Hope Village's base was established in the forest about seventy li from Kirigakure.
This ensured its independence while keeping it easy to stay in contact.
Mei Terumi asked Lin Qing whether he wanted to send people to do the initial development work and build houses and a village.
After thinking it over, Lin Qing refused.
"Not yet."
Hope Village had only a little over thirty survivors. That was far too few to build a village with, and besides—
"I have a new idea," Lin Qing said.
"A new idea?"
Mei Terumi tilted her head slightly. Then she reached into her robes, took out the Mizukage's seal, and tossed it to him.
"Whatever you want to do, just stamp the order yourself. Everyone will cooperate with you."
Lin Qing gave a helpless smile and handed the seal back.
"No need. I was just thinking of finding a well-connected spot in Kirigakure and setting up an open-air night school."
"What will you teach?" Mei Terumi asked.
"Teach..."
Lin Qing considered for a moment. "Whatever people need, that's what we'll teach."
Lin Qing's requirements for the school were modest.
Just an open patch of ground.
A platform, a blackboard, dozens of chairs, and a lamp for lighting at night were enough.
In the end, he chose the clearing where he had killed the Daimyo.
He didn't require anyone to attend. The first class had only the thirty-odd people from Hope Village.
Amber and the others each held a small notebook, listening intently.
A ring of Kirigakure villagers who had finished dinner and gone out for a stroll gathered around the outside, along with ninjas and guests who had attended the victory banquet a few days earlier and had yet to leave.
They were curious about what this man, who had changed Kirigakure's