Tsubasa smiled mysteriously and pulled a bead the size of a walnut from his pocket, "This is a new Lightning Explosion Bomb developed by the Scientific Research Department base. It can unleash the destructive power of a B-rank Ninjutsu. If any foolish country dares to invade..." He tossed the thunderbolt bead into the open space outside the window.
Everyone stared in astonishment outside, where a deafening explosion blasted a two-meter-deep crater into the open ground outside the window. The power of this was far greater than that of Explosive Tag.
"I'm making this clear today—" Tsubasa grabbed a brush from the table and drew a map of the Land of Fire on the wall, "If anyone dares to lay a finger on us, I'll lead the Anbu, armed with tons of Lightning Explosion Bomb, and blow their village to smithereens. The Land of Wind? No matter how thick the walls of Sunagakure, let's see if they can withstand our Lightning Explosion Bomb. The Land of Earth? Those clods of earth are no different from tofu in my eyes."
"So everyone, let's not worry about the war. Let's talk about the Mirai development of our village." He suddenly softened his tone, pulling a blueprint from his sleeve. It depicted residential areas, Ninja Academy, a forging and refining factory, and so on. "Next spring, the first batch of medicinal herbs will be planted at the herb base, and the first batch of students will enroll in the new Ninja Academy. These are the most important things to do next, and all clans and departments are focusing their efforts on this. From now on, our Konoha will adhere to two principles: first, people-oriented; second, scientific research for national prosperity."
"Ten years from now..." he said, his gaze sweeping over everyone, "Our Ninja Academy will be able to produce tens of thousands of elite ninjas every year, the Six Divisions bases will be able to create all sorts of runic mechanical beasts to kill enemies, and the village-protecting sealing formation will be able to cover the entire village—by then, forget about attacking, if anyone dares to fart on our border, I'll make them experience the agony of dying and coming back to life!"
A soft sob suddenly filled the hall—it was the old patriarch of the Phoenix Clan, who had survived the massacre of his village. He stood up shakily and bowed deeply to Tsubasa: "This old man has lived almost sixty years, and I never dared to imagine that we could live such a happy life today. With someone like you presiding over Konoha..."
"Let bygones be bygones." Tsubasa walked over and helped the Phoenix Clan elder up, saying, "From now on, I will make every member of Konoha fear and respect the people of other countries. The Land of Fire will never be bullied again." He suddenly raised his voice, "Remember this well, all the sweat we shed now is so that our descendants can laugh and roam the world freely. Cheer up and boldly pursue your goals!"
Everyone burst into laughter, and the atmosphere suddenly became lighthearted. Scientific Research Department Asuka Nobumoto slapped his thigh. "Forget the Land of Wind Land of Earth, once my son graduates from Kage School, I'll have him ride Thunder Eagle to their city walls and pee!" Kurama Clan pulled out his pipe. "I'm just hoping my people can move into the residential area soon; that's what a good life is like. Ten times more comfortable than my old wooden hut."
The snow had stopped sometime earlier, and sunlight streamed through the window, casting golden patterns on Tsubasa's body. He gazed at the busy construction site outside the window and recalled that morning when he passed by the Ninja Elementary School, he saw the children building a huge Hokage Rock snowman in the snow, each clutching a twig as Kunai.
"After the meeting, everyone go to the Administrative Department to collect the keys and property certificates for your assigned houses." Tsubasa clapped his hands and said, "Find plenty of furniture for your new homes; we want to have a warm New Year this winter."
As everyone filed out, the Land of Fire Daimyo suddenly turned around and saw Tsubasa deep in thought, staring at the map of the Land of Fire on the wall, his fingertips lightly tracing the border lines. The setting sun fell on his shoulders, casting the Kageko of the 12-year-old boy on the ground like a flag that would never fall. He felt as if he saw a Body Integration Hashirama and Madara, which gave him a special sense of peace.
In the distance, the sound of songs drifted from the rebuilt streets, accompanied by children's chants. " Konoha is strong, Konoha is prosperous, Lord Tsubasa is as bright as the sun..." The songs pierced through the snow, startling a few birds that streaked across the sky in black arcs. This village, which had endured so much hardship, finally grasped its own spring this winter.
At the end of Konoha's Jūni, the allocation of rune-covered new houses was in full swing. "Dai'er, look at this wall! It gets warm to the touch, it's amazing!" Senju Kaika slammed her rolling pin on the cutting board, her rough hands stroking the white wall of the living room. "Our old wooden house was like an icebox in winter when the wind blew. Now, even the house is rune-covered, it's so warm and cozy!" She turned to look into the inner room, where her son, Might Duy, was pressed against the rune-covered window, watching snowflakes turn into water droplets as they fell on the windowsill—these were barrier runes inscribed by Lord Tsubasa, said to be able to withstand attacks from Kage Level powerhouses.
The supermarket was packed with people. An auntie from the Kurama Clan emerged, clutching large bags of groceries, her voice booming through the street. "Back when the Second was around, our village never saw so many goods! Let alone rune refrigerators or rune-infused tap water! That water was so clean and delicious!"
The middle-aged woman from the Yuhi Clan beside him nodded, waving the large and small bags in her hands, and said, "That's right! My husband bought a bag of refined white flour at the supermarket yesterday, and the steamed buns he made were snow-white, like clouds. We're really lucky; we don't even have to leave the neighborhood to buy anything. It's so convenient!" As they were talking, a peddler driving a rune-covered cart passed by, the rune-covered refrigerator and water heater on the cart so bright in the sunlight that it was hard to open one's eyes.
"You tell me, how is Lord Tsubasa so amazing? He can build a whole neighborhood in just one day?" The butcher's wife from the Akimichi Clan chopped ribs, the blade making a crisp sound on the cutting board. "When my husband went to the border with the Azure Dragon Army, I was so worried I couldn't sleep all night. But with Lord Tsubasa here, I'm not worried at all. Those barbarians from Raikage Village, no matter how powerful, can't possibly be a match for a god!"
The Yamanaka Clan selling flowers chimed in, piling fresh blossoms into his bamboo basket. "If you ask me, the First was able to subdue the Tailed Beast, and Lord Tsubasa allowed us to live in houses with runes—they were both incredibly kind! Look at the sugar, floral fabrics, and refined salt in the supermarket; back then, you'd have to risk your life to get them!"
Under the old locust tree at the entrance of the residential area, several elderly people sat basking in the sun. A lame Senju Clan elder tapped his cane—made from a branch of the First Hokage's Wood Release —and said, "Half a year ago, during the war, our village was attacked by the Mizukage and Tsuchikage. My house was reduced to half a wall, and even the chickens had nowhere to hide. Now, things are much better. The compensation money has arrived, and my family has opened a clothing store on the east side of the street and a cloth shop on the west side. Even my grandson Jiraiya can study Ninjutsu in our new house!"
The one-legged Senju Clan elder next to him tapped his pipe against a tree root. "I heard many clan leaders asked Lord Tsubasa to sue for peace at the Hokage meeting? Hey, they didn't hold back when they burned down our village..."
Before he could finish speaking, the elderly woman from the Senju Clan beside him quickly waved her hand, her face filled with sorrow. "Don't say such things! My son and daughter-in-law have both died on the battlefield, leaving only my grandson Orochimaru. What if there's another war..." Everyone fell silent instantly, with only the rustling of the red lanterns under the eaves in the wind.