The broadcasts at Sunagakure's dam repair camp had not stopped since dusk.
"Water resources belong to everyone. Do not give thanks unless necessary. Keep commands to three words or fewer. Repeat: no thanks, no hand seals, no stopping work."
When Serina walked over the gravel into the living quarters, the camp was lined up in groups of twenty-four, crouching beside the diversion canal and using standardized gestures to activate Earth Release. These were not traditional hand seals, but "Simple Seals" invented by the camp's deputy commander-clamp all five fingers together and thrust them into the mud, and a layer of ash-gray shell rose over the dam. The work went three times faster, but everyone's eyes were bloodshot, and blood seeped between their fingers.
"Rhetorical contamination has gotten into the construction standards." The Sunagakure liaison who had ridden with her gave a bitter smile. "The deputy commander is Yeka. She used to be Lady Temari's waterworks assistant. Three days ago, the camp received a batch of 'revised water conservation manuals.' She hasn't slept since. She's been driving the whole camp to meet deadlines with their lives."
Serina glanced toward the canal. A young trainee ninja's hand shook, tamping the earth an inch out of alignment. Yeka walked over without scolding him or helping him, merely forcing his hand into the soil with an expressionless face. The earthen shell closed instantly. The boy gave a muffled grunt, not daring to cry-even the word "pain" had been optimized out of the camp regulations.
Serina clipped her iron compass pen to her collar. "The hydrological station, or her first?"
"The station's locked. She burned the Non-Ninjutsu Registry sent from the Land of Iron for kindling. Called it 'scrap paper from our weak phase.'"
Serina stopped short.
Inside the lining of her work gloves, the