Several days later…
Uchiha Fugaku returned with several escorts.
His meeting with the Daimyo had gone even more smoothly than expected.
Not only had the Daimyo of the Land of Rice Fields agreed to help the Uchiha establish a new hidden village, but he had also promised to provide 500 million ryo, 1,000 sacks of grain, along with various daily necessities.
The Daimyo’s court wholeheartedly welcomed the Uchiha Clan’s decision to settle in the Land of Rice Fields.
As for diplomatic affairs, the Daimyo’s officials would handle everything.
At present, the Uchiha numbered just over five hundred people, and construction of the village was progressing at a rapid pace.
Most of them had spent years being marginalized inside Konoha.
As that rejection continued, whatever sense of belonging they once felt toward the village had gradually faded away.
Of course…
People like Itachi, who had been persuaded by the village’s higher-ups, were the exception rather than the rule.
Watching house after house rise from the construction site, Seigen couldn’t help but sigh.
Ninjas should have been using their power for building things.
What was the point of spending every day carrying out assassinations and espionage missions?
When it came to farming and construction, their efficiency was several times greater.
Trees for the houses were quickly felled and cut into lumber with Wind Release.
Those skilled in Earth Release handled the foundations.
In only a few days, everyone’s housing problem had already been solved.
That evening…
Fugaku, three clan elders, Itachi, and Seigen sat together around a campfire.
“The Daimyo’s side has been settled,” Fugaku began as he looked around at everyone present.
“The supplies they’ve promised should arrive within the next few days.”
He paused before continuing.
“Our village has finally begun taking shape.”
“Does anyone have any thoughts about how we should develop it going forward?”
As he spoke, he glanced at Seigen, who appeared to be lost in thought.
The three elders simply shook their heads.
“We’ll leave everything to the Clan Head’s judgment.”
Seeing Seigen still daydreaming, Itachi discreetly nudged him with his elbow.
“Huh?”
“Are we done already?”
Fugaku coughed lightly.
“Seigen.”
“What ideas do you have for the village’s future?
After all, we only have a little over five hundred people, and barely more than four hundred of them are shinobi.”
Fugaku had developed a high opinion of this young Uchiha.
Ever since the night Konoha attempted to wipe out the clan, he had realized Seigen was different from everyone else.
That naturally included his own son, Itachi, whose loyalties had once leaned toward the village.
Had Seigen not insisted on leaving Konoha immediately, Fugaku knew the clan would likely have chosen one of two paths—
Either wage war against the village…
Or remain where they were and await execution.
“As for development…”
“The Clan Head is right.”
“Our population is simply too small.”
“We should recruit refugees to increase our numbers.”
“Then establish a ninja academy.”
“As for patrols, we can continue using the current rotation system.”
Seigen couldn’t help thinking about the ninja world’s education system.
Children spent six years at the Ninja Academy learning techniques designed for killing.
At twelve years old, they graduated and officially became shinobi.
After that…
Stepping onto the battlefield became almost inevitable.
How twisted did a society have to be to send eleven- and twelve-year-old children into war?
He was determined to change that.
They could still learn ninjutsu.
But as for teaching children how to kill…
That responsibility should be left to professionals.
He continued,
“Another issue is our economy.”
“Every major hidden village survives on mission commissions.”
“But considering our current manpower, that simply isn’t realistic.”
“We still need people to patrol and defend the village.”
“If we also send large numbers out on missions…”
“…we’ll be spreading ourselves far too thin.”
Everyone around the fire frowned.
The seriousness of the problem was obvious.
“We could send a small number of our strongest shinobi to take jobs through the underground bounty exchange,” Itachi suggested.
The three elders nodded in agreement.
Only Fugaku remained unconvinced.
It wasn’t a practical solution.
As clan head, he knew exactly what kind of place the underground bounty exchange was.
It was a den where anything could be bought for the right price.
People from every corner of the ninja world gathered there.
Countless individuals coveted bloodline limits like the Sharingan.
The Uchiha had only just escaped disaster.
This was not a risk they could afford to take.
“No.”
“We’re putting that idea on hold.”
“That’s right.”
“The bounty exchange isn’t a long-term solution.”
Seigen also shook his head after hearing Itachi’s proposal.
It seemed that most shinobi still thought the same way they always had.
If they weren’t carrying out dangerous missions…
They had no idea how else to make a living.
“That’s exactly why we need to change the traditional model of relying on missions for income.”
“But before anything else…”
“Our biggest concern is survival.”
“The Daimyo’s supplies won’t last forever.”
After thinking for a moment, Seigen continued.
“First…”
“We need to develop agriculture.”
“We should organize everyone to reclaim farmland and grow crops.”
“That will ensure our long-term food supply.”
“Second…”
“We need to develop livestock farming as well.”
“That guarantees our own survival while allowing us to sell excess meat in the future.”
“That alone could become a significant source of income.”
“And finally…”
“Mining.”
“The major hidden villages either receive weapons funded by their Daimyo or purchase them outright.”
“Our situation is different.”
“The Land of Rice Fields isn’t wealthy enough to supply us with large quantities of weapons.”
“So we’ll have to become self-sufficient.”
“If we develop our own mines and begin manufacturing weapons…”
“…we’ll not only meet our own needs but also have products we can sell to other nations in the future.”