in front of the table.
Chi Chen stood straight. His six-year-old body seemed frail in the face of such a huge responsibility, but he had been prepared for it.
"Teacher, we must make good use of this war!"
"'Utilize'?" Ōnoki's eyes were inquiring. "Tell me, how do you plan to 'utilize' this storm? How will you convince the daimyo and those bloated nobles to willingly open their wallets?"
Chi Chen took a deep breath. He knew that the real test had come. He had come up with a plan long before he regarded the village as his home. It was a plan that was enough to challenge the entire ninja world, but he had to take it slowly.
"Teacher, the war broke out because of 'lack of resources' and 'insecurity'. This is true for the Wind Country, and it's also true for our Earth Country. War is a challenge to us, but it's also an opportunity to force change."
"We need to take advantage of this crisis in four steps! First and foremost, we need to reassure the people with food."
"The Land of Earth has scarce arable land and is severely eroded by wind and sand. Traditional land reclamation methods won't yield results in a short period of time. My plan is to start with a rock ladder demonstration project, starting with a small initiative and expanding it to a larger scale."
"The location should be somewhere near the Iwagakure Village. It should be a larger area and directly managed by the Iwagakure Village."
"Gather some earth-style ninjas to carry out large-scale land transformation. Once completed, we will hand it over to the recruited refugees or poor farmers to rent and cultivate according to the village regulations. Iwagakure will provide basic farming tools and high-quality seeds that are drought-resistant and barren-resistant. We can only collect a very small portion of the tax, which will definitely attract many people from the surrounding areas."
"We're creating a tangible model. In times of war, it'll also serve as a military rations reserve; in normal times, it'll attract refugees and showcase Iwagakure's governance capabilities. The yield doesn't need to be astonishing; as long as it's stable, far exceeding that of the barren slopes, it'll be a huge success! Then we can conduct further trials and expand our impact!"
Ōnoki nodded slightly, his knuckles tapping unconsciously on the table. "It's a pragmatic idea. The Iwagakure Village can handle this on its own, but it might be a little more difficult financially."
Chi Chen had made preparations. Of course, the money would be given by the daimyo and others, but the name had to be changed. The ownership of this pilot project must be in the hands of the village, otherwise would Yanyin Village become a construction team?
Moreover, those nobles are not so easy to talk to. Over the years, the daimyo and the nobles he represents have always been the blood-sucking leeches of this world. They have no power but have money. This is really a distorted worldview!
But he will not expose himself. He will slowly erode and accumulate his strength.
"We can build the road! Let the daimyo and nobles pay for it!"
"War is fought on logistics! Most of the cities in the Land of Earth are surrounded by mountains, making transportation inconvenient and the transportation of materials extremely inefficient. This has led to the fact that commerce in our Land of Earth is not very developed, which results in very low commercial taxes. Building roads can be used as trade routes during normal times, which is what the nobles want to see. Nobles with ideals will support us!"
Ohnoki's eyes flashed, and a calculating smile appeared on the corner of his mouth: "Okay! Don't worry about this. The current daimyo has an old relationship with me. I will do my best to convince him."
"The third and most important step is to develop our own unique industries as Iwagakure."
"We are poor, but we have mines. It was just inconvenient to transport them before. Now that we can build roads, we naturally want to use these mines. However, just selling the mines won't get us far. We also need to develop some of our own industries, with our Iwagakure Village taking the lead in injecting capital. This will also be the village's cash cow in the future. Once we have results, we can pave the way step by step."
"In the fourth step, we must use the 'point' to lead the overall situation and fight for the right to speak." Chi Chen's voice was sharp beyond his age.
"Teacher, the core of these three plans lies in 'pilot' and 'Iwagakure leadership'!"
"In three years, we don't need to, and it's impossible for us to, change the entire Land of Earth. What we need is to achieve irrefutable results on these key 'points'! Win the hearts and minds of the daimyo and all the people of the Land of Earth and let them see that in these troubled times, only the Iwagakure Village has the ability and determination to provide true protection and development for this land and its common people! The Land of Earth doesn't just belong to the nobles and ninjas, but also to the common people. They are the true foundation!"
"It would be best if these big names could allocate funds, but if they don't, then it's not their decision!"
A long silence fell in the office. Ōnoki leaned back in the large stone chair, his fingers, etched with the marks of time, pausing their tapping. He gazed at his disciple with a complex gaze: shock, admiration, and a sense of joy at the prospect of the future.
"Well done!" Ohnoki's voice was deep and powerful, with a rock-like heaviness. "Akachen, you have grasped the roots of Iwagakure. I am truly honored to have you as my apprentice."
He suddenly stood up and walked in front of Chi Chen. Although he was short, his imposing manner was as if he was rising from the ground.
"War is destruction, but also opportunity! It forces us to use our strength to carve out a way to survive and to consolidate our foundation!" His rough but warm big hands pressed heavily on Chi Chen's small shoulders, conveying silent trust and heavy expectations.
"This is the true 'Will of Stone'! Rooted in the earth, bearing the weight of a thousand things! This plan is great! Excellent!"
Ohnoki turned and strode back to the table, picking up a document he had prepared long ago—Chichen's Genin Graduation and Special Promotion Order. He signed his name with a vigorous and powerful hand, then solemnly handed it to Chichen.
"Red Dust!" Ohnoki's voice was filled with unquestionable determination. "Your ninja school career ends here! From this moment on, you are a Genin of the Iwagakure Village, joining the Anbu, codenamed 'Rock!' This is also your first S-rank mission—"
His gaze was as sharp as a torch. "Follow me to meet the daimyo! Polish a plan for the daimyo and the nobles, and convince the daimyo and the group of greedy foxes around him! Your eyes should observe the prosperity and decay of the royal capital; your ears should listen to the schemes of the nobles and the sighs of the common people! Only when you truly understand the current situation of this country, make your choice, and live it out with your life! Only then will you be qualified to wear this symbolic hat of the Tsuchikage in the future!"
Chi Chen took a deep breath. He reached out his hands and steadily took the thin document. The rough edges of the paper rubbed against his fingertips, yet it felt heavier than anything else. This was more than just a graduation permit; it was the key to responsibility and the future, a ticket to a silent yet crucial battle.
"Yes! Teacher!"
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