It was the 53rd year of Konoha, or the 3rd year of the Northern Lands.
Pakura leaned against Orochimaru's chest, observing the lingering sensual atmosphere in the air and surroundings, indicating that the two had just engaged in vigorous activity.
After the rain stopped, Orochimaru took out a cigarette and lit it for himself.
"You only know how to bully me!"
Pakura playfully punched Orochimaru, her body shrinking further into his arms.
The latter didn't mind at all, and his gaze towards her softened even more.
"The Dragon Vein has been moved back, so please pay close attention to this matter!"
Entering "Sage Mode," pulling up your pants makes you speak with confidence.
There's no other way; it's better to develop this sooner rather than later. Once we have the Dragon Vein, we can develop a series of technological devices based on it.
The Dragon Vein is two kilometers long; to be more precise, it is a small mountain range.
Orochimaru and his clone traveled slowly and furtively for three months before finally managing to bring it back.
Of course, something this big can't avoid being exposed to light.
However, when combined with the Kirigakure's Cloud Mist Ninjutsu, it wasn't too noticeable.
People just thought it was a dark, heavy cloud, nothing particularly shocking.
"Even you dare not easily break the seal on the Dragon Vein?"
Pakura breathed softly, her face still flushed like a pool of spring water, clearly not yet recovered.
Like cooking oil over a raging fire, who can compare to Orochimaru's physique?
"The power within the Dragon Vein is too violent, enough to distort space and time. Opening it rashly could really cause spatial chaos!"
Orochimaru exhaled a puff of smoke, a hint of weariness in his eyes.
This exhaustion wasn't just from moving the Dragon Vein back; it was also from the numerous matters in the Northern Lands that left him mentally and physically drained.
"Our development has been very rapid, so you need to consider everything!"
The amount of Chakra that's leaked out is enough to sustain our development for a while; there's no need to rush!
Pakura remained as gentle as ever, and the two developed feelings for each other over time. She had already staked her entire future on the Northern Lands.
Orochimaru's hard work is partly due to her; it's a blessing for a successful man to have a woman who understands and supports him.
The two were united as one, moving towards a common goal, or rather, the entire Northern Lands was like that.
"That's the only way. Slowly opening the seal is the safest approach!"
He won't gain weight even from eating a single bite, and with Orochimaru's mastery of Sealing Jutsu, opening the Dragon Vein seal wouldn't be difficult.
The challenge is to make full use of the energy; otherwise, it's a waste.
He was also afraid that he might accidentally time travel, which would be difficult to handle.
After all, he's not alone now; he has a large family and business, and the Northern Lands can't function without him.
If I could travel back in time, great; if I couldn't, I'd really be cursing.
"Go back and practice dancing with Uchiha Madara? Or chat with Kaguya Ōtsutsuki naive Kaguya about the experiences of a seasoned veteran?"
Orochimaru stubbed out his cigarette and stroked Pakura's soft, long hair.
You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household. Orochimaru has brought all his bad habits from his past life with him, managing such a large business.
However, it's not a major problem. He's already under a lot of pressure, and if he doesn't have a way to vent, he might really hurt himself.
The Northern Lands is currently in a period of dormancy, making it difficult to find even a few decent people to fight.
Fortunately, Pakura was there, otherwise, I really don't know how long he could have suppressed it.
"How is the construction of the outer city going?"
While exhaling smoke, Orochimaru asked Pakura a question.
Both of them were somewhat exhausted after the strenuous exercise; Orochimaru had entered Sage Mode, while Pakura looked completely satisfied.
"Unlike the inner city, the outer city has taller buildings, and the decoration and planning are more upscale. It's impossible to complete it in a short time!"
If the Northern Lands wants to become a country with a developed tourism industry like Yugakure, it cannot simply copy that "profiteering" model.
In terms of security, it is still necessary to distinguish between the outer city and the inner city.
The inner city was both a residential area and the center of power and politics.
The outer city was the center of economic development and entertainment; commerce and political power still had to be separated.
There were no high walls separating the inner and outer city; at most, there were only some low walls and roads separating them, which is somewhat similar to the modern second and third ring roads.
Orochimaru had initially considered enclosing it with walls, but after thinking it over, he decided against it.
The ninjas of this world could easily scale the walls, and the low walls were merely a way to regulate the behavior of the residents.
However, this distinction between inside and outside represents different worlds.
The dazzling world outside the city is captivating, but the city itself is where home truly feels.
I imagine that many people will also yearn for life in the city when the time comes.
Some people in the city may yearn for life outside the city, but since there are no high walls separating the two, they can still contribute to the Northern Lands.
"Let's hurry up and try to open it by the middle of next year!"
No sooner had she finished speaking than Pakura punched her again. He was so "gentle" just now, how come he's so rude when he's ordering people around?
There was no way around it; once you pull up your pants, you're more assertive. Orochimaru exhaled smoke rings, put his arm around her slender waist, and looked at her with doting eyes.
"With this kind of spending, even if you captured a few more Daimyo, it wouldn't be enough to satisfy your demands!"
Pakura said with some concern, "In just two or three years, Orochimaru has spent an astronomical amount of money."
Any project is calculated in hundreds of millions of taels. Although in this world, taking on an S-rank mission Fudō millions of taels, it is enough to show that the amount of expenditure is enormous.
"Murderers and arsonists wear golden belts, while those who repair bridges and roads leave no trace!"
Orochimaru couldn't help but sigh, thinking that the wealth he had amassed by conquering various countries would probably be insufficient to cover his expenses within two years.
These small countries didn't have much surplus food to begin with, and the grain they had Kakuzu recovered from the devastation hadn't been stored for long.
Now there are huge expenses again, Kakuzu must be feeling the pain every day during this period.
"Let's open up some trade with other countries first, and then gradually open up the market to the outside world!"
Now that we've developed to a certain point, it's time to expand outwards, starting with clothes, shoes, stockings, and bags.
Orochimaru didn't think it was too late to go out now. With large trucks for hauling goods, a round trip would be much faster than with the old itinerant merchants.
Moreover, it can pull out ten or even dozens of times more material.
These inexpensive items will sell easily. Once the sales channels are established, the goods that have been piling up in the Northern Lands for the past two or three years will be sold off in no time.
Without hesitation, Orochimaru and Pakura discussed the matter in the office, listing more than a dozen items, and then confirming or eliminating them one by one.
In the evening, he convened a meeting with a group of factory managers and Mifune, the temporary worker in charge of logistics.
The first items will be small and lightweight, which take up little space and are easy to sell.
Orochimaru planned to recover his losses first and test the waters. If a large item was shipped out and no one took it, he would be stuck with it.
"Let's issue the escort mission to the mission office. It's time to let the ninjas show their faces!"