Naruto: Starting as the Third Hokage with Tears in His Eyes

Chapter 76 The Mobilization of Foreman Danzo

The canyon upstream of the Namga River, which was once just a mark on the map, has now completely changed.

On both sides of the valley, hundreds of ninjas and craftsmen, like industrious ants, were busy at their respective posts.

Earth Release ninjas used ninjutsu to clear paths through mountains, shaving off huge rocks from the mountainside; taijutsu-type ninjas were responsible for transporting these tons of rocks to designated locations; and many more craftsmen were building huge wooden scaffolding and molds.

The entire construction site was bustling with activity, brimming with energy and hope.

Danzo Shimura stood at the highest point of the construction site, on a temporary observation platform raised using earth-escape techniques.

He wore his signature dark blue overalls, his hands behind his back, like an iron tower, surveying the vast construction site below.

His eyes remained somber, but within them burned a flame called "creation."

Ever since Hiruzen gave him the formula for "Chakra Concrete," he has fallen into a state of complete fanaticism.

He led his construction team, conducting experiments day and night.

Failed, adjusted the recipe, failed again, adjusted again...

After burning through a whole month's worth of mission funds, they finally produced the first batch of qualified "chakra concrete".

The hardness of that material exceeded everyone's imagination.

When a regular kunai is struck on it, not even a white mark is left.

Even if a Chunin from the Akimichi family used the Expansion Technique, he could only leave a shallow fist mark on it.

When the first dam module, cast from this material, successfully withstood the impact of the most turbulent waters of the Nanga River, the entire construction site erupted in celebration.

Danzo knew that he was one step closer to his "immortal monument".

"Cheer up, everyone!"

At dawn, Danzo's extremely penetrating voice, amplified by his chakra secret technique, resounded throughout the entire canyon, instantly jolting all the still somewhat sleepy workers awake.

This is a "regular event" at the reservoir construction site every morning—the mobilization speech by the head of the project.

Look at your feet!

Danzo pointed a finger at the magnificent dam, which was already taking shape. "Do you know what you're building?!"

"It's a reservoir!"

A young craftsman answered loudly from below the stage.

"That's right! It's a reservoir! But it's more than just a reservoir!"

Danzo's voice suddenly rose, filled with passion and power, "It is the lifeline of Konoha! It is the guarantee that our descendants will be free from hunger and thirst!"

"Take another look at this river!"

Danzo pointed to the rushing Naka River below, "It used to be an unruly beast, overflowing every two years during the rainy season, destroying fields and threatening our homes! And what we are doing now is putting a bridle called 'Konoha' on this beast!"

"We must transform it from a destructive beast into a gentle ox that tills our land! We must ensure that every drop of its water is used to irrigate our crops and to fill every bowl of rice in Konoha!"

These words were spoken in a simple and easy-to-understand way, yet they were extremely inflammatory.

The craftsmen and ninjas below the stage listened with great enthusiasm.

They could almost see the clear river water flowing through pipes into every household in the village.

"And I, Danzo Shimura, and you all are the sharpest tools to realize this grand vision!"

"This dam will be constructed using a brand-new material called chakra concrete! It will stand here for a thousand years!"

"So, cheer up! Use your sweat to build this monument! So that our descendants, hundreds of years from now, can still stand here, point to this dam, and proudly tell their children—look, this is the miracle our ancestors left us!"

"start!"

"Ooo ...

As Danzo gave his final command, the entire construction site erupted in thunderous cheers and shouts. A flame of "mission" and "honor" burned in everyone's eyes, filling them with boundless energy.

Everyone was as excited as if they'd been injected with adrenaline, roaring and throwing themselves back into the intense construction work.

On the high platform, Uchiha Kagami watched all this with a helpless yet admiring smile on his face.

He had to admit that Danzo was indeed a genius when it came to stirring emotions and inspiring people's fighting spirit.

Although the method was somewhat... simple and crude.

"Lord Jing, this is today's quality inspection report."

A steady voice sounded from behind.

Uchiha Kagami turned around and saw Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi walking towards him side by side.

Riji held a thick report in his hand, his expression as serious and meticulous as ever.

On the other hand, Hijiri's face was adorned with a sunny and cheerful smile.

Since the Caged Bird Seal was abolished and, under the Hokage's arrangement, they joined this significant construction project, the relationship between the two brothers underwent a dramatic change.

The estrangement and resentment that stemmed from the main family and the branch family has long since vanished.

What emerges next is the deep bond of kinship.

"Thank you for your hard work, Hiashi and Hisashi."

Uchiha Kagami took the report and quickly began to browse through it.

The report detailed all the data for the seventeen concrete modules that were poured yesterday.

From the number of tiny air bubbles inside to the structural density of every inch, everything can be clearly observed and clearly marked with a white eye.

Under the almost obsessive supervision of the "Hyuga Quality Inspection Team," the quality of the reservoir project reached an unprecedented level.

"Reporting to Lord Mirror!"

Hiashi said with a serious expression, "Module Thirteen, during the solidification process, is the sixth squad of the Uchiha Fire Release team, member Uchiha Kenta."

"When he released the Great Fireball Technique, he had drunk two cups of alcohol during the day, causing a 0.1-second fluctuation in his chakra output, resulting in a tiny crack the size of a pinhole in the southeast corner of the module. Although it does not affect the overall structural strength, according to Lord Danzo's highest construction standards, we have marked it as a 'defective product' and recommend rework."

Uchiha Kagami: "..."

He glanced at the report, then at the serious face of the Japanese football team that screamed "we are professionals," and for a moment he didn't know what to say.

"Well done." That was all he could say in the end.

"This is what we should do."

Hiashi answered meticulously.

Hizashi, standing nearby, chuckled and scratched his head. "Lord Kagami, please don't mind him. That's just my brother's personality. However, that Kenta-senpai from the Uchiha clan has already been punished by Minister Tetsuka to carry a hundred buckets of water to the construction site."

Uchiha Kagami could picture that scene, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Danzo and Sakumo are now completely in trouble.

During the lunch break.

The brothers Hiashi and Hizashi sat by the Nanka River, eating the bento boxes delivered by the village's logistics department.

The bento box was very generous, with rice, grilled fish, and even a few slices of grilled "Konoha Pork," a special product from Sakumo Farm.

"It smells so good!"

Richa took a big bite of roasted meat, squinted his eyes in satisfaction, and said, "Brother, tell me, what kind of life did our tribe live in the past?"

Hijiri paused slightly as he chewed.

He thought of the past.

I remembered the ferocious "bird in a cage" mark on the forehead of the branch family members, and the look in their eyes when they looked at me, a mixture of awe, fear, and resentment.

He recalled the barrier between himself and Hizashi caused by their different identities as the head family and the branch family.

Let's look at it now.

The Caged Bird Seal has become a protective spell that is only activated in times of crisis.

Members of the separate clans can work together towards the same goal.

The way they looked at me was no longer fear, but genuine trust and respect.

And his younger brother, Hizashi, could also be like this now.

They sat together without any awkwardness, joked around, and ate the same bento boxes.

"Brother, I never imagined that our eyes would one day be used in such a place."

Looking at the magnificent dam that was already taking shape in the distance, Hizashi sighed sincerely, "It's not for fighting, not for distinguishing between the main family and the branch family, but for... building the future of the village."

"This feeling is wonderful."

Looking at the genuine smile on his younger brother's face, Hiashi's usually tense, fatherly face softened considerably.

He reached out and patted his younger brother on the shoulder.

"This is all thanks to Lord Danzo for giving us a new life."

The boy's voice was incredibly firm, "Hizashi, we will use these eyes to protect the village. And... protect our family."

"Um!"

Hizashi nodded vigorously.

Not far away, Danzo, who was inspecting the construction site, took in the whole scene.

He looked at the two brothers, so close together in the sunlight, and at the quality inspection report they had submitted.

A rare smile appeared on that usually gloomy and serious face.

He recalled what Hiruzen had once told him: "A powerful village needs not only sharp swords, but also sturdy shields."

He now seemed to understand what Hiruzen meant by the shield.

It is the human heart.

The cohesion that allows everyone living here to find their own value and to feel genuinely proud of protecting this home.

Danzo looked up towards Konoha, as if he could see that figure sitting in his office, strategizing and planning.

"Hiruzen, you... you're definitely more suited to be Hokage than me."