Earth Province.
The once dilapidated and crowded Iwagakure had long since been completely leveled.
Rising in its place now was a grand, gigantic stone city.
Its hundred-meter-high walls were made entirely of hard obsidian, seamlessly fused into one whole.
Ōnoki stood at the very top of the city wall, leaning on his cane.
As the old man stood in the wind, his once-hunched back had miraculously straightened quite a bit.
He looked down at the broad, level main road below.
Countless caravans loaded with ore and local products stretched like a long dragon, passing through without end.
Shops lined the streets, and their hawking could be heard from far away.
Such vibrant prosperity would have been nothing but a dream three years ago.
Kitsuchi held a meat sandwich bigger than his face, chewing away in huge bites.
Standing beside Ōnoki, he muttered indistinctly as he chewed.
"Dad, life is incredible now."
"It's hundreds of times better than what we had back in Iwagakure!"
"Those agricultural ninjas from the Empire are amazing. How is this flour so chewy?"
As he said that,
Kitsuchi took another huge bite.
Hearing his son's pathetic remarks,
Ōnoki immediately flew into a rage.
He spun around, swung his cane backhandedly, and smacked Kitsuchi on the calf.
"Bang!"
A dull thud rang out.
"Eat, eat, eat!"
"All you know is eating!"
"How did I end up with such a useless glutton for a son?!"
Ōnoki's eyes bulged as his beard bristled upward.
Kitsuchi grimaced in pain and hurriedly backed away.
Yet one hand still shielded the half-eaten meat sandwich.
"Dad, why are you hitting me?!"
"I'm not wrong! Life really is good now!"
"Of course I know life has improved!"
"I'm angry because you're such a disappointment!"
Ōnoki jabbed his cane fiercely into the ground, furious at