Some artsy girls liked rainy days because lines like, "If I can't find an umbrella I like, I'd rather get soaked in the rain," drifted through their minds, or sorrowful sentences such as, "When it rains, I like standing in the rain so no one will notice me crying."
But Konan, who was full of artistic charm, had no feelings about rainy days at all. She stood on a rooftop as rain struck her body, and the black Akatsuki Cloak patterned with red clouds looked a little more pure on her. In the entire Akatsuki organization, only Konan could wear it with that sort of feeling. She was neither as restrained as Itachi, as lonely as Sasori, nor as wild as Hidan.
After standing there for a while, countless sheets of white paper drifted from Konan's body. They formed a pair of wings and lifted her into the air. She slowly landed on that same mountaintop. She liked this place. On the cliff opposite her, an orchid swayed in the rain.
A figure leaped over from afar. After landing behind her, he dropped to one knee and respectfully called out, "Divine Messenger Lord!" Konan knew this man was named Honma. He had originally been a warrior of the Land of Rain, but after Nagato defeated Hanzō, he had surrendered along with the main force.
"How are the refugees doing now?" Konan's voice remained cold and clear.
"The Prime Minister of the Land of Fire arrived six days ago. He brought a large amount of food and has already settled the refugees. However, he was assassinated shortly after arriving in Muchuan County. The prime minister was unharmed, while the assassin escaped. Five days ago, the prime minister mobilized the refugees to work together. They planned to dig a river and completely resolve the floods..." Honma kept his head lowered. After Konan asked, he explained everything one matter at a time, seemingly without any intention of concealing anything.
"Did you find out who did it?" Konan asked with a slight frown.
"No." Honma shook his head and said, "The prime minister investigated for two days before letting the matter drop. We investigated in secret and suspect... suspect it may have been the remnants of Hanzō's forces."
"Hanzō..." Hearing that name, Konan's heart ached. Although Nagato had avenged Yahiko, death was death. He would never come back. She said coldly, "Keep investigating. Dig out those rats!"
"Yes!" Honma nodded vigorously, while Konan once again spread her paper wings and left.
Before Tamamachi Seiyo arrived, Ming Jing had led the refugees in building public latrines and bathhouses, while also organizing everyone to clean up the camp. You had been assigned to investigate the assassin, but after several days, there had been no progress. Ming Jing stopped paying attention to it. After all, his energy was limited, and since the assassin had failed this time, he would definitely come again. As for Hizashi Hyuga? He was still "comprehending" in the government office...
On the sixth day, Tamamachi Seiyo, whom Ming Jing had been awaiting for so long, finally arrived. When the old man stepped down from the carriage, Ming Jing hurried over, grabbed him, and said excitedly, "You're finally here!"
"Haha, I'm finally here!" Tamamachi Seiyo nodded knowingly. Ming Jing had previously said they would lead the refugees to dig a canal, but nearly a week had passed without any work beginning, and people had begun to grow restless. Now that Tamamachi Seiyo had arrived, everything could finally return to the right track. How could Ming Jing not be happy?
At that moment, Asuma also walked over and said emotionally as he looked at Ming Jing, "We hurried along the entire way and still arrived a little early in the end. Luckily, the journey was smooth. No bandits or robbers set their sights on us."
"Thank you for your hard work, Captain." Ming Jing said gratefully.
"It was nothing. I just hope we didn't delay your plans." Asuma shook his head.
"How could you have delayed anything? You arrived at exactly the right time!" Ming Jing smiled, then turned to Tamamachi Seiyo and asked somewhat embarrassedly, "Can you still hold up?"
"No problem!" Tamamachi Seiyo stopped his granddaughter from speaking and confidently patted his chest.
"Good. Let's take a look at the terrain first. We'll begin however you say we should!" Ming Jing nodded happily. This was no time for empty politeness.
Thus, Tamamachi Seiyo, Asuma, Tamamachi Kiki, Ming Jing, Qing Yan, and an elderly local man set off together. They first climbed to high ground and surveyed the area below. Tamamachi Seiyo held a map and ruler in his hands, taking measurements from time to time before writing and drawing on the map. Ming Jing did not understand such professional matters. Only when Tamamachi Seiyo asked about the terrain would he answer alongside the local elder.
The group climbed nearly every mountain around Muchuan County, except for one outside the county. Even when night fell, Tamamachi Seiyo did not suggest returning. Instead, he measured the wind speed and direction atop the mountain. By the time he finished, it was already midnight. Everyone hurried back to the government office, and Ming Jing immediately had food brought out. Without caring about appearances, the group grabbed whatever they could and began eating.
"Whew... I've actually been to Muchuan County before and taken measurements here. Today, I merely checked them again to see whether anything had changed after all these years. The good news is that the terrain has not changed much. The bad news is that there's a mountain in front of the river route." After eating and drinking his fill, Tamamachi Seiyo spoke.
"You mean we need to move a mountain?" Ming Jing asked, setting down his bowl and chopsticks.
"Yes, a mountain seven hundred meters above sea level." Tamamachi Seiyo nodded.
"What about going around it?" Ming Jing asked with a frown. Who in this world could accomplish that now? The shut-ins across in the Land of Rain could do it, but why would they help?
"Then we'll have to redraw the river route." Tamamachi Seiyo replied.
Ming Jing felt too tired to discuss the matter any further today, so he said, "How about this? First plan out the previous river route and get started. We'll go take a look at that mountain. If it truly won't work, we'll go around it!"
"That won't be a problem, but we need to hurry! I estimate we'll have to face it in half a month." Tamamachi Seiyo dipped a finger in his cup, drew on the tabletop for a while, and spoke.
"Alright! Everyone is tired today, so get some rest early! There's plenty of work tomorrow too. You've all worked hard during this time." Ming Jing nodded and looked at everyone. Only then did they finally show a little restraint, saying it was all as it should be, before following several clerks away to rest.
Ming Jing had arranged all of their rooms. Asuma's room and Hizashi Hyuga's room were positioned at opposite corners. Those two should not meet for the time being.
As soon as dawn broke the next day, Ming Jing dragged Asuma out. Before leaving, he summoned Yamashita Taiji and told the old man that the canal project had been fully entrusted to Tamamachi Seiyo, asking him to cooperate well. Naturally, Yamashita Taiji had no objections. The two old men worked together quite efficiently.
Ming Jing, Asuma, and Qing Yan traveled all the way to the foot of the mountain. Asuma asked, "Ming Jing, what's your plan? This mountain really is in the way!"
"Let's go up and take a look first! By the way, could Lord Hokage destroy this mountain with his strength?" Ming Jing suddenly asked.
"Um..." Asuma thought about it. If the Third Hokage were ten years younger, he might really have been able to do it! But using a ninja's power for something like this was not exactly wrong, yet it still felt rather strange!
"Haha, anyway, let's go up and take a look first!" Ming Jing smiled, unconcerned by Asuma's awkwardness. When the three climbed to the summit, they immediately understood why Tamamachi Seiyo wanted to deal with this mountain. The other side of the mountain was hilly terrain. With a few alterations, it could become a river route.
"Captain, what rank of mission do you think would be appropriate for asking the Third Hokage to come and blow up this mountain?" Ming Jing looked at Asuma and asked.
"Stop joking around. The Third Hokage is already so old. How can he leave Konoha?" Asuma rolled his eyes.
Before you continue