After solving the problem of the Medical Department, Sarutobi Hiruzen was in a good mood.
After "coaxing" his foolish son to sleep, he walked through the streets of Konoha, looking at the brand-new buildings rising on both sides and the smiling faces of the villagers, his heart filled with a sense of accomplishment.
Danzo's Konoha Construction Team was astonishingly efficient. With the help of Uchiha Kagami, the village's hardware facilities were being upgraded at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Tsunade and Orochimaru's medical research had also made breakthrough progress. The discovery of the blood type system had elevated Konoha's emergency medical capabilities in wartime to a whole new dimension.
Education, infrastructure, medicine... everything was developing in a good direction.
But a new problem had emerged in his mind.
Food.
He found that the dietary structure of Konoha's villagers was too monotonous.
The staple food was basically rice and noodles, and the dishes were nothing more than some pickles and seasonal vegetables.
As for meat, it was a luxury that could only be eaten on holidays.
Even in the most popular Ichiraku Ramen in the village, the piece of chashu was as thin as paper.
"This won't do," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, stroking his chin, his brow furrowed. "Eating like this for a long time, how can the nutrition keep up? Especially for the children in the Ninja Academy who are still growing, and those ninja who have to undergo high-intensity training every day."
"The body is the capital of the revolution. If we want to make Konoha stronger, we must first let everyone eat better and healthier."
"We must make meat freedom a basic right for the villagers of Konoha!"
A grand vision gradually took shape in his mind.
The next day, in the Hokage Building's high-level meeting room.
Sarutobi Hiruzen convened Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Torifu, the head of the Yamanaka clan, and the head of the Inuzuka clan, Inuzuka Tsume, as well as several jonin in charge of logistics and material allocation, for a unique "agricultural development seminar."
On a huge map, he circled a large piece of land outside the village that had been abandoned due to the war.
"Everyone, I have invited you all here today to discuss something," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, getting straight to the point, and distributed a plan he had rushed to complete overnight to everyone.
"Preliminary Concept for the Establishment of Konoha's Ecological Farm."
"Lord Hokage, what is this..." Nara Shikaku's face was filled with confusion.
"Everyone, please be seated," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, pointing to the things on the table, getting straight to the point. "I've invited you all here today not to talk about military affairs or politics, but to talk about one problem—food."
"Food?" As soon as Akimichi Torifu heard this word, his eyes lit up, and he subconsciously touched his round belly.
"That's right, food," Sarutobi Hiruzen's expression was very serious. "I've recently discovered that our village's dietary structure is very monotonous. There are few types of vegetables, and meat is even scarcer. This not only affects the quality of life of the villagers, but also limits the combat effectiveness of our ninja."
"A village that can't even achieve meat freedom, how can it be called strong?"
His last sentence was spoken with conviction.
Akimichi Torifu nodded repeatedly, in deep agreement.
Nara Shikaku, on the other hand, had a "here you go again" helpless expression. He had gotten used to Lord Hokage's unconventional style.
"Therefore, I have decided to establish an unprecedented—Konoha Ecological Farm!—on the land outside the village that has been left idle due to the war."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spread a huge map on the table.
"Ecological farm?" Everyone heard a new term again.
"Yes," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, pointing at the map, and began to elaborate on his grand vision.
"First, the planting area," he looked at Nara Shikaku. "Shikaku, your Nara clan has been taking care of the medicinal herb garden for generations and knows the habits of plants best. I hope you will be in charge of the farm's planting plan."
"I have a newly developed rice variety here," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, taking out two sealing scrolls from his robes.
This was, of course, a superior variety bred by that research fanatic, Orochimaru, through hybridization and selection, based on the memories of his previous life.
"Its yield is more than three times that of ordinary rice. I need you to use the most scientific methods to plant it on a large scale."
Nara Shikaku picked up a few grains of rice and looked at them in his palm, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
This rice was indeed fuller than any variety he had ever seen.
"Secondly, the breeding area," Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze turned to Akimichi Torifu. "Torifu, when it comes to the study of food, no one is more professional than your Akimichi clan. The task of raising pigs, cattle, and sheep will be left to you."
"Don't you need to consume a lot of calories to use the Multi-Size Technique? It just so happens that I approve you to, justifiably, research how to raise pigs fatter and make the meat more delicious."
"Really? Lord Hokage!" Akimichi Torifu's mouth was watering.
Researching how to eat could become a village mission? Was there such a good thing in the world?
"Of course," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with a smile, then looked at the head of the Inuzuka clan.
"Clan Head Inuzuka, I need your ninja hounds. Not to fight, but to herd. Use your tracking skills and teamwork to manage the livestock on the farm, to prevent them from getting lost or being attacked by wild animals."
The Inuzuka clan head was stunned for a moment, then he also understood the Hokage's intention.
This was indeed a good mission that could make full use of their clan's specialties and was not dangerous.
"Finally," Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze swept over everyone. "This farm is not just for solving our food problem. It is also a strategic reserve base. A self-sufficient food lifeline. In future wars, its importance will be no less than that of a military fortress."
Our own clan going to farm and raise pigs?
It sounded a bit demeaning.
But if this matter was related to the village's strategic security, and if it developed... there would also be related benefits...
"My Akimichi clan is the first to agree!" Akimichi Torifu slammed the table and said, spit flying, "To let every villager eat barbecue! This is a part of the Will of Fire!"
"...Mm," although Nara Shikaku complained, he also nodded. "In the long run, this is indeed a good move. My Nara clan has no objection."
The Inuzuka clan head also expressed his support.
The plan was passed smoothly.
An "agricultural dream team" created by the major secret technique clans of Konoha was about to be born.
The plan was passed, but a new problem arose.
Who would manage this unprecedentedly large farm, composed of multiple secret technique clans?
This person had to be strong enough to command respect.
They had to be absolutely reliable and deeply trusted by the Hokage.
And they had to... have enough patience and meticulousness to handle the tedious agricultural affairs.
Everyone's gaze, in unison, swept across the meeting room.
Finally, Sarutobi Hiruzen's gaze fell on a corner of the meeting room.
There, a tall, straight-backed man with silver-white hair was leaning against the wall, silently polishing his gleaming White Fang short sword.
Hatake Sakumo.
Ever since he had made a great contribution on the Land of Wind battlefield and had gone through the choice between "mission and comrades," he had been transferred back to the village by Hiruzen to temporarily serve as his bodyguard.
Feeling the Hokage's gaze, Hatake Sakumo looked up, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at him, a kind smile on his face that made Sakumo's scalp tingle.
"Sakumo, have you been feeling bored staying in the village recently?"
"...It's alright, Lord Hokage," Sakumo had a bad feeling.
"How about this, I'll give you an S-rank long-term mission..."
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