Noon
The negotiations between the three parties were finally completed. The more than one hundred miners, led by Rokusuke, felt that since Kairyū and his gang were entrusted by the daimyo of the Land of Rivers, they must have the ability to protect them. Therefore, they temporarily accepted the proposal and agreed not to kill the Kurosuki Clan, but they had to carry out mining work like them.
Sakura respected the miners' decision, but she insisted on taking the Lightning Blade Kiba back to Konoha and leaving Naruto and Rock Lee there to ensure their safety.
Kyōai and Ai personally accompanied Sakura, Hongshi Rock Lee back to Konoha to seek reinforcements.
"Knock knock knock"
The Hongshi stone turtle sped along the road, and it was much quieter without Naruto and Rock Lee, those two lively characters.
Sakura, carrying the Raikou Kiba on her back, was closest to Kyo and Kyōai. Feeling utterly bored, she asked, " Kyōai -kun, wasn't your Nuclear Ninja Village newly established? How come you have such a powerful samurai Kairyū?"
Kyōai lay leisurely on the earthen tortoise. "Ah, Kairyū was already my master when the village was founded. I haven't seen his true strength yet, but he's very strong."
Sakura still felt lingering fear when she recalled Kairyū easily Kairyu had neutralized Rock Lee's and Raiga Kurosuki's ultimate attacks, "What exactly is your Nuclear Ninja Village like?"
Kyōai smiled and said, "It's just a small ninja village. By the way, my senior brother Hōryūsai and the Third Elder seem to be in Konoha."
Hongshi was at the front, suppressed a laugh, "Hmm! Hōryūsai! What a nice name, which genius came up with it?"
"Senior Brother? Third Elder?"
"Yes, there are only thirteen people of my generation in the Nuclear Ninja Village. I am the eighth, Tōhachi is the eleventh, Kendon is the youngest at thirteenth, and Hōryūsai is the oldest and strongest."
"Then what is this elder you're talking about? Is it a position?"
"Oh, I forgot to mention, the Nuclear Ninja Village's system is different from other ninja villages. There are five elders in total, all with equal power. However, since the Nuclear Ninja Village was founded by the First Elder, the First Elder has the highest status. It's just that he never shows his face and doesn't get involved in anything. My master Kairyū, is the Fourth Elder."
"Someone as powerful as Kairyū is only ranked fourth? Then who is the Grand Elder?"
"Yes, even Master can't comprehend the power of the First Elder. The Second Elder, Shirofukuji Fuji Kakuhei, the Third Elder, Kikin, the Fourth Elder Kairyū, and the Fifth Elder, Ainz, will meet you all in the future."
Although she knew Sakura was gathering information, Kyōai didn't care.
At that moment, a few fallen leaves drifted down in front of Kyōai. He slowly grasped the hilt of his sword with both hands, and then several flashes of cold light appeared before him, splitting all the fallen leaves in two. However, his hands and the hilt of his sword remained in their original positions, as if they had not been moved at all.
Sakura hadn't even seen Kyōai her sword. "What... what kind of speed is that?! I didn't see it at all!"
Kyōai stretched out her right hand and caught the fallen leaf that had been cut in two. "This is the swordsmanship of our Nuclear Ninja Village, Oni Giri. I have no talent in Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, so I can only diligently practice swordsmanship. Only in wielding the sword can I find myself."
"Self? What have you experienced in the past, Kyōai- kun?"
"Ah, as far back as I can remember, I was imprisoned in a dungeon and subjected to all sorts of agonizing experiments. It was Master Kairyū who saved me and pulled me out of my confusion."
Sakura smiled and said, "Now that Kyōai 've found yourself, what are your ideals? Or rather, what kind of samurai do you want to become?"
Kyōai gazed at the azure sky. "Ah, my ideal, like my master's, is to maintain peace in the Shinobi World."
Sakura: "Oh! Your ideals are the same as Hongshi-kun's, huh?"
Hongshi: "The peace he talks about and the Kakuhei I'm talking about are different!"
Sakura: "I don't understand what you're saying."
Hongshi: "Alas, a song that breaks my heart, where in this world can I find a kindred spirit?"
at the same time
Katabami Gold Mine
After the miners were freed, under the leadership of Rokusuke, they returned to their most proficient job of mining, but the scene was quite different.
"Wow, my goodness! What a tool this is! It's so useful!"
"With this tool, mineral production could increase at least fivefold, no, possibly tenfold!"
All three —Rokusuke, Nanasuki, and Kyūsha —were wearing strangely shaped pieces of equipment.
Similar to the Blue Bird Type One, except that what grows from their backs is an exoskeleton that fits closely to their limbs, allowing them to easily lift stones the same size as themselves without any effort. Moreover, it is easy to operate and requires no learning at all.
Kendon kept distributing the same equipment to the miners. "Hehehe, this equipment is called ' Mining Type One. ' It's specially designed for mining. Not only does it have powerful motors, but it also has a protective shield to protect you from the ore. See? I wasn't lying to you."
Although the heavy industry of the Land of Spring is powered by Nuclear Release, the raw materials still rely on the extraction of minerals through manual collection. Therefore, Hieimon specifically designed a Chakra- collecting tool based on ordinary people in order to increase production.
More and more miners have started using the " Mining Type One " machine, completing a day's work in just one hour without getting tired.
However, the Lightning Release Chakra in the Chakra Furnace was still limited, so the task of replenishing the energy fell to Raiga Kurosuki and Ranmaru.
Ranmaru observes the miners' Chakra Furnace with his Red Eye, and informs Raiga Kurosuki if there is a shortage of Chakra.
Raiga Kurosuki then used the method taught by Kendon to inject Lightning Release Chakra into the Chakra Furnace to replenish it.
The original members of the Kurosuki Clan were assigned to chores such as cooking and washing clothes.
Kairyū the internal strife looming over the Land of Rivers, Kai Ryu invited Granny Sansho Karashi join him in cooking. If any member of the Kurosuki Clan were to become distracted or run away, they would be subjected to the " Life Curry - Hongshi Special Edition" personally prepared by Granny Karashi and Granny Sansho.
After enduring the torture of having their mouths stuffed with smelly socks made of Life Curry, the Kurosuki Clan became much more obedient.
Naruto and Rock Lee were quite bewildered as they watched the miners, who had gone from being oppressed to working voluntarily, and the Kurosuki Clan diligently doing odd jobs.
"Hey! Rock Lee, weren't they free? Why are they back to mining?"
Watching the energetic miners, Rock Lee seemed to be infected by their enthusiasm, lifting gold ore and doing squats. "I don't know, but seeing how happy they are, my youth is burning brightly too! Squats with the rock in hand, target two thousand! Let's begin!"
Then it was dinnertime. Looking at the food prepared by the Kurosuki Clan, the miners' mouths watered. They didn't care about any hatred and just wanted to eat their fill first.
Seeing that the miners were very satisfied with the food, the Kurosuki Clan breathed a sigh of relief. If they were not satisfied, they would have to endure the "three thousand curry rice that will kill you" ordeal, which could cost them their lives.
The miners' leader Rokusuke, Kairyū, the leader of the Kurosuki Clan Raiga Kurosuki, and Ranmaru sat together at the head of the table. Although they were enemies, they were all serving Kairyū at this time, so they still had to observe etiquette.
Ranmaru pushed the exhausted Raiga Kurosuki, " Raiga! Are you alright? Your Chakra is so weak, Raiga!"
Kairyū glanced at Raiga Kurosuki's appearance and said, "Tch, you're already done for after just one day? Where did your former fierceness go, Granny Sansho! Prepare two bowls of 'Save You Three Thousand Curry Rice'!"
Granny Sansho poked her head out of the kitchen. "Okay! Coming right away! Karashi! What are you still doing? Didn't you hear what Kairyū said?"
"Yes, Mother! I'll be right there."
Rokusuke turned his head to the side. "Hey, boss, is Granny Sansho really Karashi's mother? Her biological mother?"
Kairyū nodded. "Yes."
Rokusuke swallowed hard, sweating profusely. "But! Granny Sansho looks almost eighty years old, while Karashi is only fifteen or sixteen! This... how is this possible!"
Kairyū said slowly, "Have you ever heard of the word 'romantic'?"
"I'm so ignorant! Really."
Karashi quickly brought two bowls of curry rice from the kitchen and gently placed them in front of Raiga Kurosuki and Ranmaru: " Raiga, Ranmaru, you... you'd better pray for yourselves."
"Gurgle, gurgle..."
The black curry rice was still bubbling.
At this moment, the noisy miners instantly fell silent, and even the Kurosuki Clan standing nearby were staring intently at the two bowls of curry rice on the main table.
Kairyū said coldly, "Eat up, let me show you what it feels like to be alive."
As if making up his mind, Ranmaru picked up the spoon with his thin arms and shakily scooped up a spoonful and put it into his mouth.
The moment the curry rice entered his mouth, Ranmaru felt as if a fire was burning in his stomach, rushing to his limbs. His heart pounded wildly, and sweat poured down his face. "This... this curry rice! This taste, this feeling, is this what it feels like to be alive?!"
Ranmaru had been considered an omen of bad luck by the villagers since childhood due to his congenital deficiency, and had lived a life of sorrow. He had never felt such a heart-pounding sensation before, and his eyes instantly filled with tears as he ate the curry in large mouthfuls.
Raiga Kurosuki, on the verge of a coma, was deeply moved upon seeing Ranmaru's condition. " Ranmaru, have you found the feeling of being alive?"
Raiga Kurosuki initially treated Ranmaru as a tool, but as time went on, a bond gradually formed between them, and he quietly did things that Ranmaru found meaningful.
And now, all it took was a bowl of curry rice that looked like it could kill someone, and I'd managed it! I don't know whether to be happy or not, but I gritted my teeth, sat up, and started eating the curry rice. "Gao! Is this what it feels like to be alive?! Gao gao!"
Unbeknownst to the two who were eating curry, Ranmaru's thin limbs were gradually growing to the size of an ordinary person's, and Raiga Kurosuki's Chakra was rapidly recovering.
Kendon, who was protecting " Mining Type One " from the side, knew why. "Hehehe, these are the boss's secret Military Rations Pill. Others want to eat them but can't."
"Boom boom boom!"
At that moment, Tōhachi suddenly appeared in the center of the square, carrying three wild boars as tall as a person on his shoulder. "Hahaha. My little guys! We're having wild boar tonight!"
"Oh! Long live Tōhachi!"
The miners' hatred for the Kurosuki Clan was gradually dissipating without them even realizing it.