This area was chosen by Kiyoi Gen after careful inspection; it could be developed into a port, making it a transit hub for economic exchange.
The two walked along the wide, cleared road of hard-packed earth.
The Village gate was nearly two kilometers away.
It would take quite some time to walk there.
Fortunately, Lord Madara didn’t show much reaction, simply walking by his side while seemingly observing the Village.
Kiyoi Gen, however, was already brimming with excitement and couldn’t help but smile from the heart.
This was the Village he had spent six years leading his family, subordinates, and villagers to build from scratch!
Being able to return safely, he was naturally overjoyed.
During the walk, his family and subordinates must have prepared everything.
He really had!
He had actually brought Uchiha Madara here!
With an excited heart, Kiyoi Gen finished the long walk.
As they approached the gate, a large group of people rushed out from inside.
Uniformed guards, carrying spears and with samurai swords at their waists, stood on both sides of the wide road, heads held high and looking spirited.
At the same time, a man and a woman, both middle-aged and dressed in professional attire, stood at the very front, watching Kiyoi Gen and Uchiha Madara.
When Kiyoi Gen and Uchiha Madara were only a hundred meters from the gate, the crowd shouted.
“Welcome, Lord Gen and Lord Madara, to our Churi Village!”
My, what a grand reception.
Kiyoi Gen hadn’t instructed them to do this, but how could he not be happy with such a display?
He needed to show his strength in front of Lord Madara so that they could potentially have an equal conversation later.
“Uncle Izli, Sister Lan, thank you for your hard work.”
Kiyoi Gen greeted the two with a sunny smile.
One had a scar on his face, a kindly expression, wore robes, and his hair was somewhat gray.
The other was a beautiful woman dressed as a Ninja in fishnet stockings, looking at the long-unseen Kiyoi Gen with affectionate eyes.
These two were named Izli and Lan.
Both were friends and subordinates that Kiyoi Gen had recruited through luck and eloquence before he became Lord.
“Chunin.”
Uchiha Madara judged their approximate strength based on his experience.
Their combat power was estimated to be at the upper level of Chunin.
Not bad for a small Village.
“Little Gen, welcome home.”
Lan stepped forward first, couldn’t help but reach out to pat Kiyoi Gen’s head, then bowed to Uchiha Madara alongside Izli.
“Welcome, Lord Madara, to Churi Village.”
“Please, come in!”
Chapter 4: A Vibrant Village
“Little Gen, when did you notify Lady Miki that you were coming back?”
Just after entering the Village, Lan asked Kiyoi Gen.
“Uh, I’ll go tell my mother myself.”
Kiyoi Gen felt a small internal conflict.
Miki was his mother and one of the concubines of the current Daimyo of the Land of Fire.
Ever since he was appointed Lord of this place, she had followed him, wanting to help.
However, because this mother from his second life was so doting and concerned about him, he didn’t dare tell her the truth when doing anything risky.
For example, this time going to find Lord Madara.
He had lied about going to the Land of Fire for trade so he wouldn’t be interrogated by his mother.
Fortunately, he had succeeded, so he didn’t need to make her worry.
“Mr.
Madara, let’s go to the Lord’s Office now.”
“Once we arrive, I will give you your reward.”
Uchiha Madara nodded with a cold expression, while observing the situation in the Village.
The streets were incredibly clean, various wooden and stone buildings stood in rows, and there were all kinds of greenery along the way.
The residents walking back and forth were in high spirits, and the whole Village had a vibrant atmosphere.
Just like Konoha.
Uchiha Madara clenched his fists slightly.
Why did he think of Konoha again?!
“Brother Gen!”
Just then, a large group of children ran over, playing, and when they passed the group of four—Kiyoi Gen, Uchiha Madara, Izli, and Lan—they happily greeted them.
Kiyoi Gen happily returned the smile to these boys and girls.
They were all the future strength of Churi Village.
“Ah, is this big brother who looks a bit fierce invited by Brother Gen?”
One of the lively little girls ran up and unreservedly scrutinized the face beneath Uchiha Madara’s thick hair.
“Yes, this is Uchiha Madara, a Ninja who stands at the pinnacle.”
Kiyoi Gen answered with a smile.
“Ah, I see.”
The little girl squirmed, and with some hesitation, took out a small candy.
“Since you were invited by Brother Gen, that big brother must be very powerful.”
“Thank you for coming to help us.”
The next second, a group of children followed suit, taking out candies and handing them to Uchiha Madara.
Huh?
Uchiha Madara was taken aback.
Are these children not afraid of him?
In Konoha, no child dared to get close to him.
“Mr.
Madara, just accept their candy.”
Kiyoi Gen smiled at Uchiha Madara, while at the same time, Lan quietly reached out to Uchiha Madara’s right side.
Madara instinctively caught it, and when he gripped it, based on the feel, it seemed to be a bag of cubed meat bits.
“Big brother, please take it.”
“Brother Gen has always taught us to learn to share.”
“Besides, you will definitely give us a return gift, right?”
At this moment, the group of children wore a “you know what I mean” smile.
What innocent children?
Uchiha Madara suddenly felt a bit amused, and the corners of his mouth couldn’t help but lift slightly.
“Then these are for you.”
After saying that, he handed the small bag in his hand to the little girl.
The little girl opened it and saw that it was exactly the meat bits that Kiyoi Gen had given Uchiha Madara to eat.
“Ah!
It’s my favorite little meat bits!”
The children erupted in excitement and bowed together to thank him.
“Brother Madara, thank you!”
“Let’s go, let’s go!
Let’s share it together!”
After thanking him, the children impatiently bypassed Uchiha Madara and ran toward his back, darting into other alleys.
What a strange feeling.
Uchiha Madara couldn’t help but look in the direction they had left, still holding several candies in his left hand.
Although these children were acting with premeditation, this feeling that they were indeed not afraid of him, and their thanks were genuine.
“Mr.
Madara, these candies are distributed to these children at school.”
“The taste is quite good, try one.”
Uchiha Madara looked at the candies wrapped in paper and peeled one to taste.
So sweet!
As expected, only children would like these.
“Hahahaha.”
Kiyoi Gen couldn’t help but laugh, seeing the wonderful change in Uchiha Madara’s expression.
“If you don’t like it, you can keep it.”
“Next time you meet the children, just give it to them.”
“There are many children in our Village; if you go to the school without preparing enough small gifts, you won’t be able to leave.”
No, he wouldn’t go to such a place.
Because he didn’t like troublesome children.
Uchiha Madara shook his head, but felt a little happy inside.
On the streets of Konoha, he could only watch Hashirama interact and play with the children.
But now he had this experience too.
Interesting!
Favorability +1
Plan successful!
Kiyoi Gen cheered internally.
As expected, Lord Madara, who hadn’t been backstabbed by Hashirama yet, hadn’t completely closed off his emotions; using children to lower his guard was the right move!
Well, although he had also been extorted by that group of children, as long as the result was good, that was fine.
Those meat bits were very precious.
Like Konoha, there was a wide, straight street from the gate of Churi Village to the Lord’s Office.
The four of them arrived after walking for more than forty minutes.
During this time, Uchiha Madara examined the surrounding situation, and when he saw many children playing and working, his eyes became a little gentler.
As long as these children didn’t trouble him, they were quite pleasant to look at.
However, there seemed to be an unusually large number of children in this Village.
The Lord’s Office in Churi Village was not large, but it was still on a small scale.
Whether outside the building or inside, one could see guards every few steps, and there were even children?