Earth Release Builds Houses

A pot was set up at the village entrance.

Itachi and the others helped several old men sit on the ground. Several young, able-bodied men nearby, however, had several huge bumps on their heads.

They hadn't expected these young people to be so formidable.

Before long, the scent of meat spread from the iron pot. Itachi was also seasoning it with mushrooms he'd gathered and the appropriate spices.

Especially the huge pile of snake meat they'd killed in Dragon Cave—it finally came in handy.

Of course, in these mountains and wilderness, hunting a deer was a relatively simple task for ninjas like them.

"Let the elderly eat first, then the adults and children."

Itachi directed the crowd and settled these pitiful villagers down.

In truth, most of them were law-abiding citizens. They'd only resorted to such acts out of desperation.

In troubled times, human lives were cheaper than grass.

That was exactly the kind of situation where lives were ruined everywhere, forcing people to chew bark and eat Guanyin clay.

"We've met good people!"

"Thank you!"

"Who would've thought someone so young could be this remarkable?"

"We've met living bodhisattvas!"

Being able to drink a mouthful of hot soup was already enough to make them thank heaven and earth. Who could've imagined there would even be venison? The fat lamb on the roasting rack was crisp on the outside and tender within.

Izumi hadn't expected the boy's cooking skills to be so astonishing. Sure enough, you couldn't judge a book by its cover.

After all, given Itachi's status, there was no need for him to cook personally.

Keeping one's hands out of household chores was the usual image of a young master like him.

But now, she'd truly gained a new respect for him.

Izumi suddenly felt that aside from being a bit of a chauvinistic jerk, this boy was practically perfect. Still, being straightforward was better than being like some scumbag who was fickle and unreliable.

"Then eat slowly, old man."

Itachi sat down. Watching these people, barely clothed and barely fed, wolf down the food, he didn't know why, but a strange warmth filled his heart.

It was as though something was slowly flowing out from within his hardened heart, nourishing it.

"Mm-hm."

Watching these refugees of war devour their food, Itachi felt awful.

But in troubled times, whose fate wasn't equally miserable?

During the Ninja World War, even children had to take the field.

"Let's rest here for a while. As for the houses..."

After thinking for a moment, Itachi formed a hand seal. The ground suddenly rumbled, and several stone houses rose directly from an open patch of land.

Rough stone slabs had been piled into the shape of pavilions, with painted beams and carved railings above winding covered corridors.

[Ninjutsu, Stone Pavilion]

This was a power he'd comprehended after gaining the corresponding affinity in Dragon Cave. Though it couldn't compare to Yamato's Wood Release two-bedroom apartment, it was still enough to shield them from wind and rain.

And these houses were sturdy!

"Wow!"

Izumi and the others cried out in surprise. Their captain really was an all-around warmhearted man. Were they really here to do a mission? Anyone who didn't know better would think they were here on vacation.

"I didn't know you could do that."

Miki Nagi's eyes sparkled. That was way too cool.

He was practically a treasure of a man, like every woman's dream husband.

"Just a lucky trick."

Itachi smiled and didn't explain further.

Keeping his achievements and reputation hidden, he called his teammates into the houses. They still had to travel tomorrow and needed to reach their destination within five days. But when he turned around—

The villagers beside them suddenly dropped to their knees with a smack.

They looked as though they had witnessed a god descending to earth, thoroughly frightening Itachi and the others.

"Please get up, elders. What's wrong? Please, get up. We can't accept this."

Itachi and the others were dumbfounded. Shouldn't everyone have dispersed after eating and drinking their fill? What was this about?

Seeing them weep so bitterly, they suddenly felt as though they were being roasted over a fire, needles pricking their backs.

"Lord Ninja, you must uphold justice for us!!"

An old man spoke in a trembling voice, as if he had suffered an enormous grievance.

Before he could even begin, the clansmen beside him had already started sobbing.

"I was once a humble man living on the outskirts of a remote city. I had a house and fields, and life was happy beyond compare. But then that dog of a village chief, cruel and unreasonable, colluded with the authorities and acted as though no one else mattered. He seized my house and took my land. When my grandfather confronted him, he was beaten flat with a single blow. When my grandmother cursed him for bullying innocent people, he had her dragged into the Tang residence. She was violated a hundred times, a hundred times. In the end, she hanged herself, leaving behind her regrets in this world. Then he drove my father and me from our home, leaving us to wander by the river..."

Hearing this, Itachi froze where he stood.

What kind of act was this? After listening for so long, were they asking him to stand up for them?

But those lines sounded strangely familiar...

Were they asking him to help them reclaim the land that originally belonged to them from the local tyrants and bullies?

But that would cause unnecessary trouble. If the daimyo found out, he might blame them. Given the Uchiha Clan's current precarious position, Itachi couldn't add more trouble at such a critical moment.

Sometimes, when people were swept up in a great current, how could everything possibly go their way?

Itachi felt helpless as well.

Besides, punishing evil and rewarding good wasn't something they could do based on their own preferences. Ninjas were only responsible for carrying out missions. They hadn't received an assignment from Lord Hokage or accepted a commission from the mission hall.

Doing such things on their own—

Was not in accordance with the ninja code.

They absolutely couldn't set such a precedent. If everyone could act on impulse, bypass commissions, and play the hero, then in the end, they would only be wandering vigilantes, not ninjas at all.

Much less be valued and entrusted with important responsibilities.

"Itachi, why don't we help them? Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for life. Once we leave, these pitiful villagers will probably have no choice but to starve to death."

Hinata Bai was the first to urge Itachi. With him taking the lead—

Izumi and the others quickly chimed in as well. As the captain, Itachi immediately found himself in a difficult position.

This really was a hard problem.

"Let's rest for the night and discuss this tomorrow."

Itachi couldn't exactly refuse outright. He sighed softly. Seeing that he hadn't agreed, the villagers exchanged glances, then burst into loud sobs and rushed forward to cling to his legs.

They kept muttering that if he didn't agree, they might as well die.

Only those who had experienced such a scene could understand just how awkward it was.

"How about this? I'll build you houses first so you can settle down. It might rain tonight..."

Itachi nodded and was just about to form a hand seal when an arrow suddenly shot toward them, embedding itself in the doorframe with a loud hum.

The arrow had passed only a finger's breadth from his face.