Flower Village First Construction Group

By November, the temperature had dropped sharply. The grain and cold-weather supplies Ikeda Masato and the others had purchased from the Land of Fire had arrived only two days earlier.

Giving them away for free was out of the question. Villagers would exchange work points for them.

That would motivate the villagers to work while speeding up the village's development.

Over the next few days, Flower Village held its first emergency drill involving the entire village.

According to the plan, the mobile unit would move first when the warning alarm sounded and check for danger. The villagers would then evacuate to the hills behind the village in an orderly fashion under their team leaders.

In practice, most teams trudged toward the hills without any sense of urgency. Some people even joked and roughhoused as they walked.

Only one team moved quickly and in formation. Its leader knew exactly where they were going, its lookouts stayed alert, and designated members helped the elderly and children. The whole team ran like clockwork.

Moving among the other teams, it stood out immediately.

From his vantage point, Lu Zeming pointed to the team and asked Listening Yulong beside him about it.

"Who's leading that team?"

“That’s the North Second Street team. Their leader is Tsukizaki Yuki.”

"He's good. Have him come see me after the drill."

"Yes!"

The emergency drill did not end until the afternoon, and Lu Zeming was far from satisfied.

Anyone who didn't know better would have thought the villagers were fleeing a famine. They had some organization, but not much.

Still not enough capable people!

That evening, Listening Yulong brought Tsukizaki Yuki to Lu Zeming’s office and knocked on the door.

He was a fair-skinned young man in his twenties, dressed in a pale blue, front-buttoned shirt faded from washing. His manner was composed and courteous.

As Lu Zeming sized him up, the young man sized him up in return.

“You’re Tsukizaki Yuki?”

“Tsukizaki Yuki, leader of the North Second Street team, pays his respects to the village chief!”

Tsukizaki Yuki moved to kneel, but Lu Zeming lifted him from a distance with spiritual power.

“We don’t kneel in Flower Village!”

"Yes!"

"What did you do before? An ordinary tenant farmer wouldn't carry himself like you do, or know how to lead a team that well."

Tsukizaki Yuki answered honestly. “I’m of humble birth, though my ancestors were nobles. The family later fell on hard times, and we had to farm for a living. Then the wars kept coming, so I fled here.”

"I see. Tell me how you led your team. You had elderly people and children with you, and they can't have been easy to organize."

"It's simple, village chief. Four words: clear rewards and punishments."

Lu Zeming was delighted. Now here was talent. His expression, however, remained still as water.

"Go on. How did you put that into practice?"

"First, I explained the stakes so everyone understood why we had to do it and what it would accomplish.

"Then I assigned responsibilities. Who drove the carts, who carried supplies, who looked after the elderly and children—everyone had to know their job. Those who did well would earn work points and get first pick of future work. Those who didn't would be left with the dirty, exhausting jobs nobody else wanted."

Lu Zeming nodded repeatedly. “You’re very capable.”

"Thank you for the praise, village chief!"

"What did you think of the other teams today?"

"I only concern myself with matters under my authority. I wouldn't presume to comment on anyone else's."

Lu Zeming nodded to himself. The man knew his boundaries.

“I’m planning to build Air-Raid Shelters throughout the village. Any suggestions?”

Lu Zeming had planned to build Air-Raid Shelters for some time. Who knew when the lunatic from that Kage-level Factory might fly over Flower Village to “deliver rice”?

Air-Raid Shelters had another advantage: they could be built near residential areas, close enough for villagers to reach quickly while reducing the risk of exposure during an evacuation.

"If you want to build Air-Raid Shelters, you'll need someone with expertise in construction. I don't know much about it myself, but I know someone who does!"

"Who?"

"Nakanuma Takuma. He's a renowned construction expert. He oversaw the building of several famous bridges in the Land of Grass."

"Kannabi Bridge and Tenchi Bridge."

"That's right. He designed and built them both."

"Our village is small. I doubt we could persuade someone of his stature to come."

"That's where you're mistaken. The new Daimyo cares nothing for his people. He only wants to line his pockets and enjoy himself. Since taking office, he hasn't commissioned a single public project. Nakanuma Takuma has talent but nowhere to use it. He's having a hard time, barely getting by on the little his wife earns washing clothes. If you invite him sincerely, I'm sure he'll agree."

"Oh? How do you know so much about him?"

"His wife is my aunt."

"I see. Sorry for the trouble, but could you take some people and go invite him?"

Tsukizaki Yuki bowed. "You can count on me, village chief. I'll leave tomorrow!"

"No rush." Lu Zeming waved a hand. "First, let's talk about you. I'm setting up an organization dedicated to managing construction projects. For now, we'll call it the Flower Village First Construction Group, and I want you to take charge of getting it started. The Air-Raid Shelters are only the first step. After that, the organization will oversee the village's roads, houses, waterworks, and walls."

Tsukizaki Yuki jerked his head up, a flash of disbelief in his eyes.

Born into a fallen noble family, he had studied extensively as a child, only to end up toiling in the fields after his family lost its standing.

And now this young village chief wanted to entrust him with such a responsibility?

"Village chief, my knowledge is limited. I'm afraid I'm not equal to the task."

"Limited? You kept a team of elderly people, women, and children running like clockwork. I'd hardly call that a lack of ability. Besides, Nakanuma Takuma knows construction, and you know management. You and your uncle will complement each other."

Tsukizaki Yuki took a deep breath. He stopped protesting and clasped his fists solemnly.

"I accept!"

The roads were dangerous, so when Tsukizaki Yuki left the village to invite Nakanuma Takuma, Lu Zeming chose three capable ninjas from the Mind-Listening Clan to protect him.

Three days later, Tsukizaki Yuki returned.

With him came Nakanuma Takuma, a gaunt, haggard-looking middle-aged man.

Nakanuma Takuma was in his early forties. Hardship had worn down what must once have been a scholarly face. His clothes bore several patches, though they had been washed clean.

Tsukizaki Yuki had spent the whole journey half coaxing, half dragging him along. Reluctance and doubt filled his eyes.

"Yuki, was what you told me true? Is a village really worth the trip?" Nakanuma Takuma sighed. "These hands haven't touched a blueprint in a long time."

Tsukizaki Yuki only smiled and led him through the entrance to Flower Village.

Nakanuma Takuma froze.

What lay before him was beyond anything he had imagined.

The broad stone-paved road felt solid underfoot. Newly built houses stood in neat rows on either side, their roof tiles gleaming blue-gray in the sunlight.

What shocked him more were the dozen or so young people in ninja attire among the workers.

They had forehead protectors and ninja tool pouches, and knew how to form hand seals. Yet here they were, hauling timber and carrying bricks alongside ordinary villagers.

One boy wearing a forehead protector was helping several villagers lift a thick log. His face was bright red as he called the rhythm: "One, two—heave! One, two—heave!"

Nearby, a female ninja was using Chakra to mix mortar. She paid no attention when it splashed on her clothes.

Nakanuma Takuma stood rooted to the spot, his mouth slightly open.

"Are... are they all ninjas?"